Cuttack: The bus staff of Odisha State Road Transport Corporation (OSRTC) staged a cease-work agitation at Badambadi bus stand in Odisha’s Cuttack demanding immediate steps for payment of pending salary.
The protesters, engaged by a third-party vendor, alleged that they have not yet been paid their salary of February month and demanded quick payment.
The strike affected bus services to many parts of the state.
The protesters said they had approached the Cuttack DTM requesting him over their demands, but no steps has so far been taken to ensure payment of their salary for February though the month of March is going to be over soon.
They also accused OSRTC of neglecting them during emergency situations and forcing them to fill fuel with their own money. In case of accident or any other mishap, the authorities never come forward to help the employees, they claimed, and threatened to sit on dharna until the demands are met.
It may be noted here that a private firm has provided around 2000 employees to OSRTC who are engaged in several government buses as drivers and conductors.