GUNTUR: Employees' Union of Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation, which has served a strike notice on the management, has asked the State Government to announce a clear-cut deadline for regularisation of temporary appointments so that they could reconsider May 11 strike.

Employees' Union State president M.A. Khan, who was on a visit to Guntur on Wednesday to garner support for the union's strike call, said that if Transport Minister, Principal Secretary or Chief Minister announce exact date from which the regularisation of services would be done they would rethink on their strike notice.

"We are open for discussion with the management or State Government on the demands and we do not have any intention to put passengers in trouble, but they must understand our plight and sympathise with us," Mr. Khan said.

Minister's reply

Minister for Transport Kanna Lakshmi Narayana replying to strike notice told reporters on Wednesday that Principal Secretary was away, which had resulted in delay in the process of regularisation of temporary/contract employees, but the Government was determined to complete it as early as possible.

He appealed to the RTC employees to rethink on their proposal to go on strike from Friday at a time when the organisation had begun making profits.

Workers cautioned

Hyderabad special correspondent writes: Meanwhile, the Union has cautioned its workers to be vary of the attempts being made by the Corporation to pay the arrears due to them in order to foil the proposed strike from May 11.

In a statement issued here on Wednesday, the leaders questioned the eagerness of the corporation to pay ex-gratia, dearness allowances arrears due from October 2006. The workers were asked to be cautious and not to fall into the Corporation's promise and stay away from strike. It said the workers would launch strike from May 11 as per schedule.

Meanwhile, the APSRTC Supervisor's Association has decided not to participate in the strike.

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