Express News Service By

BENGALURU: If you are planning a bus trip, hang on: thousands of public transport employees are launching an indefinite strike from the midnight of July 24.

Services across the state could come to a standstill from late Sunday if the strike begins as planned.

The KSRTC Staff and Workers’ Federation had given a strike notice 15 days ago. It is demanding a 35 per cent hike in salaries, while the government is ready for 10 per cent.

Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy said, “We have already given an eight per cent hike. The chief minister has agreed to make it 10. Giving them 30 per cent will burden the government by `4,550 crore.”

H V Anantha Subbarao, general secretary of the federation, said, “We have not received any communication about any negotiations. The strike will begin at midnight on Sunday.”

The government is threatening to book striking employees under the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

“The government says it has made alternative arrangements, but they cannot find substitutes for 1.25 lakh employees,” Anantha Subbarao said.

All employees of Karnataka state-run transport corporations are supporting the strike, he told Express.

“In case the government invokes ESMA, we are ready to be arrested. Our families will come out and support the strike,” he said.

Some employees are planning not to turn up for work on Sunday morning.

“We are aware of the tricks of the government. They could send us on long routes or force us to continue working if they see us on Sunday,” a member of the federation said.

Last time

In September 2012, when drivers and conductors went on strike for three days, passengers across the state were stranded. The government had then announced a 10 per cent salary hike.