Shimla, May 30
The Driver-Conductor Union of the Himachal Pradesh Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) has warned of a state-wide strike from June 2 if employees do not receive their salaries by June 1. The union has also demanded the release of long-pending financial dues, including night overtime payments, arrears, and medical reimbursements.
The warning came after talks between HRTC management and union representatives in Shimla on Friday failed to resolve the issue. Following the meeting, HRTC Driver-Conductor Union State President Man Singh Thakur said the employees had already served a notice to the state government and corporation management on May 13 regarding the timely payment of salaries.
Thakur stated that if salaries are not credited to employees’ bank accounts by June 1, HRTC workers across the state will stop operations from June 2 under the slogan “No Salary, No Work.”
According to the union, nearly ₹150 crore in night overtime payments remains pending, while employees are also awaiting the release of arrears amounting to several crores. In addition, the union alleged that around ₹20 crore in medical reimbursement claims have not been cleared.
The union further claimed that while employees in other government departments have already received an installment of ₹50,000 towards arrears, HRTC staff have been excluded from the benefit.
Expressing concern about the possible inconvenience to commuters, the union advised HRTC management to halt advance ticket bookings until the issue is resolved. However, it clarified that the proposed strike would be withdrawn if salaries were credited on the first day of the month.
The union has also issued a fresh notice demanding that all outstanding dues be cleared by June 24. While employees will continue operating buses until that date if salaries are paid, the union warned of stronger agitation in the future if pending payments are not released.
The HRTC management has not yet issued an official statement on the union’s latest warning.
