Transport workers fix ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ on February 19, renew protest for pending wage dues

After being postponed due to the death of transport leader Ananth Subbarao, the joint action committee has announced a fresh date for the Bengaluru Chalo protest at Freedom Park.

Transport employees from Karnataka’s four state transport corporations have renewed their call for a major protest in Bengaluru, fixing February 19 as the new date for the long-pending ‘Bengaluru Chalo’ agitation. The protest had earlier been announced for January 29 but was postponed following the demise of Joint Action Committee leader Ananth Subbarao on January 28.

The Bengaluru Chalo programme was first declared on January 29, aiming to press the government on long-standing demands related to salary revision. However, the sudden death of Ananth Subbarao a day earlier led to the protest being put on hold as a mark of respect.

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Subsequently, the Joint Action Committee (JAC) of transport unions met on February 3, where leaders unanimously decided to revive the agitation and announced February 19 as the new date. The protest will be held at Freedom Park, Bengaluru, and is scheduled to take place from 10 am to 4 pm.

The agitation will see participation from employees of all four state transport corporations, who are demanding the clearance of long-pending wage arrears. According to the unions, workers are yet to receive 38 months of salary arrears linked to wage revision for the period from January 1, 2020, to February 28, 2023.

In addition, transport employees are also pressing for a new four-year wage settlement starting from January 1, 2024. Union leaders say repeated representations to the government have failed to yield concrete results, forcing workers to take to the streets.

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With the date now confirmed, transport unions are mobilising employees across the state for the February 19 protest, signalling a renewed push to secure long-overdue financial commitments from the government.