APSRTC employees have decided go on a strike on Thursday night but called it off soon after. A strike may have left daily travelers in at the mercy of alternatives with nearly 20,000 buses off the roads, starting today, as part of the indefinite strike.

Employees of state-owned Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) wanted to go on an indefinite strike to demand for higher salaries. Leaders of APSRTC Employees Union and APSRTC Telangana Mazdoor Union had discussions with the management, but announced on Thursday night that the talks have failed.

It may have affected bus transport across Andhra Pradesh as leaders of both unions said that there was no assurance for a hike in salaries and for the regularization of contract employees. Now, it has been agreed that the management will regularize all contract employees in a phased manner. RTC Employees Union state president Chandrasekhar Reddy told media that guidelines for implementation would be in place within 90 days.

The strike was called off after a second meeting that progressed amicably five hours later.

(AW:Sruthi)