Archive · 9 Aug 2026
RTC Unions Step Up Stir, Seek Support From Employees' Bodies
People who work on buses in the state of Andhra Pradesh are not happy.
They are called RTC employees, and they have been protesting peacefully for two months.
They say the government has not listened to them.
They want their problems to be fixed.
They are worried that the government might sell the bus company to private owners.
They want the bus company to stay with the government.
They also want new electric buses, but they want the RTC to buy and run them.
They want the government to hire more workers through a proper recruitment process.
To show how serious they are, they plan to fast for two days on August 17 and 18.
Many other worker and student groups are supporting them.
The APPTD (APSRTC) Employees' Unions Joint Action Committee (JAC) sought support from AP JAC and APNGOs for the third phase of its agitation.
Demands include resolving RTC employees' grievances, an assurance against privatisation, electric buses purchased and operated by the RTC, and a recruitment notification for vacancies.
Two-day mass hunger strikes are planned for August 17-18 at 129 RTC depots across 28 districts.
AISF and AIYF extended support, citing student inconvenience from inadequate bus services and demanding additional buses and youth employment.
RTC employees have held peaceful protests for two months without a response from the government, and the JAC plans to meet more unions on Monday.
- Who
- The APPTD (APSRTC) Employees' Unions Joint Action Committee (JAC) and allied bodies including AP JAC, APNGOs, AISF and AIYF, led by figures such as A. Vidyasagar.
- What
- A stepped-up third-phase agitation demanding resolution of RTC employees' grievances, an assurance against privatisation, RTC-operated electric buses and recruitment through notification.
- When
- Support was sought on Sunday; mass hunger strikes are planned for August 17-18 and Maha dharnas for August 28.
- Where
- Vijayawada, with hunger strikes at 129 RTC depots across 28 districts and Maha dharnas at District Public Transport Officer offices across Andhra Pradesh district headquarters.
- Why
- RTC employees' peaceful protests of two months have drawn no response from the government on their demands.
- Protesting body
- APPTD (APSRTC) Employees' Unions Joint Action Committee (JAC)
- Main demands
- Grievance resolution, assurance against privatisation, RTC-operated electric buses, recruitment notification
- Protest duration
- Two months of peaceful protests without government response
- Hunger strike dates
- August 17-18
- Hunger strike locations
- 129 RTC depots across 28 districts
- Maha dharna date
- August 28
- Maha dharna locations
- District Public Transport Officer offices at all district headquarters
- Supporting bodies
- AP JAC, APNGOs, AISF, AIYF