Hyderabad: The Employees Union (EU), Telangana Mazdoor Union (TMU) and National Mazdoor Union (NMU) alliance secured a commanding lead in the Telangana RTC union election, according to figures available late Friday night. The alliance reportedly held a margin of around 4,000 to 5,000 votes, dealing a setback to the ruling Congress-backed union grouping.
Workers voted across 115 depots statewide, with nearly 90 per cent of RTC employees exercising their franchise. The results reflected strong support for the EU-led alliance in the contest for state-level union recognition. The final tally, however, remained pending as postal ballots were yet to be counted.
The ruling-party-backed Telangana Workers Union (TWU) and Staff and Workers Federation (SWF) grouping failed to secure a statewide lead. Instead, the unions won recognition only in some regional areas. Joint Labour Commissioner Sunitha said officials would make arrangements for postal ballot voting on the 14th and 15th. She announced that authorities would release the final results on the 17th.
Telangana RTC union election highlights alliance’s statewide lead
The EU, TMU and NMU alliance campaigned on restoring the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for RTC workers. In addition, its leaders promised to pressure the government to provide employees with salaries and benefits on par with government staff. The alliance’s campaign helped it build a substantial lead across the state.
Region-wise results showed Thomas Reddy’s group leading in Adilabad, Nizamabad and Karimnagar. Meanwhile, the SWF alliance won in Khammam. The TWU secured local recognition in Mahabubnagar, Rangareddy, Nalgonda and Medak.
The contest for statewide recognition also placed the Ashwathama Reddy faction of TWU in second position. In Warangal, Secunderabad and Hyderabad, no union secured a clear regional majority. The report said the union recognised at the state level would work to resolve workers’ issues in those regions. On that basis, the EU-led alliance could also represent workers there.
Following the announcement of the lead, workers celebrated at depots by bursting firecrackers. EU general secretary Eeduru Venkanna, TMU general secretary Thomas Reddy and NMU leaders Kamal Reddy, Maulana and Narender Reddy thanked employees for backing the alliance.
CPI state secretary and MLA Koonamneni Sambasiva Rao also welcomed the result. He congratulated the unions that formed the alliance after the AITUC-affiliated Employees Union emerged as the leading contender for statewide recognition. Officials scheduled the final results for the 17th after the postal ballot process.