Transport unions in Tamil Nadu call for indefinite strike demanding revision of wages

Eight major transport unions in Tamil Nadu consisting of nearly 1 lakh workers commenced their indefinite strike demanding revision of wages and clearance of their former dues in the state. The strike comes after several rounds of inconclusive talks with the transport department of the state.

The strike, called by Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), and All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), is also to seek pending terminal benefits of workers retired from 2020 and non-allocation of funds in the budget to compensate the losses incurred by the corporation which is a service sector, as reported by news agency PTI.

Nearly 80 per cent of the government buses will cease services from today in the state, affecting hundreds of commuters who depend on state-based buses to travel.

However, a senior transport official said: "We have taken steps to ensure the people were not affected on account of the strike."

The workers have been demanding revision of wages and clearance of provident fund, nearly Rs 550 crore, and dues of retired workers. The ruling All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) government has not cleared these dues that have been pending for the last 5 years, according to sources.

However, according to a report by PTI, transport minister MR Vijayabhaskar said that the state government paid Rs 972 crore last month for the employees who retired between April and December 2019.

"We have paid retirement benefits for all the employees," Vijayabhaskar said.

Transport unions of opposition parties in the state - Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI (M)) have claimed that talks have been going on since 2019 with the transport department, however, when no solution was reached, workers took the decision to go on an indefinite strike.

The trade union affiliated to the ruling AIADMK - Anna Trade Union - however, resorted to work in Chennai and other parts of the state, as they did not participate in the strike.

Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar has said disciplinary action would be taken against employees who participate in the strike.