Strike for better pay: Buses to be off roads in Tamil Nadu from Jan 9

Chennai, Jan 8 (PTI) State-run buses will be off roads from January 9 as unions of transport workers announced a strike after talks with the government failed on Monday.

While the workers are set to go on strike from January 9, workers in some parts of the state commenced it by evening.

The trade unions seek implementation of '6 point charter of demands.' It includes initiation of talks for enhanced wages (15th wage revision pact), filling vacant posts, and release of pending Dearness Allowance for those in service and retired workers.

Transport Minister S S Sivasankar said the demands will be met in due course when the financial situation improves.

He alleged the strike call had 'political motives' and would cause hindrance to public and warned of appropriate action if warranted.

The minister said that in view of Pongal festival on January 15, he said 19,484 buses (includes special buses) will be run to cater to the needs of public.

The services from January 12 to 14 will cover various destinations and points of origin across the state. After the festival, 17,589 special buses will be operated from January 16 to 18.

Asked on claims that buses will ply as usual, CITU leader A Soundararajan said the government may attempt to run a skeleton service. Authorities are enlisting the services of those who were denied the 'opportunity to work' citing reasons such as 'irregular' attendance. An overwhelming majority of buses will not be operated, he said.

AIADMK chief and leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami slammed the DMK regime as a government without any humanitarian considerations as it has not come forward to meet even a single demand of the trade unions. He urged the government to resume talks and fulfill the workers demands to a minimum extent at the least.

Briefing reporters on talks with the government/ managements of state transport corporations, Soundararajan said the government made it clear that "none of the demands of transport workers could be accepted now which is an unjust answer and an unfair stand." The trade union leader said the government has said that the talks could be resumed following the Pongal festival next week.

The transport unions have made it categorical that this stand of the government cannot be accepted. "This government is treating transport corporation workers as second grade citizens." A key demand is release of Dearness Allowance pending for eight years to pensioners and "we are not seeking a hike and we are asking release of DA that is due." About 96,000 pensioners have not received it and the DA due per month is Rs 6,000. For in-service workers 'the DA is unpaid' for four months. The unions said the matter of release of about Rs 2,000 crore, which is the 'cumulative DA arrears' pending for pensioners may be decided later.

For the purpose of immediate implementation, only three main demands were stressed, Soundararajan underscored.

As regards pensioners, the DA must be released forthwith with prospective effect (the current due and not arrears) at the least.

For those in service, the pending DA should be cleared before Pongal.

The government should specify a date to commence talks for enhanced wages to be settled under the 15th wage revision pact.

The unions urged the government to immediately fulfill only these three demands ahead of Pongal festival.

"If they cannot accept even this demand, what right does the government have to tell us to cancel the strike," the trade union leader asked..

The parleys were a continuation of deliberations between the government and transport unions, which had given to authorities a 'strike notice.' Trade union affiliated to the ruling DMK, the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) will not be part of the strike.

Main opposition AIADMK's Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai (ATP) is among unions that will strike as 'demands are not met.' PTI