TU writes to Transport Minister on bonus issue

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation Employees Federation, affiliated to All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), has urged Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar to take steps to provide Deepavali bonus of 25 per cent of the salary for all the employees, including contract workers, and also a festival advance of Rs 10,000.

“We request you to provide a bonus of 25 per cent as per the minimum basic salary calculated under the Bonus Act, 1965 and a festival advance of Rs 10,000 to all the workers who had worked for more than 30 days,” R Arumugham, general secretary of the union wrote in a letter to the Minister.

Pointing out that several casual workers like security guards, canteen workers, and bus cleaners were being denied bonus in the previous years, he said they were working for more than 30 days for several years and yet were denied bonus. He pointed out that contract drivers and conductors were being paid a meagre bonus of 8.33 per cent and also denied gratuity even though they do all the work of permanent employees.

“Normally, the management calls the trade unions for a talk on the bonus every year. They were supposed to release an advance of Deepavali bonus one month ahead of the festival. That has also not been done this year,” he said.

Last year, the trade unions had resorted to protest days ahead of Deepavali festival after the corporation failed to credit the bonus and festival advance which will be deducted in instalments from their salaries.