LPF union to lay siege to STC divisional head offices

CHENNAI: Ahead of commencing Deepavali special bus services on November 11, DMK-affiliated LPF union in the State-run transport corporations would lay siege to divisional head offices of the corporation on Monday seeking a 20 per cent bonus.

The State government has earmarked Deepavali bonus of Rs 210 crore to the public-sector utility employees. The bonus will be 8.33 per cent and an ex-gratia of 1.67 per cent.

In a statement, LPF general secretary M Shanmugham noted that the transport corporation employees were given 12.5 per cent bonus way back in 1974 but it was reduced to 8.33 per cent by the subsequent AIADMK government in 1977.

“The M Karunanidhi government in 1998 gave 20 per cent bonus and ex-gratia to set a new high,” he said, recalling that AIADMK government in 2001 once again reduced the bonus to 8.33 per cent citing losses.

When the workers resorted to protest, they were arrested and lodged in prison for 15 days.

He added that the AIADMK government provided a bonus of 8.33 per cent till 2003 and raised it to 10 per cent in 2004. It was increased further in 2005 to 20 per cent considering the State Assembly polls in 2006.

“Since 2006, the transport corporation employees were getting a bonus of 20 per cent without any hindrance. In 2016, when the transport corporation workers sought a salary hike commensurate with the government employees (2.57 multiplication factor), the government cited the payment of 20 per cent bonus.

Now the same Edappadi government has reduced the bonus citing a loss. Employees’ union will picket the divisional offices of the transport corporation on Monday at 10 am seeking revision of bonus to 20 per cent,” he declared.