No respite for travellers in TN as bus strike enters fifth day
CHENNAI: Thousands of commuters were stranded across Tamil Nadu on Monday for the fifth consecutive day as striking employees of the state’s road transport corporations intensified their indefinite stir for better wages even as the opposition DMK demanded that the government find a solution before the Pongal festival.
The striking employees ignored the government’s appeals and a Madras high court interim order restraining them from a strike which forced the government to start hiring temporary drivers.
The HC on Monday reiterated its earlier order asking the striking workers to join duty immediately and also directed the government not to terminate them from service without its consent.
The bench questioned why the retirement benefits and arrears due to employees were not paid and asked the government to address their grievances. The workers, however, insisted they will continue with the strike.
With over 50,000 drivers and conductors of various transport corporations in the state joining the strike, the government began hiring temporary drivers to run skeletal services.
In Chennai alone, the government appointed 230 drivers and 135 conductors. The government plans to appoint 500 temporary drivers immediately across the state to tide over the crisis
But the move could be potentially dangerous with two temporary drivers already involved in accidents, one of which was fatal.
Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) leader and president of Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Federation, A Soundarrajan urged the government to invite drivers’ unions for talks before Pongal festivities next week. He said the strike will continue till the government gave in to the demand of a 2.57% wage hike. The government was only willing for a 2.44% hike.
Meanwhile, DMK working president MK Stalin hit out at the Edapaddi Palaniswami government.
“The government appears not be concerned about the transport strike which is causing great inconvenience to the people at large,” he said.