To create awareness among their colleagues of the need for immediately commencing the 13th wage settlement talks between the trade unions and the government, various trade unions of transport workers organised a day-long dharna in front of the General Manager’s Office at Vannarpet here on Wednesday.
Even as the CITU’s State council member Perumal presiding over the agitation, the State organising secretary of Thozhilaalar Munnetra Sangam Dharman inaugurated the protest in which the office-bearers of All India Trade Union Congress, HMS, Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam and Puthiy Thamizhagam participated.
The protestors said the Minister for Transport, as assured earlier, should invite the trade unions for the wage settlement talks without further delay and discuss all pay anomalies in a transparent manner to arrive at an amicable solution.
They also said the retirement benefits and the arrears should be paid to the former transport workers immediately as they would be in need of this assistance to meet their medical expenses or the wedding expenses of their daughters.
“If the State Government is still adamant and refuses to commence the talks, it will only affect the smooth functioning of public transport system as the workers will start their indefinite strike once again,” they said.
