The first wage negotiation meeting between the State government and employees of various State-run transport corporations was held on Wednesday.
More than 60 demands have been placed before the government, of which eight were discussed at the meeting. The second phase of discussions is scheduled for December 20.
Apart from a host of grievances, the main agenda will be to decide how the sixth pay commission recommendations will be implemented.
A senior Transport Department official said that the workers has demanded wages on a par with that of TNEB employees. “But, while the electricity board has only 900 drivers, transport corporations have more than 50,000 drivers on their rolls. The workers are essentially demanding a 40 per cent hike. It is not feasible unless the government allocates separate funds.” The Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), affiliated to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, represented workers belonging to all the unions.
