As transport unions staged a demonstration near the Labour Department office on Wednesday, a section of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) employees affiliated to Anna Thozhir Sangam, the trade union of the ruling AIADMK, also joined the stir.
With the bus strike continuing for the seventh day, district officials said they had made arrangements to operate 87% of TNSTC buses in Vellore zone comprising Vellore and Krishnagiri districts. Of the total 998 buses, 862 were operated. A total of 478 temporary drivers and 328 conductors have been recruited.
A driver attached to the Anna Thozhir Sangam said employees attached to the union had stayed away from work since the strike was announced. “We follow the party’s ideology, but we took part in the protest for our own rights. We need to take care of our families,” he said.
He added that several members of the ruling party’s union from many depots in the district took part in the protest. This included drivers, conductors and technical staff.
He claimed that the corporation did not deposit the amount deducted towards Provident Fund from the salary in the respective PF account. “In fact, the authorities have not given me a PF account number till date. Our demands are genuine. Our aim is that the talks with the government should end amicably,” he said.
The transport unions have been demanding basic minimum pay of ₹19,500 and settlement of dues for employees, who had retired since 2013.
