On the second day of the transport employees strike, bus services across the State continued to be affected leaving lakhs of commuters stranded. There were sporadic incidents of violence in several places as miscreants pelted stones and broke windshields of government buses.
Despite the arrest of hundreds of employees, the State-wide bus strike that began on Monday is expected to continue in the days to come. Steadfast in their protest, the 11 trade unions have decided to go on with the strike till the government announces a date for talks for wage revision and 28 of their demands.
The government, meanwhile, insists that it could not invite all the trade unions for talks unless the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), which has got the sole bargaining agent power, submits a petition in the High Court stating that it does not mind inviting other unions for talks.
“If we invite other unions for talks, then the LPF might file a contempt petition in the court. Hence, they have to submit a petition in the court and get an order . We will hold discussions and settle the issue immediately,” a senior official in the Transport Department said.
LPF general secretary M. Shanmugam counters the government’s argument. “In 2010, we were elected the sole bargaining agent, by winning majority of votes through secret ballot system. We are in power till October 2015. All of a sudden the transport officials say we do not have sufficient votes now and cannot be the sole bargaining agent,” he said, giving the background to the present impasse.
“The problem is now the government wants a no-objection letter from us. Subsequently, the officials said they will consult the Law Department and inform us on the talks by January end. Why should we wait more as it is already 15 months,” Mr. Shanmugam asks.
He said they have no objection to the government holding discussions with other unions and this has been given in writing to the other unions. A. Soundararajan, general secretary, CITU, admits that the LPF had no objection in other unions being part of the discussion. “We had clarified this with the LPF as they are the sole bargaining agent,” he said.
“We are not asking them to fulfil the demands immediately. We want the government to hold discussions with us as it has been 15 months since we gave our petition. Usually the revised wages used to reflect in the October month salary,” said M. Chandran, vice-president, State Transport Employees Federation, CITU.
With the stand-off between the government and the transport unions still unresolved, the wait for the bus is going to be longer for the commoners.
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The backdrop
Around 11 transport unions, including LPF, CITU, INTUC on a strike from Sunday.
They have a set of 28 demands, including wage revision.
Pending for the past 15 months, since September 2013.
Unions claim nearly 80 per cent of the staff did not work.
TIMELINE
On a petition filed by the Tamil Nadu Government Transport Corporations Staff Federation (TTSF),
2010 - Division Bench of the Madras High Court holds that wage settlement talks could be held with the principal trade union.
As the DMK was in power, the AIADMK-affiliated Anna Thozhilalar Sangam subsequently moves the Supreme Court and filed a SLP against the judgment.
In its interim order, the court allowed the authorities to hold talks, as suggested by the High Court but the entire matter would be subject to the outcome of the case before the Supreme Court.
October 2010 — Elections are held. DMK-affiliated Labour Progressive Federation wins.
December 2010 — GO issued granting the LPF the status of sole bargaining agent.
This recognition, which would be in force till November 2015, was also subject to the outcome of the case before the Supreme Court.
January 2011 — The previous round of wage settlement talks was held.
August 31, 2013 — The settlement expires.
December 4, 2014 — LPF and 10 other unions give a notice for strike.
December 26 and 27 — Conciliation talks were held
December 28 — 11 trade unions launch strike
