Leaders of political parties sought the government’s intervention to bring an end to the strike of the transport employees, saying continuation of the stir would affect crores of people.
In a statement here, DMK leader M. Karunanidhi said it was highly condemnable that the government and the Transport Minister had allowed the situation to reach this level. “At least now they should come forward to find an amicable solution by holding talks with the representatives of the trade unions,” he said.
Transport workers had lost their patience and decided to strike work from Sunday only after the transport department refused to hold talks with them on December 30. “In the beginning, the management wanted the DMK-affiliated LPF to give it in writing its willingness to take part in the talks. But after accepting the letter, it told them that talks would be held only after December 30,” he said.
PMK leader S. Ramadoss said while Tamil Nadu had not witnessed strike by transport employees for the past 13 years, the State government had forced the workers to resort to go on strike.
“Even though 15 months had passed since the lapse of the wage agreement, the government is not ready to sign the new agreement,” he pointed out.
CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan accused the government of using the ruling partymen to attack workers in transport depots across the State. “The government should immediately stop this wrong approach and hold talks with the workers’ representatives to finalise the wage settlement,” he said.
TMC leader G.K. Vasan pressed for an amicable solution to the strike.
