The strike called by bus transport unions affiliated to opposition parties left commuters stranded across Tamil Nadu on Monday even as the government took several measures including roping in private operators and hiring ad hoc drivers and conductors to maintain bus services.
A tripartite meeting between officials of the Transport Department, the Labour Department and office-bearers of unions failed to break the deadlock over issues related to service conditions, emoluments and settlement of retirement benefits.
In many districts, around 25% to 30% of the crew members, mostly belonging to the ruling party’s Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai, reported for work.
In urban centres, including Chennai and Kancheepuram, the government asked schools and colleges to ply their buses and collect fares from passengers. Private bus operators, who were pressed into service, charged flat fares for various destinations, which were higher than the normal fares collected by the State transport corporations.
Long-distance commuters and tourists going to popular hill stations and pilgrimage centres were hit the most. Transport Minister M.R. Vijayabhaskar called upon those with heavy-vehicle driving licences to join as ad hoc drivers. He said they would be given preference in recruitment when vacancies arise in future. Representatives of various unions said the decision to hire ad hoc crew members was violative of the ILO convention.
