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Tamil Nadu transport strike called off, unions to resume work today

In a huge relief for the people of Tamil Nadu, an indefinite strike called by the workers in state-owned bus…

Tamil Nadu transport strike called off, unions to resume work today

Representational Image (Photo: AFP)

In a huge relief for the people of Tamil Nadu, an indefinite strike called by the workers in state-owned bus services demanding higher wages ended after Madras High Court’s intervention. The staff will resume work on Friday after eight days.

Around 17 trade unions had gone on an indefinite strike after rejecting the state government’s proposal to hike the wages of the transport workers by 2.44 times arguing that their salaries should be equivalent to what drivers in other state government corporations are getting.

The unions want a 2.57 times hike, but the government, after 23 rounds of talks, has agreed for a 2.44 times raise.

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However, after the court’s intervention on Thursday evening, the staffers decided to return to work.

The unions had earlier requested the Madras High Court to cancel a January 4 government order in favour of Anna Workers’ Union and asked the judge to tell the authorities to start discussions soon with the strikers.

With only a few days left for the Pongal festival, anxiety had gripped the general public with no sign of the strike ending till Thursday even after a Rs.750 crore package announced by the government in a bid to end the work stoppage.

This is the time when tens of thousands leave major cities for their hometowns and villages to celebrate Pongal with their families.

The continuing bus strike, in a state where state-run buses ferry hundreds of thousands daily, had forced more and more people to take to local trains, making them over-crowded.

Not refusing to back down, the state government had roped in additional drivers and conductors to resume the stalled buses.

(With inputs from agencies)

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