Government, bus men talks still deadlocked

The labour department’s meeting with union leaders on Friday failed to yield any breakthrough and another discussion was held on Saturday. The leaders put forth their demands to Assistant Commissioner of Labour Yasmin Begum. 

Shanmugam, general secretary, Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), said, “The labour department officials told us that the state transport minister has spoken to CM Edappadi K Palanisamy and we will hold talks with Vijayabaskar on Sunday in Pallavan House.” 

Meanwhile, the employees have demanded the state government to allot at least Rs 2,000 crore. S Veeraragavan, joint secretary of Tamil Nadu State Transport Retired Employees said, “If the government allots Rs 2,000 crore, all arrears can be cleared.” When contacted, V Krishnamurthy, Managing Director of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) and head of the panel, told DTNext that they were hoping for a suitable conclusion to be reached on Sunday. 

The former City Commissioner of Police Karan Singha on Saturday held a meeting with the transport, revenue and fire service officials to discuss arrangements prior to the strike. Various measures regarding maintainence of law and order were adopted. There would be heavy deployment of cops at Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus the Transport Headquarters at Pallavan Salai. 

Ambulances and fire tenders will be stationed at all bus depots across the city and RTO and revenue officials will be on duty, Singha said.