Will not hesitate to go on strike again: Busmen

After district level protests, employees from various transport unions gathered near Pallavan House in the city and held a demonstration against the Transport Department, for floundering to settle the employees’ long-pending issues. The union leaders pointed out that though marathon talks prevailed between them and transport officials to fulfill the 12-point charter of demands, the government has failed in implementing them so far. 

The members also claimed that the transport department had assured them of sorting out all their issues soon, but in vain. Further, all the assurances remain only on paper with no approval coming forth from the government. In such a situation, they have no other choice but to hold protests across the state to remind the government to act in earnest on its promises. 

M Chandran, vice-president of the CITU-affiliated Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Federation, said, “We are at a loss to understand as to why the government is shying away from our issues. If such a delay continued, the government would be left with no other choice but to face yet-another strike by the transport workers.”

V Krishnamurthy, Managing Director, MTC and head of the government panel, said, “We are aware of the pending issues and measures are in place to settle them soon. Moreover, we are planning to conduct a meeting with the sub-committee, consisting of union members.” All the issues would gradually be sorted out, he exuded hope.