Transport dept-TUs talks: Good progress as key demands heeded

Chennai

The final round of talks between the Confederation of various Transport Workers’ Unions and the Department of Labour Commission over a slew of demands ranging from the retirement settlements to promotion will be held on October 31.

On Monday, the meeting between the two parties was presided over by the Additional Labour Commissioner in the presence of the Managing Directors of MTC and SETC. Also, it witnessed a participation of representatives of 14 Labour unions.

During the meeting, the government acceded to a few long pending demands of the Transport Unions, including the disbursal of dearness allowances for a period of nine months to the employees. The amount will be distributed to the employees before Diwali. Moreover, a festival advance of Rs 5,000 will also be given to them.

Also, the government accepted to revoke the suspensions and cancel the transfers imposed on 86 workers over charges of public property damage across the state.

The president of State Transport Employees Union, P Balakrishnan, said, “We will be holding talks again with the Labour department before taking a decision over the announcement of strike. The final round of talks will cover a wide range of issues from promotions, punishments, and retirement benefits.”

The general secretary of Labor Progressive Federation, M Shanmugam, said, “The government has accepted to hold talks after Diwali. Other pending issues, including the misappropriation of Rs 7,000 crore which was deducted from the workers’ salaries, will be discussed in that meeting.”