Tamil Nadu Transport Unions Call off Bus Strike After 8 Days
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All public buses will run as per schedule in Tamil Nadu on 12 January, the state transport association announced, after calling off the eight-day long bus strike to protest low wages. Special buses for festivals will also run as per schedule, the unions said.
- The TN transport association has called of the strike after eight days
- All buses are expected to ply in the city on Friday, 12 January
The Madras High Court appointed retired Justice Padmanabhan as arbitrator
Transport unions had said on 10 January that they were willing to suspend the strike that was launched on 4 January over wage revision
The Madras HC had backed the government’s demand that the wage hike be fixed at 2.44%, instead of the 2.57% hike that the striking unions demanded
Tamil Nadu Bus Strike Called Off After 8 Days
The Tamil Nadu transport association has announced that it will withdraw its strike and resume duties from 12 January, reported ANI.
Strike to be Called Off Soon?
After the Madras HC order, transport union workers have gone into a huddle to discuss whether the strike will be called off today. "We can announce our decision only after going through the full order of Madras HC,” A Soundararajan of CITU told reporters.
Madras HC Appoints Arbitrator
The Madras High Court said on 11 January that it wants buses to ply immediately. Normalcy must return immediately, the court said. The court also appointed retired Justice Padmanabhan as arbitrator and announced that it was giving a month’s time to finish talks on the demands of the striking transport union workers.
Workers Want to Hold Talks Before Calling off Strike
Transport unions said they are willing to call off the strike if the High Court helps both sides arrive at a fair decision. The unions said they were willing to accept the 2.44 percent hike provided the government holds talks with them. The case has been adjourned to 2.30 pm today.
Transport Unions Willing to Suspend Strike
Transport unions say they are ready to accept the 2.44 percent wage hike and suspend the strike provided the Tamil Nadu government holds talks with them.
Implement 2.44% Wage Hike: Madras HC
The Madras HC has urged the striking unions to resume work immediately. The court reiterated that the public should not be inconvenienced, especially with the Pongal festivities being around the corner. The problem can be solved through dialogue, the court noted, adding that the government should implement the wage hike of 2.44 percent immediately.
Minister Requests Workers to Resume Duty
M R Vijaya Bhaskar, Transport Minister of Tamil Nadu said they had conducted talks with trade unions for 23 times already and want the workers to join work immediately.
He said that despite severe cash crunch, the government will dispense the salary increase of 2.44%.
Opposition parties criticise government for ongoing strike
With the bus strike going on for the fifth day, workers across the state have not been able to report to work as state-run buses are one of the primary modes of transport for majority of people in Tamil Nadu.
About 50% Services Only Resumed in Chennai
Contrary to the Transport Minister’s claims that 80% of buses are plying on roads across Tamil Nadu, 71 % government buses are being operated across Tamil Nadu and only 58% buses in Chennai. Now over 4,578 drivers and 3,496 conductors have been roped in to serve as temporary employees to help in this crisis situation.
TTV Dhinakaran Hits Out at CM Palaniswami
On reports of special buses being arranged for MLAs, TTV Dhinakaran slammed the ruling party for not being concerned about the hardships of the people.
All Protesting Employees Must Return to Work: Madras HC
The Madras High Court, on 8 January, refused to take back its last week's interim order restraining transport workers from continuing their strike. The court said “it is not judges or ministers but poor people who are affected due to state transport workers strike.”
The high court observed that all protesting employees must return to work.
'Won't Return to Work Unless Demands Are Met'
“The strike is continuing and it is a demonstration of solidarity. We have not received a copy of the order. After we get the court order copy, we will contest it in court on Monday. We were not given the opportunity to present our case,” A Soundararajan, a Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU) leader told The News Minute.
Transport Minister Asks Workers to Resume Duty
MR Vijayabhaskar assured that 80 percent buses are running as of the morning of 6 January.
Opposition Party Urges Immediate Solution
According to reports, the DMK’s working president MK Stalin spoke to CM Edappadi Palanisami over the phone and expressed concern over the ongoing transport strike. He also urged the government to expedite talks with unions and find a solution to the crisis.
Strike Hits Tiruppur Textile Industry
The strike took a heavy toll on the Tiruppur textile sector, with workers dependent on the public transport system being rendered unable to commute. Of the 163 buses attached to the two depots in Tirupur, as many as 104 buses carried out services during the later part of the day, official sources said.
Due to the strike, share auto-rickshaws were ferrying double the usual number of passengers, reported The Hindu.
Minister's Assurance of Running 90% of Transport Failed
Of the nearly 4,000 buses in the Metropolitan Transport Corporation fleet, only 10 percent to 15 percent were operated on Friday, 5 January, adding to the frustration of nearly five million people who use the bus services.
Following the flash strike by several trade unions on Thursday evening after the wage talks failed, Transport Minister M R Vijayabaskar promised that 90 percent of the buses would be operated. It was not reflected on the ground, reported The Hindu.
Strike Continues Despite Court Orders
The Federation of Tamil Nadu State Transport Employees Trade Union (Federation) has decided to continue its strike despite strict directions by the Madras High Court ordering all the protesting staff to return to work or face action, including termination.
Transport Minister MR Vijayabhaskar on Friday night urged the crew to resume operations as people were put to extreme hardship due to their flash strike.
Good Samaritans Make Life Easier
Private travel companies are operating buses locally to help stranded commuters, especially on school, college and office routes.
Opposition Party Blames Government
Opposition party DMK has slammed the ruling party AIADMK for being lethargic regarding the bus strike which has resulted in a chaotic situation for the public.
Bus Drivers Allege Unfair Treatment
Tamil Nadu has a fleet of 22,500 buses, with 1.4 lakh workers in the state's employment. Chennai accounts for a large share of this with 3,500 buses in the city. Today's strike has taken about 15,000 buses off the roads in Tamil Nadu, reported NDTV.
A Soundararajan, a Centre of Indian Trade Union leader, told NDTV, "We don't want to subject the public to hardship but the government is pushing us. It doesn't want to treat us equally as drivers in other departments. Is our demand unfair? We are not responsible for transport corporations running on losses."
HC Orders Workers to Call off Strike
Madras High Court orders all transport union workers to return to work immediately. Those who fail to do so shall face serious consequences, HC said, reportedly adjourning the further hearing of the case to Monday, 8 January.
Thousands Stranded Across Tamil Nadu
In Coimbatore, over 90 percent of the buses are off the roads affecting thousands of commuters.
"I am standing here for more than two hours for the G18 bus. I was informed by the time keeper of the depot that four buses have gone and nothing has returned. The government is not taking any action to give relief to the public. They should encourage the public servants to move smoothly with the public to avoid the suffering of the public,” Rajagopalan, a resident of Chennai, who was waiting at the T Nagar bus stop said told The News Minute.
Auto Wallahs Overcharge, Commuters Angry
Residents say auto-rickshaw drivers are charging double the fare and even triple the normal rates in some areas.
Private Buses Pitch In
Private travel companies are running buses in local routes to help stranded customers.
CM Holds Meeting
CM Edappadi K Palaniswami held a high-level meeting with ministers and bureaucrats on the bus strike, the Times of India reports.
Kamal Haasan on #Busstrike
Madras HC May Hear Case Against TN State Transport Corporation
The Madras High Court refused to take suo motu notice of the strike and said it would hear the case against ongoing TNSTC strike by 2:15 pm, if a petition could be filed before that, The Hindu reported.
Skeletal Bus Services Resume
Several Rounds of Talks
Eleven round of talks have been held so far, with no positive results yet
Strike Hits Evening Commuters
19 Hours and Counting
The strike was called without an announcement, leaving several commuters in the lurch on Thursday. Office-goers were among the several who said they waited for hours at the bus depots in vain, with most buses staying off the road in Chennai, Madurai district, Coimbatore and Tiruchirapalli after 6 pm on 4 January.
Why Has the Strike Been Called?
Trade unions, the members of which include employees of the TNSTC, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation and the State Express Transport Corporations (SETC), have demanded an increase in wages, the Times of India reports.
The workers want a hike as per the 2.57 multiplication factor so as to revise basic monthly pay to Rs 19,500 – on par with permanent state government employees.
Transport minister MR Vijayabaskar has termed the proposed hike “unprecedented”. The government’s 2.44 factor will result in an additional expense of Rs 81 crore per month, reported PTI
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