CITU leader announced the deferment of the strike and added that after 19 January, the workers will continue in a peaceful manner.
Bus strike deferred. (Screengrab)
A section of transport unions which went on an indefinite strike from Tuesday, 9 January, announced deferring the protest by about 10 days on Wednesday, making a submission in the Madras High Court in this regard.
A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sanjay V Gangapurwala and Justice D Bharatha Chakravarthy said that workers/employees may have the right to go on a strike as per the provisions of the Industrial Disputes Act, but its legality would be decided at the appropriate time.
“However, it is also a matter of fact that the transport service is an essential public utility service,” the Bench said, while hearing a petition against the protest.
Trade unions affiliated to the CPI(M) and main Opposition AIADMK were among the respondents, and they submitted in the court that they would “suspend” the strike till 19 January.
“To provide the facility of transport service throughout the State is the responsibility of the State. In light of that, the State would be within its right to take all possible legitimate steps as may be permissible under law in case the illegal activities are resorted to by the employees. The respondents 11 to 14 are also expected not to proceed ahead with the strike at least till 19 January 2024,” the Bench said.
“At this stage, learned counsel for respondents No 11 and 12 (Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai of AIADMK and CPI(M) affiliated CITU) submits that the members of the respondents 11 and 12, for the interest of the people at large and in view of the Pongal festival, would suspend the strike call till 19 January 2024 and would report to their duties by tomorrow (11 January 2024) itself,” the court said.
They should be allowed to report for duty, it added.
CITU leader A Soundararajan announced the deferment of the strike and added that after 19 January, the workers would continue all forms of protest in a peaceful manner.
Referring to proposed talks following the Pongal festival next week, he said, “After giving the government some time to consider the demands, if needed, once again we may have to resort to a strike.”
The Left trade union leader said that the government’s stand against even releasing “ad hoc” payment of ₹2,000 to workers ahead of the festival, cast doubts on “whether the government is toying with the idea of removing the Dearness Allowance altogether.”
Pointing to factors such as “outsourcing” and hiring workers on “contract”, he said these aspects indicated a possibility of a divergence from the government’s policy. “We have to protest against all these things,” he added.
The trade unions had announced the strike demanding the implementation of a “6-point charter of demands”. It includes the initiation of talks for enhanced wages (15th wage revision pact), filling vacant posts, and release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA) for those in service and retired workers.
The CITU leader had said a key demand was the release of Dearness Allowance pending for eight years to pensioners.
He added, “We are not seeking a hike and we are asking the release of DA that is due.”
About 96,000 pensioners have not received it and the DA due per month is ₹6,000. For in-service workers “the DA is unpaid” for four months. The unions said the matter of release of about ₹2,000 crore, which is the “cumulative DA arrears” pending for pensioners may be decided later.
Briefing reporters on talks with the government/management of state transport corporations, Soundararajan on 8 January said that the government made it clear that “none of the demands of transport workers could be accepted now which is an unjust answer and an unfair stand”.
The trade union leader said that the government has said that the talks could be resumed following the Pongal festival next week.
Transport Minister SS Sivasankar had earlier said that the demands will be met in due course when the financial situation improves. He also alleged the strike call had “political motives” and would cause hindrance to the public and warned of appropriate action if warranted.
AIADMK chief and Leader of Opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami slammed the DMK regime as one without any humanitarian considerations as it has not come forward to meet even a single demand of the trade unions.
He urged the government to resume talks and fulfil the workers’ demands to a minimum extent at the least.
Trade union affiliated to the ruling DMK, the Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) was not a part of the strike. AIADMK’s Anna Thozhirsanga Peravai (ATP) and the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) among others participated in the strike.
(With PTI inputs)
May 15, 2024
May 14, 2024
May 14, 2024
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
May 13, 2024
