Talks between Labour Dept, transport unions make headway

The Transport Department has agreed to maintain status quo. “It means that actions against the workers, including transfers, suspensions and charge memos, cannot be taken until the talks come to an end,” said the State Employees Union president P Balakrishnan.

The meeting presided over by the Deputy Labour Commissioner M Shanthi was attended by various unions, including the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), International Telecommunications Union (ITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and Labour Progressive Federation (LPF). Further, the managing directors of seven Transport Corporations were present during the meet.

The authorities agreed to cancel the pending charges against the 86 workers whose suspensions were revoked last October after the issue was raised in a similar meet. The transfer orders issued in the last few months will also be reversed along with the restrictions of allotting additional kilometres to the crew. Further, any future changes will be brought out after the approval from the Department of Labour, sources said.

The other pending matters including outstanding DA arrears, gratuity and other settlements will be taken up to the notice of the Finance Secretary. The workers had demanded that the deductions should be deposited in appropriate accounts, proposal to amend the Motor Vehicles Act should be halted, sanctioning of DA arrears and earned leaves, 8-hour shift and confirmation of drivers in the reserve category. They are all still pending. The next round of talks is scheduled soon.