Transport unions postpone protest meetings to Oct 22

After the unions called for the protest, the labour department has invited their representatives on October 22 for talks, said a statement issued by the Joint Trade Union Council in the Transport Corporation.

The unions had given a strike notice in March this year after their demand to hold the 14th wage revision talks was not considered. The 13th wage settlement agreement came to an end in September 2019. After the unions commenced indefinite protests in March this year, the government announced that the talks would be held on March 20 with the representatives of the trade union but it was postponed following the outbreak of COVID-19 and subsequent lockdown.

DMK-affiliated LPF treasurer K Natarajan said, “It has been two years since the end of the wage agreement for transport workers and talks have not yet begun on a new wage agreement. Retired employees were not given the full settlement yet. We have declared a series of struggles demanding an immediate solution.

Meanwhile, the labour commissioner office has called for the talks on our demands on October 22. The talks will be held at the DMS premises in Chennai and will be attended by union representatives. We will then announce our position.”