Busmen’s wages: Arbitrator to hold first meeting today

The first formal session will be held at the Anna Institute of Management on Friday, after which full-fledged hearing might commence on the premises of the High Court.

Both the transport department and unions are now busy in preparing ‘claim petitions’ to be submitted to the arbitrator. Meanwhile, transport trade union leaders sat in a meeting on Thursday to decide the advocate to represent their side. 

Disputes arose, when the transport workers demanded that the revised wages should be fixed at 2.57 factor, while transport department offered to fix it at 2.44 factor and remained firm. Following this standoff, the transport workers went on strike for seven days in January.

Subsequently, the HC appointed a retired Judge Padmanabhan to adjudicate the disputes and directed him to submit a report within one month from the date of receiving the notification from the government.

M Shanmugam, general secretary of Labour Progressive Federation (LPF), said, “There are 22 unions on our side and we will argue to increase .13 factor of wage revision from what the government fixed (2.44). Further, we are planning to represent our entire side only through one advocate as appointing advocates for each union will lead to confusion.” 

The trade unions were confident that a judgment in favour of the workers would be delivered, he added. 

Similarly, transport department is also preparing a detailed report to justify its stand. “We have already explained the union leaders about the wage revision. However, we will argue and submit our report to the arbitrator. Further, we will accept the court order, whatever it is,” said PWC Davidar, Additional Chief Secretary (Transport).