Chennai: Transport strike date to be announced Nov. 2

Chennai: The second round of talks between transport union leaders and the labour department did not reach any consensus, prompting the leaders to announce a strike. The leaders said that they would announce the date on November 2 after holding a meeting with their members.

The union leaders placed various demands including disbursal of arrears and pensions for retired employees. Even as they placed such demands in the first round of talks with the labour department, the talks failed, leaving the union leaders red-faced. However, the labour department called the union leaders to hold another round of talks on Wednesday.

Addressing the media, K Natarajan, treasurer, Labour Progressive Federation, said, “The transport department is neglecting its employees with empty assurances. Even when transport workers went on strike last January, the department assured of paying attention to all our demands.”

However, higher-ups in the department warned the workers. “We have been fulfilling the demands put forth by employees and there is no place for a strike, as it amounts to blackmailing the transport department,” said an official.