Chennai: MTC crew go on flash strike over pay cut

Chennai: Passengers using the services of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses were left stranded in a few depots in the city on Friday noon, as the staff went on a flash strike demanding MTC higher-ups to reimburse the amount that was deliberately deducted from their salaries. The staff also alleged that officials were marking them absent even on days they had worked.

This being the workers' allegation, Anbu Abraham, managing director, MTC, said “The workers went on leave en-masse for a protest without official consent. Another one day's salary was taken as 'Gaja relief' after informing the employees.”

Waking up to the situation, the MTC finally buckled under mounting pressure and assured of looking into the issues.

Sources said that the salary of MTC workers was disbursed on Friday morning. But soon they were in for a shock as their salary slips reflected that some amount had been deducted from the salary. Before they could absorb the shock, they noticed that the attendance marked in the slip also was faulty. It showed a lesser number of days of attendance.

“I realised that even my weekly offs were marked as 'absent' in addition to other leaves availed, and I lost Rs 4,500 this month. Wonder why the office should take to such scornful practices, and the amount should be returned immediately,” said K. Mariappan, an MTC driver, who was seen shouting slogans during a sit-in, at Ambattur depot.

Treasurer of Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) K. Nataraj said that the officials had intentionally tampered with their attendance, and marked them 'absent'.

“Now, about 7,000 MTC workers are affected and their salaries cut. Even those leaves availed with official approval have been marked 'absent',” he said, adding that since the MTC assured of returning the deducted money, the employees agreed to it.

As the flash strike gained pace, commuters were left in the lurch. “I have been waiting for an hour to catch a bus to reach Velachery, but all buses have been halted in the depot, and the workers are on strike,” said a MTC bus commuter at Vadapalani.

He also lamented that such protests should not be staged at passengers' risk, and any issue must be sorted out through proper channel, the commuter suggested. When contacted by Deccan Chronicle, Anbu Abraham, managing director, MTC, said “The employees had gone on leave en-masse, that too for a protest. This is wrong, and so their attendance was marked 'absent' for that particular day. Another one day's salary was cut as 'Gaja relief' only after informing the employees. Hence, we will not return the amount.”