MTC settlement delayed; MR Vijayabhaskar meets workers

Chennai: It is almost a year since the workers of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) had been waiting for the mandatory salary hikes.

The settlement, which happens every three years, is due from 2016.MTC insiders said that during DMK regime, the salary was settled in 2010 when the workers got a hike of Rs 2,000 to 8,400  depending on their designation.

So, the next settlement was supposed to happen in 2013 and 2016. “Salary settlement was delayed last time as well. While talks with the transport department happened only in 2014, the hike was made in 2015 when they increased 5.5 per cent, which is anywhere between Rs 1,350 and Rs 5,941, said one of the sources. He further added that some people did not get the minimum of Rs 1,350  even and the balance amount was later settled in the name of -”Settlement Balance Pay”, which is till date not added in the basic salary, meaning it reduces the hike ultimately.

Also, the arrear amount for the delay (2013-15) was paid in three segments and none of the workers knew of the detailed breakup of the amount. The increment, which has been reduced by nearly 50 per cent after 2010, is never settled on time, they said. While transport minister, M.R. Vijayabhaskar met the workers on July 25 to talk about the issue, officials of MTC met the drivers and conductors on August 5.When contacted, an official from MTC said the settlement will be done by the end of this month but did not want to talk about the arrear amount.