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Amid the Pongal festivities, the Tamil Nadu Transport Corporation (TNSTC) workers initiated an indefinite strike after unsuccessful talks with the government, significantly impacting travel plans for scores of passengers heading to their hometowns. The deadlock arises from the government maintaining its position despite multiple rounds of negotiations.
The TNSTC workers’ charter of demands includes crucial points such as the signing of the 15th pay revision pact for increased pay, the filling of vacancies in bus driver and conductor positions, and the release of a long-pending dearness allowance of Rs. 6,000 per month for retired workers over the past eight years.
Affiliated with unions like the Centre of Indian Trade Union (CITU), All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), and Anna Thozhir Sanga Peravai (ATSP), among others, the workers have called for an indefinite strike starting from Tuesday midnight, presenting a series of demands. These demands encompass the implementation of the old pension scheme, releasing pending dearness allowance, filling vacant posts, and initiating talks regarding the 15th wage revision.
Negotiations with transport authorities hit a stalemate on Monday, prompting union representatives to announce their decision to proceed with the strike, beginning at zero hours on Tuesday. The situation raises concerns as the strike comes at a crucial time, coinciding with the heightened Pongal rush for travellers across the state.
In Chennai, the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) stands as the sole bus operator, as private buses are restricted within city limits. Town buses are being operated to various destinations from Chennai. The MTC normally runs 2,025 buses daily, but during the strike, it is operating nearly 2,098 buses to accommodate the increased demand.
Transport Minister SS Sivasankar has characterised the strike as a political move and inspected the Koyambedu mofussil bus terminal. Despite the ongoing strike, he urged officials to ensure the smooth operation of buses. Minister Sivasankar emphasised the significance of uninterrupted service during the Pongal season and expressed concerns about the strike adversely affecting the public.
He stated, “For political reasons, such protests are a diversion. This is Pongal time, and we need to operate buses and special ones to cater to the demand. This time, the strike would affect the public.”
Transport Minister SS Sivasankar has announced plans for over 19,000 special buses to operate from Chennai and other districts ahead of Pongal. However, the situation is compounded by the recently inaugurated Kilambakkam bus terminal, located 40 kilometres away from the city and lacking rail and bus connectivity. Passengers express dissatisfaction with the new terminal and advocate for buses from the well-established Koyambedu terminus to other districts in Tamil Nadu.
Government sources counter these concerns, claiming that buses have been operating from 32 bus depots in the city since 6:30 AM, with 200 buses already in service. Alphi John Varghese, the Managing Director of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), assured the public that buses are running according to schedule from MTC depots and various zones, including Villupuram, Salem, Coimbatore, Kumbakonam, Madurai, and Tirunelveli.
However, a transport union member accuses the ruling DMK party of hypocrisy, alleging that during previous AIADMK regimes, DMK-affiliated unions announced strikes before festivals, disregarding passenger hardships. The member claims that despite supporting DMK in the assembly polls, the promises of fulfilling demands were not met, resulting in neglected maintenance and safety risks for passengers. The union member argues that DMK-affiliated unions lack the moral high ground to blame opposition unions.
In response, the DMK-affiliated Labour Progressive Federation (LPF) suggests that the strike is politically motivated by the AIADMK. CITU leader A Soundararajan criticises the government’s response, stating that workers were informed that their demands could not be considered before Pongal, labelling it as unjust and unsatisfactory. He expresses disappointment, asserting that the government views transport workers as second-class citizens.
As the strike unfolds, the state faces a challenging situation with potential disruptions to public transportation during one of the busiest travel periods, raising questions about the timely resolution of the workers’ demands and the impact on the Pongal celebrations for many citizens.
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