Chennai (Tamil Nadu): The Tamil Nadu transport workers affiliated with nine trade unions commenced their indefinite strike on Thursday demanding the government to conclude the 14th wage revision talks immediately, leaving several commuters stranded across the state.
The strike by the unions, including DMK-affiliated LPF, CITU, AITUC and INTUC, is also to seek pending terminal benefits of workers retired from 2020 and non-allocation of funds in the budget to compensate the losses incurred by the corporation which is a service sector.
The strike caused hardship to commuters, particularly students and office goers. Nearly 50 per cent of buses plied in the state capital during the early hours and the number of government buses that operated in several districts was abysmally low.
A senior official at the state transport department said the MTC operated 50 to 57 per cent buses in Chennai from 7 am to 9 am. "We have taken steps to ensure the people were not affected on account of the strike," a senior official said.
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The trade union affiliated to the ruling AIADMK - Anna Trade Union - however, resorted to work in Chennai and other parts of the state, as they did not participate in the strike.
In Nagercoil, Tiruchy, Madurai, Thanjavur, Cuddalore and Tiruvannamalai, for instance, many buses remained at the bays and some of the bus stations wore a deserted look.
However, all state buses will run today normally, said Transport Minister MR. Vijayabaskar.
