Govt announces Rs 750 cr for transport workers, unions to withdraw strike

It seems the protesting transport trade unions would withdraw their week-long strike, accepting an assurance from the state government.

The Tamil Nadu government on Wednesday announced a Rs 750 crore package to settle dues of retired employees. An announcement this regard was made in the state Assembly under Rule 110, by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami.

The standoff between the Tamil Nadu government and the workers of the state owned transport corporations continued, as the latter on Wednesday refused to withdraw the strike unless the settlement signed by the government with 'minority unions' accepting 2.44% wage hike is kept in abeyance.

However, they are expected to withdraw the strike today. The Madras High Court on Wednesday left it to the conscience of the State Transport Corporation employees to take a positive decision by Thursday on giving up their strike, without any riders, in the interest of thousands of people dependant on government buses for travelling to their hometowns to celebrate Pongal.

Meanwhile, suburban trains have come to rescue of lakhs of Chennaiites. Over 6.2 lakh additional passengers, especially office-goers and students, had used suburban rail services in the last five days.

The number keeps increasing every day, even as striking government transport employees have stuck to their demand of higher wage revision.