Chennai, Feb 8: The Transport Department Secretary has taken a significant step towards addressing the wage concerns of employees within the transport corporation by constituting a 14-member committee to conduct negotiations for the 15th wage agreement. This move aims to facilitate productive discussions between the government and trade union representatives to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.
The committee, chaired by the Additional Secretary of the Finance Department, includes key stakeholders such as the Managing Director of the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), who also serves as the member secretary. With representation from various departments and trade unions, the committee is well-positioned to address the diverse needs and interests of all parties involved.
CITU State President A Soundararajan provided insights into the ongoing conciliation talks, highlighting the pressing demands put forth by the trade unions. Soundararajan emphasized the importance of providing dearness allowance (DA) hikes and arrears for retired employees, particularly in light of the recent dismissal of the state government’s appeal against the DA hike for retired employees by the Supreme Court.
Additionally, trade unions are advocating for 14 months of DA arrears for serving employees, underscoring the need for fair compensation and recognition of their contributions. These demands reflect the concerns of workers who play a crucial role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the transport corporation.
The next round of talks is scheduled for February 25, providing an opportunity for further dialogue and negotiation between the committee and trade union representatives.