Chennai, Aug 25:
TASMAC employees across Tamil Nadu will launch an indefinite strike from August 28 after talks with the state government failed to resolve their long-pending demands, the Joint Action Committee of TASMAC trade unions said on Monday.
The employees had already announced the strike seeking permanent employment, regular pay scales, pension benefits and the appointment of additional staff for the empty liquor bottle return scheme, among other demands pending for nearly 23 years.
A conciliation meeting was held with representatives of the trade unions under the leadership of Prohibition and Excise Minister Vignesh at the AITUC headquarters in Chennai. Senior officials, including the TASMAC Managing Director, participated in the discussions.
According to the unions, the government informed them that it was not practically possible to implement their key demands immediately. The minister also reportedly requested the unions to defer the strike until the department’s demands for grants were completed.
The Joint Action Committee rejected the request and expressed strong opposition to the government’s position.
Following the failed talks, an emergency consultation meeting was held under the leadership of former MLA N. Periyasamy.
The unions unanimously decided to proceed with the proposed indefinite strike from August 28, stating that the government had failed to take an immediate policy decision on their demands.