CHENNAI: A whopping 90 per cent of Southern Railway employees have voted in favour of the nationwide indefinite strike from April 11. The Southern Railway Mazdoor Union on Monday warned that the proposed strike, pressing for a 36-point charter of demands, would be severe bringing the country to a standstill.
Briefing newspersons at a press conference here, SRMU General Secretary N Kanniah said strike notice would be given to Southern Railway General Manager on March 11.
"Of the total 86,724 Southern Railway employees, 79,327 persons exercised their franchise in a secret ballot for indefinite strike. The poll was conducted between February 11 and 13. Among them, 90.07 per cent have expressed their support for the strike," he said.
Stating that 90 per cent of essential commodities are being ferried through railways, he said the indefinite general strike would affect movement of goods severely. "Around 95.5 per cent of the workforce have decided to go for the strike from April 11. There will be chaos and problems," he warned, adding that the upcoming strike would be worse if compared with the last general strike in 1974.