CHENNAI : Two hundred and fifty Chennai Metro Rail employees staged a sit-in at Chennai Metro Rail headquarters, for the fourth day, seeking pay rise on par with executives, and as per Third Pay Revision Committee (3rd PRC).The employees, mostly technicians, junior engineers, and station controllers, allege that the pay rise is not on par with the executives who received a nearly 20 per cent pay rise. “We have been ignored and given a pay rise of only five to six per cent, and we have to live with it for the next 10 years,” said a metro rail employee.
Keeping in mind the inconvenience that might be caused to the Metro commuters, the striking employees are ensuring that the metro services are not disrupted. “Once the shift ends, Chennai Metro rail employees will go to the headquarters in Koyambedu and stage dharna till 10 pm,” the employee said.
He claimed that most of the metros have implemented the Third Pay Revision Committee which is on par with the Seventh Pay Commission of government employees. “Since we are a limited company, our wage rise is considered as per Third Pay Revision Committee,” the employee said.
Chennai Metro has said that the demands of employees are unacceptable. “The junior engineer and technicians are already paid `39,000 and `23,000 respectively which is high as per industry standards when compared to the pay scale in government and private organisations. The pay rise demand is not a genuine one,” said a Metro rail official.
Rejecting claims
While the employee claims that most of the metros have implemented the 3rd PRC, a Chennai Metro official rejected the claims and said none of the metros have implemented it