CHENNAI: Transport employees’ unions withdrew their indefinite strike on Tuesday night following negotiations at the Secretariat.
At the end of the nearly seven-hour-long talks held in two rounds, Ministers KA Sengottaiyan, P Thangamani and MR Vijayabhaskar, and representatives of 11 workers unions signed an agreement.
The striking staff, who have been staying away from duty since late Sunday night, would return to work from Wednesday morning, though normalcy is expected to return only day after tomorrow, as some employees might have gone out of town, sources said.
Trade union leaders said the government has agreed to pay Rs 1,250 crore immediately towards arrears in monetary benefits like gratuity to retired employees. The balance Rs 700 crore would be paid within three months. For those in service, Rs 400 crore towards arrear clearance like leave surrender etc., payment would be made within a week. The government has further agreed to announce the method of deduction from employees’ salaries towards provident fund etc. within three months.
The government has also agreed to take steps to set right the financial position of the transport corporations in a phased manner.
Talks on wage revision would take place on May 24 in the presence of the Transport Secretary, while the Transport Minister would take part in the next round of talks to be held on June 1.
Earlier in the day, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had directed the striking workers to return to duty.