CHENNAI: Bringing the long-drawn discussions between Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) and several of its workers’ unions to an end, the TNEB wage agreement was signed on Thursday.
Talks have been on for the last six months and the move comes in the wake of several electricity board workers affiliated to the CITU, BMS and other unions striking work last week seeking an official confirmation on the agreement.
A section of the TNEB, TANGEDCO and TANTRANSCO staff had demanded a 2.57 per cent wage increase, which was reportedly agreed upon in last October, but was not followed up by an official confirmation.
According to the agreement, the pay matrix will be arrived at by multiplying the existing basic pay as on January 1, 2016, by a factor of 2.57. Similarly, the dearness allowance (DA) of 125 per cent will be merged with the basic pay.
“Overall, we are satisfied with the agreement that has been signed today,” said S S Subramanian of the CITU.
Electricity Minister P Thangamani also announced a minimum and maximum allowances of Rs 3,175 and Rs 7,775 for field assistants and a minimum and maximum allowance of Rs 5,800 and Rs 27,375 for officers. As per the demands, 2,654 additional posts have been created at various levels, a statement said.