PTI, CHENNAI: Transport workers in Tamil Nadu struck work for the sixth day today, spurning the state government’s offer to more than double their wages, as the chief minister appealed to them in the state Assembly to accept the proposal and call off the stir.
Chief Minister K Palaniswami said in the Assembly that the government was willing to increase wages by 2.44 times.
But the workers, who want a 2.57-time hike, stepped up their protest, staging a dharna with family members, including children, outside divisional offices of state-owned transport corporations across the state.
As many as 17 trade unions, including those affiliated to the DMK and the Left, are on an indefinite strike, having rejected the government’s hike proposal.
Palaniswami told the Assembly it had been decided that wages would be raised by 2.44 times.
“Salary has been hiked. it is not fair to ask that it should be further increased…I appeal to workers…they should return to work,” he said.
As the issue triggered a war of words between the treasury and Opposition members, Palaniswami also sought the cooperation of Leader of the Opposition M K Stalin (DMK) and others in bringing the strike to an end.
