Transport workers in TN reject Madras HC direction to call off strike

Normal life in Tamil Nadu would continue to remain affected with the transport workers unions on Friday announcing their decision to continue their indefinite strike until their demands are met rejecting the Madras High Court direction and Tamil Nadu government’s appeal to call off strike.

Stating that the High Court order to call off the strike goes against natural justice, the unions blamed the government for the inconvenience caused to the commuters. The transport workers affiliated to 17 trade unions including DMK affiliated Labour Progressive Front, CITU and AITUC resorted to a flash strike from Thursday evening after the talks with the state government failed leaving thousands of commuters, particularly office-goers and students, stranded across the state.

As the strike entered the second day on Friday crippling operation of the eight transport corporation running about 21,000 buses, the first bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Indira Banerjee ordered the workers to resume work or face the consequence including termination and contempt of court. “Recourse to lighting strikes or flash strikes without notice leads to the consequences of denying the citizens of their right to free movement and is clearly illegal and against the public interest,” the judge said while …read more