Chennai sources have stated that bus services returned to normal in Tamilnadu from today (12/01/18) after transport workers withdrew their eight day old strike over wage related issues. Meanwhile in a huge relief to the public, especially ahead of the harvest festival ‘Pongal’ falling on January 14, buses were seen plying normally on roads since Friday morning.
According to sources the government has declared a holiday on Friday for schools and colleges in view of Pongal, resulting in five day holidays for students. Earlier on Thursday night, CITU leader A Soundarrajan had announced that the indefinite strike was being “temporarily” called off, shortly after the Madras High Court appointed an arbitrator to settle their wage dispute with the government.
He said “The strike is being temporarily withdrawn
keeping in mind the welfare of the people of the state,” adding that workers
would resume work from Friday morning. While the
unions wanted a 2.57 times hike, the government offered only 2.44, resulting in
the stalemate.
