Chennai: The State transport unions other than the DMK-led LPF that have called for an indefinite strike from Tuesday, threatening to disrupt bus services in the week leading to the long Pongal holidays might reconsider their decisions if the next round of talks with the government on Monday succeeds.
After a series of talks with the State Transport Minister S.S Sivasankar failed, the unions together decided to go for the strike from January 9 to press for their charter of demands that include a long pending wage revision.
With the LPF alone keeping itself out of the direct action by the more than half a score of trade unions, that announcement came as a shock to bus travelers planning to go home for the Pongal holidays when offices close up to five days continuously from January 12.
Though the Transport Minister put up a brave face by making alternative arrangements for the operations of the buses, with opposition parties like the AIADMK and BJP throwing their weight behind the striking transport worker, Chief Minister M K Stalin reviewed the situation with Ministers and officials.
The meeting led to the decision to invite the trade union leaders for talks once again and explain to them the dire situation the government was in financially.
