Chennai: More than 100 employees of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) held a protest in front of managing director’s office in Koyambedu on Monday evening, demanding a meeting with him.
According to CMRL sources, the protest is due to the company’s decision to dismiss eight employees for allegedly supporting a letter written to the company by Soundararajan, the State President of CITU (Centre of Indian Trade Unions) in November.
According to the sources, the permanent employees of the company started an employees union in June-July last year because they wanted a body to voice out their grievances. The CMRL has employed some people on outsourcing and contract basis. While these contract employees are being paid more than Rs 60,000 per month, the permanent employees are being paid less than Rs 30,000 a month.
In November, Soundararajan had written to the CMRL, stating the issue. Sources said the letter was written on the letterhead of the union, which bore the names of the office-bearers of the union. These office-bearers, however, did not sign the letter.
Although the employees had requested a meeting with the managing director of CMRL to discuss the issue, the latter reportedly refused to meet them.
Meanwhile, On Monday evening, more than 100 employees and their families protested in front of the managing director’s office demanding to meet him. However, the metro service was uninterrupted, CMRL sources said.
