Pongal travel chaos looms as Govt. Transport workers wage pact delays

The wage negotiations for transport workers were to have begun in August of last year. However, the administration has not yet discussed beginning salary negotiations and also jobs that need to be filled. In order to fill vacant positions, the transport unions have been pushing for the revocation of contractual appointments.
Under the direction of the Joint Commissioner of Labor, a tripartite meeting was conducted in Chennai yesterday to discuss this matter. 
The Tamil Nadu government made a valid proposal during this meeting to highlight the flood and rain relief efforts and make a decision following the Pongal festival. 
In a statement, Minister Sivasankar had also made a plea. However, it was turned down. The union officials then made their strike announcement .
If transport workers strike 6 days before Pongal, there will be serious traffic problems. Running of special buses will be greatly affected. People who go to their hometown will suffer a lot.
The demands made by transport workers may be reasonable; They are what they have been insisting on for years. 
In this regard, it is the duty of the government to hold talks with the transport union representatives and fulfill their demands as much as possible.
If the government buses stop running, the Tamil festival of Pongalfestivities will be 
lost. 
Keeping this in mind the trade unions should announce their decision.
Therefore, when the second phase of talks has failed, the government should immediately hold the third phase of talks. 
The Transport Minister himself should participate on behalf of the Transport Corporations and consider the fair demands of the workers. 
There is no doubt that strike action can be avoided only if there is some government guarantee. Unions also need to come down a little from their insistence.
An amicable arrangement ought to be been discussed and concluded at least by the ninth day of the strike announcement. 
If not, the strike will need to be postponed. One of these two events has to take 
place.