PT urges govt to initiate talks to settle wage and bonus issue

Puthiya Tamizhakam today urged Chief Minister Jayalalithaa to initiate a tripartite dialogue on the issue of fixing new wages and bonus to nearly five lakh persons working in various plantations across the state.
In the background of their counter parts in Kerala getting Rs 301 and other benefits fixed recently, the workers in five plantation districts of Tamil Nadu were getting only Rs 220, PT founder president and MLA Dr K Krishnasamy told reporters here.
Stating that he has sent a letter to Jayalalithaa, highlighting the plight of the workers, Krishnasamy said the Government should come forward and hold a tripartite meeting to fix a suitable wage pattern and also to provide 20 per cent bonus.

This can be done after having a detailed discussion with the representatives of political parties, so that a conducive atmosphere was created during the tripartite talks, representing workers' unions, management and labour department, he said.
Krishnasamy also wanted Tamiul Nadu Government to appoint vice-chancellors to the seven university, of which two should be reserved to SC/ST, in a transparent manner, without considering political motive.
He also urged the government, precisely, transport department, to take stringent action against those private omnibus owners, who were charging five times the normal rates during holidays like Deepavali, Krishnasamy said.