It’s kickback time for MTC union staff

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Grease the palms of the ruling party affiliated union leaders and get the job done. This has been the success formula for several years for employees of Metropolitan Transport Corporation who wish to get the postings of their will.

Now the ruling party union activists have swung into action and are busily involved on a ‘collection’ spree, as the state government has recently initiated steps to regularise the jobs of 9,000 transport employees across the state, employees complain.

“Union secretaries of a few depots have asked us to pay a sum of Rs 10,000 assuring that they would get us ‘staff number’, and confirmation orders for those who had already been allotted ‘staff number’, but waiting for confirmation,” says a young employee from Tondiarpet depot, who has been working as a casual labourer for over three years since his recruitment during previous regime. “Few of my batch mates have already paid them the sum.”

Generally, a newly recruited employee would be given a computer number on joining, and a permanent ‘staff number’ after working for 240 days.

He has to work for another 240 days to get his job confirmed. But hundreds of employees, have not been given ‘staff number’ or confirmation order, even after completing several years of service.

“They have fixed Rs 10,000 for both the ‘favours’. The price may vary even up to Rs 25, 000 for conductors and drivers to get a ‘plum’ route like 166 (Iyapanthangal to Tambaram) which has less number of trips and get ‘light duty’ postings which is less tedious,” said a Vadapalani depot staffer.

“The ruling party union leaders, as ever, have started collecting their ‘share’, as the corporation is set to regularize employees,” said a CITU union leader.

An official, seeking anonymity, said the ruling party union leaders could not be antagonized as they spend a ‘tough’ five years during opposition regime and would support the ruling party during the strike called by opponent unions as well.

However, MTC officials denied and said the postings were being allotted as per regulations.

It may be recalled that vigilance officials have registered cases against a few employees of transport corporation (Vellore division) employees for indulging in such practices only a few months ago.