Riding on the success of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, some State Transport Undertakings (STUs) employees are working towards establishing a new trade union associated with actor-politician Vijay’s party. Bus crew members from Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) who supported TVK during the elections are now aiming to create an independent workers’ union within the transport undertakings. This initiative comes after TVK emerged as a significant political force in the region.
Encouraged by the party’s rise, supporters of TVK within TNSTC and the State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) are looking to form a union that mirrors the influential unions linked with the DMK and AIADMK. These unions have historically held sway in transport corporations when their respective parties were in power. Employees backing TVK have approached senior party members seeking recognition and support to establish the union, with positive responses received from party leaders.
The proposed union is envisioned to address workers’ rights and tackle longstanding issues affecting transport employees, such as service conditions, workload, transfers, salary concerns, and retirement benefits. A driver from TNSTC’s Mettupalayam branch, speaking anonymously, mentioned that many drivers and conductors associated with Vijay’s fan clubs are contemplating shifting allegiance from DMK and AIADMK-affiliated unions to support TVK following its electoral success. This move is seen as a reflection of TVK’s increasing influence among government employees and organized labor groups, particularly among younger workers and Vijay’s supporters who actively campaigned for the party during the elections.
The launch of the union is imminent, with discussions already underway regarding its structure and leadership. The development is closely monitored within transport corporations, where trade unions have historically played a pivotal role in labor negotiations and administrative decisions.
