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The efforts to find a solution to the four-day old strike of the employees of the LPG agencies in the district failed thus increasing the woes of the consumers. Meanwhile, the strike of the petrol pump agency employees, which began on Wednesday, was called off following the negotiations made in the discussions with the labour department officials.

According to trade union leaders, the petrol pump owners agreed to the demands of the employees and agreed to give minimum wages approved by the government to those who do not get it, while those who already get the minimum wages will be given a salary hike based on their seniority.

"Nearly 80 per cent of the employees are not getting the minimum wages, which dragged us to the paths of agitation," said A Premarajan, convenor of the joint action committee. However, the LPG distributors remained adamant on their stance and hence the talks failed. The LPG distributors said the demands of the striking employees are not justified and the agencies cannot agree to the demand.

"The gas agencies are already passing through a crisis due to the direct benefit transfer scheme, and in this condition the agencies cannot increase the wages beyond a limit," said All India LPG Distributors' Federation district president Dasan P. "Owing to the dual pricing following the direct benefit transfer, the non-subsidy cylinder costs huge amount, to the tune of INR 1,200, and the users are hesitant to buy it, thus affecting our sales," he said.

"Despite this we are willing to give a reasonable hike of INR 250 per month as interim relief but the trade unions wanted INR 2,000." He also said the employees are getting the minimum wages and the seniority weightage and hence the demand has no logic. Talks will be held again on March 10 to solve the crisis, said officials.

Source-On Request