A one-day strike by Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) employees on 27 May led to the closure of 213 liquor shops across Coimbatore district, halting sales worth an estimated Rs 8.5 crore. The protest was organised by the Coimbatore Zone TASMAC Joint Action Committee, highlighting long-standing issues faced by workers.
The wine retail outlets operated by TASMAC in Thanjavur district also remained shut on that day.
Employees say they have been working for 23 years without permanent status or social-security benefits, unlike staff in other government departments. Although wages have been revised multiple times, many still earn only around Rs 15,000 per month, leaving them in a vulnerable position.
Workers also claim they are forced to pay for operational expenses such as electricity bills, shop rent, and unloading charges from their own pockets. They point to the lack of compensation for handling empty bottles, poor facilities such as toilets, and cramped shop spaces, all of which add to their difficulties.
Union leaders argue that successive governments have closed some outlets, redeploying staff to shops that already have excess manpower. This has created an imbalance, with 7,000 staff working against 4,200 sanctioned supervisor posts.
The Committee has put forward several demands: regularisation of jobs, weekly holidays, ESI benefits, an eight-hour workday, and shifting the ‘empty bottle return’ scheme to private agencies. They also want employees from closed shops to be placed in other departments based on qualifications and preferences.
Clearly, there is growing frustration among TASMAC workers over low pay, insecure jobs, and poor working conditions. Further action may follow if their demands are not addressed.
