Chennai: A day after suspending 67 sales personnel for overcharging consumers, Tasmac management suspended 150 more salesmen across the state on Thursday, based complaints that they demanded Rs 10 extra for each liquor bottle.The staff hit back at Tasmac for continuing its suspension drive by closing the retail liquor shops in many suburban areas on Thursday. More than 200 liquor shops in Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts were closed around 1pm and they visited the respective district managers’ demanding alternative arrangements for empty liquor bottle collection.“Tenders for the empty bottle collection have just been floated, and it will take at least a few weeks to finalise the bidder. So, existing Tasmac workers have to collect empty bottles and reimburse ₹10 to those who return them. We have to engage additional manpower to carry out the work,” said D Dhanasekaran, general secretary of AITUC-attached Tasmac workers union.The officials held talks with the personnel and assured them of alternative arrangements soon, after which the workers returned to the shops around 7pm. Since the shops were closed for nearly six hours, most outlets in Kancheepuram and Chengalpet districts saw heavy crowds.Prohibition and excise minister upwardly revised the salaries of 22,877 contractual staffers for the second time in 100 days and announced festival bonuses, eight-hour duty, and mandatory weekly offs in the assembly. He warned of severe action against those indulging in MRP violations and also launched a toll-free helpline and WhatsApp number to report overcharging at Tasmac outlets.
