Chennai:Trade unions leading the transport workers strike on Wednesday evening decided to continue wth the strike ignoring a strict directive given by the Madras High Court to return to work immediately.

But the high court also left it to the workers conscience in view of the Pongal festival and said that it was not proper for workers to take the government and passengers to ransom.

A lawyer representing the trade unions told the court that the workers would consider withdrawing strike if the government began talks to discuss the pending demands. Since no formal government response was forthcoming the unions decided to continue the strike that crippled bus services for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday.

The Madras High court had asked the unions to come with their decision on strike tomorrow to the court.

Mr Justice M Govindaraj and Mr Justice S Manikumar set the next hearing in the case for Thursday. TN advocate general Vijay Narayanan submitted to the court that the workers were holding the people to ransom. Tamil Nadu Transport Employees Federation president, A Soundararajan said that “the strike will continue.”

Chief minister Edapaddi Palaniswami had during the day announced a sum of Rs 750 crore towards arrears, which got lukewarm welcome. It is the workers money only and was coming to the workers so what is so great about it, said a union leader.