Section of workers call off strike

A day after the Delhi high court told the municipal employees to call off their strike, differences among the MCD unions came out in the open, with a few of the bodies affiliated to the Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh deciding to call off their stir. However, another group of unions continued to hold protests on Tuesday to press for their demands.

“The unions of sanitation workers, health services staff, engineering and other departments of municipal corporation, affiliated to Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have decided to call off their strike showing respect to the high court and considering hardships faced by people,” said Mr Moolchand, president of Delhi Pradesh Safai Mazdoor Sangh.

The sanitation workers of the three municipal corporations on Monday agreed before the Delhi high court to call off their strike and resume work immediately after the three BJP-ruled corporations said they had released their wages, but two camps have failed to reach any resolution.

Even as BMS-affiliated unions decided to end their participation in the stir, the unions associated with Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha continued their strike. “We are protesting against the government because the conditions of loan of Rs 551 crore extended to North Delhi and East Delhi corporations are against employees,” claimed Sanjay Gehlot, president of the Sanyukt Morcha.