Leaders of the United Front of MCD employees said they have decided to suspend their strike for 2 days
Leaders of the United Front of MCD employees said they have decided to suspend their strike for 2 days
The unions of municipal corporation sanitation workers were divided on Monday over calling off their stir following their appearance in the high court. A group of unions decided to suspend the strike but other two groups opted to continue the strike.
The decision comes after the sanitation workers of the three municipal corporations agreed before the Delhi high court on Monday morning to call off their strike and resume work immediately after the MCDs told the court they have released their wages which would be received by all within two days.
The municipal corporations told the bench of Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath that the funds were released on February 5, but as some zonal offices were closed, every one may not have received the wages and those who have not got their salary will get it in a couple of days.
“All the 38 unions of the workers who are part of the Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha have decided to continue the stir even as the high court asked us to think about ending it,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of the Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha.
“We have been assured in the court that salaries of all the employees will be paid in a couple of days. The court also decided to take up our demands including payment of arrears on the next date of hearing on February 10,” he said.
On the other hand, leaders of the United Front of MCD Employees said that they have decided to suspend their strike for two days. “We have decided to suspend our strike till January 10 after which we will decide our next course of action,” said Rajesh Mishra, president of the front. “We were assured that salaries for the month of January of all the employees will be paid in two days. The court also said that it will hear our demands of arrears payment and unification of three municipal corporations,” United Front general secretary Rajendra Mewati said.
Another outfit, Delhi Pradesh Safai Karmchari Sangh, also decided to continue its stir. “We will discuss the developments in our meeting and then take a decision after February 10, but presently we have decided to continue the stir,” said Moolchand, president of the Karmchari Sangh. The sanitation workers of the three municipal corporations had agreed before the Delhi high court to call off their strike and resume work immediately. The court, thereafter, took on record statements made by both sides and listed the matter on February 10.
During the brief hearing, the unions contended that salaries were not received by all as claimed by the MCDs.
They also said that trifurcation of the corporations had resulted in increase in expenditure by three times and sought unification of the three MCDs.
The court on that date had also remarked that sanitation workers cannot “hold the city to ransom” by going on strike if they have been paid their salary.
Meanwhile, the sanitation workers staged a demonstration at the office of deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia at Khichripur opposing the Delhi government’s “conditional” loan given to North and East Delhi Municipal Corporations.
“The loan of Rs 551 crore by the Delhi government will lead to removal of contract-based workers instead of their regularisation, which is one of our main demands,” Mr Gehlot said.
