The 3,300 odd conservancy workers on contract including drivers in Coimbatore Corporation, who were on strike for two days demanding minimum wages as per law and bonus besides one-day off a week, agreed to end the stir and return to work from Saturday.
The strike hit the conservancy operations in the city hard especially when the streets remained littered because of the waste generated by fire crackers during Deepavali.
On Friday, the Corporation administration represented by City Health Officer is said to have agreed to initiate negotiations to resolve the demands of the conservancy workers.
The strike was reportedly triggered by denial of wages as per Minimum Wages Act of 2009 and also the bonus. They were paid only ₹ 1,000 as bonus. They were also demanding one-day leave a week. With the efforts by the Labour Department ahead of Deepavali having failed, the workers commenced their strike on Thursday.
Talks on Friday by Labour Department had the participation of both the trade unions as well as Corporation. After the Corporation agreed to form committees at zonal level comprising trade union representatives, workers, Corporation officials and contractors, the strike was withdrawn. The Corporation also reportedly assured them that no action would be taken against the workers who took part in the stir.
