The strike by sanitation workers in Delhi, which started in east Delhi, is likely to spread to other parts of the city just days before Diwali.
The sanitation workers’ unions in east Delhi have been on strike since October 11, but the workers of South and North Delhi Municipal Corporations also joined them on Monday.
The workers threatened that if their demands such as the payment of arrears that are pending since 2003, regularisation and cashless health facilities, are not fulfilled then not only will the workers not report for duty but will also throw trash on the streets.
Sanjay Gehlot, president of MCD Swachhta Karamchari Union, said that sanitation workers from north corporation’s Civil Lines, Narela, Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh and Rohini joined the protests on Monday.
From the south corporation too, workers have joined from west and Najafgarh zones joined the protests.
More are likely to join on Tuesday, Mr. Gehlot said.
‘False assurances’
“Our demands are genuine. The corporation has been trying to defer the strikes by time and again making excuses and false assurances to us. They are desperate and are doing everything to make us call off the strike because they don’t want the people of Delhi to point fingers at them before Diwali. However, the interest of the sanitation worker means nothing to them,” he said.
Swatantra Mazdoor Sayunkt Morcha, another union of sanitation workers in north and east Delhi, met Rakesh Kumar, leader of opposition (North Corporation) on Monday to discuss their proposition.
“The strike will turn the city into a garbage dump. We have spoken to the union members and wanted to bring the plight of the workers into notice in the Standing Committee meeting, but our requests were blatantly ignored,” said Mr. Kumar.
“Their demands are valid and we will also join the workers,” he said, adding that they are trying to convince the workers to begin work so that the people of Delhi do not face inconvenience before the festival.
