MCD workers may return to strike if solution not found by Wednesday

Municipal workers on Monday warned they would resume their strike if nothing comes out of the high court hearing on the case on Wednesday.

Municipal workers on Monday warned they would resume their strike if nothing comes out of the high court hearing on the case on Wednesday.

MCD workers protest against non-payment of their salaries at Boat Club in New Delhi. (PTI)

Majority of the municipal workers called off the 13-day strike that crippled civic work in the capital after the high court intervened. “We called off the stir on a temporary basis after the court assured us our demands would be heard. If the corporations fail to provide a permanent solution to this recurring issue, we will initiate our strike once again,” said Rajesh Misha, president, United Front of MCD Employees.

Though the municipal administration geared up to clean up the city after the high court order brought relief, officials said that they feared the strike might start again from Wednesday.

“A lot depends on Wednesday’s hearing. The municipal corporations don’t have funds to disperse the arrears to the employees, which is one of their demands. This might once again lead the employees to continue their strike, bringing the corporations to a standstill once again,” said senior municipal official.

In a bid to end the stir, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal and lieutenant governor Najeeb Jung had allocated `1,000 crore collectively to the north and the east municipal corporations.

According to the municipal sources, the amount would only meet the salary needs of the municipal employees till March 31.

“Even though the corporation is slated to get the funds from the Delhi government in the next financial year, the amount as per the current rate would be insufficient with an added liability of the seventh pay commission, which is expected to come into force from April 1,” said an official.