Sanitation workers go on protest demanding uniform pay
Around 200 sanitation employees on Tuesday protested against the Noida authority demanding a salary hike and other benefits. Last December too sanitation employees had stopped cleaning waste, creating hygiene issues for residents and officials. They ended protests following assurances by the officials that their demands will be met. Now another group, under Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Association, staged the protest on Monday.
Around 200 sanitation employees on Tuesday protested against the Noida authority demanding a salary hike and other benefits.
They stopped collecting solid waste in the morning and gathered outside the Noida authority’s administrative building in Sector 6 around 11am.
The administration deployed a police force and a fire tender near the authority office to ensure that the protest is peaceful. They blocked the road leading to the office. Police closed an iron gate to keep the protesters away from the main building.
Last December too sanitation employees had stopped cleaning waste, creating hygiene issues for residents and officials. They ended protests following assurances by the officials that their demands will be met.
Now another group, under Akhil Bharatiya Safai Mazdoor Association, staged the protest on Monday.
“Some contractual sanitation employees are getting Rs 9,200 per month while others get Rs 14,500 as their month salary. We demand that the salary be uniform for all. Also we demand better healthcare facilities for our families. We have been working for low wages for the last 10-15 years and the state government is not addressing our demands,” said Dinesh Balimiki, leader of protesters.
Around 50 women sanitation employees also took part in the protest.
“We hope that the new government will increase our salary from Rs 9,200 to Rs 14,500 per month. We will continue to protest if the authority fails to meet our demands,” said Sarla Devi, a sanitation employee.
Sanitation employees had started protests on Monday morning. But they ended the stir after officials promised to address their demands.
“But the officials have not worked on our demands and we have again started our protest. We will end the protest only when the officials assure us in writing that our demands will be met,” Balmiki said.
Around 4,200-4,600 workers are hired on a contract basis by various private agencies. They are employed in various departments of Noida authority —sanitation, water, sewer and horticulture, among others.
Last December, sanitation employees had gone on a strike demanding permanent jobs.
“That was a different group which demanded permanent jobs. Our demand is to bring about uniformity in salary,” said Mukesh Tong, a sweeper.
The Noida authority said it will deal with such protesters strictly.
“These workers are hired by third-party contractors. They are not our employees. They are already getting a salary as per their agreement with the contractor. We will act against them if they continue to protest with no valid reason,” said Saumya Srivastava, deputy chief executive officer, Noida authority.
