Civic staff begin indefinite strike

More than 70,000 civic employees began their indefinite strike on Monday night. They have been demanding a pay revision as per the sixth pay commission recommendations.

More than 70,000 civic employees began their indefinite strike on Monday night. They have been demanding a pay revision as per the sixth pay commission recommendations.

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Talks with the civic administration on the issue on Monday night failed. BMC has said it would ensure that services like garbage collection, health, water supply and the fire brigade are not affected.

The strike has been called by the Sharad Rao-led Municipal Mazdoor Union (MMU) Rao threatened that if the demands were not met by Tuesday, even transport could get affected as BEST workers and autorickshaws would join the strike. Rao controls these unions, too.

If the demands for a pay revision are accepted, Mumbaiites will have to shell out Rs300 crore more in taxes every year. The industrial court has already termed the strike illegal and has asked the unions to negotiate till September 23.

“If the union thinks they can resort to arm-twisting tactics they are mistaken. All contingency plans are in place and citizens will not feel the effect of this strike,” Kumar said.

The civic body has deployed more than 2,500 home guards, contract labourers and private security guards to provide civic services. “Strict action will be taken against civic staff who don’t report to work on Monday,” Kumar said.

The Shiv Sena-allied unions, however, pulled out of the strika fter senior Sena leaders intervened on Monday afternoon, they changed their minds. In addition to a pay revision, other demands include drafting a charter to include allowance on the lines of the central government and payment of arrears of allowances in the last four years. The last civic strike was for six days in 2000 over pay revision.