Ghaziabad sanitation workers on strike, dump waste at corporation office

The sanitation staff of the Ghaziabad municipal corporation on Monday declared an indefinite strike to press their demands.

The sanitation staff of the Ghaziabad municipal corporation on Monday declared an indefinite strike to press their demands.

The workers had been sitting on dharna at the municipal corporation headquarters since October 5. (Sakib Ali/HT photo)

As part of the protest, the striking workers dumped garbage at the main entrance of the corporation’s headquarters in the morning.

The sanitation workers are holding the strike under the banner of the Uttar Pradesh Rajya Safai Karmchari Sangh.

The workers had been sitting on dharna at the municipal corporation headquarters since October 5. They had handed over a memorandum of 17 demands to corporation officials on September 22.

“On Monday, we dumped garbage at the entrance of the corporation headquarters. In case our demands are not met, we will dump the garbage outside the houses of corporation officials,” said Pradeep Chauhan from the Sangh.

In their memorandum, the workers have demanded a monthly salary of Rs 4,490 for staff. They have also demanded that the services of 34 members be regualrised. They also want that family members of dead workers be given jobs.

The union members have also demanded an end to overloading of vehicles carrying garbage. The strike has received support from the union of drivers of garbage-carrying vehicles.

“Our drivers’ union has given an ultimatum of 48 hours to the corporation and district officials to look into the demands of the striking staff. In case their demands are not met, we will also join the strike from October 14,” said Ajit Singh, president of Nagar Nigam Vahan Chalak Sangh.

At present, Ghaziabad has around 3,500 sanitation staff.

Meanwhile, several rounds of meetings took place between corporation officials and leaders of the striking sanitation workers till late Monday to discuss the demands.