Haryana municipal employees on 3-day strike

A large number of municipal workers have gone on a three-day strike since yesterday across Haryana in support of their demands, including regularisation of the contractual employees.

Nearly 30,000 employees of over 80 municipal corporations, municipal committees and councils have gone on a strike, claimed Subhash Lamba, general secretary of Sarv Karamchari Sangh, an umbrella body representing various employees unions in the state.

"Our main demands are regularisation of nearly 20,000 contractual employees and equal pay for equal work. We are also demanding a hike in minimum pay of safai karamcharis from Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per month. The statewide strike was until tomorrow, but it can be extended indefinitely," Lamba said.

He said the BJP government in the state had failed to keep the promises made to the employees in its poll manifesto.

The other major demands of the striking employees include implementation of cashless medical facilities for contractual employees, increasing allowances of both permanent and contractual employees, risk allowance and better safety equipment for those engaged in cleaning sewers.

A large number of municipal employees also took out protest march at different places in the state in support of their demands.

Lamba said the striking employees belong to civil, public health and fire brigade departments, among others.

He also said that as a result of the civic employees going on strike various services were affected in the state.

"Garbage has also started to pile up at various places...However, despite our advance notice to the government about our move, nobody from their side has come forward to engage in talks with us," he claimed.