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GVMC sanitary staff to strike work
Over 5,000 contract workers of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation might strike work any time demanding cancellation of the GO No. 279 which facilitates rationalisation of staff.
- Demand cancellation of the GO No. 279
- HC to hear plea on August 4
Visakhapatnam: Over 5,000 contract workers of Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation might strike work any time demanding cancellation of the GO No. 279 which facilitates rationalisation of staff.
The recognised GVMC Employees Union has already served a strike notice on additional commissioner GVS Murthy. Responding to the notice, Murthy invited the leaders for talks on August 3.
Honorary president of union K Ananda Rao said recently three days strike was observed and it was called off after the government invited them for talks. But, the government extended the last date of the tender for outsourcing of the sanitation.
“Around 5,236 contract workers, who also include drivers and sanitary workers, are ready to strike work till the GO is cancelled,’’ Ananda Rao said.
Guntur Municipal Corporation, GVMC and six municipalities approached the High Court for quashing of the GO No. 279 and related GOs 159 and 160. The case has been posted for August 4. Ananda Rao said the strength of workers as per norms should be 8,364 and even after merger of Bhimili and Anakapalle, the GVMC strength remained 5,000.
Poorest of the poor and Dalits are employed as contract workers in the GVMC and it is irrational to hand over the work to a private contractor under whose mercy the workers have to work. There cannot be guarantee of wages or periodical increase.
Social activists and trade union leaders said the municipalities should be employer and should not act as middlemen.
‘Govt violating 74th amendment Act'GVMC Contract Employees’ Union (CITU) president P Venkata Reddy said the state government was violating the 74th amendment Act and keeping the decision-making power for itself to implement the GO No. 279 in violation of the Constitution.
Speaking at a dharna staged by sanitary staff at RTC Complex here on Tuesday, he pointed out that according to 74th amendment, the state government should give powers and rights to the municipalities and provide adequate finances for better governance.
Alleging that the GO No. 279 would favour only TDP contractors, he said, “Bharat Vikas Group had not paid four months salaries to sanitary staff in Vijayawada, but the government failed to intervene and take action. Furthermore, the group owner went into hiding.”
With the implementation of the GO No. 279, the sanitary staff strength would be cut short affecting the cleanliness of the city and public health, union general secretary T Nooka Raju said.
