With the number of workers reduced to one-sixth of the regular manpower available following municipal workers strike demanding cancellation of GO 279, GVMC is stretching itself to maintain sanitation.
With nearly 5000 contract and outsourced workers on strike, GVMC has to make do with around 1200 regular workers.
“We have deployed the available workers strategically and working almost round-the-clock to maintain sanitation in the best possible manner,” an official told The Hindu. Only minimum possible number of workers were hired.
The dumper bins were being lifted regularly and the garbage is being transported to Kapuluppada on the same day, if necessary working extra hours, the official said. However, the door-to-door collection of garbage was badly affected.
The workers are on strike all over the State for the second day following the call given by Municipal Workers’ JAC. Besides the cancellation of the GO, the striking workers are demanding implementation of equal wages for equal work and minimum wage of ₹18000.
Protest staged
GVMC Municipal Contract Workers’ Union, affiliated to CITU, leading the strike laid siege to the house of HRD Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao at MVP Colony on Wednesday. The minister was not present. They later resorted to a “rasta roko” protest at Isukathota and went on a rally up to A U Engineering College gate.
Union president G Subba Rao and CITU city president R K S V Kumar the strike was resorted to as a number of protests demanding the cancellation of GO 279 were ignored by the government. They warned of an indefinite stir if the government did not act.