In a statement, Chennai Corporation Redflag Association president SK Mahendiran said that the civic body had terminated 291 temporary employees and issued notices to more than 500 permanent employees. “Also, the administration has also suspended office-bearers of the association. Cases have been filed against 714 employees. Hunger protest will be held on Tuesday,” he said.

Chennai Corporation Redflag Association coordinated the protest on September 7 demanding the civic body to provide permanent employment to contract conservancy workers. The workers had also demanded to increase the daily wage. The protest was called off after the civic body agreed to increase the daily wage of the contract workers by Rs 12.

However, the zonal officials of the civic body issued orders to terminate temporary workers and issue notices to permanent workers for participating in the protest.

“The civic body should stop punishing the workers for expressing demands. The state government should intervene in the issue. Apart from the hunger strike, a demonstration will be held in front of Ripon Building on Wednesday,” Mahendiran said.