Following this, the Madras Corporation Red Flag Union (MCRFU) affiliated to the CITU has sent a legal notice to Corporation Commissioner G Prakash for the termination that was done despite a case pending in the Madras High Court seeking regularisation of their jobs.

The Corporation entrusted Urbaser SA and Sumeet to collect garbage in seven zones – Teynampet, Kodambakkam, Adyar, Valasaravakkam, Alandur, Perungudi and Sholinganallur, while private contractor Ramky handles garbage from Tiruvottiyur, Manali, Madhavaram and Ambattur zones.

“After garbage collection in the 11 zones was outsources, the permanent conservancy workers and NULM workers were transferred to Tondiarpet, Royapuram, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Anna Nagar zones. Due to transfer of the permanent workers, 551 temporary NULM workers were terminated by the Corporation,” MCRFU general secretary P Seenivasallu said.

“The temporary workers were hoping that their jobs would be regularised by the Corporation for their tireless work during the COVID pandemic. But all of a sudden, with only days left for the Pongal festival, the workers were sacked and left jobless,” he said, appealing to the Commissioner to reinstate them immediately.