Govt Accepts 5 Demands, Sanitation Workers Withdraw Stir

CHENNAI: Sanitation workers protesting outside the Ripon Buildings withdrew their agitation on Friday, ending their 14-day protest after the government agreed to five of their demands following talks with ministers N. Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar and B. Rajkumar.

The protest was led by the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (Workers’ Rights Movement) with National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) workers demanding an end to the contract system and permanent employment with Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).

The workers had also raised several long-pending demands, including timely payment of wages, granting paid weekly leave and social security benefits.

The unions had sought payment of monthly wages by the fifth of every month, granting paid weekly leave, settlement of wage arrears pending since 2017 in accordance with G.O. No. 62, and implementation of revised dearness allowance-linked wages from April 1 along with the corresponding arrears.

They also demanded adequate uniforms, payment of earned-leave benefits in the month in which the leave was sanctioned, restoration of the old pension scheme and immediate settlement of retirement benefits.

The agitation intensified earlier this week when sanitation workers entered the Ripon Buildings during a flash protest, prompting heightened attention to their demands.

On Thursday, the Madras Corporation Red Flag Union also joined the agitation, lending support to the protest led by the Workers’ Rights Movement.

Following discussions with the ministers, the government agreed to five of the demands raised by the workers, following which the unions decided to withdraw the protest on Friday.

However, the workers’ primary demand for abolition of the contract system and regularisation of their employment remains a key issue for the unions.

The agitation had brought renewed focus on the working conditions, wages and employment security of sanitation workers engaged in civic services in Chennai.