The contract employees alleged that the resolution passed by the Municipal administration at the Corporation Council meeting was only to temporarily stop the protest and that none of their demands were fulfilled in the resolution. Following this, they have announced that their indefinite strike will continue till the Corporation administration fulfils their demands.
Coimbatore: The Coimbatore Municipal Contract Sanitation Workers Association have long been demanding for minimum wages to be paid as recommended by the Coimbatore District Collector.
On October 2, almost 4000 Municipal Corporation contract sanitation workers went on an indefinite strike to press for various demands, including regularisation of work.
Corporation Mayor Kalpana Anandakumar and Corporation Commissioner, M Prathap called the federation of Safai Karamcharis Associations and held talks with them. During the talks, they assured that a special resolution in this regard would be passed in the Coimbatore Municipal Council session. This brought the sanitation workers' strike to an end.
A meeting was held at the Corporation office in Coimbatore Town Hall on Wednesday. A special resolution was passed that a proposal can be sent to the Government seeking permission to provide a salary hike to the contractual employees working under the contractors for cleaning works and other works in Coimbatore Corporation.
The contract employees alleged that this was a decision taken by the Municipal administration to temporarily stop the protest and that none of their demands were fulfilled in the resolution. Hence, the Coimbatore Municipal Contract Sanitation Workers Association announced that they would go on an indefinite strike from October 25.
The employees who had pateintly waited in the Corporation premises with fireworks and garlands in the hope that the expected resolution would be passed were disappointed at the resolution passed. Since, there was no agreement on the resolution passed in the Corporation Council, the contract employees threw the garlands and sat in front of the Corporation office to protest against the Corporation administration.
Following this, they have announced that their indefinite strike will continue till the Corporation administration fulfils their demands.