Chennai: With the sanitation workers’ strike stretching into its 13th day on Wednesday, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) carried out an overnight clean-up in Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar, bringing in contract laborers and personnel from other zones to clear growing piles of rubbish.
Staff under the National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) have been protesting against the privatization of solid waste management since the GCC awarded a Rs 276-crore contract to a private company.
The strike has left waste uncleared across the two zones, prompting public criticism and concerns over potential health risks.
In a bid to avert a crisis, striking workers even offered to remove the accumulated waste without pay to safeguard public health, but the GCC turned down the offer. Instead, it mobilized nearly 1,200 workers, including contract staff and teams from Tondiarpet, Anna Nagar and other areas, for a special drive on the nights of 11 and 12 August. Civic officials said the operation cleared more than 650 metric tons of rubbish.
Union leaders condemned the move, accusing the corporation of attempting to create divisions among the workforce.
“The GCC is attempting to create divisions between workers by bringing in outside staff for this drive. We will not give in. If workers from other zones join our protest, the situation will escalate,” said S Kumarasamy, adviser to the Labor Progressive Federation (LTUC), which is leading the agitation.
Several rounds of talks between the GCC and protesters have failed to break the deadlock. While workers are seeking assurances over job security and benefits, the civic body maintains that its plan will safeguard their interests.
In a statement, the GCC promised that all NULM staff from Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar would be offered employment under contractual arrangements, with full benefits including provident fund, bonus and Employees’ State Insurance coverage. It urged striking workers to resume duties immediately.
With the dispute unresolved, the protest risks spreading to other parts of the city, as workers in unaffected zones signal willingness to join. For now, the GCC is pressing ahead with alternative arrangements to keep the city clean, while union leaders vow to maintain pressure until their demands are met.