A section of sanitation workers of East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) continued their strike on eighth day today, even as civic officials managed to get cleared 1,135 metric tons of garbage.
As the sanitation workers continued their demonstration outside EDMC headquarters in Patparganj seeking permanent solution to delays in payment of salaries and arrears, two protesters scaled the office building and threatened to jump off if their demands were not met.
This created a flutter at the protest venue. The duo -- Joginder Bahot and Premchand -- were, however, persuaded by union leaders to come down.
"We have been requesting EDMC and the Delhi government for permanent solution to delays in payment of salaries to all the employees, including sanitation workers, but there is no result yet. Now even, the employees of health, horticulture and education wings of the municipal corporation have made up their mind to go on strike," said Sanjay Gehlot, president of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union.
The standing committee chairman of the BJP-ruled corporation, Jitendra Chaudhary, reached the venue of protest and extended support to the agitating employees seeking permanent solution to the financial problems of the civic body.
As a next step of their agitation, the strikers started a relay hunger strike with five sanitation workers joining it on the first day.
"The strike will continue till a permanent solution is found with regard to our grievances including delays in salaries and payment of arrears among others," Gehlot said.
While sanitation workers under the banner of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union, affiliated to Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have continued their strike, others have joined work after their two months salaries were paid by EDMC following a fund injection of Rs 119 crore from the Delhi government.
EDMC managed to lift 2,614 metric tons of garbage yesterday, with the help of sanitation workers who have resumed work and private contractors. Today, trucks made 235 trips and cleared 1,135.99 metric tons of garbage between 6 am and 4 pm, said a senior EDMC official.
Meanwhile, office-bearers of a union of Group D employees met the Commissioners of the three civic bodies, after which they called off their proposed strike from January 25.
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