Greater Chennai Corporation fires 200 conservancy workers over pay hike stir

According to the Corporation Redflag Association that coordinated the protest on September 7, conservancy workers, who were working on contract basis, were not allowed to work for the last two days. “More than 200 contract workers had approached the association and said they were terminated by their respective zonal officials. Also, notices seeking clarifications have been sent to more than 100 permanent workers. The notices ask the workers why they shouldn’t be terminated,” L Srinivasan, general secretary of the association said.

On September 7, conservancy workers staged a protest in front of Ripon Building demanding the civic body to implement a GO released three years ago ordering the civic bodies in TN to provide Rs 624 per day to the staff. More than 1,300 contract and permanent employees had taken part in the protest.

However, police arrested the workers and sent them to a nearby marriage hall for detention. When the police asked the protestors to leave in the evening, they refused and continued the protest. The stir was temporarily called off the next day after senior Corporation officials promised to increase the daily wage of the contract workers to Rs 391 from the present Rs. 379 and provide arrears from April.

“We are receiving details of more workers being terminated from work. As regards permanent workers, they would be suspended based on their replies to the notices. We will try to hold talks with the administration and seek revocation of termination orders. If the officials refuse to reinstate the workers, we will have no other choice other than resuming our protests,” Srinivasan said. The civic body had privatised conservancy works in 11 zones despite continuous protests from the workers.