To strike or not to strike: MCD sanitation workers divided over ending protest against Delhi government

New Delhi: With a section of them suspending their strike and another deciding to continue it, the striking unions of municipal corporation sanitation workers were divided over calling off their stir following their appearance in the High Court on Monday. “All the 38 unions of the workers who are part of the Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha have decided to continue the stir even as the High Court asked us to think about ending it,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of the Sanyukt Morcha. [caption id=“attachment_2617204” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  MCD sanitation workers’ strike. PTI[/caption] “We have been assured in the court that salaries of all the employees will be paid in a couple of days. The court also decided to take up our demands including payment of arrears on the next date of hearing on 10 February,” he said. On the other hand, leaders of United Front of MCD Employees said that they have decided to suspend their strike for two days. “We have decided to suspend our strike till 10 February  after which we will decide our next course of action,” said Rajesh Mishra, president of the United Front. “We were assured that January month salaries of all the employees will be paid in two days. The court also said that it will hear our demands of arrears payment and unification of three municipal corporations,” general secretary of United Front Rajendra Mewati said. Another outfit Delhi Pradesh Safai Karmchari Sangh also decided to continue its stir. “We will discuss the developments in our meeting and then take a decision after 10 February, but presently we have decided to continue the stir” said Moolchand, president of the Karmchari Sangh. Earlier today, the sanitation workers of the three municipal corporations agreed before the Delhi High Court to call off their strike and resume work immediately after MCDs said they have released their wages which would be received by all within two days. The court, thereafter, took on record statements made by both sides and listed the matter on 10 February when it will also hear arguments on issues of payment of arrears as well as unification of the corporations, which were raised today by unions representing the workers. Meanwhile, the sanitation workers staged a demonstration at the office of Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia at Khichripur opposing Delhi government’s “conditional” loan given to North and East Delhi Municipal Corporations. “The loan of Rs 551 crore by Delhi government will lead to removal of contract based workers instead of their regularisation, which is one of our main demands,” Gehlot said. PTI