Chennai corporation is divided into 20 zones and sanitation workers are employed under National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM). The Left Trade Union Centre (LTUC, recently affiliated to AICCTU) has been working among NULM workers for years and took up their cause for minimum wages, regularisation and social dignity.
Politically, 2024 saw the BJP government face a significant setback in the national elections. At the same time, the year saw a number of workers’ struggles from various sectors, protesting the anti-worker policies of not only the BJP as prime perpetrator, but also various other oppositional governments and private establishments who share the same crony corporate capitalist mores.
Mahendra Parida
Around 11 sanitation workers were illegally terminated from services by the CIPET, a Government of India institute.
After 10 days of protest by AICCTU, the management came forward for discussion with the president of sanitation workers union comrade Mahendra parida. The management agreed to reinstate the services of five workers. Still, workers refused to join the duty and the struggle is on for reinstatement of other workers too and also demanding the payment of wage arrears, bonus, etc.
As Diwali is approaching, contractual sanitation workers in different parts of the country are raising their voice demanding rightful bonus in stead of the pitiful meagre amount disbursed before Diwali. Payment of Bonus Act, 1965 specifically stipulates the provision of minimum and maximum bonus. Under minimum bonus, which is mandatory irrespective of the profit of the institution, the employers are supposed to pay 8.33% of the wages in the accounting year which amounts to one month’s salary.
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