Sanitation workers protest salary delays

Chennai: Several hundred sanitation workers, under the Chennai Corporation Red Flag Union, protested at Ripon Buildings on Wednesday, demanding regularisation of contract workers, overdue salaries and benefits such as Dearness Allowance (DA). They also opposed privatisation of solid waste management and implementation of the Light Commercial Vehicle (LCV) waste collection scheme.
“The salary for National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) contractors was always paid on the first of each month but delayed by 2-3 weeks for sanitary workers. They received their Feb salary only two days ago. Instead of paying through NULM, the workers suggested the corporation pays them directly,” said T Srinivasan, general secretary.
The workers also want a stop to converting public transport services into privatised LCV schemes and want skilled operators hired directly rather than through contractors.