Conservancy workers continue protest demanding job permanency, rollback of privatisation in three zones

Ensuring job permanency and rolling back privatisation of conservancy work in Tondiarpet, Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar Zones by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) alone will resolve our issue, said Gomathi, a conservancy worker who has been protesting in front of the Ripon Buildings for more than 10 days. National Urban Livelihoods Mission workers and worker unions continued to protest despite rain on Sunday.

R. Mohan of Left Trade Union Centre said the protests would continue until their demands are met, and asking the workers, many of whom have been working with the GCC for over a decade, to join a private firm for lesser pay was injustice.

P. Sathiya, a resident of Pulianthope under Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar Zone and a TVK member, said, “The garbage problem persists in many areas, not just in the three zones. Healthcare and public services have been privatised. But, Outsourcing for the sake of it cannot be justified.” He added that unattended garbage across the city showed that privatisation had not improved management.and that job permanency should be offered to the protesting workers.

A source in the government acknowledging that garbage issues have existed before, said any new private firm would take time to get accustomed to the system and begin work with full force. Further, conservancy work has taken a hit as most of the vacancies have not been filled. The issue would be resolved soon.

Meanwhile, S. Janakiraman, general secretary, Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam said, “During talks with GCC, workers were told to work at the private firm for ten days before deciding whether to leave or stay. But this won’t work as contracts are signed for long-term work and not for a few days.”