Sanitation workers call off strike, BMC assures of an agreement on Monday

However, the tender had drawn flak from labour unions over concerns of jeopardy to the jobs of BMC’s permanent as well as contractual conservancy workers, including over 7,000 motor loaders. In a bid to register their protest, the labour unions staged a protest at Azad Maidan on July 17, wherein BJP leader and cabinet minister Girish Mahajan extended support to the agitating workers. Following the protest, a delegation of municipal workers along with Mahajan also met Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.

With the government extending support, the workers had deferred their strike to July 23, stating that the final call would be taken after an agreement with the civic chief.

On Tuesday, civic officials including BMC chief Gagrani convened a meeting with a delegation of representatives from the Municipal Kamgar Action Committee and the BMC Kamgar Sangharsh Samiti. During the course of the meeting, the municipal workers were assured that all demands of the workers will be met, including demands pertaining to retention of contract workers, security of worker posts as well as implementation of the recommendations floated by the Lad-Page committee. According to the labour union leaders, the BMC chief said that a final agreement would be chalked out and confirmed on Monday.