Decision on strike on Friday

September 26: A decision on whether Mumbai's 1.35 lakh civic employees will go ahead with their proposed strike will be taken on Friday, w...

September 26: A decision on whether Mumbai8217;s 1.35 lakh civic employees will go ahead with their proposed strike will be taken on Friday, with union leaders insisting that the municipal corporation8217;s finances are healthy enough to support their demand for bonus and ex-gratia. Municipal Mazdoor Union leader Sharad Rao said today that a decision on the strike will be taken at a meeting, which will be attended by representatives of 47 civic unions.

Stating that the Coordination Committee formed to resolve the deadlock had failed to reach a settlement, Rao said today that union leaders would meet the municipal commissioner tommorow and submit a report comprising their demands.

8220;We have been cheated,8221; he alleged, adding that the municipal administration with its 8220;misleading reports on the financial scenario had forced the workers to go on an indefinite stir8221;. He claimed that 8220;the strike would be a 8220;showdown8221; as BEST buses and autorickshaws will also join the agitation. 8220;We have apprised various unions across the city on the matter. Home Guards have also been requested not to interfere in the matter,8221; Rao said.

Armed with data and accounts on the income and expenditure of the corporation, in the last five months, Rao said that from April to August, income from octroi collection, property tax and other sources amounted to more than Rs 1,300 crore, ie, Rs 250 crore more than last year. 8220;These months are considered lean periods for revenue influx. Once November begins, the income will begin galloping,8221; he said. 8220;So by paying ex-gratia to employees, the BMC8217;s financial condition won8217;t be in a mess,8221; he claimed.

8220;Moreover, the financial health of an organisation does not depend entirely on income and expenditure. It also depends on its assests and liabilites,8221; he pointed out, adding that successive budgets presented in recent years were not transparent. A letter stating this has been sent to the municipal commissioner with a recommendation that 8220;elected representatives and the public should be made aware of the assets and liabilities.8221;

Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of the House, K P Naik, will place the matter before the civic Standing Committee on Wednesday. Via an item on the committee8217;s agenda, Naik has requested the civic administration to make aprovision for payment of ex-gratia to municipal employees for 2001-2002. The current budget has no such provisions.