Sanitation staff seek rollback of privatization
With more than 300 workers off duty, garbage clearance in these zones has been hit, forcing staff from neighbouring areas to work double shifts to clear backlog.
Refusing to accept the outsourcing move beginning Aug 1, the conservancy staff said the decision was taken despite their continuous service in these roles for more than a decade. "We have been working for 15 years, hoping that our jobs would be made permanent.
In 2021, the chief minister promised to do this. However, now they have privatized waste management in our zones. After handing over the contract to a private player, we were relieved of our duties.
It has been four days since we commenced protest. But, none of the corporation officials, including commissioner J Kumaragurubaran, has spoken to us regarding the issue," said R Prasanth, a conservancy worker from Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zone.
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The NULM workers said though civic authorities claim privatization will speed up clean-up and garbage collection, they fear that private contractors may exploit the system for profit. "If solid waste management is outsourced, the sanitary workers' salary will be reduced from 23,000 to 15,000. Additionally, deductions under the guise of benefits will make it harder for workers to survive," said J Dinakaran of Labour Rights Movement (Uzhaipor Urimai Iyakkam).
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"While GCC must manage waste effectively, it should also prioritize livelihoods. There is no job security, and their salaries could be drastically reduced," said CPM councillor P Vimala of ward 41.
Deputy mayor M Mahesh Kumar said there is no change in the decision to privatize waste management. He added that instead of protesting, the workers should submit petitions to the minister concerned or the deputy CM.
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