Conservancy workers stage dharna at Salem Corporation office demanding Deepavali bonus, announce strike from Nov. 13

Salem Conservancy workers staged a dharna at the Corporation office, demanding Deepavali bonus and salary on time. Talks with the Corporation failed, leading to an announced strike from Nov 13. Workers sought pay slips, bonus as per 2017 govt order, and a copy of the agreement between the private firm and the Corporation. Mayor and City Health Officer held talks, but failed. Workers announced strike until demands met.

Conservancy workers staged a dharna at the Salem Corporation office on Thursday demanding Deepavali bonus and salary on time. As negotiations with the Corporation failed, they announced strike from November 13.

On Thursday, around 11.30 p.m., more than 50 conservancy workers gathered at the Salem Corporation office and staged a dharna. They told reporters the private company that took care of solid waste management was allegedly not paying salaries properly. The 50% salary for September was yet to be paid, and the salary for October was still not paid. As per the agreement with the private company, it had to pay the salary for conservancy workers before the 5th of every month. If not, there was allegedly a provision to cancel the agreement with the private firm, the workers added.

Demanding bonus for Deepavali festival, the workers said that they were getting a salary of only around ₹9,000 a month. The private company was firm in not providing a bonus to them. But, as per the 2017 government order, bonus should be given. Similarly, pay slips were not given to them, and they wanted a copy of the agreement between the private firm and the Corporation.

On information, City Health Officer Yoganand and Corporation officials held talks with them. Later, Mayor A. Ramachandran also spoke to them, but the talks failed. The Corporation officials assured them to provide the salary before Friday morning, but could not give an assurance on bonus.

Following this, the workers continued their dharna. The officials claimed that Corporation Commissioner S. Balachander would talk to them. As the Commissioner did not come to the office in the evening, the conservancy workers announced a strike from Monday and said their protest would continue until their demands were met.