MCG sanitation workers extend strike till May 11, block garbage collection

Gurgaon: MCG sanitation workers across the city have extended their strike till May 11, alleging that the Haryana govt has failed to address their demands so far.The sanitation workers continued their protest at the old MCG office on Thursday. Members of the Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh also prevented sweeping and waste collection exercises in Sadar Bazar, Madanpuri and Sector 17, which were being carried out by outsourced workers from contractual agencies.“Our protest is for their demands too. We are demanding rights for all sanitation workers and thus asking outsourced contractual workers to not participate in their regular duties of sweeping and waste collection,” said Basant Kumar, president of the Gurgaon unit of the union.Union representatives said they have been visiting locations where MCG is getting waste cleared from roadsides and vacant plots through outsourced staff. They said they are informing these workers of the aim of the agitation and asking them to show solidarity.“These sanitation workers outsourced through private firms are also extending their support to us,” Kumar added.The union further stated that it is forming round-the-clock monitoring teams to keep watch and prevent sanitation work from being carried out during the protest.The strike, which began on May 1, has led to garbage piling up in different areas. Several residents said if the protest continues, there might be a ‘sanitation crisis’ in the city.“Such strikes have become far too frequent, yet the MCG appears to be taking the issue casually. Roads are littered with garbage, and nobody seems bothered about the worsening civic conditions,” said Chaitali Mandhotra, a resident of Ardee City.Ward 4 councillor Pardeep Padam said the condition of sanitation was poor before the strike but it has become even worse now. “The condition was already bad since a limited number of sanitation workers were turning up. The authorities concerned should have a dialogue with the union so that they end their strike in Gurgaon,” he said.Among their 19-point charter, the protesters’ key demand is the regularisation of contractual sanitation employees. Union leaders said the Haryana govt should hold talks with the employee unions and resolve their demands. Three rounds of talks with MCG have failed after the workers said they only got assurances but saw no implementation on the ground.MCG has now said the issue can only be addressed by the state govt.