BJP MLA meets striking workers of Erode Corpn

While the Erode Corporation temporary conservancy workers dharna in the corporation premises entered 3rd day on Wednesday in protest against the GO to privatise the works and 140 tons of garbage accumulated in the town, BJP MLA Dr CK Saraswathi met the workers and expressed  her  solidarity with the striking workers. 

There are total 60 wards in Erode Corporation where more than 1800 people including drivers, skilled and unskilled, conservancy workers, office assistants, night watchmen, data entry, typists, tax collectors, and registration clerks have been working on contract basis for the last 15 years. More than 300 people are engaged in cleaning work alone.

Sanitation workers said, 'we have been doing cleaning work on contract  basis for more than 15 years and getting a wage of Rs.700 per day.  Now, due to the decision to engage private agencies, the wage is likely to be reduced by half. It will seriously affect our livelihood. 

Therefore, the GO 152 to  handover the works to private agencies should be cancelled immediately.The workers in cleaning supervisor, driver, computer operator, street light maintenance work should be made permanent.  The arrears of daily wage workers should be calculated and paid to all daily wage workers based on the increase from 1.4.2021. Many conservancy workers have no education. 

Our struggle will continue till withdrawal of the GO. If our demand is rejected we have no option but to commit suicide. The decision to privatize the works should be abandoned. The Chief Minister should intervene and fulfill our reasonable demand," they said.