The standoff between the Urban Local Bodies Department and the Employees’ Union in Haryana has now escalated into a major confrontation. Following the inconclusive outcome of marathon talks held in Chandigarh between senior officials of the department and union leaders, approximately 30,000 municipal employees across the state have gone on an indefinite strike starting today.
Key Reasons for the Failure of Talks
An 11-member delegation, led by Naresh Shastri the State President of the Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh (All Employees’ Union) and the State President of the Municipal Employees’ Union met with Ashok Meena, the Commissioner and Secretary of the Urban Local Bodies Department. During the talks, the employees forcefully presented their demands; however, a consensus could not be reached as no concrete assurances were received from the government’s side.
The Administration’s Appeal and the Union’s Stance
During the meeting, Department Secretary Ashok Meena made an emotional appeal to the employees to call off the strike, citing the special sanitation drive currently underway in the state. However, the union leaders flatly rejected this appeal. Naresh Shastri, State President of the Municipal Employees’ Union, stated, “We have been given nothing but assurances for a long time. Now, we are left with no option other than to launch a protest movement. The strike will continue until concrete action is taken regarding our demands.”
Apprehensions Regarding the Impact on Public Life
This strike involves sanitation workers, sewerage staff, and other municipal employees; consequently, sanitation services and sewerage management in the state’s cities could come to a complete standstill. Additional Director of the Urban Local Bodies Department, Y.S. Gupta, along with several prominent union leaders, were also present during the talks.
Sanitation Services Paralyzed in Tohana; 240 Employees on a Two-Day Strike
Amidst the ongoing strike by fire brigade personnel which has been continuing for 24 days at the Municipal Council office, sanitation workers have now also launched a two-day strike. As a result, door-to-door waste collection services in the city have come to a complete halt.
Union leaders claim that approximately 240 employees of the Municipal Council, comprising contractual, permanent, and door-to-door collection staff, are participating in this strike. On Friday, employees raised loud slogans against the government within the Municipal Council premises and warned that their protest joined by their families, would continue until their demands were met.