Chandigarh, 31 Sec. 2024: Door-to-door waste collection in Chandigarh came to a standstill Monday as garbage collectors launched an indefinite strike, leaving households with uncollected trash and overflowing bins. The situation, worsened by the usual Sunday break for workers, has sparked significant inconvenience for residents across the city.
Municipal Commissioner Amit Kumar responded by enforcing a “no work, no pay” rule for the striking staff. “Wages will be withheld for the days workers are on strike, including December 21,” he said, referring to an earlier one-day suspension of services. Kumar urged the protestors to return to work, noting, “The corporation is open to dialogue to resolve the issue, but the strike must first end.”
The protest, led by a section of garbage collectors, stems from demands for better wages and improved working conditions. Union president Dharamvir Rana explained that their responsibilities have expanded significantly. “Initially, we were tasked only with residential waste collection under the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the municipal corporation. However, last year, commercial areas were added to our duties without a corresponding salary increase,” Rana said. He also called for the MoU to be revised to include terms that address workers’ needs.
The municipal body held a meeting with the union on December 26 after the initial one-day protest, but no agreement was reached. “The corporation proposed a labor rate that doesn’t meet our expectations. Until our demands are fulfilled, we have no option but to continue the strike,” Rana added.
As the strike disrupts essential waste management services, the municipal corporation has implemented alternative measures to mitigate the impact. Commissioner Kumar appealed to citizens to deposit segregated waste directly in garbage collection vehicles during this period.
Protesters gathered Monday at the city’s Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs), demanding immediate salary adjustments and better working conditions to reflect their increased workload.
