Mumbai News: Sanitation Workers Call Off July 23 Strike After BMC Assures Their Concerns Will Be Addressed

Mumbai: Sanitation workers have withdrawn their planned July 23 strike after the BMC assured them their concerns would be addressed. The protest was sparked by the civic body's proposal to appoint a single private agency for citywide waste management. Meanwhile, 24 companies have shown interest in the BMC’s waste management bid. Officials claim the move could save the civic body Rs. 160 crore annually.

About The Unrest

The unrest stemmed from the BMC's proposal to outsource waste disposal and transportation, sparking fears of job losses among 6,000 permanent and 1,500 contractual motor loaders. On Tuesday, the MWAC met civic officials, who assured job security and continuation of Lad-Page Committee benefits, including preferential jobs for workers’ kin. "Since promised housing will also be fast-tracked we are satisfied with the meeting, and the strike has been called off,” said MWAC leader Ramakant Bane.

The Lad-Page Committee, formed in 1972, recommended jobs for sanitation workers’ heirs—implemented through government resolutions since 1979. "The BMC has assured that none of the 31,000 sanctioned posts in the sanitation department will be cut after privatisation. They have also agreed to regularise contractual workers hired through nonprofits without changing their pay or roles. Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the BMC and the union will be signed in a meeting on Monday,” said a union leader.

Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani said, “Permanent motor loaders will not lose their jobs. As for contractual workers, we will review the pending court cases, but we remain positive.” Meanwhile, 24 companies have responded to the BMC’s Rs. 4,000-crore tender for waste collection and transportation, which includes supplying compactors, labour, public bins, and promoting waste segregation. Technical and financial evaluation of bids will begin Wednesday and may take a month. Two bidders have moved the Bombay High Court, alleging exclusion due to the tender’s specifications.

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