Chennai Sanitation Workers Continue Protest as Negotiations Stall
Sanitation workers in Chennai are steadfast in their protest over the privatization of solid waste management, with no resolution in sight as talks between the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the workers’ union remain deadlocked.
SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT
Janani
8/12/20251 min read
More than 2000 Sanitation workers in Chennai are steadfast in their protest over the privatisation of solid waste management, with no resolution in sight as talks between the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) and the workers’ union remain deadlocked.
Protest Still Active
Despite repeated appeals, union members from the Royapuram and Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar zones are refusing to move from their demonstration outside Ripon Building, underscoring their firm objection to outsourcing of sanitation services. The civic body has further indicated that no additional negotiations will take place at this time.
Union’s Position: Beyond Wages
The workers have made their stance clear: this is not solely a battle over wages, though that remains a point of contention. K. Bharathi, president of the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam, criticised claims by corporation officials that 25% of protesting workers had resumed duty, stating instead that those operating now are employed by private contractors—not the striking workers.
Their broader demands include permanent employment status, after years of litigation to raise daily minimum wages from ₹350 to ₹753. They fear privatisation could reverse these gains.
Political Support in Solidarity
P. Shanmugam, CPI(M) state general secretary, visited the protest and voiced solidarity with the workers. He emphasised that outsourcing effectively removes workers’ rights. Dismissing government claims that regularisation was never a part of party manifestos, Shanmugam asserted that reasonable demands need not wait for electoral commitments to be addressed.
Summary
Issue: Workers are protesting the privatisation of sanitation services.
Core Demands: Permanent employment and protection of wage gains.
State of Talks: Negotiations have stalled; no further rounds planned.
Support: Political figures have voiced support for the workers’ rights.
This situation remains fluid—updates will be needed as the protest evolves or if new talks emerge.