‘Sanitation strike will continue’

NEWDELHI: Sanitation workers in east Delhi, who have been on an indefinite strike since October 11 over non-payment of arrears and a range of other demands, welcomed the order of the Delhi High Court but said that their strike would continue till the time the high court’s orders are implemented and they receive all payments.

“The HC has ordered the Delhi government to release the funds within three days. This is a historic order as this is for the first time the court has directed the authorities to pay our arrears.,” said Sanjay Gehlot, president of the Swachhta Karamchari Union, which calls itself the biggest worker union of EDMC with 11,000 members.

Citing that similar HC orders earlier flouted by the authorities, Gehlot said, “We apprehend that the order could be flouted this time too. So our strike will continue till the time we receive all our arrears and payments”.

The crisis is likely to escalate and spread to other parts of the city as another union, the Swatantra Majdoor Sayunkt Morcha has threatened to go on strike from Monday.

“We would be going on a strike from Monday. We are in no mood to compromise unless our demands are met,” said Sanjeev Java president of Swatantra Majdoor Sayunkt Morcha.

On Saturday leaders of the Swachhta Karamchari Union visited EDMC wards to urge their colleagues to join the strike.