East corporation will hold elections to regularise sanitation unions

NEW DELHI: The East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) on Friday decided to hold elections for sanitation unions through the secret ballot on April 15 and reduce the multiplicity of different registered and unregistered unions.

The move aims to regulate the different sanitation workers’ unions and give recognition to those who win the election.

According to senior MCD officials, there are 28 unions in east Delhi, out of which only 17 are recognised. After the elections, two unions will be elected — one for Shahdara north and other for Shahdara south.

There are 16,000 permanent sanitation workers in east corporation who are associated with various unions.

MCD officials said that because there are different unions, it becomes difficult to communicate with different groups in times of crisis, such as workers’ strike.

The last date for filing the nomination for various positions of sanitation union is March 19 and the results will be declared on April 17.

“The whole process will be supervised by the deputy commissioner or returning officers of the two zones,” said the official.

Sharing the problems faced by civic agencies because of the multiplicity of different unions, EDMC mayor Neema Bhagat said, “When all these associations go on strike, it becomes difficult for officials to talk to all of them and get their approval for any new proposal.”

“Further, thousands of workers associated with these unions don’t go to work and just exploit the resources to fulfil their interests. We want to end this situation by systematising the role of trade unions,” said Bhagat.

Sanjay Gehlot, president of MCD Swachhata Karmchari Union, said that the move will help in ending the state of confusion in the area.

“When multiple unions approach the officials, they stop taking our demands seriously. Also, these unions put undue pressure on authorities, which ultimately affects the day-today functioning of the civic agency,” he said.

These unions have gone on strike for five times in the past three years, demanding regular payment of salary and pending arrears.

BJP COUNCILLORS TO STAGE DHARNA

To demand the release of funds as per the recommendation of fourth Delhi Finance Commission, BJP councillors in East Corporation will stage dharna outside Delhi Secretariat on Monday.

The councillor will also demand releasing of loan of Rs586 crores for paying pending salaries from December 2017.