Municipal Workers Kneel In Protest, Strike Enters Day Eight In Proddatur

Andhra Pradesh: In a powerful display of dissent, municipal sanitation and engineering workers kneeled in protest on Sunday as their statewide strike, led by the CITU, entered its eighth consecutive day. Backed by solidarity from sanitation staff, the protest is intensifying, demanding fulfillment of long-pending and legally mandated demands.

• Workers kneel to demand justice

Striking workers chose symbolic resistance by protesting on their knees, drawing attention to their prolonged neglect. The demonstration, which has seen participation across municipalities, highlighted their frustration over the government’s failure to implement key assurances. Sanitation workers continued their strike in support of engineering workers, staying away from their duties yet again.

• Legal wages as per GO 36 ignored

At the heart of the protest is the non-implementation of Government Order No 36, which mandates a monthly wage of 21,000 for borewell operators, fitters, electricians, park staff, computer operators, draftsmen, and other engineering department workers. For some technical roles, the amount is meant to be Rs 24,500. The workers allege that these rightful wages are yet to be paid, despite repeated representations.

• Neglected welfare of outsourced and retired workers

Protesters demanded that municipal outsourcing staff be included in government welfare schemes—benefits that the government had promised before elections but failed to implement. Additionally, they demanded immediate disbursal of six pending Dearness Allowance (DA) installments, surrender leave, and gratuity amounts owed to retired workers.

They also urged the government to include those additional workers hired during the COVID-19 crisis in corporations and urban panchayats under the outsourcing regularization process, citing their continued service and vulnerability to arbitrary termination.

• Ignored support staff in schools

School sweepers and night watchmen, who remain among the most underpaid in municipal employment. Protest leaders reiterated that even minimum wages are being denied to this crucial segment of workers and called for urgent implementation.

• Leadership and support

Sunday’s protest was led by CITUC District Secretary Satyanarayana and supported by Honorary President Vijay Kumar, Union Town President Chanti, Municipal Union Secretary Salmon, and Town Treasurer Raghava. The organizers said they would continue the agitation until the government delivers on its promises and respects the dignity of labour.

“Kneeling today is a reminder that we have been forced to our knees by injustice,” said the leadership. “But we will rise when our rights are restored.”

(Source: IAIJ/BIN/DPJB)