Strike on, Strike off: The skewed art of waste non-management
NOT A MERRY CHRISTMAS
On the eve of Christmas even as the city was just beginning to beautify itself, workers collecting garbage decided to strike. After a meeting with the administration and the representatives of the council, led by union leader Ajitsingh Rane, fresh from his so called victory in the private-government security guards victory, decided that CCP workers would hit at the city and the corporation when it mattered – during Christmas. His other co leader was AAP leader Swati Kerkar. The corporation hit by the sudden withdrawal of its workers scrambled shifting workers from the Bainguinim plant.
RING THE STRIKE BELL WHEN THE TOWN WAS SINGING JINGLE BELLS
On December 16 evening the workers went on strike stopping the collection of garbage and cleaning of the streets demanding their regularization, a wage increase from Rs 221 to Rs 498; time bound scale for other permanent workers among others. Another issue was the taking back of disciplinary action against workers – a point conceded by the CCP administration on the first day itself.
By the second day the corporation filed a complaint against two striking workers alleging that they had entered the CCP premises and were threatening and intimidating the workers who had rejoined work.
“We have engaged 50 labourers and 6 trucks have been deployed under police protection,” commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues told media the next day adding that the CCP has taken strong objections to some union leaders who have not bothered to reply to calls and come to discuss the issue. He also said that garbage collection from commercial establishments was being done.
CCP has also sent notices to all workers to join work within 24 hours or action would be taken.
AND THEN THEY WERE SACKED
By December 20, the corporation decided to take a stand sacking 333 of its striking daily workers, and resolving to tender out the garbage collection by dividing the work in 8 separate compartments or packages. The CCP also sanctioned the hiring of 125 plus labour for one month extendable for another month till the tendering process was complete.
“We have resolved to tender out the process. Action will be taken against the striking workers,” the mayor Surendra Furtado had told media asking for its cooperation.
OPERATION SANJIT COMMENCES
After the emergency meeting attended by all corporators, the commissioner Sanjit Rodrigues said that the there were 65 workers on the job at present and as he was short of heavy drivers, he had requested and got Kadamba Transport drivers to drive the CCP’s heavy vehicles.
He said that the packages would be tendered out separately and one contractor would not be given more than 2 two packages.
“Their job would be only to collect. The trucks, drivers and the maintenance would be ours,” he said adding that they had already received applications from drivers.
“The corporation will have to spend around Rs 5 crore. But the tenders will be for 3 years,” he said.
OPERATION SURENDRA STYMIES OPERATION SANJITH
However, on December 24 the Mayor, also the Congress candidate, probably psyched by the St Cruz MLA holding meetings with striking workers and the workers, not having much choice give the firm stand taken by the administration in getting the strike under control met government officials – whom he used to normally curse along with union representatives – and decided to unilaterally call off the strike.
The workers joined back on December 25 and on December 26the there was a fiery meeting not attended by the commissioner at which the mayor claimed that the previous resolution was withdrawn.
The workers are back on duty without the corporation getting any guarantees that they would not go on strike again especially as they are supposed to sit for wage negotiations within a month. And the corporation has no money and so has to go for doles on the government. And this is something that the mayor, with his reputation and relationship with the government may not be able to pull off, leading to the same situation and the subsequent egg on the face for all concerned.
