No headway in talks between GCC and conservancy staff

Even because the protest by conservancy staff of Royapuram and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar zones entered the tenth day, the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) formally started common rubbish assortment with staff from a non-public agency. A wage revision for conservancy staff is predicted throughout the subsequent 4 months, mentioned a senior official from the GCC.

According to sources within the Chennai Corporation, roughly 150 short-term sanitation staff started work by way of Ramky Enviro Engineers Limited, the personal agency roped in for strong waste administration in Royapuram and Thiru. Vi. Ka. Nagar zones (V and VI) on Saturday. More than 300 staff are anticipated to affix within the coming days, sources mentioned.

“These staff have been earlier employed with GCC by way of National Urban Livelihood Mission (NULM) and have now joined by submitting letters of consent. The firm was required to nominate 3,809 sanitation staff beneath the contract, however has solely appointed 1,770 thus far. The remaining 2,039 posts (975 in zone V and 1,059 in zone VI) are nonetheless reserved for the NULM staff at the moment protesting,” mentioned the Corporation.

Joint Commissioner (Health) V.P. Jeyaseelan mentioned privatisation has confirmed to be a greater mannequin than the GCC itself dealing with strong waste administration.

“Since August 1, 2025, some staff have chosen to not take up the job and have been staging protests. This has led to a short lived disruption in waste assortment in zones V and VI, affecting public areas and posing potential well being dangers… the scenario might be resolved if the protesting staff take into account becoming a member of the brand new system, which provides assured employment, full authorized safety, and enhanced welfare measures.”

“Since 2000, personal conservancy in Chennai has confirmed to achieve success with clear monitoring, sooner public grievance redressal and three-shift operations,” he mentioned.

Meanwhile, the fifth spherical of talks continued between the employees’ organisation and GCC officers, but no decision was reached, mentioned S. Janakiraman, normal secretary, Uzhaippor Urimai Sangam. “The staff are usually not prepared to affix for decrease pay and with out job safety. The protests will proceed,” he mentioned.

Thirumaeshwari, a conservancy employee on the protest, mentioned many are prepared to wash the streets even at no cost however won’t be a part of a non-public agency as job permanency needs to be provided by the State.

A senior Corporation official mentioned salaries for all sanitary staff might be made uniform, as a wage revision may happen inside 4 months.