Noida: The strike by more than 3,000 contractual sanitation workers was called off late on Thursday after discussions with Noida Authority. The workers had raised concerns over job security, wage increments, uniforms, supervisory hierarchy and other essential needs.An Authority officer on special duty, Indu Prakash, said, “The workers’ demands for regular employment, uniforms and better-defined supervisory roles are being put before the Authority CEO for consideration.” There are about 5,000 sanitation workers in Noida. Prakash added the contractors change every year but the workers stay on. They are not on the Authority’s direct payroll but are paid through the contractors. “However, this time the sanitation tender has been issued for two years,” he said.This was the third strike in the past seven months, and residents’ associations claimed the three-day disruption left over 1,000 metric tonnes of garbage on city roads. Sectors 34, 51, 52 and 54 were among the worst affected areas. On Friday, garbage sat undisturbed across various stretches in the city.Sector 53 RWA general secretary VS Negi said, “Our sector is next to Gijhore village which does not have a regular garbage pickup service. They are compelled to dump the waste near park gates and in vacant plots. The stench for the past three days has been unbearable.”“There were two more strikes this year in March and June. About 1,800 dumpers had been off our roads during this period. Why are we facing the same problem regularly?” asked RWA general secretary of blocks C to F of Sector 51 Sanjeev Kumar. “There is definitely some lack of communication between the workers and the Authority and they need to bridge this gap.”An RWA member of Century Apartment Sector 100, Pawan Yadav, said, “Residents are constantly asking us about the garbage piling up on the roads. People are anxious because seasonal illnesses are also on the rise. The Authority should deploy manpower and improve the labour charges if necessary,” he said. “We need a permanent solution.”
