Gurgaon: Shaved heads and raised slogans marked a fresh escalation in the sanitation workers’ protest on Saturday as 26 employees marched to cabinet minister and Badshapur MLA Rao Narbir Singh’s residence in Civil Lines. The workers defied a govt ultimatum to return to duty by Sept 5 or face departmental and legal action, continuing their strike for the 31st day.The workers, from municipal bodies in Gurgaon, Manesar, Sohna, Pataudi, Farrukhnagar and Heli Mandi, gathered at the old MCG office despite the rain. After shaving their heads as a mark of protest, they marched to the minister’s house, accusing the state govt of adopting an “anti-employee” approach and refusing to resolve their demands through talks.The workers said disciplinary action and police intervention would not end the agitation. They demanded withdrawal of suspension and termination orders and release of workers arrested during the protest.The union also rejected the govt’s claim that several demands had been accepted. Basant Kumar, state vice-president and Gurgaon unit president of Municipal Employees Union, Haryana, said the Sept 5 ultimatum had failed to deter them.“The govt has threatened us with suspension, termination and arrests, but we are not going to be intimidated. If it wants to suspend us, it can. If it wants to arrest us, it can. We will not back down,” he added.Kumar said the union had now given the govt another day. “The strike will continue. We have given the govt time till Sept 6. If our demands are not addressed by tomorrow, the state executive will meet and decide on further intensification and extension of the strike,” he added.The workers have asked for the contract system in sanitation and sewerage work to be scrapped, regular posts created and permanent recruitment undertaken. They have also sought a solution for the regularisation of contractual municipal and fire department employees.Union leaders alleged that alternative arrangements made by civic agencies had failed to restore normal sanitation. They also alleged that inflated or bogus bills were being prepared for garbage collection and cleaning during the strike and sought an independent audit of related expenditure and payments.The union criticised deployment of police for sanitation work and alleged that women, elderly employees and other strikers had been detained. “Police action cannot suppress the voice of the employees,” a member said.The workers also questioned their continued exclusion from regular recruitment and alleged discrimination in service conditions.
