Sanitation workers in two zones who launched a protest against the Greater Chennai Corporation’s (GCC) plans to privatise waste collection fear having to work for lesser pay once it happens. Workers in Zone 5 (Royapuram) and Zone 6 (Thiru-Vi-Ka Nagar) began an indefinite protest against privatisation of waste collection on July 1. On Friday, July 4, the workers have scheduled a protest in front of the District Collector’s office..
The protest saw around 520 sanitation workers organise in front of the Ripon building which houses the GCC, Mayor’s and commissioner's offices among others. The call for protest was jointly given by the Uzhayipor Urimai Iyakkam, the All India Central Council of Trade Unions (AICCTU) and the Left Trade Union Congress (LTUC).
The GCC had passed a resolution dated April 19, to privatise waste collection in two of the four zones that remain non-private. Ten of the 15 zones of the GCC had already been privatised. These zones are managed by Spain-based Urbaser-Sumeet and Ramky Enviro Engineers Ltd (REEL), an Andhra-based company.
Workers said their conditions as contract workers under the GCC are poor and privatisation would only worsen things for them. Currently they are paid Rs 22,000 per month.
Chief Minister MK Stalin, while he was the Leader of Opposition in 2021, had spoken out against a privatisation bid by the AIADMK government and sought the regularisation of sanitation workers. He had made it a poll promise.
“What happened to the stand taken by Stalin in the letter? Has the GCC abandoned the promise given by Stalin? Will Stalin now say, until I win I will make promises but I won’t do anything?” asked Janakiraman, state secretary, Uzhayipor Urumai Iyakkam.
Workers said since there is no job security, they are left to fend for themselves during health crises and emergencies as leave days are not paid for. “If we take a day off, they cut from our salary. We don’t have PF or ESI. We don't have Pongal or Diwali or any other holidays,” said Bharathi, a worker in Ward 58 of the Royapuram zone.
“Even when we are menstruating we are not allowed to get an off day. We work because we can’t afford to consider all that. You know how hard it is during menstruation. Is it a job where we sit at a table and write on a paper? Permanent staff get a lot of benefits. We don’t have any of those,” said Bharathi. A large majority of people employed as sanitation workers in the city are women. There are no changing rooms or bathroom facilities for women workers.
Leaves are not allowed and they are not compensated even if they get injured while on the job, workers alleged. “In 2021, I was injured while at work. The vehicle I was driving overturned and I was grievously injured. I had to get five stitches and couldn’t work for a month. I didn’t get any salary during this time. I am a single mother with two children,” said Geetha, a worker, who lost her husband in 2019.
Ekavalli was struck by a car while working in Egmore. She was taken to a hospital but no help was extended to her afterwards. “I had to get head scans done at Stanley hospital and make multiple hospital visits. There were injuries to my hands and legs. The supervisor gave Rs 500 and sent me to the hospital,” said Ekavalli. She was allowed to keep away from work for three days.
A number of the workers are the sole earners in the household. The salaries they earn are often not enough to take care of education for their children and other needs. They are also unable to access loans from banks as they require documents including salary slips.
“I have two girl children. We can’t get loans for their education. My daughter is almost done with college. She is asking for a laptop. Even to get it on EMI they ask for all kinds of documents that we don’t have. How can I manage?” asks Geetha.
The workers complain that they are not provided safety equipment. There are no masks, gloves or other equipment given, according to them. Kuttima, who has worked 14 years in the field, and has four children to take care of, shows a cut on her finger which came from a piece of glass.
The workers, mostly from the Arunthathiyar and Aadi Dravidar castes have been the frontline workers in times of crisis. Both communities are categorised as Scheduled Caste (SC) in Tamil Nadu. They were working even during the COVID-19 pandemic and cyclones.
“The fire force and police are seen as frontline workers, we take care of the city on a daily basis but we are not given any respect. When it rains everyone gets inside. We have to work to ensure that there are no clogs or blocked drains that will cause water logging,” said Sakthivel, a worker.
Bharathi was hospitalised for around 10 days due to Covid but went to work again once she was better. “During the Covid pandemic when the general public was cozy indoors, we went to work every day at 6 in the morning and would return home only by 6 or 7 pm. We have often had to go to work by foot during that time because there were no buses. They didn’t give us any food, couldn’t get masks or anything,” she said.
Workers in the privatised zones of the city have ESI, and PF but the salary in hand is only Rs 15,000.
Marthamma, a sanitation worker in Thiruvottiyur, now privatised, said she has been cleaning the city for the past 22 years. “Salary used to be Rs 6000 and was raised to 15,000 one year ago," she said. “If we get injured or sick and take a leave the wages for the day are gone,” she alleged. The Rs 15,000 she gets in hand every month is after a deduction of Rs 1650, her contribution towards benefits like PF.
When the city is visited by dignitaries, the workers are asked to do a thorough cleaning. “Every month some important person comes to the area and we have to clean up especially for them. The Prime Minister has even visited our ward four times and for all that we worked night and day. The Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is in the ward and every month someone comes. The CM himself keeps coming. His last visit was on July 1,” said Bharathi.