Chennai Corporation Reinstates 12 Sanitation Workers as Protests Continue at Ripon Buildings

The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) reinstated 12 sanitation workers on Thursday, marking the eighth day of an ongoing agitation by conservancy staff who marched from Victoria Public Hall to Ripon Buildings in Chennai.

The 12 reinducted workers were part of a group of 13 employees who had been left out when the civic body reinstated approximately 1,400 workers earlier this year. GCC Commissioner GS Sameeran stated that orders have been issued for the 12 workers, while the process to reinstate the 13th worker is currently under way as the corporation has sought certain details.

The reinstatement addresses one of the key demands of the protesting staff, but union leaders confirmed that their demonstration will continue until their broader grievances are resolved. More than 300 workers, organised under the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), took part in the march between 4 pm and 6 pm, blowing whistles to register their demands and seek a meeting with Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.

K Suresh, state secretary of the Left Trade Union Congress, said the workers used whistles during the demonstration specifically to draw the attention of the chief minister to their unresolved issues.

The dispute dates back to last year’s agitation against the outsourcing of solid waste management operations across two GCC zones. Following those protests, around 1,400 workers were taken back into service in February, leaving 13 individuals excluded from the rolls. Earlier this week, the GCC had assured the union that the remaining workers would be brought back into service.

UUI president K Bharathi noted that many of the sanitation staff have performed conservancy work for nearly 25 years. He highlighted that a majority of the workforce consists of women and single parents who handle dead animals and biomedical waste without weekly offs, emphasizing their demand for permanent job regularisation.

In addition to regularisation, the workers are demanding an increase in their daily wages from the current Rs 761 to Rs 832, the rate fixed by the Chennai collector. Their charter of demands also includes a paid weekly holiday, proper toilet facilities at ward offices, and paid maternity leave. The union warned that the agitation will be intensified in the coming days if these remaining demands are not met by the authorities.