Around 1,000 sanitary workers of the Kanpur Municipal Corporation (KMC) launched an indefinite strike on Friday, protesting against the engagement of private companies in garbage lifting and disposal operations. The striking employees are demanding the cancellation of a tender awarded to a South India-based company.
Strike Impact on City Services
Due to the strike, garbage collection and cleaning of roads and open areas have been halted across several parts of the city. Employee leaders gathered at the KMC headquarters, raising slogans against privatisation and making it clear that the strike would persist until the tender is rescinded.
Union Leaders' Statements
Ajit Baghmar, state general secretary of the UP Sanitary Employee Association, alleged that the KMC administration is attempting to transfer sanitation workers to private companies. Workers had been staging demonstrations at the KMC headquarters for the past two days. “We sought time from the municipal commissioner but have not yet been granted an appointment,” he said, adding that employees were left with no alternative but to resort to an indefinite strike.
Meanwhile, corporator Naveen Pandit appealed to the sanitation workers to restore services, urging them to reconsider their action for the welfare of the city.
