The Karnataka Progressive Waste Transport Vehicle Drivers and Helpers Association (AICCTU) is gearing up for a major demonstration to press for their long-pending demands. The association has announced a protest march titled 'Belagavi Chalo' scheduled for December 17, where hundreds of workers will converge at the Suvarna Soudha in Belagavi.
Core Demands of the Protesting Workers
State president PP Appanna, addressing a press conference in Hubballi, outlined the primary grievances. The central demand is the immediate abolition of the contract system in urban local bodies. The association insists that all drivers, helpers, and loaders involved in waste collection and disposal be made permanent employees with direct salary payments.
Appanna revealed that over 500 participants are expected to join the mobilization. He criticized the state government for failing to honor its commitments, noting that Chief Minister Siddaramaiah's promise to regularize garbage disposal workers remains unfulfilled. Furthermore, a proposal by Labour Minister Santosh Lad to form a society was outrightly rejected by the worker's union.
Specific Grievances and Financial Demands
The leaders highlighted a specific court order that is being ignored. In 2012, the High Court directed that the salaries of drivers be deposited directly into their bank accounts, a directive that has not been implemented consistently. Beyond job security, the association has put forth a detailed charter of demands for improved livelihoods.
Their key financial and welfare demands include:
- Fixing a monthly salary of Rs 42,000 for the workers.
- Ensuring the principle of equal pay for equal work.
- Guaranteeing that salaries are disbursed by the 7th of every month.
- Allocation of residential plots and construction of houses for workers.
- Providing financial assistance for the education of their children.
- Issuing strict orders to prevent any form of harassment at the workplace.
Broader Implications and Union Stand
The protest underscores the persistent struggles faced by essential sanitation workers across Karnataka's urban centers. Despite performing a critical public health service, these workers continue to fight for basic job dignity, timely wages, and social security benefits that permanent status would afford.
The press conference was attended by other AICCTU office bearers, including Chandrashekar Shiragumpi, Mahesh Kadam, and state secretary Keshav Nayak, signaling a unified front. The 'Belagavi Chalo' march is shaping up to be a significant show of strength, aiming to draw the state government's direct attention to the plight of waste management workers ahead of the winter session at the Suvarna Soudha.
