CHENNAI: After a 184-day-long struggle and continuous protests, 1,400 cleanliness workers from the Royapuram and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar zones, all affiliated with the Uzhaipor Urimai Iyakkam (UUI), have finally been reinstated to their previous roles under the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on February 1.
Pointing out that the demands have only been partially fulfilled, the union called on the government to complete its electoral promises regarding job permanency for cleanliness workers. In pursuit of these goals, the UUI plans to conduct a 'Road Roko' on February 12, followed by a large rally at the end of the month.
Expressing joy over reinstatement, A Ashraf Begam, a cleanliness worker in the Royapuram zone, said, "For the last six months, we have struggled to make ends meet. I took part in all the protests, standing for three hours in the Cooum, sleeping on the pavement, and participating in several other demonstrations. Because I was unemployed, I wasn't able to pay my son's semester fees, but now that I have my job back, I can pay for his college."
Speaking to DT Next, UUI President K Bharathi said, "After six months, the cleanliness workers were reinstated as Chennai Corporation workers on February 1. Around 1,400 cleanliness workers, including both men and women, have joined in Tondiarpet and Anna Nagar. We see this as a partial success. However, workers' demand for job regularisation has not been fulfilled yet."
He added, "This is the first time in the last ten years the workers have regained their jobs after being displaced due to privatisation. We consider this a partial victory, not a total success. To push for the job permanency of cleaning workers across the State, including those in the Chennai Corporation, the UUI is going to conduct a 'Road Roko' on February 12 and a large rally at the end of the month."
During the six months from August 1, 2025, to February 1, 2026, many workers were left jobless. To help them support their families, we request that the government provide back pay for this duration.
"Furthermore, we urge the GCC to provide a daily wage of Rs 761 for temporary cleanliness workers employed under private contractors. We also demand the withdrawal of the 40 legal cases filed against cleanliness workers, their lawyers, and union members," stated Bharathi.
The union condemned the government's recent Government Order (GO), which increased the monthly pay for 60,025 local body cleanliness workers from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000. "This is an injustice. The state government should be paying Rs 12,750 for 26 days of work. How can a person survive on a meagre Rs 6,000, even in a village?" he added.
The UUI expressed its gratitude to the CM MK Stalin, Minister for Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments, PK Sekar Babu, the Minister for Municipal Administration, KN Nehru, and to the leaders of allied parties, opposition leaders, and democratic forces who provided their support.