CHENNAI: Cleanliness workers protesting at the Ripon Building withdrew their stir on Friday (September 4), the the 14th day, after the Tamil Nadu government accepted five of their demands, following talks with Ministers N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, CTR Nirmalkumar and B Rajkumar, as reported by Thanthi TV.
The National Urban Livelihoods Mission (NULM) workers had been demanding that the State government and Greater Chennai Corporation scrap the contract system and make them permanent employees. They were also protesting over long-pending issues, including timely payment of salaries, paid weekly leave and social security benefits.
A day earlier, the Madras Corporation Red Flag Union had joined the protest led by the Uzhaippor Urimai Iyakkam (Workers' Rights Movement), affiliated to LTUC-AICCTU.
The unions also sought payment of monthly wages by the fifth of every month, weekly leave with pay, arrears from 2017 in accordance with GO (2D) No 62, and implementation of revised dearness allowance-linked wages from April 1, along with arrears.
Other demands included adequate uniforms, payment of earned-leave benefits in the month of sanction, restoration of the old pension scheme and immediate settlement of retirement benefits.
The agitation had intensified earlier this week when sanitation workers entered the Ripon Building during a flash protest.
(With inputs from Bureau)
(This is a breaking news alert)