Delhi MCD strike: BMS-affiliated unions decide to call off stir

New Delhi: Differences among the several striking unions of Delhi's municipal employees further came out in the open, with a few of the bodies affiliated to Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh deciding to call off their stir, while another group of unions continued to hold protests on Tuesday to press for their demands.

"The unions of sanitation workers, health services staff, engineering and other departments of municipal corporation, affiliated to Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), have decided to call off their strike showing respect to the High Court and considering hardships faced by people," said Moolchand, president of Delhi Pradesh Safai Mazdoor Sangh.

The sanitation workers of the three municipal corporations had yesterday agreed before the Delhi High Court to call off their strike and resume work immediately after the three BJP-ruled corporations said they had released their wages, though the two camps have failed to reach any resolution.

Even as BMS-affiliated unions decided to end their participation in the stir, unions associated with Swatantra Mazdoor Vikas Sanyukt Morcha continued their strike and held protest today in front of AAP minister Kapil Mishra's residence in east Delhi.

"We are protesting against Delhi government minister's because the conditions of loan of Rs 551 crore extended to North Delhi and East Delhi municipal corporations by the government are against employees," claimed Sanjay Gehlot president of the Sanyukt Morcha.

"We will abide by our stand regarding permanent solutions of the employees grievances and demands in the the High Court tomorrow," he said.

The leaders of United Front of MCD Employees had suspended their stir for two days after appearing in the court.

The High Court has fixed February 10 as the next date of hearing of a PIL filed for calling off of the strike, citing sanitation crisis in the city.

Sanyukt Morcha will hold a meeting of striking workers unions at the headquarters of East Delhi Municipal Corporation in Patparganj where a further decision on the strike will be taken unanimously tomorrow, Gehlot said.