Sanitation Workers Announce Indefinite Strike in Bihar From July 30; Garbage Collection May Come To A Halt In Patna

Patna: Municipal employees across Bihar have announced an indefinite strike beginning on July 30, escalating a long-running dispute with the state government over issues including equal pay, regularisation of workers and the outsourcing system.

Ahead of the strike, protest demonstrations are scheduled to be held across urban local bodies on June 30, marking the start of a statewide campaign aimed at mobilising employees.

The announcement was made by the Patna Municipal Corporation Employees’ Joint Coordination Committee, which said workers had waited nearly two years for progress on their demands without a satisfactory resolution.

Protest Campaign To Begin On June 30

The first major demonstration will be held at the Patna Municipal Corporation headquarters in Maurya Lok on June 30.

Following this, employees plan to organise protests and general meetings across various municipal zones in Patna to build support for the proposed strike.

According to the committee, the protest programme will begin in the Bankipur zone before extending to Kankarbagh, Patliputra, Nutan Rajdhani, Azimabad and Patna City.

A torchlight procession is also scheduled to be taken out from Maurya Lok on July 29, a day before the strike is due to commence.

Statewide Mobilisation Planned

Employee organisations have outlined a series of divisional meetings across Bihar in the lead-up to the strike.

Union representatives argue that these measures are necessary to improve job security, ensure fair wages and strengthen municipal services.

Essential Civic Services May Be Affected

If the strike proceeds as planned, it could affect a range of municipal services across Bihar, including sanitation, waste management, water supply support services and administrative operations within urban local bodies.

The state government has not yet issued a detailed response to the strike announcement.

With protests scheduled to begin later this month, the coming weeks are expected to witness intensified negotiations and demonstrations as employee unions seek to pressure the government into addressing their demands before the strike date.

Similar meetings are also planned in the Kosi, Bhagalpur and Purnia divisions.

Union leaders said torchlight processions would be organised in urban local bodies throughout the state on July 29 to demonstrate solidarity ahead of the indefinite strike.

Union Alleges Delay In Addressing Demands

Chandra Prakash Singh, president of the Patna Municipal Corporation Employees’ Joint Coordination Committee, accused the government of failing to engage meaningfully with employee representatives.

He said a committee comprising officials from the Urban Development and Housing Department and union representatives had been constituted to examine the issue of “equal pay for equal work”.

However, Singh alleged that despite more than a year having passed, the committee had not held a single meeting.

He described the delay as evidence of what he termed an anti-worker approach by the administration.

Key Demands Of Employees

The employees’ organisations have placed several demands before the government, many of which relate to employment security and service benefits.

With protests scheduled to begin later this month, the coming weeks are expected to witness intensified negotiations and demonstrations as employee unions seek to pressure the government into addressing their demands before the strike date.