Unions set to launch massive agitation

In a significant development, about a dozen unions have joined hands to take on the AAP government for its alleged failure to deliver on a host of important issues concerning the employees working with different government agencies in the national Capital. Considering the size and scale of these unions, who are all set to launch a massive agitation in the first week of January next year, things are reportedly going to be difficult for the administrative machinery to function in the city.

The first and foremost thing these unions will be doing is to register their protest with chief minister Arvind Kejriwal.

“A massive demonstration will be held outside his residence from 11 am to 5 pm on January 6, 2016,” said former Congress MLA Jai Kishen, who was unanimously declared as the leader of the joint front of unions set up on Thursday.

“We will be giving a 10 day deadline to the CM to address all our issues. If he does not address them in the set timeline, we will hit every nook and corner of the city.”

Among the key bodies which have forged alliance are Ambedkar Veer Sena, Valmiki Youth Front, Turbatnath Veer Sena, Prajapati Mahasabha, Valmiki Sarpanch Committee, Joint Front of the MCD Union and SC/ST Teachers Front.

These bodies represent a large section of sweepers, doctors, nurses, teachers, professors and other government employees. Their major demand is that the salaries of all the employees be released on time, settlement be done of all those who have either retired or died, pension of widows and elderly citizens be released with immediate effect and other benefits which have been withdrawn be given back to one and all.

Mr Jai Kishen said there was a long list of safai karamcharis (sweepers) who have not been regularised so far. “Many posts for SC/ST and other OBCs are lying vacant in different departments.”

“We will be devising our strategy this week. Once our strategy is in place, then only we will hit the roads,” said Mr Jai Kishen

During the past agitations over non-payment of salaries, a large number of employees of the municipal bodies had stopped collection of garbage in the city.

At some places, they had strewn the garbage on the open roads. They had even targeted Mr Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia.