The Times of India 08.09.2010
PCMC functioning affected due to bandh
PUNE: Functioning of the Pimpri-Chinchwad municipal corporation (PCMC) was affected as employees in most departments, barring the essential services, participated in the nation-wide one-day bandh to protest against rising prices.
The main office building of the PCMC wore a deserted look as majority of the civic employees joined the strike because of the Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Karmachari Mahasangh’s support to the strike.
Over 50 per cent of the civic employees participated in the strike. The PCMC’s total employee strength is 7701. Of these, 3960 employees were absent. A little over 50 per cent of the Class C and D employees were absent. All Class A and B employees were present, except a few who had taken leave.
Speaking to TOI, Ashish Sharma, municipal commissioner said, “The civic employees in the departments of water supply, sewage and octroi were present. The employees of the civic hospitals and dispensaries were also working.”
Sharma had appealed to the health department employees engaged in garbage clearance not to participate in the strike as garbage would pile up creating health problems. Despite the request, these employees joined the strike. Reacting to it, Sharma said, “These employees have been informed that they will have to work for extra hours on Wednesday to clear the heaps of garbage accumulated in various parts of the municipal limits.”
Subhash Sarin, general secretary, of the workers’ union said, “The strike was 100 per cent successful. The civic employees that render essential services were present but did not sign the attendance muster.”
Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee of Trade Unions, Pune, comprising 25 labour unions, participated in the strike. Thousands of workers gathered at the Shramshakti Bhavan in Akurdi and marched to Babasaheb Ambedkar chowk in Pimpri. Kailas Kadam of the Indian National Trade Union Congress ( INTUC) addressed the workers at the meeting.
Suresh Mhetre, president, Pimpri-Chinchwad Small Industries Association ( PCSIA) said, “The bandh had no effect on the small industries in the Pimpri-Chinchwad township. Only around two per cent industries where there were strong labour unions were affected. There are a total of 8,000 small industries within the PCMC limits having 2.5 lakh workers. The dispatch of goods was not done to large industries today as they were affected by the bandh.”
