Siliguri, 19th February: Today is the third day of the demonstration programme being staged by the city’s cleaning staff. They have been on strike since Wednesday in support of several demands.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Goutam Deb summoned the protestors to his office today to hold a meeting in this regard. However, the members of Uttar Banga Safai Karmachari Samiti refused to attend the meeting with the minister. They said that they will only hold talks with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, state Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim or MP Abhishek Banerjee.
On the other hand, Ashok Bhattacharya, chairman of the BoA at SMC, said that the cleaning staff is carrying out such activities under the guidance of outsiders. He said that the cleaning staff has every right to present their demands, but to discontinue cleaning services, especially during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, is highly condemnable.
Bhattacharya added that a 20 percent wage increase is not possible at the moment and their wage will be increased by 10 percent from March. He further assured that the demands of the Safai workers will also be put forward when a new board will be formed in the corporation.