On October 30, the contact worker employed in Solid Waste Management Workers in JNU started a work boycott under the banner of AICCTU for the rights and pending salary. More than 250 sanitation workers have joined the work Boycott. As of November 5, the boycott entered its 7th day demanding a rightful bonus, salary slip, proper equipment, halting arbitary retrenchment, and ensuring recruitment of more workers.
Expressing solidarity with the workers’ struggle, the JNU Students Union (JNUSU), in a statement on November 4 said “The contractual workers of JNU, who ensure the smooth functioning of our campus — from maintaining hygiene to supporting daily operations — have been driven to protest against this unfair treatment and denial of their basic rights. For over a week now, they have assembled outside the Office of the Dean of Students, demanding justice. JNUSU stands unwaveringly in solidarity with their fight.”
The workers are legitimately demanding rightful bonus that the JNU Administration- Company Nexus has been denying to pay the workers since last several years. Most shamefully, the representative of the company, Rakshak Securitas Pvt. Ltd. told them they can be given Rs 50-100 as a bonus. It is to be noted, the workers deserve not less than Rs 18,263 i.e. one month's salary as bonus as per the Payment of Bonus Act, 1965. Offering the workers Rs 50-100 as a bonus is nothing but a humiliating statement directed against sanitation workers.
Furthermore, on November 4, in a shocking display of apathy, the JNU Vice-Chancellor visited the protest site, and remarked that the workers will only be paid if the student fees are raised. Condemning the insensitive statement by JNU VC, AICCTU and JNUSU noted that such a response by VC is against students, limiting access to education and going against JNU’s mission of providing affordable, inclusive learning. Workers’ rights cannot be contingent on fee hikes, nor can students be made to pay the price of administrative failures.
The workers are demanding:
One Month's Salary along with Bonus.
Salary slip be given to workers that is mandatory under Payment of Wages Act.
An immediate end to arbitrary retrenchment of workers by JNU and withdrawal of the unlawful retrenchment of Karan Bahadur, Ravinder Kumar, Dhanesh Ram (Mess Workers), Mithun (Sanitation Worker).
Proper protective equipment such as gloves, mask and other items.
Act against Rakshak Company for violating labour rights.
