RAWALPINDI: Sanitary workers on Tuesday ended their strike against Rawalpindi Waste Management Company (RWMC) over non-payment of salaries for last two months.

More than 1,500 sanitary workers and drivers went on strike on Monday over non-payment of salaries. They also set up a protest sit-in camp at Liaquat Bagh and refused to lift garbage from streets and roads.

The sanitary workers also did not clean streets and roads in 46 union councils.

On Tuesday, the sanitary workers on the call of Municipal Labour Union staged a protest demonstration on Murree Road. They chanted slogans demanding release of their salaries.

The protesters also planned to close Murree Road. However, DSP Ijaz Shah along with Station House Officer (City) Chaudhry Shafqat Ali reached the spot and persuaded the sanitary workers not to close the road.

The police also assured the protesters that their demand would be reported to the provincial government and the district administration for resolution. On the assurance of the police, the protesters called off their strike.

The sanitary workers said they had not been paid salaries for two months.

“I have not been paid salary for March and April. I have been requesting the management to release the dues but they are not resolving the issue,” said Akhter Masih.

William Masih said without salary it was difficult to manage his kitchen budget. He said the government should release salaries of the workers otherwise the latter would take to streets again.

Published in Dawn, May 15th, 2019