Chandigarh: PGIMER contract workers continue their protest demanding higher wages

Chandigarh [India], October 14 (ANI): The contract workers of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) in Chandigarh continued their protest on Monday demanding increased wages.

According to the workers’ union, the protest has been going on since October 10. They said that the strike had been called after being disappointed with the administration of the PGIMER.

“This protest has been going on since October 10. The court ordered under Rule 25, in our favour to provide us with increased wages since November 2018. But we have not been provided with it due to the adamant behaviour of the PGIMER administration,” Rajesh Chauhan, PGIMER Contract Workers’ Union President told ANI.

“We have called this strike after being disappointed with the administration. We have sent the letter to the administration (of PGIMER) but they have not replied to us,” he added.

Over 4,000 contractual workers, representing various unions under the Joint Action Committee (JAC), including hospital attendants, sanitation workers, security guards, and other essential service providers, took part in the latest protest.

On Saturday, the Chandigarh Police filed a fresh FIR against the contract workers for holding an unauthorised protest which disrupted critical patient services. This is the second FIR in two months, following a previous protest on August 9.

The police had said the workers’ protest violated the district magistrate’s order dated August 28, which restricts unauthorised rallies, dharnas, and protests.