Civic labour unions meet to protest against BMC tender

MUMBAI: A meeting was organised by a joint committee of seven labour unions at the Annabhau Sathe Auditorium in Byculla on Tuesday afternoon to oppose a recent BMC tender regarding the collection and transportation of solid waste. In an unexpected move, municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani made an appearance and attempted to placate the workers. However, his efforts proved unsuccessful, with the unions announcing that they will hold a vote on July 8 to decide whether to continue the protest. The BMC’s Solid Waste Management Department had issued a tender on May 14, 2025. As per the tender, cleaning and transport operations are to be carried out by contractors under an “area-based” system. The plan involves handing over waste collection and disposal work across 22 wards to private firms. Currently, this work is handled by permanent civic workers and some contract workers. At Tuesday’s gathering, Gagrani said, “You all work hard to keep Mumbai clean. But the city’s waste is increasing, and managing it is becoming more complex. The challenge is not just cleaning roads, but matching the cleanliness standards of modern global cities.” He added that, after thorough study, the decision to adopt a “service-based” model for cleanliness was taken, and the tender issued accordingly. “We are willing to move ahead only after understanding your concerns and with your agreement,” he assured. “This tender does not mean existing municipal workers will be removed. No employee will be laid off,” he stated. After his speech, Gagrani left the venue. But despite his assurances, the unions maintained their stance and said the protest plan remains in place. Municipal Union general secretary Ramakant Bane said a vote will be held across approximately 400 locations on July 8 to decide on the strike. “If everyone feels we should keep up the protest, we will then all go to Vidhan Sabha and seek a meeting with the Chief Minister. The BMC administration has not been very receptive to our concerns,” said Bane.