Striking contract workers told to join duties by evening

Hyderabad, July 13: The Telangana government is taking the strike of Greater Hyderabad Municipality Corporation (GHMC) workers seriously, the Chief Minister's Office (CMO) informed. The CMO said the government is positive towards the demands of contract workers and told them to join duties by Monday evening. The CMO also warned of taking stringent action if the contract workers continues to be adamant in this regard. If the workers continue their strike, then alternate arrangements will be made by deploying army and police, it added. The Telangana government already assured of pay-hike to outsourcing employees earlier. But the workers, trapped by some selfish workers unions, have started strike, the CMO said. The CM's Office further said it is not right for them to resort to strike before Pushkaralu, Ramadan and Bonalu festivals. There was a deadlock in the talks as the municipal workers were firm on calling off their strike only if their demands are fulfilled. But the government said it will fulfill their pay hike and other demands if they join duties.