AP govt agrees to fulfil demands of 35,000 municipal workers, hikes salaries

Amaravati, July 15: The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday evening agreed to fulfil almost all demands of 35,000 municipal workers. The sanitation staff launched an indefinite strike from Monday asking state government to meet their demands including hike in Occupational Health Allowance (OHA).
 
The high-powered panel led by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Audimulapu Suresh has agreed to pay Rs 6,000 as OHA and Rs 15,00 salary per month. Earlier, municipal workers received Rs 3,000 as OHA. Now, every sanitation staffer gets Rs 21,000 per month. 
 
The garbage has been piled up in cities and towns across the state following strike by municipal workers for the last four days. The minister urged them to resume duties at the earliest. However, leaders of the Andhra Pradesh Municipal Employees’ Union said they will call off strike only after the government issues GO for agreed demands. The union leaders will take a final call on strike after holding a meeting on Friday.