GVMC Workers Threaten Indefinite Strike

Hundreds of members of the GVMC Contract Workers Union, affiliated to CITU, staged a massive protest near the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation office on Tuesday, demanding immediate resolution of their long-pending issues and warning of an indefinite strike if the authorities fail to respond within the stipulated time.

As part of the agitation, the workers took out a rally and appealed to the District Collector, who is also the Special Officer, to personally intervene and settle their grievances.

Union leaders alleged that despite serving a strike notice on March 30, 2026, officials had ignored their concerns. They said repeated representations had failed to evoke any response from the administration.

The protesters demanded the implementation of G.O. Nos. 36 and 124, including payment of wages to the children of deceased and retired workers. They also sought a monthly salary of ₹24,500 for CLAP drivers, e-auto drivers, and MSF worker-cum-drivers.

Among their other demands were a daily wage of ₹617 for loaders, transfer, contract, and night package workers, along with Provident Fund, ESI, and leave benefits. They further called for the timely payment of salaries, settlement of pending dues, and fixing clear timelines for the implementation of agreed-upon issues.

The union also sought rectification of problems in the Nidhi portal and payment of wages to street lighting staff, beach lifeguards, and other workers as per G.O. No. 124.

Warning of intensified agitation, the leaders said they would go ahead with an indefinite strike if the government failed to issue orders with definite deadlines on all pending demands.

CITU district general secretary R.K.S.V. Kumar, honorary president P. Venkata Reddy, and several union leaders and workers participated in the protest.