Chunchura Municipality workers stage protest, threaten service shutdown over unpaid salaries

Temporary workers at Chunchura Municipality in Hooghly have been experiencing prolonged delays in receiving their salaries, with some workers reporting that they have not been paid for several months. The affected workers are employed in various departments, including water supply, waste management, street lighting, and other essential services. Due to the ongoing salary delays, these workers have organized several protests, including a recent strike that led to street lights being turned off in Chunchura city.

On Saturday, the situation escalated when workers surrounded the mayor and municipal councilors during the monthly board meeting. The workers confined the mayor and councilors for nearly four hours, demanding immediate payment of their pending salaries and a permanent solution to the salary delays. The protest brought attention to the financial struggles faced by the municipality and the dissatisfaction among its temporary staff.

The workers have now announced that starting December 2, they will withdraw from all municipal services. This includes essential services such as water supply, electricity distribution, and waste management. As a result, residents in Chunchura are expected to face significant disruptions, as these services are critical to the daily functioning of the city. Workers are also using auto-rickshaws with loudspeakers to raise awareness about their ongoing issues, and they have begun distributing posters in different parts of the city to inform the public about their situation.

Chunchura Municipality employs approximately 2,500 temporary workers across various departments. The municipality’s financial situation has been a source of concern, with expenses regularly surpassing its income. Despite the municipality generating revenue through taxes and other sources, the financial strain has led to a situation where workers' salaries are delayed every month. The municipality has faced difficulties in balancing its budget, resulting in a continued cycle of financial instability and employee dissatisfaction.