Rs 25-crore arrear dispute: PGI contract workers announce indefinite strike
If their demands remain unmet, a 'complete 24-hour strike and work shutdown' will follow on April 27, starting at 6 AM
Following months of unresolved grievances, the PGI Contract Workers Union (CWU) has escalated its protest. In a formal letter addressed to the Director of PGIMER, the union declared that they will launch an "indefinite hunger strike starting April 25." If their demands remain unmet, a "complete 24-hour strike and work shutdown" will follow on April 27, starting at 6 AM.
The union expressed deep frustration, stating that "pending demands of contract workers are not being taken seriously," which has severely impacted the "economic life of poor contract employees." Highlighting the systemic failure, a senior union official remarked, "While the administrative dispute persists between the hospital and the contractors, it is the poor workers who are ultimately suffering."
Financial negligence and unpaid dues
The core of the dispute involves significant financial discrepancies and delayed payments. The Joint Action Committee (JAC) highlights an "unfortunate delay in the release of arrears worth Rs 16-20 crore for hospital attendants" despite funds being approved by the Central Government as far back as April 2024. Furthermore, there is a report "deliberate delay in the payment of approximately Rs 65 crore for same and similar wages" due since January 2024.
Union leaders also pointed to the illegal and arbitrary withholding of 20% of arrears, about Rs 9 crore, belonging to safai karamcharis and kitchen staff. Regarding the path forward, the senior official added, "We have been pushed into a corner and forced to take this step; however, if our requirements are addressed by April 24, we will not proceed with the shutdown."
Systemic mismanagement and worker suffering
The protest is not merely about bulk figures but also about the daily struggles of individual workers. For instance, nearly 90 parking attendants are being paid a paltry sum of Rs 9,000 instead of the mandatory 'DC rate of approximately Rs 22,000.' Additionally, the union alleged that Gravity company illegally deducted Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 from the March 2026 salaries of dietetics department workers.
The union is now calling for direct administrative intervention against these private firms. “Our primary demand is for the PGIMER administration to issue a formal notice to these contractors: either release the pending funds immediately or face permanent blacklisting," the union official stated.
The workers recently held a foot-march to the Sector 25 Rally Grounds where they "burnt effigies of contractors" from firms like BVG, Gravity, and Secure Guard.
