Panchkula: Sanitation workers protesting over pending demands briefly blocked the main entrance of the municipal corporation office in Sector 14 Thursday, disrupting access to the civic body premises before ending the blockade after talks with officials.The workers, who have been staging a dharna outside the MC office for the past 29 days, moved to the main gate around 9am and formed a human chain, preventing officials, employees and visitors from entering the building. Though the gate was not locked, protesters continued raising slogans and halted entry for over two hours.The blockade was lifted around 11.30am after MC joint commissioner and deputy municipal commissioner held discussions with the protesters. During the meeting, officials informed the workers that 11 of their 13 demands had been accepted, while the remaining two were under consideration.Following nearly 30 minutes of talks, the protesters cleared the entrance and normal functioning at the MC office resumed.However, the workers said their agitation would continue until all demands were met. Joginder Singh Kagra, Panchkula president of the Nagar Palika Karamchari Sangh Haryana, said the dharna would not be withdrawn until written orders were issued and pending demands resolved.He said several workers had been serving the corporation for 15 to 20 years, with some reaching retirement without being regularised. The union alleged that earlier assurances regarding regularisation and release of dues had not been fulfilled.The workers are demanding permanent recruitment, payment of pending dues and benefits for retired employees. While the union acknowledged that 11 demands had reportedly been accepted, it maintained that no formal orders had been issued and two key demands remained unresolved.
