Karnataka Municipal Workers Escalate Statewide Strike, Demand Reforms

Bengaluru, July 9, 2025: Over 25,000 municipal employees from 10 corporations, including BBMP, stopped work and started strike across Karnataka from today. Yes, Yester day (July 8) The Karnataka State municipal Employees' Unions have decided to continue the protests from Wednesday in 10 municipal areas of Karnataka as the Minister of Urban Development and Secretary has not responded to the problems of employees. Employees of 10 municipal areas in the state staged a full day protest at the Independence Park in the city on Tuesday demanding various demands.

The Karnataka State Municipal Corporation Employees Council, led by A. Amruth Raj, accused the urban development department of ignoring their demands, which include benefits under the 7th Pay Commission and pending promotions. BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao said steps would be taken, but protests spread in Mysuru, Mangaluru, and Hubballi as state officials gave no response. As a result, municipal operations stayed disrupted across the state.

6 Key Demands of Municipal Employees

1) Implement 7th Pay Commission benefits with funding from the finance department.2) Amend state municipal cadre and recruitment rules, issuing a draft notification3) Extend KGID and GPF schemes to municipal officers and employees4) Provide Jyothi/Arogya Sanjeevini health scheme benefits to civic staff5) Organize annual sports events for municipal employees6) Grant cadre-based promotions across various municipal posts.

Statewide Protests Disrupt Civic Services 

The agitation saw employees from Mysuru, Hubballi, Dharwad, Mangaluru, Belagavi, Kalaburagi, Davanagere, Ballari, Shivamogga, and Vijayapura abandon duties to stage demonstrations at municipal offices. Despite warnings from senior officials, workers, including pourakarmikas, IT staff, and administrative personnel, joined the strike. A. Amruth Raj highlighted repeated unanswered appeals to the urban development minister, prompting the mass leave. Protests at Freedom Park saw thousands demanding action, with municipal offices across the state lying deserted, severely impacting public services.

Assurances Met with Skepticism 

Yesterday, July 8, 2025 BBMP Chief Commissioner Maheshwar Rao, Special Commissioner Suralkar Vikas Kishor, and Municipal Administration Director Prabhuling Kavalikatti visited the protest site, accepting a memorandum. Rao assured discussions to resolve issues, including five pending demands awaiting finance department approval. However, employees expressed frustration over the absence of urban development officials, vowing to continue protests at municipal offices until demands are met.
Keywords: Karnataka municipal strike, BBMP protest, Freedom Park agitation, 7th Pay Commission, civic employees, urban development department, Karnataka protests, municipal corporations, employee demands, mass leave