Housekeeping Staff at Ashoka University ‘Forced’ to End Strike, Apologise After Salaries Withheld

New Delhi: Housekeeping staff on strike at Ashoka University in Sonipat, Haryana were allegedly pressured into signing an apology letter on Monday (September 8) afternoon after their employer, Bluspring Enterprises, withheld their August salaries. The striking workers, who have been protesting since August 28, were demanding fair wages, job security and the reinstatement of three fired colleagues.

The protest pitted dozens of workers against their third-party employer and a university administration that had blamed the unrest on “external elements" and a “leftist conspiracy”.

In a press release, the housekeeping staff outlined the following key demands:

1. An increase in monthly wages from the current Rs 12,000–13,000 to Rs 18,000.
2. A guaranteed 10% annual increment in salaries to ensure fair growth and security.
3. Immediate reinstatement of the three housekeeping workers who were arbitrarily dismissed toward the end of the last spring semester.
4. Assurance that no worker participating in the strike will face punitive action.
5. A formal written agreement, jointly signed by representatives of Bluspring and Ashoka University, ensuring implementation of the demands and safeguarding workers' jobs.

The company responded on the first day by serving ‘show-cause’ notices to striking workers via WhatsApp, according to a student government press release. The notice, written in Hindi, allegedly called the strike illegal and gave workers 48 hours to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against them.

The protest was triggered by the dismissal of three female workers – Rita, Ravina and Karan – over disputed allegations of theft. Student organisers supporting the strike claim the accusation was a misunderstanding.

“The students wrote an email to the warden that nothing was stolen,” said Razeen Ayesh, a student organiser. “Even then the warden said that it's not your thing to say... and they fired them.”

Striking workers at Ashoka University. Photo: Special arrangement

A senior university official, speaking anonymously, contended the university is the “highest pay master in the region” and claimed the strike was not organic. “We really believe that this is a strike which has been instigated by external elements,” the official stated, describing the instigators as having a “deep sympathy on the left. There is a conspiracy.”

On the strike's second day, tensions reportedly rose when a management representative, Saurabh Parmar, told workers their demands would only be heard individually after they returned to work, according to the student press release. Parmar, the Head of Recruitment at Bluspring’s parent company Quess Corps, also allegedly described the workers as ‘unskilled’ and undeserving of more than their current wage.

While the administration insists the workers are employed by Bluspring Enterprises, student organiser Tanisha Iyer argued the university's role is direct. “The people who manage the workers here are the Ashoka admins,” she said. “Blue Spring is just delivering them labour.”

Conflicting claims on pay

A central point of contention is the workers' salary. The university official, in a message to The Wire, claimed that when benefits like Employee Provident Fund (EPF) and bonuses are averaged out, the monthly compensation package comes to approximately Rs 18,200.

Sandeep, a striking worker, refuted this claim. "After all the deductions like ESI, PF, etc., and other random cuts, we receive Rs 12,700," he said. "If we were getting Rs 18,000, why would we hold this protest here? Whatever they are saying is all lies." A June 2025 salary slip for Sandeep, provided to and reviewed by The Wire, shows a gross pay of Rs 14,162 and a final net pay of Rs 12,719 after deductions for provident fund and insurance.

A lack of dignity

Workers also described a culture of verbal abuse. Akshay, who has been working at the university for several years, said managers speak rudely and use “double meanings”. He said there is no proper place for staff to eat, forcing some to sit on staircases. “Even the ladies have to eat in the washroom,” he said.

During the strike, conditions worsened. Worker Seema said protesters were denied access to washrooms. "All the women here... there's a jungle nearby. They were going into the jungles." She alleged that two women fainted during the protest.

Striking workers at Ashoka University. Photo: Special arrangement

Dispute over grievance committee

The university official stated that a formal “Workers Grievance and Welfare Committee” exists but has not been used. He said when workers approached the registrar, Sachin Sharma, informally, their problems were typically resolved “within five minutes”.

But student organiser Sahaj Kishan claimed the committee was created only after the strike began.

A faculty member, also speaking anonymously, agreed. “The first time we heard of the committee was after the protests began. Even the workers did not know about the committee,” the faculty member said. “In fact a Worker’s Grievance and Redressal like committee itself is still in discussion and there are some sticky points, like if students and workers will be part of it. Nothing has been confirmed as yet on this front.”

Strike ends under pressure

The stalemate broke after the company withheld the striking workers' salaries for August. Feeling the financial pressure, the workers were coerced into signing a pre-written apology note at 3 pm on Monday as a condition to resolve the dispute. Bluspring Enterprises had previously issued a show-cause notice to protesters, accusing them of an “illegal protest”.

The outcome left workers like Vineeta feeling hopeless. “So much has happened, but the salary issue is still stuck in the same place, and they are saying that they will still talk about it,” she said. “It means even if someone loses their life here, these people will just keep talking. They have no value for the workers.”

In a show of solidarity, approximately 45 students spent a night protesting alongside the workers last week.

The university official previously confirmed the administration’s reluctance to concede. “We don't want to be seen as buckling under pressure because this is not pressure from workers, we believe. We are under pressure from external elements.”

A similar strike at nearby O.P. Jindal Global University in July saw housekeeping staff secure a pay rise to approximately from Rs 10,250 to Rs 12,000 in hand.

The Wire reached out to the Bluspring Enterprises representative Manish for comment but has not received a response. This article will be updated if a response is received.

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