``The strike will commence from July 13 midnight. It will primarily affect water services, garbage clearance, hospital and fire-brigade services. We have waited too long before embarking on a warpath. A decision is long overdue and has to be settled with top priority,'' union leader Sharad Rao, who is spearheading the agitation said adding that townships under these municipalities will be crippled.

The union leader informed that over 50,000 daily, temporary casual workers are being exploited in municipalities all over Maharashtra for the last decade. ``Though the civic commissioners, chief officers, mayors want to create posts and make them permanent, they are unable to do so since the state government has opposedthe move,'' he added.

The union has demanded abolition of the contract system and professional tax, removal of educational qualifications and restoration of octroi wherever it was withdrawn. ``They have abolished octroi which earns revenue for the corporation to favour big business houses which bring in bulk goods in trucks. They want to do the same in Mumbai,'' Rao said. Theunions under the aegis of Thane Raigad Zilla Mahapalika-Nagarpalika Kamgar Karmchari Kruti Samiti have threatened to continue their strike indefinitely if their demands are not met.