With employees’ unions announcing a statewide strike by staff of Punjab government departments, boards and corporations on August 27 over pending dearness allowance (DA), chief minister Bhagwant Mann will meet representatives of the unions on the same day.
Since then, various employees’ unions have stepped up their protests and announced the statewide agitation for August 27. Pensioners will also participate by holding protests outside the offices of deputy commissioners in all 23 districts. Around ₹ 15,000 crore is pending in DA dues payable to employees and pensioners, according to the employees’ union.
“We will also raise the demand for implementation of the Old Pension Scheme,” Khaira said, adding that other demands of employees would also be discussed with the CM. President of the inspectors’ union, the demand for conveyance allowance for inspectors undertaking long-distance travel and better infrastructure has also been accepted, according to Harjeet Singh Kheri.
There are nearly four lakh government employees and around 3.5 lakh pensioners in the state. The proposed ‘maha bandh’ comes after the Punjab and Haryana high court, acting on a set of petitions, directed the Punjab government on August 3 to clear the pending DA dues of employees and pensioners within 15 days. The deadline ended on August 18. Earlier reporting noted: Ludhiana: Punjab employees gear up for August 27 ‘maha bandh’ Government offices and administrative services across Ludhiana are expected to experience disruptions on August 27 as employee and pensioner organisations observe a statewide ‘Maha Bandh’.
Sukhchain Singh Khaira, president of the Statewide Employees’ Union, said they would seek clarity on their demands during the meeting with the CM. “If there is no clarity on the demands, we will announce our further programme and escalate the protest,” Khaira said. “Our fight is with the government, not with the public,” the leaders said, adding that transport and normal public activities would continue as usual.
Earlier reporting noted: Staff will abstain from work to protest against the administration’s continued failure to address long-standing structural and financial grievances. Earlier reporting noted: The employee organisations clarified that the shutdown is confined to government establishments and that the agitation will not disrupt public movement or commercial activity.
