J and K employees observed strike, threaten intensified agitation.

Accusing government of indulging into “documental-betrayal”, at least 4.5 lakh employees suspended work on Wednesday paralyzing normal work in government offices across the State.
The employees observed strike in response to sit-in protest called by Joint Consultation Committee (JCC) which is spearheading the demand of releasing the remaining “promised benefits” under 6th pay commission before the year ender.
The JCC members held protest demonstrations both in Srinagar and Jammu to press for the implementation of the pending sixth pay commission recommendations already accepted by the government in principle.
“Today’s strike was a success and the employees went on a two-hour sit-in protest in their respective offices. It was a part of the strike programme to remind government of its promises,” chief spokesperson EJAC (Q) and a senior JCC member Farooq A Trali said.
Trali said the government staff banded under JCC is all set to launch an agitation “if the pay panel recommendations were not fulfilled before the New Year begins.”
He said, “Employees are ready to counter any time buying techniques of the government. If the government continues the non-seriousness there will be a complete lock-out on Dec 30 and further strategy will be announced on that day as well,” said Trali, adding that the month of January 2010 will prove “very hectic” for the government.
“If our accepted demands were not fulfilled in the coming days, the month of January 2010 will be hectic for the government. We can go to any extent after December,” he threatened.
The JCC members also presented a memorandum to the Additional Commissioner Kashmir and DC Srinagar.
“We met MoS for Tourism Nasir Sogami, who also heads winter secretariat and apprised him of our genuine demands. He assured us that he will take the issue with chief minister,” the JCC spokesperson said.
The employees’ union is demanding raise in the retirement age of state government employees from 58 to 60 years, on par with central government officials. In addition, it also wants regularizing of services of daily wage and ad hoc workers, merging of Cost of Living Allowance into the Dearness Allowance, uniform Housing Rent Allowance as that of central government employees, release of 40 per cent arrears and extending the sixth pay panel benefits to Local Bodies, Municipal Corporations and Public Sector Undertakings.
“We had an agreement with the government on August 18 and the benefits were promised till October 31. But till date there is no response from the government while the price rise has created chaos everywhere.” said Trali.

Source : Rising Kashmir.