Nationwide employees’ strike today, demand old pension, workers’ rights protection

Preparations for the strike, scheduled on tomorrow, on the call of the All India State Government Employees Federation, have been completed. Employees associated with the Federation of UT Employees and Workers Chandigarh, along with many unions connected with United Employees Morcha (UT and MC), will participate in this strike. The employees will go on strike and rally in the grounds adjacent to Shivalik Hotel, Sector 17, from 10 am to 2.00 pm. The rally will be addressed by officials of the unions associated with the Joint Employees Front. Gate meetings were held today in different departments regarding the preparations, and the strike arrangements were finalized.

Major demands include the repeal of the PFRDA Act and restoration of the old pension system, confirmation of all contract/outsourced/delegated and other irregular employees, promotion and regular filling of vacant posts in all government and semi-government departments, halting privatization of public undertakings/corporatization, canceling the National Education Policy, constituting the Eighth Pay Commission, repealing Articles 310, 311 (2) (A) (B) (C) of the Constitution, formulating regularization policies in Chandigarh, and addressing all delays, work charges, and contracts.

Other demands include providing equal pay for equal work until the outsourced employees are regularized and confirmed, confirming contract and outsourced workers who have been working on revised posts for 15-20 years on the same positions, withdrawing the decision to retrench them, canceling the decision to bring child workers and helpers in crèches under Anganwadi, adjusting them like other council employees, and protecting their salaries.

The leaders of the Joint Staff Front, including Gopal Dutt Joshi, Rajendra Kumar, Ranjit Mishra, Vipin Sherer Singh, Raghbir Chand, Rajendra Katoch, Harkesh Chand, Ranveer Singh Rana, Ashok Kumar, Dhyan Singh, Amrik Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Dharmendra Rahi, Charanjit Singh, Dhidsa, Shivmurat, Gurmeet Singh, M. Subramaniam, Sohan Singh, P. Rajendran, Toplan, Prempal, Harvansh Singh, Harpal Singh, Surinder Singh, Ranjit Singh, Naseeb Singh, Bihari Lal, Rekha Sharma, etc., all participated in the strike and went to Shivalik. An appeal has been made to join the rally being held at the ground adjacent to the hotel from 10 am.