STRIKE ON SEPTEMBER 7

13 lakh government staff to join strike



Over 13 lakh employees of the central and state Governments and teachers forum will participate in the nation-wide token strike on September 7, called by nine major trade unions including the Congress-backed INTUC to protest against various issues including the economic policies of the Centre.

Briefing the media at a press conference here on Monday, M Durai Pandian, general secretary, Central government employees confederation, said, “12 lakh employees from the State government and 1.3 lakh workers of different Central government organisations in the State will take part in the strike. Thousands of workers in the private sector have also come forward to support the strike.”

Pointing out that the strike was aimed at condemning the government on key issues including the price rise and outsourcing policies, he said, “six lakh jobs are vacant in the Centre. The government is deducting 10 per cent from the salary of the Central government staff under the new pension scheme since April 1,  2003. However, no pension was distributed to those retired or deceased in the last seven years as the bill is yet to be passed in parliament.”

N J Raman, state convener of all India defence employees federation, said, “even as the public sector defence units were reeling under severe shortage of manpower, the Congress government only focused on encouraging the private sector to manufacture weapons.” A strike preparatory conference will be held in Chennai on August 3.

SOURCE IE