Government employees strike near total in Nashik

Nashik, Oct 30 (UNI) The one-day token strike called by state and Central government employees evoked almost total response in the district today.

As many as 16,000 Class III and IV state government employees participated in the strike. The agitation was part of the nation-wide srike of the government employees over various demands, including maintenance of the status quo in the present pension scheme, implementation of the 6th Pay Commission recommendations from January 1, 2006, immediate payment of Rs 1,000 interim relief from January 1, 2006, immediate payment of 28 months arrears in dearness allowance, and payment of Diwali bonus.

The employees organised a ''morcha'' to the district collectorate and handed over a memorandum to collector S Chokkalingam.

Apart from the Nashik District State Government Employees Federation, School and College Teachers Association, Ayurved Employees Association, Non-Teaching Employees Association and various other government employees associations participated in the strike.

Although Class I and Class II employees did not participate in the stir, they expressed their solidarity by wearing black ribbons.

Meanwhile, because of the participation by teachers and non-teaching staff in the strike, many schools had to postpone the examinations today.

A 29-member team of employees of the India Security Press Mazdoor Sangh, affiliated to the Hind Mazdoor Sabha, observed a day-long hunger strike. Apart from the other demands, the India Security Press employees are demanding the repealing of the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority Bill. They submitted a memorandum in this regard to Divisional Revenue Commissioner Dr Sanjay Chahande.

UNI