Face consequences if you go on strike: Centre to employees

New Delhi, Nov 18: Central government employees have been warned of "consequences" including deduction of wages and appropriate disciplinary action if they participate in a country-wide 'dharna' proposed by their association tomorrow.

In a stern directive, the secretaries of central government ministries have been asked "not to sanction casual leave or other kind of leave to employees if applied for, during the period of the proposed strike and ensure that the willing employees are allowed hindrance free entry into the office premises".

"There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court has also agreed in several judgements that going on a strike is a grave misconduct under the conduct rules and that misconduct by the government employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with the law.

"Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action," Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) said in the directive.

National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) has proposed a dharna tomorrow in pursuance of their charter of demands.

"The central government employees under your ministry or departments may, therefore, be suitably informed of the instructions under the existing conduct rules and other regulations upheld by the Supreme Court and dissuaded from resorting to strike in any form", it said.

In case the employees go on strike, a report indicating the number of employees who took part in the proposed strike may be conveyed on the evening of the day, DoPT said.

A joint consultative machinery (JCM) for central government employees is already functioning. This scheme has been introduced with the object of promoting harmonious relations and of securing the greatest measure of cooperation between the government, in its capacity as employer, and the general body of its employees in matters of common concern, and with the object, further of increasing the efficiency of the public service.

JCM at the different levels have been discussing issues brought before it for consideration and either reaching amicable settlement or referring the matter to the Board of Arbitration in relation to pay and allowances, weekly hours of work and leave, whenever no amicable settlement could be reached in relation to these items, it said. There are about 50 lakh central government employees.

PTI