Punjab to act against strikers
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Oct 3 — The Punjab Government has decided to act tough with the striking employees, who have resorted to a pen-down strike for the past two weeks adversely affecting normal functioning in the offices throughout the state.

The Chief Secretary had a meeting with some administrative secretaries earlier this week. He even issued an "appeal" to the employees to return to work since the government was already sympathetic and their demands arising out of the implementation of the fourth Punjab Pay Commission had been referred to the anomalies committee. A report is expected from the committee by December 31.

A government suggestion that the state ministerial services union should submit its demands to the anomalies committee was spurned and it resorted to strike thus adopting a posture of "confrontation and indiscipline".

Keeping in view the public hardship, obstructing traffic etc the Chief Secretary today issued eight-point guidelines to heads of departments on how to deal with the employees.

One of the points mentioned is that keeping in view the nature of the work affected, the Deputy Commissioners in consultation with the local head of an office may employ pensioners who may have retired in the past five years. Such people will be paid good remuneration. The government will also shortly issue authorisation for the employment of pensioners. In due course employment could be made from employment exchanges as well.

For all practical purposes it has been decided to treat pen-down strike as "strike". There will be no pay for the period of the strike and employees not attending office will be deemed to be "wilfully absent from duty".

For employees returning to work on October 7, when offices reopen after a long spell of holidays, a lenient view will be taken.

Only "genuine" employees interested in performing their duties will be permitted to enter government offices and premises and full protection and encouragement will be given to them while ensuring disruptive, instigating employees were dealt with strictly under the law and rules.

No public obstruction will be tolerated. If need be videofilming will be done to identify miscreants. With clear court directive on strikes, strict action should be taken and similarly provisions of the ESMA invoked, if need be.

The administrative secretaries concerned have been asked to monitor their respective offices in the state. The Secretary Personnel will be "nodal" officer to monitor all matters arising out of the present strike.

For the first time in the past 18 months it seems the government means business when dealing with the employees, who consumed over 62 per cent of the revenue earned by way of wages and allowances.