Subordinate staff hold pen-down strike

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, July 22

Members of the Punjab Health Department Subordinate Officers’ Clerical Association on Monday staged a protest and observed a pen-down strike over non-fulfilment of their pending demands.

The protesting employees gathered in front of the Civil Surgeon’s office and raised slogans against the Health Department. Notably, the association members have given a call for a three-day pen-down strike that will continue till July 24.

Earlier on Saturday, the association members had submitted a memorandum of demands to the Civil Surgeon, Bathinda. The association members said they would shut their work completely for two days and carry out a protest rally in the government hospital.

Surinder Kumar Dhir, president of the association, said, “The promotions of employees working on different posts have been lying pending for the past many years. We demand that the state government must promote employees in our department on time. Senior Assistant, Superintendent and Statistical Assistants were not given promotions on time by the government.”

Dhir added, “Information related to deductions of General Provident Fund (GPF) must be available online so that employees can check the status of deductions and total fund in their account. Moreover, to dispose of legal cases of employees, the department must hire a permanent legal adviser at the zone or district level.”

The association members alleged that Health Department officials had assured them of fulfilling their pending demands, but later nothing was done by the government.

There are around 120 employees of clerical staff, including clerks, stenographer, senior assistant, junior assistant, superintendent, statistical assistant and statistical superintendent, who would observe a pen-down strike for two days starting tomorrow.