Haryana: Statewide strike today by govt employees, industrial workers

Government employees and industrial workers across the state will go on strike on July 9, in response to a nationwide call by Central trade unions and employee federations. The strike, led in the state by the Sarv Karamchari Sangh (SKS), aims to protest against what they call the “anti-employee and anti-labour” policies of the Central government and to press for the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

“We have a membership of 1.25 lakh employees, and all of them will participate in the strike. Protests will be held in various cities across Haryana,” said Dharamvir Phogat, president of the SKS. He said numerous other organisations have extended their support and that government functioning is expected to be disrupted.

The strike is being jointly coordinated by major employee bodies, including Sarv Karamchari Sangh Haryana, Haryana Employees Federation and labour organisations such as CITU, AITUC, HMS, and others affiliated with Central trade union federations.

“Employees from various departments and industrial workers will join the strike. After staging demonstrations at their workplaces, they will gather at district and block headquarters to take out processions against the government's policies,” said Subhash Lamba, leader of the All India State Government Employees Federation.

One of the key demands is the implementation of the Old Pension Scheme. “We have extended full support to this demand. It's a crucial issue affecting thousands of employees,” said Vijender Dhariwal, state president of the Pension Bahali Sangharsh Samiti.

Other demands include a complete ban on privatisation of public sector undertakings and services, regularisation of all outsourced and contract workers, constitution of the Eighth Pay Commission, a separate Pay Commission for state government employees, creation of new posts based on workload and population growth, filling of all existing vacancies through permanent recruitment and cashless medical facilities for contract workers and pensioners.