The Hindu : Karnataka News : Govt. staff defer strike move

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Govt. staff defer strike move

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, NOV. 12. The Karnataka Government Employees' Association has heeded the assurance of the Chief Minister, N. Dharam Singh, and the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah, to consider their demands and put off the move to launch an indefinite strike from November 17.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the State Council of the association held here today. The president of the association, K. Sippe Gowda, and other office-bearers had a meeting with the Chief Minister and the Deputy Chief Minister here on Wednesday where an assurance was held out that the demands would be considered by the State Cabinet.

Speaking to The Hindu , Mr. Sippe Gowda said that the Government had given the assurance to them in writing. Following such an authoritative assurance, the State Council unanimously decided against launching the indefinite strike at this juncture.

However, Mr. Sippe Gowda maintained that they had not dropped the decision to go on strike. They were keeping that option open in case the Government went back on its assurance.

The three demands of the Government Employees' Association are constitution of the fifth pay commission or granting of pay and allowances on a par with those given to Union Government employees, ending the control exercised by the gram panchayats over government departments and that it drop the proposals set out in the mid-term fiscal policy such as abolition of posts, end the benefit of pension available to government employees and withdraw other benefits.

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