GULBARGA: The leaders of the Central Trade Unions and other organisations supporting the nationwide strike on September 29, on Tuesday exuded confidence that the State Government employees will join the strike, rejecting the threat held out by the Government of initiating disciplinary action against those who joined the strike.

The nationwide strike has been organised to protest against the "anti-workers" policies pursued by the Union Government, foreign direct investment in the key sectors and disinvestments of Public Sector Units.

Leaders of the Joint Action Committee of the Central Trade Unions and other organisations supporting the strike told presspersons here that despite the circular issued by the State Government asking its employees not to join the strike or go on a mass leave on September 29, the State Government employees will join the strike to show their solidarity with the Central Trade Unions.

Convener of the Joint Action Committee Vajendra Kulkarni and president Prakash, who is also the president of State Government Employees' Okkuta, a rival organisation of the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association led by Sippe Gowda, said that the State Government employees will not heed to Mr. Sippe Gowda's advise of not joining the strike.

Mr. Prakash said the okkuta does not have any faith in the Fifth Pay Commission appointed by the State Government and wanted the Government to restore parity of wages between the Central and State Government employees immediately and later appoint another pay commission to provide an increase in the wages.

He said that the okkuta will also oppose the Union Government's move to take away pension benefits provided to government employees and introduce a new system of deducting a small percentage from the monthly salary and later pay the same as pension.

Mr. Kulkarni said that the strike has had an overwhelming response from all sections of society. He said the response to the campaign taken up the Joint Action Committee in all the taluks of the district was tremendous. On September 29, the members of the Joint Action Committee will take out a two-wheeler procession in the city and on the same day in the afternoon, a massive procession of all workers from different factories, banks, insurance sector, farmers and traders will be taken out in the city. He said a public rally will be held in Super Market.

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