PONDICHERRY: Chief Minister N. Rangasamy has appealed to the ministerial staff of the Union Territory Administration to give up their indefinite strike and resume duty immediately as the Government had never taken an "anti worker stand".

Talking to reporters before meeting the Lt Governor M.M. Lakhera at Rajnivas on Wednesday, he said that out of the nine demands projected by the ministerial staff (clerical staff, assistants and superintendents) the government had sanctioned eight demands including the amalgamation of grades I and II of the posts of superintendents.

As far as the remaining demands of the posts of lower and upper division clerks and assistants be restructured and enhanced emoluments be sanctioned were concerned, the Union Territory Administration could not take any decision on its own. Only with the concurrence of the Central Government or Central Pay Commission could these demands be attended to.

Rangasamy said that in the larger interest of implementation of various welfare schemes the staff should resume duty immediately.

He said he had already made this clear to the delegation of employees whenever they met him.

The government had gone on record sanctioning promotions to employees wherever they could be effected. Vacant posts were filled without any delay and sanction of a number of other demands had also been met as long as the territorial administration could concede them within its powers.

He said that 30 per cent of the ministerial staff were, however, working and there was no total dislocation of work in any departments.

Accompanied by the Chief Secretary C S Khairwal, he met the Lt Governor and had discussions for nearly 30 minutes.

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