JAMMU & KASHMIR

Workers, employees Go On One-Day Strike

ON July 22, hundreds of employees and workers assembled at Lal Mandi Agricultural Park in Srinagar under the banner of J&K Coordination Committee of Trade Unions (JKCCTU) and organized a protest rally against the state government�s back-out from its commitment to the employees. It is worth noting that the government and semi-government employees of Jammu & Kashmir were recently on a strike to press the demand of implementation of the sixth pay commission�s recommendation, and also the demands of temporary workers etc. Through a resolution, the rally warned that these employees and workers would go for a one day token strike throughout the state on October 23 coming.

While addressing the rally, Mohd Maqbool, state president of the JKCCTU and secretary of the All India State Government Employees Federation, explained how the central and state governments are implementing the neo-liberal economic policies recklessly at the behest of imperialist finance capital and snatching the hard-earned rights of employees and workers. He also highlighted the negative aspects of the sixth pay commission report and said that while implementing the pay commission report, the government has decided to follow the outsourcing and casualisation of job. This is creating job insecurity and adding to the grim unemployment situation. He warned the government to remove the negative aspects of the pay commission report, which are harmful to the employees interest, and implement its agreement with the employees honestly and sincerely. He demanded that the government must take immediate steps to release the arrears, remove the disparity in HRA and regularise the services of temporary workers. It must also ensure immediate uniform wage increase of casual, contract, Anganwadi workers and helpers and consolidated employees who are the worst victim of sky- rocketing prices of essential commodities. Otherwise the government will have to face the wrath of employees and workers. He also cautioned the employees to unitedly face the grave challenges coming ahead, arising out from the disastrous economic policies, and remain vigilant against the opportunist elements in the trade union movements.

JKCCTU vice presidents Abdul Gani Bhat, Ghulam Mohd Ganie and Hasaina Sofi and its secretary Ghulam Hassan Dar, among others, also addressed the rally. They appealed to the employees to observe complete strike the next day.

Starting from Lal Mandi, the huge procession entered the Lal Chowk and passed through the main bazaars of the city while raising slogans and culminated in a rally at the Residency Road, Srinagar.

Next day, state government and public sector employees as well as workers of Jamu & Kashmir observed complete strike, paralysing the functioning of the government and semi-government departments throughout the state. The strike was observed at the call of JCC (A joint platform of employees� organisations) while the J&K Coordination Committee of Trade Unions (JKCCTU), as a major constituent, played an important role in organising the strike. The Coordination Committee organised big rallies and demonstrations at the district and tehsil headquarters and in major complexes throughout the state, protesting against the state government reneging on the agreement reached with the JCC leaders during the recent strike demanding implementation of the sixth pay commission�s recommendations, regularisation temporary workers and increase in the their wages, along with other issues.

On this occasion, workers and employees organised impressive rallies in the Lal Mandi Agricultural Complex, PHE and other places in Srinagar city. Constituents of the JCC and JKCCTU organised similar rallies and demonstrations at the district and tehsil headquarters throughout the state --- at Anantnag, Ganderbal, Kulgam, Jammu, Sumbal Sonwri, Kupwara, Sopore and other places which were addressed by prominent leaders of the trade union movement.