J&K Employees Extend Stir Till April 19
Calls for fresh talks and warnings of termination of services, notwithstanding, striking state government employees in Jammu and Kashmir Sunday extended their agitation till April 19, seeking arrears due to them under the Sixth Pay Commission.
According to reports, the Employees Joint Action Committee (EJAC), spearheading the stir has announced that protesters will lock all offices and march to the Civil Secretariat Monday.
The strike, which started April 3, prompted the government to invoke the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) April 5. The strike was earlier scheduled to end April 6 but was extended up to April 12 by the EJAC.
The protesting employees are demanding arrears as per the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission and the enhancement of the retirement age from the present 58 to 60 years. They are also demanding house rent allowance (HRA) on par with the central government employees.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday appealed to the striking employees to resume work, saying he was committed to provide the wage arrears to the employees.
