New Delhi: Thousands of college teachers and government employees will go on a day-long countrywide strike tomorrow demanding interim relief, revamping of the new pension scheme and lifting the ban on recruitment.The strike, called by Central Government Employees Federation, various State Government Employees Federations and teachers' unions across the country, is supported by major trade unions including CITU.

The demands include regularisation of extra-departmental employees, ban on contract appointments and revision of price index among other things.
The protestors said they had presented a 12-point charter of demand to the government earlier but no response came from the authorities, forcing them to go on strike.

Alleging that they were put to hardship due to the delay in the constitution of the Pay Commission, they demanded an interim relief from the government besides a modification of the new pension scheme which they termed as "anti-workers".The revision of price index is another demand raised by the protestors who said it did not reflect the "realities".

Extending support to the strike, CITU president M K Pandhe said all trade unions, despite their political affiliations, would support the strike.Accusing the government of failing to respond to the "genuine demands" of the workers, he said "this is unfortunate that the authorities are unwilling to speak to the employees.

"The government is threatening the workers by issuing a circular, asking them to attend office or face disciplinary action," Pandhe told PTI from Visakhapattinam.

Source : PTI