Postal services badly hit by central staff strike

Postal services badly hit by central staff strike

The Income Tax office wears a deserted look due to the strike called by the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers on Wednesday.

Work at central government offices here was partially affected on Wednesday as employees started their two-day all-India strike demanding inclusion of the employees’ confederation in the recently set up 7th central pay commission.

Employees in nearly 40 central government departments, including postal, rail mail service, income tax, central excise, audit and accounts, Survey of India and census, stayed away from work as per the strike call given by the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers (CCGEW).

While most central government offices in the city were affected, the impact was more in the districts, said P.S. Prasad, general secretary of CCGEW, Karnataka State unit. “The strike had maximum impact in the rest of the State, especially in the coastal districts,” he added.

Work in the Postal Department seems to have been worst hit. A large number of post offices across the State were closed. “Postal delivery, money orders and postal accounts have been affected. Normal services will be restored only on Friday,” Mr. Prasad said.

In all, about 15,000 employees and workers in the State, including about 6,000 in Bangalore, took part in the strike, which will continue on Thursday.

Demands

The confederation has placed a 15-point charter of demands before the government. In this, it has urged the government to accept the terms of reference submitted by the staff for the 7th pay commission, ensuring revision of wages of the employees every five years, compassionate appointment, filling up of all vacant post, and stopping downsizing, outsourcing and privatisation of government work.

Source : http://www.thehindu.com