Ludhiana: DC’s office staff go on pen-down strike again

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, August 2

Visitors were a harried lot as employees associated with The Punjab State District (DC) Offices Employees Union have gone on a two-day pen-down strike on Monday, blaming the state government for ignoring their demands.

They have also announced to take a mass leave on Wednesday to mark their protest against Cabinet Minister Gurpreet Singh Kangar.

The visitors were forced to return as the employees were not working in the offices today. The employees had earlier also went on a strike due to which many people had faced inconveniences.

Gurnam Singh Virk of The Punjab State District (DC) Offices Employees Union said they had gone on strike in the entire state to mark their protest against the state government for reducing posts in the offices.

He said they had been demanding from the government to promote current employees and recruit new employees to fill vacant posts.

“Instead of hearing our voice, now sanctioned posts are being eliminated. Hence, we have decided to observe a pen-down strike on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, we will go on mass leave as we have planned to stage a protest outside the residence of the Cabinet minister,” he added.

Routine works affected

Mandi Ahmedgarh/ Raikot / Payal: Routine works remained affected at all offices of the civil administration, including subdivision level, sub-registrars and joint sub-registrars, as activists of the Punjab State District (DC) Office Employees Association shunned work in response to the state-level call to observe a pen-down strike from August 2 and 3 and proceed on a mass leave on Wednesday.

The shunned work included work related to the fight against the spread of coronavirus and preparations of the Independence Day celebrations at various levels.

Besides observing the pen-down strike on Monday and Tuesday, the activists have threatened to join their counterparts coming from other parts of the state during a scheduled gherao of residence of Revenue Minister Gurpreet Kangar on Wednesday.

Having failed to receive any response to their appeals for getting their demands accepted, office-bearers and the activists of the Punjab State District (DC) Offices Employees Association had decided to intensify the stir in a phased manner.

Repeal of a decision to abolish 359 posts of senior assistants and clerks due to reorganisation of certain districts, shortage of staff, approval of posts at newly constituted subdivisions, irregular payment of salary, cut in allowances and payment of pending dearness allowance were cited as major long-pending demands of the outfit.

Malerkotla district chairman Amrit Pal Singh Pannu said besides observing the pen-down strike on Monday and Tuesday, activists and office-bearers from various units would proceed on a mass leave on Wednesday to gherao the residence of Revenue Minister Gurpreet Kangar in Bathinda.

“We have already informed the administration that we will not be responsible if progress of works related to registration of title deeds, issuance of certificates, the fight against spread of coronavirus and preparations for the Independence Day function is affected due to the scheduled strike,” said Amrit Pal Singh Pannu.

The protesters regretted that the government had taken no notice of their symbolic and peaceful protests in the past.