The Hindu : Govt. to blame: employees

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Oct 23, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Govt. to blame: employees

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI Oct. 22. With no meeting point between the Government and a section of its employees, who had given a strike call, a large chunk of government staff and teachers Statewide have decided to go ahead with their indefinite strike from tomorrow. It could turn out to be a trial of strength.

Only the Government should be blamed for the strike, as it had reneged on its promise to meet the staff demands for releasing impounded DA and earned leave salary, give bonus and stop forthwith the policy of staff reduction and downsizing in various departments, the convenors of the JACTTEO-GEO, N.L. Seedharan and K. Balasubramanian, said in a statement this evening.

They condemned the Government attitude of not calling the unions for formal talks.

The strike call is expected to affect work in almost all departments and government schools, although another large group representing government staff unions have rejected it, calling upon their members to resume work.

Anticipating disturbances in government offices and to maintain essential services, the police have made elaborate security and bandobust arrangements. The district police authorities had been instructed to maintain a close liaison with other departments, take all preventive measures to maintain normality in government offices and other establishments and take stringent action against lawlessness in any form, the Additional Director-General of Police, Headquarters, V. Balachandran, said.

Sufficient protection would be given to loyal employees. Striking employees and anti-social elements, who obstructed loyal workers and disturbed the smooth functioning of government offices and other establishments would be dealt with in accordance with the law. The general public and loyal workers could contact local police authorities about any inconvenience or disturbance they came across. The police authorities had been specifically instructed to attend to such complaints on an emergency basis, he said.

The DMK's Labour Progressive Front leader, S. Kuppusamy, said the DA hike announcement was a victory for the workers. The struggle should continue till the workers got their other demands fulfilled. Leaders of the CITU and AITUC criticised the Government approach to the demands of the employees and vowed to persist with the strike.

The South Zone Insurance Employees Federation said LIC employees in the State would participate in a one-day protest against the Central and State Governments' policies, while the Chennai region general insurance employees' association said its members would also participate in Wednesday's protest.

Among the unions, which rejected the strike call is the Joint Action Council of Government Officials and Teachers. Its State president, K. Kaliaperumal, said some sections had given the call ``out of vanity despite knowing the critical financial position in the State," and despite which the Chief Minister had decided to provide a four per cent hike in the DA. The Tamil Nadu Government Employees Union had already welcomed the DA offer and thanked the Chief Minister .

The Tamil Nadu VAOs Association said its members would not participate in the strike considering the "hardships it would cause to the public." The Tamilnadu Municipal Officials Union said ``the strike was being fomented from behind the screen by those who were responsible for the State's critical financial position."

Autos to keep off road

Our Salem Special Correspondent reports:

The joint action committee of the Autorickshaw Drivers' Association has decided to join the strike. A joint statement by the CITU secretary, D. Mani, the AICCTU president, M. Sivasubramaniam, and the PTS president, P. Raja, said autorickshaws would remain off the road from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. tomorrow.

Autorickshaw drivers have been demanding that the Government withdraw the hike in insurance premium and prices of petroleum products. They want authorities ``to give up the practice of foisting cases'' on them. They also demand streamlining of the functioning of the Labour Welfare Board and withdrawal of the ban on recruitment.

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