Work affected as central govt officers go on strike

Work in various central government offices including income tax, postal department and railway mail services ( RMS) across the state was hit as thousands of employees joined the one-day nationwide strike called by the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers ( CCGEW).

The strike was called to protest against what the confederation dubbed as "anti -labour and anti-employee" policies of the union government. 

Though most residents in the capital city were aware of the strike, some did land up at the public dealing counters of the postal department and income tax only to witness locked rooms and empty counters.

"We totally boycotted work and fully justified the strike call. The central government must amend its employee policies," said Manoj Kumar Sharma, regional secretary, income tax gazetted officers association, Chhattisgarh.

He said over 200 employees of income tax department were observing the strike. "Though the strike may have caused some problems to the public, the blame is entirely on the union government, as it has been ignoring our demands for long," claimed Pawan Singh Thakur, president of the income tax employees federation, Chhattisgarh division.

The confederation is demanding constitution of seventh wage commission and amendment in the wages of central government employees from January 1, 2011.

The other demands are regarding pension, merger of dearness allowance with basic pay from January 1, 2011, constitution of a joint consultative machinery, recognition to all associations and federations and an end to outsourcing in all government institutes along with regularization of daily wage employees.