Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 18: The PHE workers took out a large Mashal Rally on Jammu roads on late Thursday evening while their strike continued in support of their pending demands on the 60th consecutive day today.
The daily rated and consolidated workers of the Jal Shakti/ PHE department are on strike for the last two months. They are demanding regularisation of their services, release of pending wages and enhancement of their wages. The Government failed to resolve their issues despite several rounds of talks with higher senior officers of the Department.
On 60th day of their strike, a large number of workers from various PHE Divisions and Sub Divisions/ water stations assembled in the office complex of Chief Engineer PHE Jammu, at BC Road in the evening under the banner of PHE Employees United Front and took out a large Mashal Rally. All the protesting workers were carrying candles/Mashals in their hands. They were shouting slogans in support of their demands and also against LG’s Administration and BJP leaders of J&K UT. Then they moved towards Bus Stand, Jewel Crossing and finally concluded their Mashal Rally at Pt Prem Nath Dogra Chowk near Main Tawi bridge.
After holding protest demonstration for some time at the main crossing, some Union leaders addressed the gathering and criticized the LG’s administration for its indifferent attitude towards working class. The employees leader Ravi Hans said that two months are over but the higher authorities have failed to resolve their issues. Even the Lt Governor during meeting had assured to resolve their issues but nothing happened till date. He claimed that workers will intensify their struggle in coming days. He said the workers are demanding regularization, implementation of Minimum Wages Act as per Central norms in J&K UT and release of pending wages of 70 months.