Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Feb 24: The work in many Estates Department offices remained affected even today as its employees continued their strike and suspended work in support of their demands.
Majority of the employees including daily rated, casual and consolidated workers suspended work on Thursday and sat on protest dharna in the Divisional Office, near Shakuntla Chowk in Jammu and launched protest demonstration under the banner of J&K Coordination Committee of Estates Employees, Jammu, led by Yash Pal Sharma, chief coordinator.
They were shouting slogans in support of their demands and also against the JKUT Administration. They strongly projected the demand of their regularization, implementation of Minimum Wages Act and release of grade in favour of all helpers working as plumbers, pump operators, carpenters, masons, painters and others. Several senior Trade union leaders also addressed the gathering.
Speaking on the occasion, Yash Pal Sharma, chief coordinator pointed out that the employees have been projecting their issues since long and demanding their regularization and implementation of Minimum Wages Act in J&K UT but the LG’s Administration is least bothered. He said the workers are on 72-hours strike but the officials at the helm of affairs are not taking their issues seriously. They avoid meeting aggrieved employees and workers and resolve their issues.
He said if the Administration did not show interest to solve the issues of the workers, the regular employees of the Department would also join hands and suspend work in their support. He said the Coordination Committee is planning to launch indefinite strike if the issues of the employees were not resolved within fortnight.
Prominent among those who addressed the gathering during day long dharna included- Parshotam Kumar-president, Muktiyar Ahmed (vice president), Yash Paul Singh (chairman), Kuldip Kumar, Kewal Krishan, Amit Sharma and others.
Later, a meeting of the employees’ leaders was held with the Commissioner/ Secretary concerned in presence of Director Estates, who assured to settle their issues shortly.
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