12 hrs ago
Punjab Employees End Pen-Down Strike After Notice Withdrawal Assurance
Punjab government employees had stopped doing office paperwork to protest their demands.
They called this a pen-down strike.
They ended the protest after the chief secretary promised to withdraw disciplinary notices.
The notices accused them of being absent without permission during an earlier strike.
Employee leaders said they had properly taken leave instead.
The employees also want unpaid Dearness Allowance money.
The government recently increased DA for some employees hired after July 17, 2020.
That increase did not help employees hired before that date.
The agreement to withdraw the notices was described by employees as a small victory.
Punjab ministerial employees called off their pen-down strike after Chief Secretary K A P Sinha assured them that show-cause notices would be withdrawn.
The notices concerned employees’ alleged “unauthorised” absence during a statewide strike on August 27.
Employees said they had taken leave and were not unauthorisedly absent.
The state government had extended its “no work, no pay” policy as employees continued their protest.
Employees are also seeking payment of pending 18% Dearness Allowance arrears, while a recent DA increase benefited about 85,000 post-2020 recruits.
- Who
- Punjab ministerial employees, represented by the Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch, and the Punjab government.
- What
- Employees called off their pen-down strike after receiving an assurance that show-cause notices would be withdrawn.
- Where
- Chandigarh and government offices across Punjab.
- When
- The strike was called off on Wednesday; the earlier statewide strike occurred on August 27, and the notices had been scheduled for action during the ongoing dispute.
- Why
- Employees sought withdrawal of disciplinary notices and continued to demand clearance of pending 18% Dearness Allowance arrears.
Employees’ Position
Government’s Position
Show-cause notices
Employees’ Position
Employees said they had taken leave on August 27 and were not unauthorisedly absent, so the disciplinary notices should be withdrawn.
Government’s Position
The notices were issued over what the government described as unauthorised absence during the statewide strike; the chief secretary assured employees they would be withdrawn.
Dearness Allowance arrears
Employees’ Position
Employees continued demanding payment of pending 18% DA arrears, citing directions of the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Government’s Position
The government announced a DA increase from 42% to 60% for around 85,000 employees recruited after July 17, 2020, but the decision did not cover employees recruited before that date.
Strike and pay policy
Employees’ Position
Employees extended their pen-down strike to press their demands, affecting administrative work in government offices.
Government’s Position
The state government implemented or announced a “no work, no pay” approach and had said talks with the chief minister could take place only after the strike was called off.
Key facts
- Employee representatives
- Punjab Sanjha Mulazam Manch
- Government official
- Chief Secretary K A P Sinha
- Earlier statewide strike
- August 27
- DA demand
- Clearance of pending 18% Dearness Allowance arrears
- Recent DA decision
- Increase from 42% to 60% for about 85,000 employees recruited after July 17, 2020
- Government policy
- “No work, no pay” was announced during the strike dispute
Sources
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