Chandigarh, September 7 (Daily Kiran) : Employees of the Punjab government are gearing up for a significant protest against recent decisions made by the state administration. Manjeet Singh Randhawa, president of the Punjab Secretariat Officers Association, criticized the government’s issuance of show-cause notices to employees and its decision to grant a 60% dearness allowance (DA) to those hired after 2020.
In a conversation, Randhawa revealed that a meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee of employee organizations took place in Ludhiana. During this meeting, they demanded the withdrawal of letters sent to striking employees and called for immediate talks with representatives of employee organizations. The government has been given a deadline of September 7 to respond. Randhawa emphasized that labeling the absence of employees as “unauthorized” is unjust. With the government failing to resolve the deadlock through dialogue, the movement is set to escalate.
He clarified that the collective leave does not mean employees will entirely refrain from attending work. Many will show up to participate in a pen-down strike, refusing to perform their duties. Employees from various directorates, including Irrigation, Local Government, and Health, plan to hold rallies and demonstrations at their respective offices. A pen-down strike will also be implemented at the Punjab Secretariat, alongside symbolic hunger strikes organized by union leaders and willing employees.
Randhawa criticized the government’s announcement of a 60% DA for post-2020 recruits, arguing that it aims to create divisions among employees. He asserted that employees receiving a 42% DA should also have their allowances raised to 60%, with back pay issued accordingly. He pointed out that merely increasing the DA will not resolve all employee grievances. Issues such as restoring the old pension scheme, reducing the probation period from three years to two, ensuring full salaries during probation, and revising the Punjab pay scale are also part of their demands.
Randhawa noted that a large number of employee organizations are affiliated with two major groups, the Joint Employees Front and the Joint Employees Platform, which are coordinating their actions through a shared committee. Clerical staff from ministerial services will also participate in the strike. Employees from departments that have issued show-cause notices or disciplinary letters will join the movement as well. Randhawa claimed support from employee organizations at several universities.
Additionally, he expressed solidarity with Mohanjeet Singh Sheron, who was reportedly injured during a police altercation and is currently hospitalized in Patiala. Employee organizations are rallying behind Sheron in this matter. Randhawa reiterated that the movement’s goal is to convey to the government that employees are dissatisfied with its current stance and seek resolution of their outstanding demands through dialogue.
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