The Karnataka Government Employees Union has announced that the government employees in the state will go on an indefinite strike from March 1.
Context
They demand the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission among other issues.
If unmet, all government employees will skip their duty and launch a protest across the state.
CS Shadakshari, the president of the Union, said, “Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has turned a blind eye towards the government employees. The attitude of CM Bommai has saddened nine lakh government employees.”
Threats
As part of their protests, the employees will remain absent from work in schools, colleges, and hospitals and other institutions.
It will be recalled only if the government passes interim orders for implementing recommendations of the Seventh Pay Commission.
“If not, we will continue the agitation,” Shadakshari added.
Background
The Seventh Pay Commission is a committee appointed by the state government to review and recommend changes to the salary structure and allowances of government employees.
Despite repeated pleas, the demand for the abolition of the new pension scheme and reverting to the old one has not been met yet.
Pushing the matter to the fore was when CM Bommai made no mention of the 7th pay commission in his budget speech which hurt the sentiment of the government employees.
Political repercussion
Furthermore, the workers also expressed disappointment that no proposal of salary hikes and allowances were made in the state Budget for 2023-24 presented by the Chief Minister.
The announcement of the strike could act as a blow to the Basavaraja Bommai-led BJP in Karnataka.
Hurtful indifference
Stating that if the demand is not met, all the government employees will also abstain from performing their official duties.
Shadakshari criticized Bommai for having “turned a blind eye to the demands of government employees” and as previously mentioned, Bommai’s behaviour has caused sadness to nine lakh employees of the Karnataka government.
