Srinagar, Apr 1: A day after all party meeting convened by the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah failed to evolve consensus over the demands of employees, various employee unions on Thursday decided to go on a 9-day strike from April 3.
The Jammu and Kashmir Employees Joint Action Committee (JKEJAC) and the secretariat Non-Gazetted Employees Union jointly called for a 4-day strike from April 3, while the umbrella body of the government and semi-government employees—Employees’ Joint Consultative Committee—called for 7- day state-wide strike from April 5 to April 11.
JKEJAC, leader, Rafiq Ahmad Khanyari, told Greater Kashmir that yesterday’s meeting had revealed that government has nothing to offer “So we have decided to go on the strike,” he said.
“It will be a complete shutdown of offices in Jammu as well as Kashmir division, including Ladakh. We will be joined by secretariat employees in the strike and protest rallies will be staged across the state on April 3,” he said, adding a “harsh” future programme would be announced soon.
The government’s failure in meeting the demands is, however, seemingly acting as glue between the various employees’ unions as both JCC and JKEJAC have hinted at announcing a joint programme in future.
Asserting “employees are united over the cause,” senior JCC leader Abdul Qayoom  Wani said that a joint programme was expected in future.
“Yes, it is expected,” he said, adding, “After meeting with the government on March 19, the other employee unions also realized that joint programme is the need of the hour.”
JKEJAC’s Khanyari said the conglomerate had openly invited other players for unification and “that is the reason for secretariat employees joining the strike.”
“Since our demands are similar we realize that we need to raise our voice from a single platform,” he said.
Talking to Greater Kashmir JCC leader, Abdul Qayoom Wani, said, “Yesterday’s all parties meeting in Jammu was an attempt to politicize the issue.”
He said the conglomerate had lost the hope that government would accept demands of employees. “It is clear now that government is not going to accept any our demands so we have decided to go on a 7- day strike. By holding all parties meetings the government complicated the matter,” he said, adding, “The strike may turn into indefinite one.”
Pertinently, the conglomerate had called for a 5-day strike early last month, which was joined by JKEJAC on its final 3-days. The strike was suspended after cabinet sub-committee invited the leaders to a meeting on March 19 wherein it sought 10 days time, which ended yesterday, to consider the demands. The strike had choked the entire system in the state.

SECRETARIAT EMPLOYEES STAGE PROTEST
 The Civil Secretariat Non-Gazetted Employees Union staged a massive anti government protest here on Thursday.
 Led by their president, Nazir Ahmed Mir, hundreds of employees assembled in secretariat’s compound and staged a sit in. They accused government of cheating the employees.
 The official work at the secretariat remained paralyzed for over an-hour. “All parties meet was a mere eye wash,” alleged Mir.
 “Government has no policy to fulfill the demands of employees,” he said, adding “It is directionless.”

Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Apr 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Apr 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Apr 2010 00:00:00 IST