Srinagar, Feb 17: Amidst lockout of several government offices, employees staged protests here on the second consecutive day, Wednesday against government’s failure to implement the recommendations of sixth pay commission fully.
 Hundreds of employees carrying banners and placards of JK Employees Joint Action Committee (JKEJAC)—breakaway faction of employees’ Joint Consultative Committee----and raising anti-government slogans assembled in SK park here this morning and took out a protest march up to city centre, Lal Chowk.
 With 2-day strike ending today, JKEJAC— announced that in the next phase of agitation 3-day strike would be observed in the month of March.
 Member JKEJAC and state president of non-gazetted electrical employees union, Rafiq Ahmad Khanyari while addressing the employees near historic Ganta Ghar here said that all government and semi-government offices would observe a complete strike on March 11, 12 and 13. The strike, he said, would be a token strike. “If our demands are not met we will intensify the agitation. The 3-day strike will be held simultaneously in Jammu and Kashmir regions,” he said.
 Meanwhile, employees unions associated with JKEJAC continued boycott of offices for the second day today. The associations, which supported JKEJAC programme, included Medical Employees Federation, Central Non-Gazetted Electrical Employees Association, Coordination Committee of Trade Unions, JK floriculture Association, Government Employees’ Conference, Employees and Workers Action Forum and others.
 The President of Medical Employees Federation, Gulzar Ahmed Banday said, “We support JKEJAC programme.”
 The routine work remained affected in several government and semi-government offices in the Valley. However, offices under the purview of JCC remained fully operational.
 Reports coming in from the winter capital Jammu said protest demonstration were also staged outside the Government Medical College, wherein hundreds of employees participated.
 Pertinently, employees have been demanding implementation off recommendations of  sixth pay commission, enhancement in retirement age from 58 to 60, release of arrears, increase in house rental allowance and other benefits.
 The JKEJAC, however, had dissociated itself from the ongoing agitation of JCC, which has been spearheading the employees’ agitation for the demands since the day one. Both JCC and JKEJAC have been announcing separate programmes.

Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Wed, 17 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Thu, 18 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST