J&K Casual Labourers United Front (JKCLUF) Tuesday decided to go on a three-day pen-down strike to demand regularization of their services and fulfillment of other pending demands.
“Today, we organised meetings of workers representing 20 departments in both regions of Jammu and Kashmir where we decided to go for three days pen-down strike from August 25,” said President of Front’s Kashmir division, Imran Parrey.
He asked the government to accept their demand within a week else they will chalk-out future course of action to intensify the struggle. He said there has been a cold response from the government to the demands of 61,000 daily wagers, casual, contractual, seasonal, CP workers, ITI trained workers and others, for regularization of their services.
“We gave ample time to the government to take a decision on the demands, but there was no response,” he said.
Parrey said the former Lt Governor, Girish Chander Murmu had assured them of releasing their pending wages within a week’s time. However, nothing has been done by the government.
“We have decided to boycott work for three days and hold demonstrations. If our demands are not accepted, we will sit on dharna with our family members at Lal Chowk after August 27,” said Parrey.
Parrey said workers and labourers from different departments including Irrigation and Flood Control, PHE, JKPCC, Fisheries, Sericulture, Agriculture, Education, Health, Wild Life, Forests, Estates and others will join the strike. He said sanitization workers from different government departments have also extended their support to the Front.
The Front’s President for Jammu, Tanveer Hussain said they have also appealed to the government to implement minimum wage act in Jammu and Kashmir, regularize the services of casual workers, daily wagers and others and release their pending wages. “If our demands are not accepted, we will intensify the strike,” he said.