AMARAVATI: The state government employees' associations have decided to go on indefinite strike from February 7 in protest against the new pay-scales fixed by the government.
All government employees will organise agitations in different modes before moving into indefinite strike. Four employees associations met at APNGOs Association in Vijayawada on Friday and discussed the plan to exert pressure on the government.
"We will go on indefinite strike from February 7. We will submit a representation to chief secretary with our demands," said secretariat employees association president K Venkatramireddy.
APNGOs association president Bandi Srinivasa Rao, Amaravati JAC president Bopparaju Venkateswaralu, AP Government Employees' Federation president KR Suryanarayana were present.
Employees associations have been on the war path since the government issued GOs by fixing new pay-scales based on 23 per cent fitment agreed by the unions. Although the associations conceded to take lower fitment with 23 per cent compared to 27 per cent interim relief (IR) they have been taking for the past 32 months, they were shocked by the reduction of the House Rent Allowance (HRA) slabs and removal of City Compensatory Allowance (CCA).
"Senior officials were misleading the chief minister on the issue of state revenues and enhancement of salaries. It is ridiculous to say salaries would go up despite cutting down the HRA by 16 per cent, removal of CCA," said Bandi Srinivasa Rao.
Employees associations would issue strike notice on January 24. The associations have decided to organize Chalo Vijayawada protest programme on February 3 and participate in non-cooperation protests on February 5 and 6 ahead of the strike.
Meanwhile, suspense is prevailing over release of salaries to government employees as treasury employees rejected to clear the bills. Normally, salary bills would be processed from 20th of every month to clear all the bills by the end of the month. The treasury employees requested the state government not to exert pressure on their officials as they would follow the employees' association's decision with regard to the PRC.
