CoSAAP to go with ‘Pen & Tools Down’ strike

Govt terms strike illegal

ITANAGAR, Oct 24: The Confederation of Service Associations of Arunachal Pradesh (CoSAAP) has decided to go with its ‘Pen & Tools Down’ democratic movement on 25 and 26 October demanding immediate implementation of allowances under the 7th Central Pay Commission and other entitled service benefits.
‘This decision was taken after the state government did not take any positive steps to redress the grievances of the state government employees even after its two days democratic non-cooperation movement, which passed off peacefully with normal duties at work places on 23 and 24 October,’ a CoSAAP release said.
The CoSAAP said that realizing the hardships faced by general public, business community and other stakeholders due to long holidays in the last week and likely to face further, it modified the modus operandi of the second phase of non-cooperation movement scheduled from 23 to 26 October.
Accordingly, the state government employees attended office/work places and discharged normal duties by wearing black badges as a sign of protest on 23 and 24 October, it said.
‘But, till evening of 24 October, the state government has not taken any positive steps to redress the grievances of state government employees. Hence, the ‘Pen & Tools Down’ democratic movement on 25 and 26 October, 2018 stands,’ the CoSAAP release added.
Meanwhile, the state government in an order has declared the ‘Pen & Tools Down’ strike to be observed by CoSAAP on 25 and 26 October as “illegal”.
‘Accordingly, all the Heads of Departments are directed to deduct one day salary of all the employees who are on Pen/ Tool down strike, on the first day (25 Oct) on the principle of “No Work No Pay”. Furthermore, in respect of employees going on pen down strike on second day (26 Oct), the Heads of Departments are directed to impose dies-non, with break in service as per provision of the Fundamental Rules along with all its consequences, including those under CCS (Pension) Rules, against all such employees,’ the order read.