from Ares
for Daijiworld Media Network - Panaji (GA)
Panaji, Jun 17: The State government has managed to blow over the week-long crisis created by government employees’ strike invoking Essential Services Management Act (ESMA) in the state.
Few hours after chief minister Digamber Kamat invoked ESMA on Monday June 16 evening, the striking government employees decided to resume their duties from Tuesday June 17.
The announcement to suspend the strike came late last night with the Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) leaders declaring their intention to continue with the parlays with the government while withdrawing their pen-down strike.
The employees had struck work for almost a week demanding higher pay scales, pending implementation of sixth pay commission.
The State government, which held several rounds of talks with the labour union leaders, acted with iron hand last evening and state cabinet decided to involve ESMA.
Kamat in a press conference announced that whoever continues with strike will be terminated from the services. The government had also kept a alternate line of arrangement ready by involving contractual workers, probationers and employees on pre-employment training, if strike continues.
The State government had said that they agree to hike the scale by giving them the next increment. “But during the implementation of sixth pay commission, the hike will be based on their original salary,” state chief secretary J P Singh had clarified.
The employees during the discussion did not agree for this.
However, strike came crashing down after government invoked ESMA. The split was evident in the GGEA when two different factions addressed press conferences last night to declare their intention to withdraw.
While one faction agreed to suspend the strike pending talks, another one said that they have cancelled the strike and are happy with the `next increment’ promised by the government.
Meanwhile, police’s presence is imminent at most of the places in the state.
The State government has deployed police at major government offices to ensure that there is no clash between the employees.