Government employees in Karnataka are disappointed that the state government has not set aside adequate funds for a pay hike. The employees were hoping that the 7th Pay Commission will be implemented for salary revision. However, when the Karnataka Chief Minister failed to touch this topic in his budge speech, the disappointed employees have threatened to go on strike on 1 March 2023. The chief minister, however, is yet to respond on the issue.
About 11,000 state government employees, along with about 3,000 retired government employees from Dakshina Kannada, will be part of the indefinite strike called for 1 March.
Meanwhile, in West Bengal, the employees of the West Bengal government are protesting against the failure of the State to clear their pending dearness allowance (DA) dues.
To draw attention to the matter, the West Bengal Coordination Committee of Government Employees and other organisations have called for a strike on 10 March, 2023.
According to the employees’ organisations, 35 per cent of their DA is yet to be cleared by the state government. That means, on an average, an employee may be losing at least Rs 12,000 a month.
The employees are also demanding that vacant posts be filled in a transparent manner and casual employees be regularised. Another demand is that divisive politics in the state be done away with and democracy be restored.
All government employees, including teachers, and staff of local bodies will actively participate in the strike.
