As the meeting with the state finance minister regarding the ongoing indefinite cease-work failed to bring an amicable solution, the cease-work strike will continue till the demands are fulfilled, said MSSA general secretary Purujit Lairikyengbam
The meeting was held between Deputy Chief Minister Y Joykumar and the representatives of the Manipur Secretariat Services Association (MSSA), Manipur Government Services Federation (MGSF), Manipur Secretariat (non-ministerial) Drivers’ Association, Public Works Development Engineer’s Association and government teachers.
The meeting with Joykumar, who is also state Finance minister in-charge, was held in his office chamber in Imphal without the presence of the chief secretary.
Purujit told IFP over the phone that the meeting failed to bring an amicable solution and the representatives strongly condemned conducting the meeting in the absence of the chief secretary.
Purujit further said that Joykumar responded that the state is facing economic problems at present and the demands cannot be fulfilled. He said that the employees have been pressing to fulfil their demands for the last five years and several MoUs had also been signed with the government. However, the government has been consistently trying to divert the issue.
The demands included equal pay for all secretariat assistants; 3-tier system in pay scale of drivers; filling up of all promotional vacancies; payment of 28 per cent dearness allowance; grade pay rectification in respect of ASO, SO and private secretary etc and re-designation of Group-D employees.
State Home department had issued an order earlier mentioning that any form of agitation which disrupts or dislocates the ‘essential services’ as outlined under section 2(a)(iii) of the Manipur Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1984 will have a serious adverse impact on the maintenance of public health especially during COVID-19 and would seriously endanger the life of public.
The order also stated that under section 3(1) of the Manipur Essential Services Maintenance Act, 1984, any form of agitation including participation in the ‘cease-work strike’ disrupts or dislocates the functioning of the state health department services is prohibited with immediate effect.
On the second day during the zero hour of the monsoon session of Manipur Legislative Assembly, opposition MLA K Meghachandra had raised the issue and urged the state government to fulfil the demands of the employees. He had stated that the state may face severe impact if the employees continue the indefinite cease-work strike at the time of the pandemic.
