NEWSLINKS
US EDITION
COLUMNISTS
DIARY
SPECIALS
INTERVIEWS
CAPITAL BUZZ
REDIFF POLL
DEAR REDIFF
THE STATES
YEH HAI INDIA!
ELECTION 99
ELECTIONS
ARCHIVES

Search Rediff

Rajasthan employees give in, end 64-day strike

Kamla Bora in Jaipur

The 64-day-long strike by employees of the Rajasthan government ended late last night when the Joint Action Committee of the staff announced unconditional withdrawal of its agitation.

JAC convenor Mahesh Vyas told reporters that the employees had left settlement of their five-point charter of demands to Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's discretion. "We shall abide by the decision taken by the chief minister in the interests of the staff," he said.

Vyas asked the striking employees to resume their duties this morning. The employees were on strike since December 15, demanding mainly payment of bonus and an additional instalment of dearness allowance. The strike was the longest in Rajasthan's history.

Expressing happiness at the JAC's decision, Gehlot, however, repeated his government's resolve to adhere to the 'no work, no pay' rule for the period of the strike.

That the strike was fizzling out was evident since early this week when two employee unions pulled out of the agitation and accepted the government's unilateral package. The prolonged agitation and non-payment of salaries for two months had apparently exhausted the employees. As the government remained firm on its decision not to bow to pressure, the employees decided to call off the fight.

In its package, the government has refused to pay bonus, but has agreed to pay additional DA in cash from April 1 this year. The government has also agreed to sanction special leave without pay to the employees for the period of the strike to avoid a break in service.

But the government has offered a month's salary in advance to help the employees meet their immediate needs. The amount will be recovered from them later, in consultation with their leaders.

The strike had crippled various government services, including water supply, sanitation, medical and health services, and the courts. Senior officials now expect the working of government offices to be normal by the weekend.

EARLIER REPORTS:
Two unions pull out of Rajasthan strike
Government offers additional DA to striking employees
Government employees' strike enters record 48th day

Back to top

Tell us what you think of this report