Government warns striking employees of disciplinary action

The government on Monday warned employees against going on a two-day strike against the new pension scheme and other issues from February 12, saying they would face disciplinary action besides losing their wages.

The DoPT asked all ministries to send a report to it, indicating the number of employees who take part in the proposed strike.

The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will go on a two-day strike from Wednesday, protesting against the new pension scheme and contractual employment.

Defending its decision, the confederation said the new contributory pension scheme was introduced by the government on the plea that pension liability had become unbearable and was a drag on the exchequer, but it had several aspects detrimental to the interest of workers.

“More than one-third of the workforce in the government sector is now composed of contractual workers. They are provided with pittance of wages and the huge gap in wages of the regular and the informal employees has been the root cause of inter-personnel tension and many fraudulent ventures,” it said, demanding scrapping of the practice of contractual employment.

The office memorandum circulated by the department said instructions issued by it prohibit government servants from participating in any form of strike, including mass casual leave, go-slow etc or any action that abets any form of strike in violation of rules.
“There is no statutory provision empowering the employees to go on strike. The Supreme Court has also agreed in several judgments that going on a strike is a grave misconduct under the Conduct Rules and that misconduct by the government employees is required to be dealt with in accordance with the law.

“Any employee going on strike in any form would face the consequences which, besides deduction of wages, may also include appropriate disciplinary action,” the DoPT said.
The DoPT asked ministries and departments not to sanction “casual leave or other kind of leave” to employees during the period of the proposed strike and ensure that willing employees were allowed to enter the office premises unhindered.

“For this purpose, Joint secretary (Administration) may be entrusted with the task of coordinating with security personnel. Suitable contingency plan may also be worked out to carry out the various functions of the Ministry or Department,” it said.