Secretariat employees suspend strike
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, September 15 2022: The cease work strike launched by employees of State Secretariat since September 5 raising several demands to the government has been suspended after an understanding was reached with the government on Thursday.

The employees will resume normal duties from Friday onwards.

On Thursday morning, Imphal West district police detained 53 employees of the Secretariat at Sajiwa jail, but were later released unconditionally after the government and Manipur Secretariat Services Association (MSSA) came to an understanding.

Prior to signing of the agreement, a team of Imphal West District Police arrested employees of Manipur Secretariat Services who were taking part in cease work strike over various demands, on Thursday morning.

The employees were protesting in front of Secretariat office campus at Babupara, here, when the police team led by a DIG arrived at the spot around 11.30 am and picked up 54 of them and briefly detained at Sajiwa Jail.

A meeting chaired by CAF & PD and PHE minister L Susindro and attended by representatives of MSSA was held at the former's office chamber in the evening where an MoU was signed by special secretary (DP) N Geoffrey, GAD secretary A Michael and joint secretary FD/PIC Regina Hongray representing the government and MSSA general secretary S Rabi on behalf of the employees.

Subsequently, the cease work strike launched by the employees has been suspended with immediate effect.

Addressing media persons after the agreement, minister Susindro said that he minutely discussed with the representatives of MSSA following the instruction of the chief minister and later reached an understanding with the protesting employees by assuring to honour their demands.

Meanwhile, MSSA president L Purujit said that the government has given solid assurance to their demands, as such, the cease work strike has been suspended.

Urging the employees to attend office in time from Friday, he said that they will even work on Saturdays and Sundays to clear the pending works due to the strike and further lauded the government for fulfilling their demands.

The MoU signed between MSSA and government included examining the proposal for enhancing grade pay to Rs 1800 in respect of Group D Secretariat employees along with those of all other Group D employees of the state government; initiate steps for amendment of service rules in respect of the post of caretaker of GAD; further examination for increasing grade pays in respect of ASO/SO/PS; FD/PIC to take steps regarding payment of DA at the central government rates as per decision taken earlier; discontinuation of the practice of engagement/re-engagement of retired employees except under exceptional circumstances; finance department to process for adoption of the Central Civil Services (Implementation of National Pension Scheme) Rules, 2021; release of the strikers immediately and suspending the cease work strike with immediate effect.

Comment