Imphal, April 15 2010: Throwing its weight behind the demand raised by the JAC of AMGEO and AMTUC for implementing the 6th Pay Commission in toto, the Manipur Secretariat Services Association has announced that it would join the cease work strike by first taking mass casual leave tomorrow and then launch an indefinite strike from the next day.

Speaking to reporters at the DM College campus today evening, general secretary of the Association, L Purujit said that though Government employees have been on a strike for so long demanding the implementation of the 6th Pay Commission in toto, the Government has not paid any heed.

Instead of listening to the genuine demands of the employees, the Chief Minister has been portraying them (employees) as a greedy lot in various public fora, said Purujit.

It is unbecoming of the Chief Minister to take such a stance, instead of trying to resolve the matter with the JAC, he observed.

The Manipur Secretariat Service Association had at first reposed faith in the Government that the issue would be settled amicably, but that faith has been betrayed, said the general secretary and added that members of the Association would take mass casual leave tomorrow and then launch an indefinite work strike from the following day.

Purujit further said that the SPF Government is under the false impression that the agitation would subside with time, but this is a wrong notion, he added.

The strength of the Manipur Secretariat Service Association including Grade IV and MCS officers stand at 800, he added.

A representative from the Council of Teachers' Association, Rameshore, who was also present at the briefing said that the stand of the Government that they do not have enough fund to implement the 6th Pay Commission in toto is nothing but befooling the public.

The demand for arrears is not a demand for additional pay, he explained and added that this is in pursuit of the rights of the employees.

It is unfortunate that the Chief Minister is trying to paint the employees in the wrong light.

The Centre has also sanctioned the needed fund to meet the expenses of the 6th Pay Commission including the arrears, he claimed.

Members of the JAC and representatives of different Government employees' bodies were also present at the press briefing.

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