Southern India: Teachers Strike Over Pay

Trivandrum, India, Feb. 7 2002 (INS News) -- Government employees and teachers of the state of Kerala began an indefinite strike as the discussion held by state Chief Minister A.K. Antony with the leaders of the state employees organisation failed to resolve the issue of restoring their curtailed benefits.

Taking stock of the financial crisis which the state of Kerala facing the government had decided some steps, to defer the payment of employees salary for February and March by 15 days,discontinue of leave encashment, to limit the salary of protected teachers who could not be redeployed to 50%, reduce of commutation benefits for retired and retiring employees. New recruits to government and semi-government services would get only the basic pay for two years. Immediately a token strike called by the organisations of both government employees and teachers to protest against the government decision to curtailed the benefits of its staff and further decided to launch a indefinite strike from 6 th February,

As a part to avert the strike, Chief Minister A.K. Antony called a discussion with the employees organisation at state Guest House, Trivandrum. A total of 120 leaders took part in the discussion representing 60 organisations. Preface of the discussion itself Cheif Minister A.K. Antony disclosed the existing financial crisis of the state and said that measures taken, is only to save the state, and ruled out the reinstating of the benefits. The employees insisted that all of their benefits should be reinstated with immediate effect.

The three hours meeting between the Cheif Minister and the employees didn't through up any positive proposals to avert the strike as both parties stuck to their decision. Finance Minister K.Sankaranarayanan, Revenue Minister K.M. Mani. Agricultural Minister K.R. Gowri, Transport Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, Irrigation Minister T.M. Jacob were present in the discussion.

The Chief Minister had a brief discussion with his cabinet colleagues, for last minute appeal, to avert the strike, by the pro-government employees organisation, to freeze the government decision for a minimum of six months, Antony said the government stands its early decision.

The special cabinet, which met after the talks with the government staff failed, decided to deal sternly with the employees agitation and come down strongly against those indulging in violence in connection with the strike. Talking to media person after the cabinet meeting, that employees strike was not against the government but against the people.

-- Sam Asharaf - South Asia Correspondent in Trivandrum, India
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