*Extend strike for another 72-hours
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 14: The daily rated, ITI trained and CP workers of PHE Department staged massive protest demonstration in support of their demands at BC Road office complex of the department here today.
A large number of workers, under the banner of All J&K PHE, ITI Trained & CP Workers Association, headed by its provincial president, Tanveer Hussain assembled at BC Road office of the Chief Engineer here in the morning and started protest demonstration against the higher authorities. The workers were raising loud slogans against the Chief Engineer and Minister for PHE, I&FC Sukhnandan Choudhary.
The agitating workers had earlier given three days’ ultimatum to the higher authorities to frame a proper policy for their regularization otherwise they will be forced to stop the water supply to all the areas including Katra Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board. Today was the third consecutive day of the protest dharna. They now have extended their strike for another 72 hours from Monday onwards.
These agitating workers were raising slogans in support of their demands including regularization, timely and regular payment of their wages and enhancement in rate of their daily wages. They demanded that disparity in the wages of the Valley based and Jammu region workers be removed and unique wage system be adopted in all the three regions of the State.
Mr Tanveer alleged that despite assurance by the sitting and former Minister for PHE and senior officers, their demands have not been addressed. Many of them have been working for the last more than fifteen to twenty years but they are waiting for their regularization.
He said that the delaying attitude of the officers has made the life of the workers miserable. Many helpless workers are facing starvation as they have not been paid their wages since long. These workers started protest on Wednesday and they have pledged to continue for 72 hours.
Several senior trade unionists also addressed the gathering.
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