PHE workers’ strike enters 25th day

PHE daily rated and consolidated workers staging protest dharna in Jammu on Monday. -Excelsior/Rakesh
PHE daily rated and consolidated workers staging protest dharna in Jammu on Monday. -Excelsior/Rakesh

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 19: The strike of the PHE/ Jal Shakti department daily rated/ consolidated workers continued on the 25th consecutive day today.
The workers of Jal Shakti / PHE department, under the banner of PHE Employees United Front, held strong protest demonstration in the office of Chief Engineer at BC Road, Jammu. The Front leaders criticized Chief Secretary of J&K UT for his comments and alleged that he was adding fuel to the fire.
The workers were shouting slogans against the UT Administration and BJP Government at the Centre. They alleged that BJP has failed to resolve the pending issues of the workers and employees despite long protests and many representations to the higher authorities.
The protesting workers were demanding their regularisation, release of pending 65 months’ wages of many workers, implement Minimum Wages Act in J&K on Central pattern and revoke 12 vouchers’ rider. After holding strong protest demonstration, they sat on day long dharna in the BC Road PHE office complex.
The speakers also expressed displeasure over the recent statement of Chief Secretary of J&K UT and said that Administration should try to resolve the issue and not to provoke the agitating workers. Thousands of workers are engaged on consolidated wages but they are not being paid for months. This is shameful on the part of Government.
They claimed that the agitation would be continued till their demands are addressed by the Government. The members alleged that J&K Administration itself wants to worsen the situation. During Covid, daily wagers do not want to assemble in large number but the Administration has forced them to go for agitation. They again resolved to extend their agitation for next three days.
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included – Ravi Hans, Bhanu Partap, Hoshiar Singh, Jyoti Parkash, Binkal Manhas, Rajinder Singh, Rakesh Kumar, Navdeep Singh and others.