GSEC to join strike against SC order

Gujarat State Employees Confederation (GSEC), in association with All India State Employees Federation (AISEF), has called for a nationwide strike on February 24 to protest against a Supreme Court ban on strikes by employees.

GSEC organised a rally on Friday in Gandhinagar at 1.30 pm, in which employees of all leading confederations including Gujarat State Panchayat Confederation (GSPC), Gujarat State Revenue Confederation (GSRC), Gujarat State Class Four Confederation (GSCFC), Gujarat State New Sachivalaya Confederation (GSNSC), Gujarat State Ward Nigam Confederation (GSWNC) and Ahmedabad Corporation Confederation (ACC) participated.

"We are opposing the Supreme Court's decision to deprive employees' right to strike. India is known for its democratic set-up. The Supreme Court decision will help employers to exploit their staff," said Patanwadia T M, president, GSEC.

S Sen, secretary, All India State Employees Federation (AISEF), had also made a representation before prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee over the issue.

The confederation is also demanding for a resolution to be passed in the Lok Sabha soon after the elections, to allow employees to go on strike, said Patanwadia.

GSEC has the support of around 10 lakh employees of the state, while AISEF has the support of around five crore employees throughout the country and more than 25,000 employees are expected to join the rally, Patanwadia said.

The rally started from old Sachivalay at around 1.30 pm and ended near New Sachivalay via Madhyamic Siksha Board and State Bank of India, followed by a meeting of employees different confederations.