Uttar Pradesh government employees began an indefinite strike in Agra Tuesday morning to press for action on their 15 point demand charter including a wage hike.
More than 7,000 employees of 17 departments in Agra are on strike. Emergency services including the SN Medical College Hospital have been excluded from the protest.
The strike call was given by two major unions of state employees after they forged a joint front called Rajya Karmchari Adhikar Manch.
Earlier, the unions refused talks with the principal secretary in the labour department. Union leaders said they wanted a categorical assurance from Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav or the chief secretary.