Forest guards, workers threaten to strike work

Nearly 25,000 forest guards and workers across Maharashtra have threatened to go on an indefinite strike from tomorrow to demand implementation of new pay scales for them.
"The state government is indulging in delaying tactics for implementation of the new pay scales for forest guards and foresters and absorbing forest workers in permanent category," Maharashtra State Forest Guards and Promoted Foresters Union president Ajay Patil charged in a release here yesterday.
The union has served strike notices to Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Maharashtra and state Chief Minister, he said.
These men, who guard the precious forest produce worth crores of rupees, have been denied wages as per the Bhole pay commission of 1976, Patil said.

The union took up the issue at various levels during the last 30 years and had agitated earlier, but since there was no response from the authorities, now they have decided to strike work from tomorrow, he said.
All forest guards, foresters and workers will assemble at their headquarters and not go to work from tomorrow, he said in the release.