The talks between the Andhra Pradesh government and the employees joint action committee (JAC) on Monday remained inconclusive till late in the evening.
The three-stage talks that began at the chief secretary level followed by the group of ministers are expected to culminate into a final meeting between chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and the leaders of the employees JAC. Employees of various government departments in the Telangana region have been on strike since the last 42 days.
To end the strike, the employee leaders have asked for sanction of salaries for the strike period in adjustment to their statutory leaves, apart from lifting of cases filed against them. They have also demanded punitive provisions of Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) and GO 177 should not be invoked against the striking employees.
Though a time-bound assurance from the government on initiating the process of separate statehood for Telangana, the main plank of the ongoing strike, was featured as one of the demands during these last talks, protection of employees’ interests in the aftermath of the prolonged strike has now become the immediate priority for the leaders.
Employees of key wings like Singareni Collieries, state road transport corporation (APSRTC) and social welfare department have already withdrawn from the general strike.
