7th Pay Commission: Karnataka govt employees not to participate in May 4 strike

In view of the state government led by chief minister Siddaramaiah agreeing to setting up a panel to explore the possibility of salary hike, the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association (KSGEA) said on Tuesday that it won't be going on protest on Thursday (May 4).

A few days ago, there was a report that a section of pensioners could go on strike on the issue.

At a press conference in Bengaluru, the Association dissociated itself from the strike. "...the finance department has already approved the proposal and is likely to notify the new commission in a day or two. Once the commission is notified, the Karnataka State Government employees association will press for release 30 per cent of amount (with effect from April 1, 2017) as an interim relief.

"When this is the case, a handful of people announcing a protest on May 4 is to gain cheap publicity. This ploy by the fake association will never break the unity of the government employees association. I want to reaffirm that the Karnataka State Government Employees' Association is united and will NOT take part in any stir or protest," KSGEA president BP Manjegowda said in a statement. 

The proposed salary hike will benefit about six lakh Karnataka government employees and pensioners.

Manjegowda said even permission for the May 4 protest in front of respective deputy commissioner's offices (presumably across Karnataka) has not been accorded. 

Last August, Siddaramaiah had assured the employees of setting up a panel. "State government employees have been demanding salaries on a par with the Central government staff. The time has come to set up the next pay commission as the Centre is implementing the recommendations of the seventh pay commission," Siddaramaiah was quoted as saying by Deccan Herald.

The comment raised hopes of state government employees who had gone on a day-long strike on June 2 demanding pay parity with Central government staff.