Postal strike declared illegal

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, DEC. 14. The Government today announced that the postal strike, which entered the 10th day, had been rendered illegal according to the provisions of Section 22 of the Industrial Dispute Act. The section lays down that no person employed in a public utility service shall strike work while conciliation is on.

In a communication to the postal federations, a Labour Department official said, ``your action to cease work in a concerted manner during the pendency of conciliation proceedings has rendered the strike illegal and made yourselves liable for legal action''. He urged the unions to call off the strike to restore normalcy in service and to create a congenial atmosphere for across-the-table discussions.

Postal federations responded to the decision by announcing that they were going ahead with their agitation which had affected postal services all over the country. The employees would also be disregarding the Delhi High Court's directions to both sides to take steps to end the stir by tomorrow. The federations' decision came after a meeting of the Group of Ministers on postal issues failed to come up with satisfactory proposals.

They announced a march to Parliament tomorrow to press their demands. ``If necessary, we will violate the prohibitory orders and court arrest,'' said a spokesman of the federations spearheading the struggle. The federations received support from all the five Central trade unions.

PTI reports:

The Lok Sabha will take up tomorrow a calling attention motion on the postal strike.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : Front Page
Previous : Allies still upset
Next     : Plea for worship dismissed