The state employees of Jammu and Kashmir went on a three-day strike on Monday in support of their demand for implementation of 6th pay panel report and enhancing the retirement age to 60 from the present 58 years.
The employees who had gone on a two day strike last week resumed their agitation on Monday following "unsatisfactory" response from the government to their pay hike demands.
Reports said that work in all government offices and public sector undertakings was paralyzed today across the state due to the strike in all the three regions of the state, officials said. However, officers were attending work in their respective offices, including civil secretariat, in the winter capital, in the state, they added
"The strike would continue for the period but talks with government for announcement of implementation of pay commission will also continue," they said.
Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah is, however, likely to break the deadlock after he resumes talks with the members of Joint Consultative Committee and Employees Joint Action Committee factions, which are spearheading the agitation.
JCC leaders said during meeting with finance minister Abdul Rahim Rather, chief secretary S S Kapur and other officials on Friday, it appeared that government was serious towards implementing the pay panel report in the state but they were not fully satisfied with its response.
As per the wish of all the employees and conclusion drawn during review meetings, it was decided to go ahead with the strike, which can even be declared as indefinite if the government remains rigid, JCC spokesman Abdul Qayoom Wani said.
The spokesman of another employees union said the employees would intensify their protests if the government did not concede to their demands.