Kolkata: As the country’s financial system limped back to normalcy as banks resumed work after a two-day strike, the postal services are being hit for two days starting Wednesday, for various demands, including revision of wages.
R. Venkataraman, Postal Employees Progressive Union’s general secretary, told Gulf News over phone: “There are about 30 to 35 per cent vacancies that need to be filled in post offices across the state [West Bengal]. We want the government to remove the ban on recruitment and fill the vacancies. At present, many employees are either part-time or casual workers. Also the promotion system needs to be revised.” About 30,000 employees took part in the strike.
The strike comes at a crucial time when recruitment drive over various government positions are being conducted and many candidates may not receive their admit cards on time for the examination which may bleak their future.
Also, post offices serve as transaction points across millions of villagers where banking services are still to reach.
“This is equivalent to blackmailing the people and its government. Postal services are critical lifeline of this country. It is like army personnel refusing to go to war without pay revision. No one should allow this to happen, but unfortunately in India it’s politics first, and people suffer,” said an octogenarian who had come to collect his interest from the savings scheme he had invested in.
In between bankers threaten to strike again. Vishwas Utagi, All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) vice-president, told Gulf News over phone, “If our demands are not met within this weekend when we are sitting for negotiations, we will be forced to resume the strike this time indefinitely.”
Other union members said, “Last time in 2009 government fooled us. This time they must accept our demands and complete the procedure within the next 15 days, the time left before announcement of general elections. We will not leave them easily.”
