Employees of health dept will also join UP strike, says union

LUCKNOW: The strike of Uttar Pradesh government employees entered fourth day today with the union spearheading the stir announcing that health department staff will also join them from November 18.

Due to Muharram, there was minimal work at government offices, however, no fresh steps were taken to resolve the standoff after the failure of yesterday's parleys.

"A decision has been taken today to include employees of health department in the strike from November 18," leader of Rajya Karamchari Adhikaar Manch, Hari Kishore Tiwari told PTI after a meeting with staff leaders here.

The unions are demanding removal of anomalies in salary and allowances for employees and restoration of the old pension scheme among others.

The employees of optometric department will join the strike from November 18, and if demands were not met, from November 19, employees of hospitals and health education officers will also join the strike, he said.

At present, around 16 lakh state employees are on strike. Government offices will reopen on November 18, Monday.