Government staff, teachers warn of indefinite strike from April 21 over pending demands

Along with the strike warning, the committee began a statewide awareness campaign across talukas to mobilise support and urged the government to establish a dedicated mechanism for regular dialogue at the chief minister’s level to resolve pending issues faster.

The Employees’ Coordination Committee warned that around 17 lakh state government, semi-government employees, teachers and non-teaching staff in Maharashtra would go on an indefinite strike from April 21 if their long-pending demands are not addressed. They outlined key demands including a revised pension scheme, filling of vacant posts, restoration of the old pension scheme for teachers, and resolution of pending service-related issues. They also urged raising the retirement age to 60 and improving social security. Subhash Talekar, coordinator of the committee, said that if their legitimate demands are ignored, there would be no option but to strike; they highlighted that despite prior discussions and protests over the past 15 months, no meaningful action has been taken.

The Employees’ Coordination Committee states that there have been repeated representations and multiple rounds of agitation over the past year, but these efforts have failed to prompt a concrete response from the government.

The government issued a resolution in September 2024 regarding a revised pension system and had in-principle agreement to provide social security benefits similar to the old pension scheme, with a committee formed to work on implementation. However, the article notes that implementation has not materialized and employees who retired after March 2024 have not yet received pension benefits.