Govt invokes ESMA, declares GGEA strike illegal

PANJIM, DEC 1
The State government today declared the indefinite strike call by the Goa Government Employees Association (GGEA) from December 6 as illegal, invoking the Essential Services Management Act (ESMA).
A release by the government says that the section of government employees purportedly under the aegis of GGEA has called for an indefinite strike. GGEA is agitating with the government, seeking upgradation of pay scales to various sections of the government employees on unsustainable grounds of providing similar benefits to other employees where parity of pay scale was given, the release says.
It has stated that the GGEA has objected giving parity to few category employees and requested to withdraw such benefits given to them.
“Government has clarified to GGEA that Goa government is amongst the first few states which agreed to implement 6th Pay Commission and any further upgradation will tantamount to going beyond provisions of 6th Pay Commissions, which is neither financially affordable for the state nor acceptable proposition,” the release says.
Further, it says, “certain anomalies pointed out by GGEA have already been rectified and order has been issued to this effect.”
However, government appointed a committee for studying the issues raised by GGEA and now the committee has submitted a report, which is under active consideration of the government, the release states adding the Law Secretary, has forwarded the copy of the report to all the employees associations. “However, it is unfortunate that without responding to the Law Secretary, GGEA has called for indefinite strike. GGEA is neither registered, nor a recognized Association of government employees. Hence the indefinite strike called by GGEA is illegal especially when government had considered the genuine demands of employees and now points raised are under consideration,” the release adds.
The government has urged all employees to desist from joining the strike called by the said Association and perform their official duties.
The government has taken a serious view of the matter and has decided that all the employees who participate in this illegal strike or found not discharging their assigned duties during the strike period, shall be treated as absent. The principle of ‘no work no pay’ will be invoked in all such unauthorized absence.
Further the government has decided to call this strike illegal and has issued notice under Essential Services Maintenance Act.