Breakaway faction of employees union opposes tomorrow's strike

"Hartal (shutdown) is not the right policy. Common man should not suffer. If we shutdown schools to demand our rights, why should a poor student suffer. If we close a hospital, why should poor patients suffer," Nazir Ahmad, chairman of the Teachers' Welfare Association and member of the breakaway group said.

He said the employees should sit on a hunger strike to press for their demands instead of shutting down public services.

The employees belonging to the breakaway faction today also sat on the hunger strike, demanding sixth pay commission arrears, regularisation of contractual staff and daily wagers, among others.

Over 4.5 lakh state government employees will observe a day-long strike across the state tomorrow and gherao the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar on May 9, to demand increasing the retirement age from 58 to 60 years and regularisation of contractual employees, among others.