IT dept employees threaten strike if demands not met

Two associations representing Income Tax department employees today threatened to go on a country-wide strike if their demands, including a revision in the pay of Income Tax Officer-rank officials, are not met within a stipulated time frame.
A joint action committee comprising the IT Employees Federation (ITEF) and the IT Gazetted Officers' Association (ITGOA) is also seeking clearance of pending promotions from the rank of ITO to IT Additional Commissioner and improved facilities for work.
The two prominent groups -- ITEF and ITGOA -- represent about 97 per cent of the department's workforce, while officers drawn from the Indian Revenue Service make up the rest.

ITEF President AK Kanojia, in a statement, said a decision has been taken to start agitation all over India if their "long-pending" demands are not met.
"Later, a resolution passed in a meeting on the above mentioned demands was sent to the Revenue Secretary and Chairman of Central Board of Direct Taxes wherein it has been further resolved that if the departmental promotion committee meeting for ITO to ACIT is not held immediately and other demands are not met in the time frame given, the officers and staff will be constrained to go on an agitational programme," Kanojia said.