Defying prohibitory orders and warning of disciplinary action, nearly two lakh employees of the state government, boards and corporations, under the banner of Haryana Sarv Karamchari Sangh (HSKS), began their 72-hour strike midnight last night, demanding abolishment of contractual system and outsourcing of work.
Late in the night, senior state minister Randeep Singh Surjewala, however, managed to convince a section of striking Haryana Roadways employees, who had begun the strike yesterday morning, to resume work assuring them to fulfil their demands, including regularisation of over 8,000 contract employees.
"We are open to talks with the state government, but it is not prepared to broker peace as it had failed to keep its promises made to employees from time to time," he said, adding that the union would meet tomorrow to discuss the split among Roadways workers.
Taking a tough stand against the strike, the government has implemented "No Work, No Pay" rule for the employees joining the strike, which has hit the supply of essential services in the state, Chief Secretary S C Choudhary said.
The authorities have made adequate arrangements to prevent any untoward incident during the strike, officials said, adding that police personnel in sufficient numbers have been deployed at sensitive places to maintain law and order.