Maharashtra Government Employees Strikes For Old Pension Schemes Calls Off

Maharashtra government employees agitating for restoration of the old pension scheme on Monday called off a week-long strike after a discussion between their representatives and Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, a union leader said.

Vishwas Katkar, the striking unions coordination committee’s convenor, claimed the state government has in principle approved extending monetary advantages equivalent to the OPS to employees who are part of the New Pension System. He did not provide further .

Chief Minister Shinde embraced the decision to withdraw the strike, which had affected work at government offices and functioning of state-run hospitals. The government employees were on an indefinite strike from March 14 demanding restoration of the OPS which was not continued in the state in 2005.

Making a statement in the Legislative Assembly in Mumbai, Shinde said, Meetings were organised between the chief secretary, the Chief Minister’s Office and representatives of various unions of state government employees.

He further said that he held a meeting with representatives of the unions today who positively responded to his appeal and decided to withdraw their ongoing strike. The CM, without referring about the key demand of OPS restoration, said the government was positive regarding their grievances and he welcome the decision of the unions to withdraw their strike amid challenges before the state government.