SHILLONG: Irked with adamant attitude of the State Government in addressing their grievances, the Shillong Municipal Employees’ Association (SMEA) has resolved to observe a three-day black flag protest from November 20 during office hours.
In a statement issued by the president of SMEA, S Pyngrope, the agitation is a mark of protest against the delay of the government in paying the arrears as per the revised pay to the employees of the Shillong Municipal Board (SMB) and the late disbursement of salary to the staff.
“We have sent a letter to the government and even met the minister concerned over our grievances but their only explanation is fund constraints,” Pyngrope said, adding “if other government employees have already received their arrears then why are we being left out?”
He also informed that the SMB employees had also been deprived of various allowances like children’s education allowances, festival allowances and the likes, for unknown reasons.
Pyngrope informed that they had even issued a one-month deadline to the government earlier. “We had thought that by suspending our agitation the government would pay heed to our demands, but to no avail,” he said, adding that the association has decided to continue with the agitation until their demands are met.