Muster roll workers to begin indefinite strike from Feb 24

SHILLONG: The muster roll workers from around state belonging to All Meghalaya Muster Roll Progressive Workers Union and various departments including PHE, PWD, Water Resources, Forest, Horticulture, etc. have resolved to go on an indefinite strike and cease work from February 24 till their demands are met.
The union had served a notice regarding the strike in January and owing to non response from the government it has resorted to agitations.
The union had submitted their charter of demands to Deputy Chief Minister and Labour Minister Prestone Tynsong and to the department in order to make their grievances heard.
The government, however, remained mute to the grievances of the long-standing muster roll workers forcing them to now resort to an indefinite strike, which will affect the functioning of several departments and their service delivery to the public, the statement added. “Most of the muster roll workers are not paid regularly and many of them haven’t been paid their legal wages for several months at a stretch and some have been awaiting their dues for over a year,” a statement issued here said.
The demands of the muster roll workers included regular payment of wages, regularisation, equal pay for equal work, granting of statutory rights for workers like earned and casual leave, EPF, ESI benefits, etc., granting affordable subsidised housing for workers, proper enumeration of muster roll workers and also seeking assurance from the government that muster rolls should not be scrapped as was recommended by the Meghalaya 5th Pay Commission.