TN union leaders held before strike

In a pre-dawn swoop, the Tamil Nadu police today arrested leaders of government employees’ unions who had threatened an indefinite stri...

In a pre-dawn swoop, the Tamil Nadu police today arrested leaders of government employees’ unions who had threatened an indefinite strike from tomorrow to press for restoration of curtailed benefits even as the government announced that absence from work on account of strike would attract dies non (no work no pay).

The arrested leaders included president Tamil Nadu Government Officials Union G. Suryamurthy and president Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association N.L. Sreedharan, police said.

In an announcement made last night, the government said any unauthorised absence from duty would attract dies non (no work no pay).

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Chief Secretary of Tamil Nadu government Lakshmi Pranesh directed all departmental heads and district collectors to take prompt disciplinary action against employees for unauthorised absence.

The action against the striking employees would include a cut in pay, refusal of leave and detention under Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act which provides for imprisonment upto three years or a fine of Rs 5000 or both.

The Chief Secretary also instructed departmental heads to ensure that the staff who signed the attendance registers by 10 am did not vacate their seats till 5.45 pm. Disciplinary action would be taken against those who were not present in their seats during the period, he said.