Jamshedpur, April 1: In an attempt to pressurise the Union government to implement the Sixth Pay Commission to increase salaries, the postal department today unanimously decided to go for an indefinite strike in East Singhbhum and other districts of Jharkhand from April 24.

Over 200 postmen and other fourth grade employees of the postal department thronged the Akhil Bharatiya Dak Karmchari Sangh’s (ABDKS’s) 30th convention on the head post office premises in Bistupur. The employees came from Bahragora, Ghatshila and other remote areas of the district.

In addition to the implementation of the Sixth Pay Commission, the postal outfit is demanding a time-bound promotion, filling up of vacant posts, transportation allowance and other welfare schemes for employees.

Divisional secretary of the ABDKS (Singhbhum) Sanjay Kumar said: “The central government has ruled to implement the Sixth Pay Commission to reduce their expenses. So, we have no choice but to go for an indefinite strike,” Kumar said.

He added that the inflation graph is on an upward trend across the country including Jharkhand.

“But the government is not willing to hike our salaries. The salaries and dearness allowance of other central government employees have been increasing annually,” Kumar said adding that the two national level unions — the National Union and Federation Union — have also given a nod for the indefinite strike.

“We have charted out the future course of indefinite strike. The grassroot-level employees will not deliver their duty. The postal department will be paralysed for days unless the government agrees to meet their demands,” he said.

Sona Ram Mardy, a postal employee, said that the Union government has forced its employees to sell tea, mutual funds, contraceptive and other products.

Deputy chief minister, Sudhir Mahto, who was the chief guest at the function, assured the postal em- ployees that their issues would be discussed with the central government.