Spinfed protest rally

CHANDIGARH, Oct 14: The Spinfed Employees Union held a rally in front of the Spinfed office on Wednesday condemning the Punjab government’s decision to close the Spinfed office. While addressing the rally, union president S. Nirmal Singh Ghhuman said that instead of closure of the office, the government should try to run the federation better so that those employed are not rendered jobless.

Maintenance workers’ stir
The UT Building Maintenance Workers’ Union agitated in Sector 27 against the "indifferent" attitude of the Administration in not accepting their demands for bonus for 1997-98 and 1998-99, release of dearness allowance w.e.f. July 7, TA for field staff, regularisation of daily wagers, doing away with contracts and filling the post of superintendent engineer.

Meanwhile, the Joint Action Committee of Punjab and UT employees declared that rallies are being organised throughout Punjab and Chandigarh on October 28, to demand bonus of the past two years, DA installment w.e.f January to July, 1999, uniform allowance and privatisation of departments among other things.

Striking Home Guards critical
The condition of two of the 258 formerly employed as Home Guards by the UT Administration is stated to be critical.

Chandigarh Home Guards Association president Mohan Lal Joshi and Rajesh Kumar have been sitting on fast-unto-death for the last four days, demanding that they be reinstated by the administration. The general secretary of the union has asked the authorities to resolve their problems at the earliest, "lest it goes out of hand".