Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, non-teaching staff members and employees of the University of Mumbai on Monday resorted to an indefinite demanding the implementation of the 7th pay commission.
A total of 14 non-agricultural universities of Maharashtra have reportedly launched a 'pen-down' protest demanding revision of their pay based on the 7th pay commission recommendation.
The strike has been called by the Maharashtra State College Universities Employees Action Committee. "We have launched the pen-down strike that will continue till September 30. If our demands are not met by then, we will call for a complete strike," Hindustan Times quoted an employee participating in the strike as saying.
It is worth mentioning that the protest has been launched at a time when the varsity is holding exams for students. However, the university authorities have reportedly claimed that the strike has not yet affected the exam process.
Though the 7th pay commission was implemented years back, the State education department is reportedly yet to revise the pay scale of the university staff.