CANSSEA backs national strike to demand rollback of labour reforms, NPS, and NEP
KOHIMA, MAY 1 (MExN): The Confederation of All Nagaland State Services Employees’ Association (CANSSEA) has announced its support for a nationwide general strike scheduled for May 20, 2025, following its participation in the National Executive Committee meeting of the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF) held in Udaipur, Rajasthan.
The meeting, hosted by the All Rajasthan State Government Employees’ Federation from April 26 to 28, was attended by state government employee leaders from across India. Representing CANSSEA were its president Zubemo Lotha Tsanglao, general secretary Yhunsenlo Kent, and press secretary Siewatho S Nyusou.
The AISGEF resolved to call for a national general strike in response to what it described as the central and state governments’ persistent disregard for employees’ welfare. “We are left with no choice but to take to the streets to protect the future of millions of employees who serve the nation diligently,” AISGEF president Subhash Lamba said during the meeting.
The strike on May 20 will be held in support of eleven key demands, including the repeal of the four labour codes, the scrapping of the National Pension System (NPS), regularisation of all contractual workers, a halt to privatisation of public sector undertakings, and the establishment of state pay commissions to ensure regular pay revisions.
Other demands include the release of pending dearness allowance (DA) arrears, a government-backed health insurance scheme covering employees and pensioners, rejection of the National Education Policy, and the repeal of constitutional provisions viewed by the federation as undermining employee protections. The AISGEF also called for redefining centre-state financial relations to uphold cooperative federalism.
CANSSEA, a federating unit of AISGEF, has appealed to its members and affiliated associations in Nagaland to prepare for full participation in the May 20 strike. “We urge all affiliated state federations and associations to spread awareness of the issues raised and await further directives from the central leadership,” the association stated.
During the meeting, CANSSEA president Zubemo Lotha Tsanglao addressed the gathering, reinforcing the need for collective action to protect the rights and welfare of government employees.
The strike is expected to see widespread participation from employee unions across the country, pressing for what the AISGEF called “a just and fair treatment” of government servants.
