Heeding a nation-wide strike call, Central government employees struck work on Wednesday in support of their 15-point charter of demands. Employees of postal department, income tax, and customs took part in the strike called by Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers. Normal work in post offices and income tax office was hit as several staff abstained from duty demanding that the Centre fulfil their demands.

The striking employees demands included the withdrawal of new pension scheme, setting up of 7 Central Pay Commission for wage revision, stopping of outsourcing and contractorisation that has a telling effect on the efficacy of government departments, lifting of the ban on recruitment and creation of posts, check on inflation and price rise of essential commodities, strengthening of the public distribution system, and revision of overtime allowance and night duty allowance rates. A group of postal employees staged a demonstration in the city. Members of National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) joined the strike. Sorting, despatch and receipt operations were hit at the Railway Mail Service at Tiruchi junction.

Normal works remained affected in the post offices for the day, NFPE sources here said. Work was also hit at the income tax office in the city with members of Income Tax Gazetted Officers Association and Income Tax Employees Federation participating in the token strike.

The strike was total in the IT office, an office bearer of the association said. Inspectors of customs too joined the protest.