Imphal, April 4: The Manipur government drivers today joined the ceasework launched by the state government employees, demanding implementation of the recommendations of the Sixth Pay Commission in toto.

“We have joined the ceasework on pay hike from today. We decided to join the strike after the government failed to respond to the demands of the employees,” the secretary of the All Manipur Government Drivers and Technicians’ Association, S. Ibobishak Singh, told reporters this afternoon.

Today being a Sunday, the ceasework did not affect functioning of the government, but its impact would be felt tomorrow when offices reopen.

The drivers and the technicians serving in the south and north blocks of the state secretariat, however, have not joined the ceasework.

Employees of various government departments, under the banner of the Joint Administrative Council, have been on a ceasework since January 16, demanding implementation of the recommendations from January 2006.

Chief minister Okram Ibobi Singh’s offer to pay the new pay rates from this month has been rejected by the employees. Ibobi Singh, who is also the finance minister, told the employees that his government did not have enough money to pay them from January 2006. Unconvinced by the explanation, the employees refused to call off the strike.

Employees of the power and water supply department too joined the strike earlier, but called off their agitation after the government threatened them with action under the Essential Services Maintenance Act.

Ibobi Singh had earlier said the strike did not have much impact on the functioning of the government.

The drivers and the technicians joined the agitation after they submitted a memorandum to the chief minister on March 31 demanding that the employees’ demand be considered.

“As the government remains indifferent to our demand we are compelled to stop work to put more pressure on the government. We will decide later the course of action to be taken after joining the ceasework,” the secretary said.

The drivers and technicians are planning to stage a sit-in on April 7.

The drivers said they would attend office during the strike, but would not do any work. The striking employees are angry that the government has not even extended any invitation to them for talks over their demand.

“It is our right to make the demand. It is up to the government to either fulfil our demand or reject it. But at least the government should invite us and discuss things across the table. The government is not doing this. This angers the employees further,” a spokesman for the administrative council said.