Barnala: DC office clerical staff begin 2-day pen-down strike
Major protest planned in Mohali on August 7
Kamaljeet Singh Sandhu
Barnala (Punjab), August 5, 2026: Clerical staff at the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Barnala began a two-day pen-down strike on Tuesday, demanding the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, the release of pending Dearness Allowance (DA), implementation of Pay Commission benefits and the regularisation of outsourced employees.
The strike, being held on August 5 and 6, is part of a statewide employees’ movement. During the protest, clerical employees stopped routine office work, affecting administrative services at the DC Complex.
Punjab State Ministerial Services Union State General Secretary Tarsem Singh Bhattal said employees from various government departments across Punjab were participating in the agitation.
“The Punjab State Ministerial Services Union has observed a two-day pen-down strike on August 5 and 6. No routine office work will be carried out during this period,” Bhattal said.
He alleged that the Punjab Government had failed to fulfil its commitments and had not addressed the major demands of government employees.
“Our key demands include the restoration of the Old Pension Scheme, the release of pending DA, implementation of Pay Commission-related benefits and the regularisation of outsourced employees. However, none of these demands has been fulfilled so far,” he said.
Bhattal said clerical employees work across 52 government departments in Punjab and were participating in the movement to press for the acceptance of their demands.
He further announced that a major employees’ protest would be held in Mohali on August 7, with a large number of government employees expected to participate.
“The protest in Mohali will be a major and historic movement. Employees from across Punjab will gather to demand the implementation of their long-pending demands,” he said.
The union warned that the agitation could be intensified if the government failed to take concrete steps to address the employees’ concerns.