Peshawar University employees threaten strike over salary delay

PESHAWAR, Oct 08 (APP): Employees of the University of Peshawar have warned of a complete boycott of university affairs and strike if salaries for September are not paid by October 9.

The decision was taken at a joint meeting of the Class-III, Class-IV and Sanitation Staff associations held here on Thursday, which expressed serious concern over the non-payment of September salaries and pensions to employees, said a press release.

The participants said that the associations had approached the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister, who is also Chancellor of the University of Peshawar, on September 25, seeking provision of funds for payment of salaries and pensions.

They said several meetings had also been held with the university administration, which had assured the employees that their salaries would be paid during the current week. However, they said, employees were still awaiting payment of their basic salaries and pensions.

The participants expressed concern over the financial difficulties and mental stress being faced by employees due to the delay in payment.

The three associations unanimously decided that if September salaries were not released by Oct 9, they would boycott all university-related duties and go on strike.

The meeting was attended by office-bearers of the University of Peshawar Employees Association, Class-IV Union and Sanitation Staff Association.