Pune: State Government Employees Launch Indefinite Strike Over Old Pension, Other Demands

Pune, 21st April 2026: State government employees, aided staff, teachers and non-teaching employees have launched an indefinite strike across Maharashtra under the banner of the State Government Employees Central Organisation, pressing for a set of long-pending demands including restoration of the old pension scheme.

As many as 32 organisations from across the state have joined the agitation, raising 18 demands such as implementation of a revised pension system, cashless health insurance facilities, regularisation of seasonal employees and recruitment for Class IV posts.

The strike has affected work across several government departments in Maharashtra, with routine administrative functioning disrupted in many places.

In Pune, employees gathered at the Central Building and staged a protest under the leadership of the organisation’s state vice-president Maruti Shinde. Protesters raised slogans against the government and demanded immediate action on their pending issues.

Shinde said unions have taken a firm stand that employees who joined service after November 1, 2005, should also be brought under the old pension scheme.

According to the organisation, more than 2.15 lakh posts are currently vacant in the state, resulting in excessive workload on serving employees and rising mental stress. Dissatisfaction has also been expressed over service conditions and wage-related issues concerning contractual workers.

Shinde said several rounds of discussions had taken place with the government over the past few months and five separate agitations were held in the last year to draw attention to the demands. However, as no concrete decision was taken, employees were left with no option but to begin an indefinite strike.

He added that a formal strike notice had been submitted to the state government on March 17, but no positive response was received.

Meanwhile, the strike is expected to impact functioning of government offices, transport services and the education sector. Citizens may face delays in availing various public services. Union leaders warned that if the government does not initiate talks and resolve the issues soon, the agitation would be intensified further.