With the Ludhiana West bypoll drawing near, the city has become a hub of protests as various organisations see this as a crucial time to push their demands in front of political candidates.
On Monday, two major groups took to the streets — the Punjab AIDS Control Employees Welfare Association (PACEWA) and the Associate Pre-Primary Teachers Union Punjab — highlighting issues that have remained unresolved for years.
PACEWA Demands Regularisation, Salary Hike
PACEWA, which represents employees central to Punjab’s HIV/AIDS control programme, held a protest demanding regularisation of jobs and a 20% salary hike. Protesters alleged that despite assurances from state officials, including Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and MP Sanjeev Arora, no concrete action has followed.
“These employees have been working on contractual terms for over two decades, yet they continue to face job insecurity, erratic salary payments, and unequal pay for equal work,” said Jasmail Singh Deol, state president of PACEWA.
They warned that neglecting the demands of frontline health workers could have severe implications for patients relying on HIV care.
Teachers Demand Cadre Inclusion, Benefits, Job Security
Meanwhile, members of the Associate Pre-Primary Teachers Union Punjab held a protest outside Sanjeev Arora’s election office on Ferozepur Road. Teachers from across the state gathered in large numbers, raising slogans and demanding clarity on their service rules.
“Though we were regularised under the temporary teacher policy, our service rules are still pending. We are asking for inclusion in a special cadre and access to benefits like group insurance, medical reimbursement, pensions, and promotions,” said union representatives.
Statewide Protest Rally on June 11
Adding momentum to the unrest, multiple teachers’ unions in Punjab have announced a statewide rally in Ludhiana on June 11, aiming to draw attention to long-standing departmental and financial grievances.
Key demands include:
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Withdrawal of termination notices for 3,704 Master Cadre and 6,635 ETT teachers
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Job security and regularisation of contractual and computer teachers
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Immediate promotions across teaching and non-teaching staff
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Restoration of the old pension scheme
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Implementation of pending DA arrears
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Cancellation of the new pay scales introduced in July 2020
The unions have submitted a formal memorandum to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann through the Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner.
As the bypoll campaign heats up, protesting workers are hoping their long-ignored voices will finally be heard, leveraging the political spotlight to push for long-overdue reforms.
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