Karnataka: All mahanagara palikes to shut down on July 7 over 7th Pay Commission demand

In a significant development, employees and officers of all ten municipal corporations in Karnataka have announced a complete shutdown on July 7, demanding the implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations. The protest will culminate in a mass demonstration at Freedom Park, Bengaluru.

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Civic bodies in major cities including Bengaluru (BBMP), Mysuru, Tumakuru, Kalaburagi, Hubballi-Dharwad, and others will suspend all operations on that day. Residents of these urban areas have been advised to complete any essential government-related tasks before July 6, as no civic services will be available on July 7.

The employees allege that the state government has shown a lack of concern towards their long-pending demands, particularly regarding pay parity and timely salary revisions. Despite setting a May 24 deadline for the government to address their issues, no satisfactory response has been received, prompting this massive strike call.

Under the leadership of senior officers and staff unions, civic workers will go on mass leave and participate in a statewide protest. The protestors argue that while government departments have received the revised pay scale, urban municipal staff have been unfairly left out, leading to financial stress and demoralization.

Protest leaders have warned that if the government continues to ignore their demands, the strike could be extended beyond July 7, potentially leading to serious disruptions in urban services across Karnataka.