Routine work in the state government headquarters- Mantralaya- is likely to come to a halt for two days from Tuesday as staff unions have decided to launch a "non-cooperation" movement to demand wage revision on the lines of the central government.

The general secretary of the Maharashtra State Government Employees' Central Confederation Subhash Gangurde told The Indian Express that all unions across all categories had united in the protest, which would require employees to swipe their attendance cards and stage dharna in the Mantralaya premises for two days.

He pointed out that since sweepers and drivers would also join the stir, the doors of offices and cabins would not be opened as usual at 7.00 a.m. The cleanliness in the building would also be affected.

He said that the unions were demanding that the recommendations of the sixth pay commission be implemented with retrospective effect from January 2006 with all benefits including house rent allowance and conveyance allowance. The unions are also demanding 30 per cent of arrears in cash during the current year and the remaining in two instalments.

The State cabinet had approved the implementation of the recommendations of the sixth pay commission on February 4. Chief Minister Ashok Chavan had said that the actual pay revision would be effective from April 2009 and the hike would be 20 to 25 per cent.

The arrears from January 2006 to March 2009 would be deposited in the provident fund accounts of the employees in the next five years. According to official estimates, the financial burden per annum would be Rs 8,091 crore and the burden on account of arrears would be Rs 16,370 crore. The wage revision is to benefit about 13 lakh employees across the state and about four lakh pensioners.

The cabinet had, however, kept the decision on revising allowances for house rent, conveyance, etc in abeyance and the issue is being referred to a panel. The unions have demanded hike in allowances as well on par with central government employees.