<span style="color: #222222;">In  Uttar Pradesh, the state government has invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) banning strikes in all departments and corporations under it for a period of six months.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">A notification to this effect was issued by Chief Secretary Anup Chandra Pandey last night. The order came after negotiations between government and state employees association failed on the issue of old pension scheme.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The employees association comprising teachers, officers and employees of state government has threatened to go on strike from tomorrow.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">According to the notification, the government has prohibited strike in all state services including state universities, constituent colleges, associated colleges and affiliated colleges.</span><br />'' <br />'' <span style="color: #222222;">The ban has been issued in public interest, the notification said. Employees are demanding old pension schemes instead of new pension schemes.</span><br />