Lucknow, Nov 20 (IANS): Uttar Pradesh government employees continued their strike for the ninth day Wednesday, even after the authorities invoked the Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA).

Firming up their stand, employee unions said they were ready to face the consequences of the strike and ESMA provisions, and slammed the government for not initiating a dialogue with them.

Rajya Karmachari Sanyukt Parishad president Hari Kishore Tiwari said the strike would continue until their demands were met.

Meanwhile, the striking employees, who want benefits at par with their counterparts in the central government, also vowed to boycott the pulse polio immunization drive starting Nov 24.

The Lab Technician Association joined the strike Wednesday and threatened to stall even emergency medical services.

Rajya Karmachari Sangh president Ajay Singh slammed the Akhilesh Yadav government for claiming a rift within the employees' unions.

The unions criticised the government for invoking the ESMA and said the Allahabad High Court had directed the government to start a dialogue with the striking employees but it had chosen the path of conflict.

Officials said the government was weighing options of cracking down on the strikers.

"We are carefully exploring options, but we do not rule out lodging FIRs and arrest of some leaders," an official said.