Chandigarh, Sept. 18 -- Chief minister Bhagwant Mann will meet leaders of the protesting employee unions on Friday as an attempt to resolve the stand-off over payment of dearness allowance (DA) arrears and other demands, which began in August.

The meeting will take place at the chief minister's Chandigarh residence at 11 am. At least 12 office-bearers from different unions have been invited.

This is for the second time in over three weeks that a meeting of the chief minister has been scheduled. The August 27 meeting in Jalandhar was cancelled when Mann asked the unions to withdraw their strike and return to work before holding talks. The union leaders refused to accept the condition, leading to a stand-off.

Employees of the state gover...