OTEST AGAINST BETRAYAL OF
NDA GOVERNMENT
CONFEDERATION OF
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS DECIDED TO ORGANISE
MASS PROTEST
DEMONSTRATIONS AND BURNING OF HRA ORDERS ON 25th JULY 2017 AT MAXIMUM
CENTRES THROUGH OUT THE COUNTRY
THOSE HANDS WHICH ARE
AFRAID OF RAISING AGAINST INJUSTICES
THOSE TONGUES WHICH ARE
AFRAID OF VOICING AGAINST INJUSTICES
ARE SYMBOLS OF SLAVERY
AND SURRENDER.
Seventh
Central pay Commission Report was submitted to Government on 19.11.2015. Most
of the recommendations, especially in the case of Minimum wage, fitment
formula, Pay scales of most of the cadres, Allowances, Advances, MACP, CCL,
etc. are most retrograde. 7th CPC recommendations are the worst
recommendations after the 2nd Pay Commission recommendations
(1960). The National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) comprising the National
Council JCM Staff Side (mainly Railways, Defence and Confederation) gave notice
for indefinite strike to Government on 09.06.2016, seeking modifications in the
recommendations. Government refused to call the NJCA leaders for a negotiated
settlement and unilaterally declared the decisions of the Cabinet on
29.06.2016. NJCA decided to go ahead with the indefinite strike. On 30.06.2016,
Group of Cabinet Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, Shri
Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and Shri Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister held
discussion with the NJCA leaders. It was assured that Minimum Pay and Fitment
formula will be increased and a High Level Committee will be constituted to
submit recommendations in this regard to the Government. It was also assured
that all other issues arising out of implementation of 7th CPC
will be considered favourably. Four months time limit was also fixed for
implementation of the assurances. Based on the above assurances the indefinite
strike was deferred for four months.
Evenafter
four months time limit fixed, no high level committee was constituted and all
other issues remained unsettled. Government constituted committees after
committee – Implementation Committee, Empowered Committee, Allowance Committee,
Pension Option-I Committee, NPS Committee, Anomaly Committee etc. – but till
this day no High Level Committee for increasing Minimum Pay and Fitment formula
is constituted eventhough a Group of officers headed by Additional Secretary
(Expenditure) held two meetings with the staff side without any discussion on
Minimum Pay and fitment formula.
Committees
were constituted to delay or deny the demands placed by staff side.
1. Allowances Committee delayed its report for about ten months to deny
increase in HRA rates and arrears from 01.01.2016.
2. Pension Option-I Committee rejected the one and the only favourable
recommendations of the 7th CPC i.e; Option-I parity for
pre-2016 pensioners.
3. NPS Committee categorically stated that withdrawal of NPS is not under
the purview of the committee.
As the
Government was not ready to honour its assurances given to the NJCA leaders,
evenafter a lapse of four months, Confederation has requested the dominant
organisations in the NJCA to revive the deferred indefinite strike. As there
was no concensus in the NJCA regarding revival of indefinite strike or
organizing any serious trade union action (for reason best known to all)
against the betrayal of the Government, Confederation National Conference
decided to organize independent agitation programmes. Accordingly Massive
Parliament March with participation of about 15000 employees and pensioners on
15.12.2016, one day nationwide strike of about thirteen (13) lakhs Central
Government employees on 16.03.2017, Mass dharna of about 3000 employees and
pensioners in front of Finance Ministers office on 23.05.2017, Human Chain of
Central Government employees and Pensioners at all major centres on 22.06.2017
were organized by Confederation for settlement of 21 points charter of demands
which included the demands of all sections of employees and pensioners
including Gramin Dak Sevaks, Casual Contract workers and Autonomous body
employees and pensioners.
After more
than eleven months from the date notification of Revised (Pay) Rules 2016
(25.07.2016), Union Cabinet approved the revised allowances on 28.06.2017
without any major modifications, including HRA and Transport Allowances
applicable to all section of employees. HRA rate was not increased from 24, 16,
and 8%. The date of effect was fixed as 01.07.2017 instead of 01.01.2016.
Some of
our friends, who are welcoming and supporting the Government’s decision on
allowances are arguing that never in the past Revived Pay and Revised
Allowances were given from the same date and for HRA etc. retrospective effect
was not given. They consciously want to hide the fact that in the past revised
allowances including HRA were granted from the month/next month of notification
of Revised Pay Rules. Even if that practice is taken as a precedence, this time
employees have every right to get Revised Allowance including HRA from
01.07.2016, as Revised (Pay) Rules 2016 was notified on 25.07.2016. Similarly,
never in the past HRA rates were reduced by Pay Commissions. Those who support
the Government’s decision are deliberately hiding this fact to somehow justify
their stand and misguide the employees, because of their guilty conscience.
As the
dominant organisations of the NJCA have left from the path of struggle for
realization of the 7th CPC related justified demands raised in
the July 11th indefinite strike charter, Confederation has
decided to carry forward the struggle against the betrayal of the Government
and non-implementation of assurances given by the Hon’ble Ministers. We have
made it open that we strongly disagree and disown the stand taken by the
Secretary, National Council JCM staff side, (Who is also the convenor of NJCA)
by welcoming and thanking the Government for the decisions on Allowances
including HRA. Confederation represents the sentiments of entire Central Government
employees pensioners especially grass root level workers. It cannot be a party
to any statement or action which the ordinary workers feel as betrayal of their
cause. Confederation shall continue its struggle against the injustices meted
out to the Central Government employees and Pensioners (including Autonomous
body employees and pensioners, Gramin Dak Sevaks and casual, Contract workers)
by the NDA Government.
Descending to the level of
submitting to the dictates of the Government, compromising on the basic
principles of trade Union, leaving away the path of struggle ignoring the of
principles of collective bargaining, getting addicted to the JCM machinery of
never ending, no-result-oriented discussions and consultations --- is not the
tradition of Confederation. Confederation is a different organisation which our
critics and enemies cannot understand.
We are
fighting against a Government which is aggressively implementing neo-liberal
reforms and we know that struggle path is tough and difficult and require
sacrifices. Eventhen, we prefer, that path than the path of opportunism,
surrender and compromises. Eventhough we have not won our battle in full, we
firmly believe that whatever achievements and benefits the NDA Government was
compelled to grant (Example – enhancement of Bonus ceiling to 7000, eligibility
for gratuity to NPS employees. 5th Pay Commission recommended
parity to pre-2016 pensioners (option-3), microscopic modifications in HRA at
minimum level and some other allowances including enhancement of Fixed Medical
Allowance to Pensioners and retention of some of the allowances recommended for
abolition etc.) is only because of the continuous nationwide campaign and
struggle conducted by the Confederation and Confederation alone. Those who
never participated in any strike or struggle and only enjoyed the fruits of the
struggle and sacrifice of others can never understand the importance of
struggle or strike. Empty vessels always go on making much noise, but we
believe in action.
It is in
this background, the National Secretariat of Confederation of Central
Government Employees & Workers has decided to intensify our struggle.
To express
the strong protest, anger and resentment of the employees, against the totally
negative and indifferent attitude of NDA Government and also against the
betrayal of the Group of Cabinet Ministers of NDA Government, Confederation
calls upon the entire employees to organize mass protest demonstration on 25thJuly
2017 (25.07.2017 Tuesday) at all centres at centralized places and burn the
orders on HRA issued by the Government.
Wide
publicity may be given to the programme through local print and electronic
media and also social media.
The next
phase of agitational programmes will be decided by the National Secretariat
meetings of Confederation scheduled to be held at Bengaluru on 9th August
2017.
All
affiliated organisations and C-O-Cs are requested to make the above programme a
grant success.
Fraternally
yours,
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Mob & WhatsApp: 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
Secretary General
Mob & WhatsApp: 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
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