2014
FEBRUARY 12th & 13th 48 HOURS STRIKE
CONFEDERATION
REQUESTED INTERVENTION OF MP’S
COPY
OF THE LETTER SENT TO ALL MP’S
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND
WORKERS
First Floor North Avenue
Post Office Building
New Delhi. 110 001.
Website: confederationhq.
Blogspot.com.
E
mail:confederation06@yahoo.co.in.
Dated: 4th
February, 2014
D/14/2014(2)(MP)
Dear Sir,
The Confederation of Central
Government employees and workers is the apex level organisation of all
Federations/Associations/Unions of CGEs other than in the Railways and Defence
establishments. In our last National
Executive meeting, we were constrained to decide to call upon our members to
organise TWO DAYSs strike on 12th and 13th February, 2014
in pursuance of our charter of demands.
It was in the wake of a strike
action in 1960s by the Central Govt. Employees, the Govt. of India set up the
permanent negotiating machinery called JCM so that the employees will be able
to raise their demands and grievances and seek settlement thereof through
dialogue. This machinery has now come to
a standstill as the Govt. does not convene the meetings of the councils at the
Departmental levels on one pretext or the other. A new set of rules were promulgated in 1993
to grant recognition to Service Associations.
Many Ministries, despite the employees organizations abiding by the
stipulated conditions, have not afforded recognition to the
Associations/Federations, thereby closing all channels of communication. The JCM had the facility of referring the
issues on which the Government could not agree upon to the Board of
Arbitration. The decision/award of the
Board was binding on all parties.
However, of late the Government had been rejecting the awards in favour
of the employees on the specious plea of adverse impact on national economy by
presenting resolutions in the Parliament.
We need not emphasise the unethical character of this approach which
undermines the confidence of the employees in the fairness of the system. .
The new contributory pension
scheme was introduced by the Government on the plea that the pension liability
has become unbearable and is a drag on the exchequer. In our Memorandum to the Prime Minister, we
had raised several issues and had pointed out that the financial outflow on
account of the new scheme will be much more than the existing defined benefit
scheme. We had indicated in our memorandum quite a number of aspects which
would be detrimental to the interest of workers. In the debate on PFRDA Bill in
the last session of Parliament. We could notice that quite number of MPs had
demanded for the withdrawal of the bill itself as it only benefits the Stock
market operators and entrepreneurs. Even the Standing Committee’s suggestion
for incorporation of a minimum return to the employees was turned down by the
Government. We are certain that the new contributory pension scheme shall be a
drag on the exchequer and the scheme will turn out to be a conduct for the flow
of the poor employees’ savings to the corporate houses. We appeal to you to
raise your voice in the Parliament against the new contributory Pension Scheme
for its anti employee and anti national characteristic. The real purport of the bill is reflected in
the decision to allow FDI to the extent of 40% in this sector. The said
decision has facilities outflow of Indian savings for investment outside the
country.
The
6th CPC recommendations and its implementation had given rise to
various anomalies. The employees
genuinely felt that the said anomalies would be removed through discussions for
which the Government had set up a committee.
The Committee despite meeting on four occasions had not been able to
settle the issues; nor could it be referred to the Arbitrator. The 6th
CPC recommendations were implemented with effect from 1.1.2006. The revision of wages was due on 1.1.2011.
The Government has not so far come forward to set up the 7th
CPC.
It
had been the age- old practice to
revise the wages of Central Government employees as and when substantial
erosion takes place in the real value of wages. The 5th CPC opined
that as and when the DA Component in wages crosses over 50% such revision must
take place and the said Component of DA must be merged with pay. Accordingly
the 6th CPC was set up and wages revised in 2006. On 1st
January 2011 the Dearness allowance component in the emoluments of the
employees had reached 51% The Government had been dilly dallying the
wage revision and merger of DA with Pay which would have helped the employees
to combat the soaring price rise. On 12th December 2012, the
employees went on a day’s strike which received magnificent response from the
rank and fill of the workers. The unbridled inflation and the consequent Price
rise has made the existing Pay and allowances
incapable of making both ends meet. The Government announced its
intention of setting up 7th CPC thereafter but no follow-up action
ensued, leaving the employees with no alternative but to declare a 48 hours
strike on 12th and 13th February 2014. As on 1.1.2014 the
DA component has crossed over 100%. The
Government attitude has become untenable. On the request of the Government, the
Staff side had submitted the draft terms of reference for 7th
CPC. They had also raised the grant of interim Relief, which
normally precedes the notification of any CPC. The Staff Side of the National
Council had demanded the inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks within the ambit of the
7th CPOC, an issue which was at the core of discussion earlier in
2006. The Government has not indicated its approach on this vital issue so far
as a result of which about three lakh GDS employees are in anxiety and
desperation.
The Neo-liberal policies brought in
its wake the unethical practice of contract labour system and employing casual workers for perennial and
permanent jobs, which is strictly prohibited by the law of the land. Government
departments witnessed an overdose of this policy in the period between 2004-2014.
More than one third of the work force in Govt. Sector is now composed of such a informal workers. They are
provided with pittance of wages and the huge gap in wages of the regular and
the informal employees has been the root cause of inter-personnel tension and
many fraudulent ventures. Government
functions are supported supposed to have an element of security and
accountability. The removal of this ill- advised system had been a cry often
falling on deaf ears. Besides there are quite a number of casual workers
employed to carry out perennial and permanent jobs. They are to be regularised.
In the postal department alone they number about 3 lakhs called as GDS.
Enclosed is a brief note on Charter of demands, the non-settlement of which has
resulted in the loss of confidence in the system itself and consequent
compulsion to tread the path of straggle. Many of these issues are
incorporated in the agenda of National
Council for not less than ten years back, begging settlement. . The Government has made procrastination an
art in itself and allow the issues longer on for years.
We
seek your solidarity and support and request you to kindly raise these issues
in the Parliament and ask the Government to settle the demands of the
Government employees.
Thanking you
Yours
faithfully,
M.KRISHNAN
Secretary Genera
