Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C
Bhubaneswar Division &
Vice-President, Odisha Circle
“Not necessary for
going on strike. People will laugh at us. Please don't make such kind of drama
and take decision according to grass root level comrades”.
Are you shocked? - Because we are writing!
No need to be bewildered since this is one of many such anonymous
comments apart from series of telephone calls, SMS etc we are receiving soon
after deferment of the proposed Indefinite strike scheduled to be organized
from 11th July, 2016 under the banner of National Joint Council of
Action comprising Railway Federations, Defence Federations and Confederation of
Central Govt. Employees and Workers including National Federation of Postal
Employees and Federation of National Postal Organizations. But we do feel that
without going deep to the background story for deferring the indefinite strike,
Mr. Anonymous has passed such a comment. We have the bitter experience that the
some employees who only look after their own benefits and who don’t have any
business with the mass interest do wait for such a situation to blame the
leadership.
How can one so simply tell the well-organized struggle
programme of 47 lakh Central Govt. Employees supported with 52 lakh C G
pensioners by the biggest platform formed so far in the name of NJCA a drama?
Why people will laugh at us? Are the Central Govt. Employees struggling for
their own benefits only? Everybody should understand that the basic demand for
enhancing the minimum wage will greatly benefit the state Govt. Employees and
workers of the unorganized sector at large in a later stage.
We don’t respond to anonymous comments. But since most of our
comrades are simple, honest and trustworthy, apprehending that such negative remarks/forces
may demotivate our bonafide members and go against the interest of the mass, we
prefer to justify our stand for the forthcoming one day strike on 2nd
September, 2016.
Background of deferring the Indefinite Strike :
As has been severally written and published, in spite
of several round of country wide agitational programmes conducted by NJCA
including massive Parliament March, the NDA Government did not respond to
negotiate the demands with the staff side, but declared unilateral
implementation of the recommendations of 7th CPC without any
modifications through a cabinet decision on 29th June, 2016.
But due to the resentment, anger and
protest of the entire Central Government employees, the Hon’ble Prime Minister
directed three Cabinet Ministers including Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh,
Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitly and Railway Minister Shri. Suresh Prabhu to
hold discussion with the NJCA leaders on 30th June 2016. Major
demands in the Charter of demands were discussed with particular reference to
Improvement in Minimum wage and fitment formula. Issues relating to parity in
pension was also discussed. Finally the Ministers assured that a high level
committee will be appointed to consider the issues raised by the NJCA.
As no
written minutes or communications were received from the Government regarding
the 30th June discussion and assurances, the NJCA decided to go
ahead with the strike. Country wide demonstrations were held daily in front of
all offices and at all important centres. In Bhubaneswar Division, we conducted
as many as 20 exclusive workplace demonstrations against the unilateral cabinet
decision and greatly motivated the rank and file to bring a thundering success
to the proposed Indefinite strike. We know the hard work we performed in this
regard in obedience to the instructions of NJCA.
On 6th July
2016 when the NJCA meeting was in progress, Hon’ble Home Minister Shri Rajnath
Singh again invited the NCA Leaders for discussion. The Minister reiterated the
earlier assurances and told that Finance Minister will issue a press statement
making the Government stand clear on the demands. Accordingly, the Government
issued a press statement on 6th July 2016 stating that the
Ministers assured the Union leaders for considering the issues by a
High Level Committee.
As many
as 17 leaders from all Federations / Confederations did participate in the
discussion with the group of Ministers and there was no time to obtain opinion
from the grass root level to take a decision. It was 6th July and we
had to go for the Indefinite Strike from 11th July. Still some
employees are of the opinion that we would have got a better settlement if NJCA
has gone ahead with the indefinite strike.
Confederation
has clearly clarified the situation as follows.
“All of
us are aware that NJCA is not a monolithic, composite organization. It is a
united forum of independent organisations. Each Federation has its own identity
and individuality and take decision as
per the direction of the managing bodies of each organization. Hence different
views may emerge in the NJCA, but final decision is taken by consensus. If each
organization sticks to its own stand and others to follow it, there is no
question of consensus and NJCA will not exist”.
While
Com. M Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees
and Workers reiterated the above fact, Com. Shiva Gopal Misra, Convenor, NJCA
made it clear in the circular dated 7th July 2016 as follows: -
“Though there is positive
assurance from the Govt. of India, but all of you will not take rest and assume
counselling the cadre and ground staff that they should remain in full
preparedness, because if there will not be satisfactory outcome, we will be having
no alternative except to agitate the issues again.”
Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra has already
written on 26.07.2016 to Hon’ble Finance Minister and Home Minister to expedit
action for setting up of proposed High Level Committee to review Minimum Wage
and Fitment Multiplication Factor as was promised on 30.06.2016 meeting which
paved the way for defferment of the proposed Indefinite Strike from 11.07.2016.
The so
called High Level Committee has not yet been constituted.
Central Govt. Employees are the worst sufferers:
As you
know, after rejection of all our demands relating to minimum wage, fitment
formula / factor, Annual Increment, Promotion etc. by the 7th Pay
Commission including withdrawal of advances and allowances, the NJCA’s call for
going on Indefinite Strike from 11.07.2016 was deferred on the circumstances
narrated above. All our efforts to convince the Govt. for bringing suitable
modifications in the recommendations of the 7th CPC are being
delayed in the name of further examination by constituting of several
committees, viz. Committee for allowances, Committee for anomalies and
Committee for minimum wage and fitment formula.
When such committees are yet to be formed / give their report, most
unfortunately, the Govt. hurriedly issued Gazette Notification on 29.07.2016
along with CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 for implementation of the
recommendations of the 7th CPC on the basis of Cabinet Decision
dated 29.06.2016 and now we are expecting the arrears and pay the revised scale
during August, 2016.
Though many
employees were of the opinion to keep in abeyance the implementation of the
Cabinet decision dated 29th June 2016 regarding 7thCPC
recommendations till the High Level Committee submits its report to Govt., the
NJCA after detail discussion decided not
to demand it since the employees, especially those who are in the verge of
retirement may be put to hardship.
You
know very well that our learned Comrades throughout the nation are widely
analysing the recommendations of the 7th CPC, CCS(Revised) Pay Rules,
2016 etc and finding out many lapses, shortcomings in the said recommendations
/ Rules which are being published in various websites. All these deficiencies
need to be addressed properly which need a united struggle.
Let’s
analyze in brief how the CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 affects the employees with
defective Pay Matrix.
a.
Loss in Annual
Increment – in most of the cases less than 3% :
In
addition to the retrograde recommendations, we also find many deficiencies in
Cabinet Decision / Resolution, release of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016. As you know, straightway
rejecting the demand of the Staff Side to give 5 % Annual Increment, the 7th
CPC recommended 3% Annual Increment vide Para 5.1.38 of its report submitted to
the Govt. on 19th November, 2015. But while giving the illustrative
examples at Para 5.1.53 of the report, the Annual Increment is seen to be
manipulated. In most of the cases, the Pay Matrix has been prefixed at a stage
lower than the actual amount arrived after adding the increment of 3% to the
Basic Pay. Some levels selected at random and calculated as follows show that
the employees are at loss in drawing their annual increments.
Level
|
Sl. No. in the Pay Matrix
|
Basic Pay in the Revised Scale
|
Actual Pay after adding 3% Annual Increment
|
Basic Pay prefixed in the Pay Matrix
|
Amount of Loss to the employee
|
Actual increment
( % )
|
1
|
12
|
24900
|
25647
|
25600
|
47
|
2.81
|
1
|
26
|
37600
|
38728
|
38700
|
28
|
2.92
|
3
|
9
|
27600
|
28428
|
28400
|
28
|
2.89
|
3
|
16
|
34000
|
35020
|
35000
|
20
|
2.94
|
4
|
11
|
34300
|
35329
|
35300
|
29
|
2.91
|
4
|
22
|
47500
|
48925
|
48900
|
25
|
2.94
|
5
|
10
|
38100
|
39243
|
39200
|
43
|
2.88
|
5
|
20
|
51100
|
52633
|
52600
|
33
|
2.93
|
6
|
6
|
41100
|
42333
|
42300
|
33
|
2.91
|
6
|
9
|
44900
|
46247
|
46200
|
47
|
2.89
|
Most of the cells in the
Pay Matrix suffer from the above deficiency. The employees have been cheated very
shrewdly. The actual Annual Increment is not 3% as recommended by the CPC at
Para 5.1.38 of its Report. But it is less than 3% as illustrated above
according to the Pay Matrix.
b.
Loss in Promotion :
The
above small difference will have also long term impact on the employees’
promotion inviting heavy financial losses. Illustratively, an employee with basic
pay of Rs.44900 in the revised scale at
level 6 who is entitled to get Rs. 46247 with 3% annual increment is required
to be fixed at Rs.46200 at level 7 as per Pay Matrix i.e. with a loss of
Rs.47/-
Let’s
calculate the impact of this small amount of Rs.47/- on his promotion.
Had
his pay been fixed at Rs.46247, he would have got Rs. 47634 with 3% increment
on promotion and his new pay in the next level would have been fixed at
Rs.49000/- . But when his pay on promotion will be calculated at Rs.46200/- as
per the Pay Matrix, he will get Rs. 47380/- with 3% increment on promotion and his new pay
in the next level would be fixed at Rs.47600/-
Thus, for loss of Rs.47/- only in
the Annual Increment, the employee will suffer a loss of Rs.1400/- during his /
her promotion to the next level and this loss will have cumulative effect on
rest period of the service career with financial loss on DA(s) and further
promotion(s).
This is just one example. We may
find several disparities in the Pay Matrix both for Annual Increment and
fixation of pay on promotion.
c. Meagre benefit of Rs. 30/- only on promotion :
In
addition, as per Para 13 of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016, one increment shall
be given in the level from which the employees is promoted and he shall be
placed at a cell equal to the figure so arrived at in the level of the post to
which promoted and if no such cell is available in the level to which promoted,
he shall be placed at the next higher cell in that level.
Illustratively,
an employee at level 6 with basic pay of
Rs.49000 in the revised scale after getting 3% increment on promotion is
entitled to get Rs.50470 whose pay will be fixed at Rs. 50500 in level 7 as per
the Pay Matrix. Similar is the situation when an employee at level 7 with basic
pay of Rs.49000 in the revised scale gets 3% increment on promotion is entitled
to get Rs.50470 whose pay will also be fixed at Rs. 50500 in level 8 as per the
Pay Matrix.
The
Pay Matrix has been so prefixed that the employees drawing revised pay as above
will be entitled for Rs.30/- only after getting the promotion to the next
level. Will anyone call it a promotion in the corporate era? This is nothing
but a serious betrayal to the C G employees in the name of Pay Revision. There
are several other examples in the Pay Matrix.
d. No guideline in
CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016 in case of bunching.
As
per Para 5.1.36 of the 7th
CPC Report although the rationalisation has been done
with utmost care to ensure minimum bunching at most levels, however if
situation does arise whenever more than two stages are bunched together, one
additional increment equal to 3 percent may be given for every two stages
bunched, and pay fixed in the subsequent cell in the pay matrix.
Similarly
as illustrated in Para 5.1.37 of the Report, if two persons drawing pay of Rs.53,000
and Rs.54,590 in the GP 10000 are to be fitted in the new pay matrix, the
person drawing pay of Rs.53,000 on multiplication by a factor of 2.57 will
expect a pay corresponding to Rs.1,36,210 and the person drawing pay of Rs.54,590
on multiplication by a factor of 2.57 will expect a pay corresponding to Rs.1,40,296.
Revised pay of both should ideally be fixed in the first cell of level 15 in
the pay of Rs.1,44,200 but to avoid bunching the person drawing pay of Rs.54,590
will get fixed in second cell of level 15 in the pay of Rs.1,48,500.
But
while instructing fixation of pay in the revised pay structure under Rule 7 of CCS (Revised Pay) Rules, 2016, no guideline
has been issued in this regard which may cause difficulty if situation
does arise whenever more than two stages are bunched together. Thus, in the
absence of clear instructions, the process of fixation of pay and calculation
of arrears in the revised pay structure will be will be wrong and the senior
employees will be forced to suffer.
e.
Wrong fitment in case of initial entry scale for Group-C employees
:
The pre-revised entry scale
of Rs. 8460 in level 3 under Grade Pay Rs.2000 multiplied by 2.57 gives rise to
Rs. 21742.20 which has been fixed in the Pay Matrix as Rs. 21700 i.e. Rs.42/-
less than what actually arrived with the given multiplying factor. We have
already illustrated above how an employee will lose Rs.1400/- in his promotion
for ignoring just Rs.47/- towards annual increment.
But this is not the case in
HAG and Apex cadres.
f.
Misleading media propaganda :
The
Government’s claim that big increase is given to the employees is totally
false. In para 4.2.9 of the report, the 7th CPC has given a
table depicting the percentage of increase provided by the successive pay
commissions appointed after independence. According to the table, the 2nd CPC
has made a paltry increase of 14.2.% (1960), the 3rd CPC gave a
rise of 20.6% (1973), the 4th CPC 27.6% (1986), the 5th CPC
31% (1996) and 6thCPC 54% (2006) whereas the average increase
granted by 7th CPC is only 14.29% (2016), while the percentage
increase had been in ascending order all along, the 7th CPC has
sought to reverse that trend. The meagre increase recommended and accepted by
the Government without any change is the worst ever any pay commission has
recommended since 1960. In 1960 five days historic strike of entire Central
Government employees took lace demanding modifications of 2nd CPC
recommendations.
Another
claim of the Government is that it has accepted the recommendations of the 7th CPC
to increase the existing salary by 2.57 times !!!. This is a totally misleading
propaganda. The existing basic pay of a lowest level employee of the Central
Government called Multi-Tasking staff (MTS) is 7000 plus 125% Dearness
Allowance as on 01.01.2016. Thus the total salary as on 1st January
2016 is 7000 + 8750 DA = 15750. The Minimum pay recommended by 7th CPC
is 18000 i.e; the actual increase in salary is Rs. 2250/- only at the lowest
level. The fitment factor of 2.57 is worked out excluding the 125% DA an
employee is getting at present. As the next wage revision takes place only
after ten years in 2026, the above increase of 2250/- in the salary is meagre.
In the
past, every time, either before or immediately after the appointment of pay
commissions, the employees are granted DA merger, Last time, before appointment
of 6th CPC, Government has granted merger of 50% DA in 2004 and
the merged DA is treated as Pay for all purposes. This time no DA merger is
granted. Suppose, as in the past, the Government has accepted the demand for
merger of 50% DA as on 01.01.2011 when DA crossed 50%, the total salary of an
employee at the lowest level as on 01.01.2016 will become Rs.18395/- (7000 +
50% DA 3500 = 10500 + remaining 75% DA as on 01.01.2016 Rs.7875 = 18395). Thus
it can be seen that even if no pay commission is appointed by Government,
simply by granting DA merger alone the lowest level salary will become more
than 18000/- which is recommended by 7th CPC after 21 months
study and spending crores of rupees for its functioning.
We have
to explain this aspect to the members of public at large. The propagated news
by the Govt regarding hike in pay is far from truth.
Continuing
struggle on general issues:
Beside
7th CPC related issues, united struggle is continuing on advancement
in the wages and service conditions of Central Government Employees for which
the unity built up under the banner of NJCA is to be maintained and
strengthened. Further the neo-liberal policy offensives of the NDA Government
in the Central Government Employees Sector including privatisation,
outsourcing, downsizing, contractorisation, corporatization, winding up of
departments, New Pension Scheme etc. can only be resisted and reverted by
building up united movement of the entire employees. Even though the Indefinite
Strike exclusively organized on 7th CPC related issues has been
deferred for the time being, the Central Government employees shall continue their
united struggle against the anti-people and anti-labour policies of the
Government.
It
will be worth mentioning here that in an exclusive interview with Headlines Today's Karan
Thapar on the first anniversary of BJP-led NDA government on 1st
May, 2015, Arun Shourie, one of the most influential BJP leaders during the
Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, criticised the Prime Minister for poor
handling of the Indian economy. The government lacks clear thinking. There is a big gap between perceptions and
promises, and projections and performances. The economic policy is
directionless without any big picture. The growth claims are only to make
headlines and the government only wants to manage headlines. This has been
substantiated by World Street Journal in
an article titled “India’s Modi at one year -
Euphoria phase is over, Challenges loom” and several other foreign media
houses like New York Times. Mr. Modi’s
“Make in India” drive, which aims to supercharge manufacturing growth to 12% to
14% a year, is so far mostly hype. The economy is merely limping along.
While the initial slogan “Acchedin
Aaaenge” has almost lost its identity within a period of 2 years of the
present Govt. , now “Hamara Desh Badrahahe” is on the floor. But actually who are
the people behind the growth of the nation? As per Para - 3.49 of 7th
CPC Report, out of the total 33.02 lakh civilian workforce, 89
percent are in Group `C’, 8 percent are in Group `B’ and 3 percent are in Group
`A’. While 89 percent of civilian Central Government personnel are in Group
`C’, the Railways, Department of Posts and MHA have a significantly higher
proportion in Group `C’ at 99 percent, 96 percent and 92 percent respectively. The Govt. telling “Sabka
Saath Sabka Bikash” is grossly ignoring these low paid poor Group-C employees
who are 89% of the total strength and who play a major role in building the
nation. The words and deeds are totally different.
So Comrades,
we cannot ignore the overwhelming majority of toiling masses.
We
have to move a massive organizational campaign against the anti-employees/anti-workers/anti-people
policies of the Govt. We have to raise voice against the arbitrary amendment of
Labour laws. We have to ensure the minimum basic wage fixed for the organized
sector should be extended to the unorganized sector with assured enhanced
pension. Ban on creation of new posts and
non-filling up of about 7.47 lakhs vacant posts had increased the work load of
the existing employees and adversely affected the efficiency of the services. As per Para 3.23 of the Report of the 7th
CPC, out total sanctioned strength of 40.49 lakh as on 01.01.2014, 33.02 lakh
of persons are in position. Thus there is a vacancy of 7.47 lakh in different
departments of Central Govt. As clarified in Para - 3.25 of the
Report, persons in position as a
percentage of sanctioned strength has fallen from 86 percent in 2006 to 83
percent in 2010 and to 82 percent in 2014. During the period 2006 to 2014 every
major ministry/department witnessed a decline in persons in position, with the
exception of MHA/Police. The total strength of the Ministry of Home Affairs
witnessed an increase from 7.44 lakh to 9.80 lakh constituting a growth of 32
percent. Excluding Ministry of Home Affairs, the persons in position in the
Central Government declined from 25.29 lakh in 2006 to 24.18 lakh in 2010 and
further to 23.21 lakh in 2014.
The New Pension Scheme
(NPS) implemented with affect from 01.01.2004, is nothing but a “No
Pension Scheme”, as it is fully dependent on the vagaries of share market forces.
The Govt. is not ready to grant civil servant status to Gramin Dak Sevaks and
to regularize the services of causal, contingent and contract workers. The 5%
ceiling on compassionate appointment is not yet removed. The bonus ceiling
enhancement from Rs.3500/- to Rs. 7000/- is not made applicable to Central
Govt. Employees. We cannot
repeat the same mistake and allow the Companies to rule us. From the day one,
the BJP led NDA Govt. has been engaged in protecting interests of domestic and
global corporate houses. A process is going on now by the NDA Govt. first to
corporatize not only Department of Posts but several other Govt organizations
and PSUs and then to gradually weaken those organizations through disinvestment
and eventually either to privatize or to close such organizations as if the
present Govt. is a Govt. of the Corporate for the Corporate. But, we cannot
allow the innumerable multinational companies patronized by NDA Govt. to rule
us again.
And
on the basis of the above general issues, the forthcoming one day nationwide
strike is going to be organized on 2nd September, 2016 by all Central Trade Unions and independent
Federations of Employees of different industries and services
including Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers and
National Federation of Postal Employees. Since the Central Govt. Employees are
worst affected, we have to play a major role in the nationwide general strike
on 2nd September, 2016. The Charter of Demands of the above proposed
strike has been divided in two parts – Part A for general issues relating the
common citizens of India and Part – B for issues relating to the Central Govt.
Employees.
Before
considering our status as Central Govt. Employees, we are the responsible
Indian citizens having some moral responsibilities towards the society and
nation as well which need to be discharged timely and properly. We can’t sit
silent when the basic rights of the workers are being snatched away without
social security in the name of reformation.
2016 September 2nd General
Strike 12 Point Charter of Demands:
PART – A (Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions
submitted to Government)
1. Urgent
measures for containing price rise through universalization of
public distribution system and banning speculative trade in
commodity market.
2. Containing
unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation.
3. Strict
enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and
stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.
4. Universal
social security cover for all workers.
5. Minimum
wage of not less than 18000/- per month with provisions of indexation (for
unskilled worker).
6. Assured
enhanced pension not less than 3000 p.m for the entire working population
(including unorganized sector workers).
7. Stoppage
of disinvestment in Central/state public sector undertakings.
8. Stoppage
of contractorisation in permanent/perennial work and payment of same wage and
benefits for contract workers as that of regular workers for the same and
similar work.
9. Removal
of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund and
increase in quantum of gratuity.
10. Compulsory
registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of
submitting application and immediate ratification of ILO conventions C-87 &
C-98.
11. No FDI
in Railways, Defence and other strategic sectors.
12. No
unilateral amendment to labour laws.
PART
– B : (Demands of the Central Govt. employees including Postal)
1. Avoid
delay in implementing the assurances given by Group of Ministers to NJCA on 30thJune
2016, especially increase in minimum pay a fitment formula. Implement the
assurance in a time bound manner.
2. Settle
issues raised by the NJCA, regarding modifications of the 7th CPC
recommendations, submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10th December
2015.
3. Scrap
PFRDA Act and New Pension System (NPS) and grant Pension/Family Pension to all
Central Government employees under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.
4. No
privatization, outsourcing, contractorisation of Government functions.
5. (i) Treat Gramin Dak Sevaks as Civil Servants
and extend all benefits on pay, pension and allownaces of departmental
employees.
(ii) Regularise
casual, contract, contingent and daily rated workers and grant equal pay and
other benefits.
6. Fill up
all vacant posts by special recruitment. Lift ban on creation of new posts.
7. Remove
ceiling on compassionate appointments.
8. Extend
benefit of Bonus Act amendment 2015 on enhancement of payment ceiling to the
Adhoc bonus/PLB of Central Govt. employees with effect from the financial years
2014-15. Ensure payment of revised bonus before Pooja holidays.
9. Revive
JCM functioning at all levels.
10. Implement
Cadre restructuring in left out categories of Postal Department. i.e RMS,MMS,PA
CO, SBCO & Postal Accounts etc.
11. Settle
the problems related CBS, CIS & stop harassment and Trade Union
victimization.
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