K. K. N. Kutty
National President, Confederation
It
is now more than four months that the Government has held out the
assurance to the leaders of NJCA that they would revisit the minimum
wage determination and the consequent fitment factor of the 7th CPC. The understanding reached on 30th June,
2016 was that the Government would set up a high level committee to
examine the complaint made by the employees organizations to the effect
that the 7th CPC had not adhered to the norms of the Dr.
Aykhroyd formula. The said decision was in the backdrop of the NJCA’s
strike notice which was served on 9th June, 2016 and its resolve to go ahead with the said decision to organize the indefinite strike action from 11th July, 2016.
The employees had realized that contrary to the impression, the 7th CPC
imparted to the leaders during their interaction with it, its final
suggestions were extremely nugatory and were the product of pressure
exerted by the Government on the Commission .at the fag end of its
functioning. They found that the minimum wage determined by the
commission was in violation with the agreed principles of wage
determination in the case of civil servants, it had recommended the
least quantum increase in the wages in comparison with all the earlier
Commissions; it had reduced the rates of various allowances without any
valid rhyme or reason; it had abolished certain allowances despite the
continuance of the extra functions/circumstances for which those
allowances were originally granted; had abolished all interest free
advances; had withdrawn the existing benefits, perks and privileges
which had originally granted to a section of the employees and officers
taking into account the peculiarities of the assigned jobs to them etc.
Naturally the disappointment that arose from such negative attitude of
the Commission paved way for anger and consequent agitation, creating
thus an atmosphere of confrontation.
The setting-up of a committee under the Chairmanship of the Cabinet
Secretary was, therefore, seen as a step in the right direction. After
about six months deliberations, the Committee seems to have given a
report to the Government content of which was not made public. However,
during its inter action with the Staff Side, the Committee had given
the impression and indication that it would make changes to the quantum
of minimum wage and fitment factor and the Fixed Medical Allowance of
the Pensioners would be suitably amended. The Committee intimated the
staff Side that the Government would set up separate Committees for
allowances and advances to effect a relook into the matter in
consultation with various nodal departments of the Government of India.
In other words, the Government through the Committee headed by the
Cabinet Secretary conveyed that it would create a conducive climate for a
fruitful negotiation and settlement.
The 29th June
proclamation in the form of Notifications was a bolt from the blue .
Was it designed to discredit the NJCA leadership or snub the Committee
headed by the Cabinet Secretary or reflection of the arrogance of the
party in power was not discernible. It was in that background the NJCA
met on 30th June and decided unanimously to go ahead with the
preparation for the indefinite strike action. Undoubtedly the
Government’s attitude had added fuel to the fire of anger and the
leaders especially at the gross root level ,who had hoped that the
Government would avert the situation of confrontation welcomed the
decision of the NJCA wholeheartedly.
The late night discussions, the group of Ministers had with the NJCA leadership on 30th June,
2016 and the offer of a negotiated settlement of the core issues
through the setting up of a high level committee was considered a step
in the right direction by the NJCA leadership while accepting the offer
of talks, though the State level leadership in quite a number of states
felt that the Government was indulging in chicanery.
The
time frame of six months for the Committee to complete its
deliberations and make suggestions to the government on the core issues
was over technically on 6th November, 2016 . The National
Secretariat of the Confederation met and rightly decided to chalk out a
series of programmes of action, the second phase of which would be
carried out on 15th June, 2016 in the form of a massive march
to the Parliament house. These programmes are to culminate in a strike
action. Isolated action, the Confederation is fully aware is not
capable of bringing about compulsion on the Government to revise their
decisions promulgated on 29th June, 2016. Confederation is
confident that the Defence and Railway organizations who are the
predominant partners in the NJCA would realize the gravity of the
situation and enliven the NJCA and spearhead the movement to its
logical end. Isolated ventures will not be avoidable in certain
exigencies, when demarcation in action becomes necessary so as to
maintain the character and ideology of the organization and confidence
of its members becomes paramount.
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