மத்திய அரசு அன்றும் - இன்றும் ! செப்டம்பர் 2 - பொது வேலைநிறுத்தம் வெல்லட்டும் !

MINISTRY OF PERSONNEL HAS ORDERED FOR SETTING UP OF ANOMALY COMMITTEE

RBI employees to join Sep 2nd industrial strike

Kolkata, Aug 29 (PTI) 

Reserve Bank of India workers and employees have decided to join the September 2 nationwide day-long strike called by central trade unions.

All India Reserve Bank Employees' Association (AIRBEA) and All India Reserve Bank Workers' Federation in a joint statement said: "Reserve Bank employees all over the country will participate in September 2 industrial strike in support of the demands of the country's working class." 

On March 30, central trade unions including INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, among others, had given a call for a day-long nationwide strike on September 2 to protest against the Modi government's "unilateral labour reforms and anti-worker policies".

Nearly 5 lakh other bank union workers and officers are set to join the strike.

AIRBEA general secretary Samir Ghosh said the strike will be a total success as RBI officers are in moral support for the cause and are likely to abstain from work.

Ghosh also highlighted several demands and concerns of RBI as a reason for joining the strike.

"Many important works of RBI have been outsourced or eliminated like public debt management. RBI's powers to decide country's monetary policy, which was its exclusive preserve since inception is being abrogated by the mechanism of a Monetary Policy Committee where government will hold sway," he said.

In the name of recapitalisation of banks suffering from huge bad debt to corporates, government plans to drain out RBI Reserve Fund of Rs 2 lakh crore overriding RBI objections and crippling RBI financially, he claimed.

Trade unions refuse to call off 2 September strike. Trade unions reject the request to call off the strike saying that the government has failed to address their 12-point charter of demands .

Senior Union Ministers on Saturday held extensive talks after trade unions said no to the government’s request to call off their proposed nationwide general strike on 2 September.

Labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya had urged the central trade unions  on Friday to reconsider their decision to go on strike. However, trade unions on Saturday rejected the request saying that the government has failed to address their 12-point charter of demands. Replying to Dattatreya’s letter, All India Trade Unions Congress (AITUC) and Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) said the status report on the demands is “almost the same as that you circulated exactly one year ago, in the joint meeting with the CTUs held on August 26-27, on the eve of the general strike in 2015”. 

The unions attacked the government saying it is “equally unfortunate” that no concrete measures have been spelt on the issue of price control of essential commodities, statutorily fixing the minimum wage as per norms and social security. Meanwhile, power and coal minister Piyush Goyal and Dattatreya on Saturday held extensive consultations and meetings with senior labour ministry officials over the proposed countrywide strike, sources said. 

Both Goyal and Dattatreya are part of the five-member ministers’ panel on labour issues, which is chaired by finance minister Arun Jaitley, to talk to the CTUs over the 12-point charter of demands. The panel has recently held two-rounds of discussions with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-affiliate Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) on 16 August and 24 August, which has also been “severely criticised” by other unions for holding such “exclusive discussions”. 

The panel last met all the unions on 26-27 August 2015. The unions had requested Dattaterya on 18 July this year to hold a meeting with the Ministers’ panel to pay heed to their point of view, but no such meeting was convened. 

In anticipation of some positive response on the charter of demands, BMS is holding back its decision to join the stir on 2 September. Last year, BMS had opted out of ‘Bharat Bandh’ (2 September 2015) in view of the government’s assurances to work on nine out of the 12 demands. 

CITU general secretary Tapan Sen told PTI that there is no question of calling back the strike. Similarly, Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) vice president Ashok Singh also said that the decision to go ahead with strike stands. AITUC said, “AITUC along with other CTUs finds it difficult to accept your (government’s) request for reconsideration of call of protest strike on September 2, 2016. The decision to go on strike stands.”

Grant of Bonus in case of Central Government employees for 2014-15- enhancement of the calculation ceiling

அன்புத் தோழர்களே !  தோழியர்களே !! வணக்கம் !

தானாக  வருவதல்ல வெற்றிகள் !

நம் போராட்டத்தின் பலனே  வெற்றிகள் !

ஏற்கனவே 2016, ஜூன் 30ந் தேதி அமைச்சரவை குழுவுடன் நடைபெற்ற பேச்சு வார்த்தையில் NJCA  தலைவர்களுக்கு  புதிய ஓய்வூதியத் திட்டத்தில் முன்னேற்றங்கள் செய்திட உயர்மட்டக்  குழு அமைக்கப்படும் என்ற உறுதிமொழி அளிக்கப்பட்டது உங்களுக்குத் தெரியும்  . ஆனால் உயர்மட்டக் குழு அமைப்பதற்கு முன்னதாகவே   1.1.2004 முதல் பணியாற்றும் ஊழியர்களுக்கு  புதிய ஓய்வூதியத் திட்டத்தில்  DCRG அளிக்கப்படும் என்ற உத்திரவு  மத்திய அரசினால் கடந்த 26.8.2016 அன்று வெளியிடப்பட்டது. இது ஒரு மிகப்பெரும் வெற்றியாகும்.

மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு போனஸ் உச்ச வரம்பு நீக்கப்படவேண்டும் என்று நாம் பலகாலம் போராடி வருகிறோம். செப். 2 , 2016 வேலை நிறுத்த கோரிக்கைகளில் இதுவும் ஒன்று. கடந்த ஆண்டு இதே ஒரு நாள் வேலை நிறுத்த அறிவிப்பின் விளைவாக  11 மையத்  தொழிற் சங்கங்களுடன் நடைபெற்ற பேச்சு வார்த்தையின் பின்னர் ,போனஸ் உச்சவரம்பை  ரூ. 3500/- உள்ளிருந்து  ரூ. 7000/- ஆக உயர்த்திட மத்திய அமைச்சரவைக்கு குழு முடிவெடுத்து,  பின்னர் நிதி அமைச்சகத்தினால் உத்திரவும் இடப்பட்டு , GAZETTE  NOTIFICATION  கூட வெளியிடப்பட்டது உங்களுக்கு மறந்திருக்க முடியாது . 

ஆனால் பின்னர் இந்த  உத்திரவு மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்குப் பொருந்தாது என்று அறிவிக்கப்பட்டதும் உங்களுக்குத்  தெரியும் . ஆனால் நேற்று மத்திய அரசின் நிலையில்  மாற்றம். 29.8.2016 அன்று மத்திய நிதி அமைச்சகத்தால்   2014-2015 நிதி ஆண்டிலிருந்து மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களுக்கு ( PLB  மற்றும் ADHOC BONUS)  போனஸ் உச்சவரம்பு  ரூ. 3500/- இலிருந்து ரூ. 7000/- ஆக உயர்த்தி வழங்கப்படும் என்ற உத்திரவை திடீரென  வெளியிட்டுள்ளது. 

செப்டம்பர்  2, வேலை நிறுத்தம் இந்திய நாட்டின் மிகப்பெரும்  11 மையத் தொழிற்சங்கங்களான  INTUC , AITUC , HMS, CITU, LPF  உள்ளிட்ட தொழிற்சங்கங்களால் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டு  நடத்தப்படும் வேலை நிறுத்தம் ஆகும். 

இதில் ரயில்வே , பாதுகாப்புத் துறை தவிர்த்து அனைத்து மத்திய அரசு , மாநில அரசு, பொதுத்துறை  மற்றும் அமைப்பு சாரா  தொழிற் சங்கங்கள் கலந்து கொண்டு , மத்திய அரசின் பொருளாதாரக் கொள்கைகள் , தனியார் மயம், மத்திய அரசு, மாநில அரசு மற்றும் பொதுத் துறைகளில் அந்நிய நேரடி முதலீடு அனுமதிக்கப்படுவது, தொழிலாளர் நலச்  சட்டங்கள் திருத்தப்படுவது  இவற்றிற்கு எதிராக நடத்தப்படும் போராட்டம் ஆகும். 

இந்தப் போராட்டம் என்பது ஆண்டுக்கு  ஆண்டு அரசின் கொள்கைகளுக்கு எதிராக வலுப்பெற்று வருகிறது. கடந்த ஆண்டு சுமார் 15 கோடி உழைக்கும் வர்க்கம் கலந்துகொண்ட  வேலை நிறுத்தம் , இந்த ஆண்டு  மேலும் வலுப்பெற்று 20 கோடி தொழிலாளர்கள் பங்கு பெரும் வேலை நிறுத்தமாக உருவெடுத்து வருகிறது. 

இதனால் மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களை திருப்திப் படுத்திட , மத்திய அரசு புதிய ஓய்வூதியத் திட்டத்தில்  DCRG  வழங்கப்படும் என்ற முடிவையும் , போனஸ் உச்சவரம்பு உயர்த்தி வழங்கப்படும் என்ற முடிவையும் அதிரடியாக  அறிவித்துள்ளது. 

இது நமது போராட்ட அறிவிப்பிற்கு மற்றும் தயாரிப்புக்கு கிடைத்த வெற்றியாகும். அனைத்து தொழிலாளர்களுடன் இணைந்து   செப். 2, 2016 வேலை நிறுத்தத்தில் கலந்துகொள்ள மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர் சங்கங்கள் எடுத்த முடிவுக்கு கிடைத்த வெற்றியாகும். எனவே இந்த வெற்றிச் செய்தியை ஊழியர்களுக்கு சரியாக எடுத்துச் செல்லுங்கள். செப். 2, 2016 வேலை நிறுத்தத்தை மேலும் வலிமைப்படுத்தி வெற்றிகரமாக ஆக்குங்கள் !

போராடாமல்  பெற்றதில்லை !                        போராடி நாம்  தோற்றதில்லை !

ஒன்று பட்ட போராட்டம் !                                               ஒன்றே நம்  துயரோட்டும் !

MODEL STRIKE DECLARATION FORM FOR ADMINISTRATIVE AND OTHER PO STAFF:-

Strike Participation Information/Declaration Form To Be Submitted By The Administrative Office Staff :-

From


To
The SP/ SSP,
--------- Division,
........

Sir,
Sub: One day strike on 02.09.2016 - reg
          
          I intend to participate in the strike on 02.09.2016 from 0915 hours to 1600 hours as per our union call.

                                             Thanking you.
station/date:                                                     Yours faithfully,
                                                                                xxxx

Strike Participation Information/Declaration Form To Be Submitted By The Other Office (SO/BO) Staff :-

From


To
The SP/ SSP,
--------- Division,
........

Sir,
Sub: One day strike on 02.09.2016 - reg
          
          I intend to participate in the strike on 02.09.2016 as per our union call.

                                         Thanking you.
station/date:                                                     Yours faithfully,
                                                                                xxxx 

02.09.2016 பொது வேலை நிறுத்தம், பங்கேற்போம் - வெற்றிகரமாக்குவோம்.

வாசிக்கவும் ...யோசிக்கவும்.

Death and Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) Eligible for NPS Covered Employees

No.7/5/2012-P&PW(F)/B
Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions
Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare

Lok Nayak Bhavan, Khan Market,
New De1hi-110 003, Dated the 26 August, 2016.

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject : Extension of benefits of ‘Retirement Gratuity and Death Gratuity’ to the Central Government employees covered by new Defined Contribution Pension System (National Pension System) — regarding.

The undersigned is directed to say that the pension of the Government servants appointed on or after 1.1.2004 is regulated by the new Defined Contribution Pension System (known as National Pension System), notified by the Ministry of Finance (Department of Economic Affairs) vide their OM No.5/7/2003-ECB & PR dated 22.12.2003. Orders were issued for payment of gratuity on provisional basis in respect of employees covered under National Pension System on their retirement from Government service on invalidation or death in service, vide this Department’s OM No.38/41/2006-P&PW(A) dated 5.5.2009.

2. The issue of grant of gratuity in respect government employees covered by the National Pension System has been under consideration of the Government. It has been decided that the government employees covered by National Pension System shall eligible for benefit of ‘Retirement gratuity and Death gratuity’ on the same terms and conditions, as are applicable to employees covered by Central Civil Service (Pension) Rule,1972.

3. These orders issue with the concurrence of Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure, vide their I.D. Note No.1(4)/EV/2006-II dated 29.07.2016.

4. In their application to the persons belonging to the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, these orders issue after consultation with Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

5. These orders will be applicable to those Central Civil Government employees who joined Government service on or after 1.1.2004 and are covered by National Pension System and will take effect from the same date i.e. 1.1_2004.

sd/-
(Harjit Singh)
Director (Pension Policy)

for download the original order. clickhere

ஒரு நாள் வேலை நிறுத்தம் எதற்காக?.... உங்கள் சிந்தனைக்கு

ஜுலை 11ல் நடக்க இருந்த வேலை நிறுத்தத்தை தள்ளிவைத்து விட்டு இப்பொழுது செப்டம்பர் 2 வேலை நிறுத்தத்திற்கு அழைப்பு கொடுப்பதன் காரணம் என்ன?. அரசியல் காரணங்களுக்காக நடைபெறுகிற வேலை நிறுத்தம் இது என சொல்கிறார்களே! உண்மையா அது?. இந்த ஒரு நாள் வேலை நிறுத்தத்தினால் ஏதும் பயன் உண்டா?. நம்முடைய கோரிக்கைகள் ஏதும் அதில் உண்டா?. இது போன்ற எண்ணற்ற கேள்விகள், சந்தேகங்கள் எழுப்பப்படுகின்றன. நம்மை சுற்றி என்ன நடக்கிறது என்று சற்று உன்னிப்பாக, அக்கறையோடு பார்த்தோம் என்றால் பல விஷயங்களைப் புரிந்து கொள்ளமுடியும்.

வேலைநிறுத்தம் தள்ளிப்போடப்பட்டதற்கான காரணத்தை தலைவர்கள் சொல்லி இருக்கிறார்கள். மேலும் தள்ளிதான் போடப்பட்டிருக்கிறதே தவிர விலக்கிகொள்ளவில்லை எனவும் தெளிவுபடுத்தி இருக்கிறார்கள். இது நமது பொதுசெயலாளர் கிருஷ்ணனின் வார்த்தைகள் இவை. 

“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”.

கூட்டுபோராட்டக்குழுவின் தலைவர் மிஸ்ராவின் வார்த்தைகள் இவை. 

“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.”.

மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்களின் அகில இந்திய வெள்ளி விழா மாநாட்டில் கலந்து கொண்ட தலைவர்கள் அனைவரும் கீழ் கண்ட இந்த கருத்தை பிரதிபலித்தனர்.

”வேலைநிறுத்தம் தள்ளிவைக்கப் பட்டதால் ஊழியர்களுக்கு ஏற்பட்டுள்ள ஏமாற்றத்தை, கோபத்தை புரிந்து கொள்ளமுடிகிறது என்றும், அவர்களுடைய கேள்விகளுக்கு பதில் சொல்ல வேண்டிய பொறுப்பு தங்களுக்கு இருக்கிறது என்றும் சொன்னார்கள். இந்த அரசு மட்டுமல்ல எந்த அரசும் தொழிலாளர் விரோத போக்கை கடைப்பிடிப்பதாகவும், அத்தகைய அரசுகளிடம் போராடித்தான் நம்முடைய உரிமைகளை பெற வேண்டி இருப்பதாகவும் அவர்கள் தெரிவித்தார்கள். ஜுலை11 போராட்டம் மத்திய அரசு ஊழியர்கள் மட்டுமே சம்பந்தப்பட்ட, அவர்களுடைய சம்பள உயர்வு பற்றிய போராட்டம். ஆனால், இந்த செப்டம்பர் 2 போராட்டம், பொதுமக்களின், உழைக்கும் வர்க்கத்தினரின் உரிமைகளுக்காக, அனைவரின் நலன்களுக்காக நடைபெறும் போராட்டம். தனியார்மயமாவதை தடுக்கவும், அன்னிய முதலீடுகள் என்ற பெயரில் நம் நாட்டை அடகு வைப்பதை தவிர்க்கவும், விலைவாசி உயர்வை கட்டுப்படுத்தவும் மற்றும் பல்வேறு கோரிக்கைகளை அடக்கிய பொது வேலை நிறுத்த போராட்டம் இந்த செப்டம்பர் 2 போராட்டம், இந்திய நாட்டின் குடிமகனாக, உழைக்கும் வர்க்கத்தின் பிரதிநிதிகளாக, சமுகத்தின் ஒரு அங்கத்தினராக அனைவரும் இந்த போராட்டத்தில் கலந்து கொள்ள வேண்டியது அவசியம் என எடுத்துரைத்தனர்."

இன்றைய கோரிக்கைகள் என்ன என்பதனை போராடும் நாம் தெரிந்து கொள்ளவேண்டும். ஆசை வார்த்தை கூறி உங்களை போராட்டத்திற்கு அழைக்கவில்லை. இன்றைய நிலையை எதார்தத்தை சொல்லுகிறோம். வெகுஜன இயக்கங்களில் நாம் பங்கேற்பது நாமும் ஒருவகையில் தொழிலாளிதான் என்பதனை பறைசாற்றுவதற்கு சமம் . 

"ஒன்று எங்கள் ஜாதியே! ஓன்று எங்கள் நீதியே! உலக மக்கள் யாவரும் ஒருவர் பெற்ற மக்களே!.

உனக்கொரு பங்கும், எனக்கொரு பங்கும் உலகில் நிச்சயம் உண்டு. ஒவ்வொரு மனிதன் உழைப்பினாலும் (போராட்டத்தினாலும்).........."

N.G. அவர்களின் பணி நிறைவு பாராட்டு விழாவிற்கு அனைவரையும் அழைக்கின்றோம்.

 

 

 

Battle lines are drawn - Get ready for one-day strike on 02.09.2016 - Is the strike a necessary one - Com. Samal from Bhubaneswar

“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 11^th 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 2^ndSeptember, 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 7^th CPC without any modifications through a cabinet decision on 29^th 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 30^th 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 30^th 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 6^th 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 6^th 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 6^th July and we had to go for the Indefinite Strike from 11^th 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 7^th 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 7^th 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 7^th 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 7^th 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 29^th June 2016 regarding 7^thCPC 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 7^th 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 7^th CPC recommended 3% Annual Increment vide Para 5.1.38 of its report submitted to the Govt. on 19^th 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 7^th 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 7^th CPC has given a table depicting the percentage of increase provided by the successive pay commissions appointed after independence. According to the table, the 2^nd CPC has made a paltry increase of 14.2.% (1960), the 3^rd CPC gave a rise of 20.6% (1973), the 4^th CPC 27.6% (1986), the 5^th CPC 31% (1996) and 6^thCPC 54% (2006) whereas the average increase granted by 7^th CPC is only 14.29% (2016), while the percentage increase had been in ascending order all along, the 7^th 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 2^nd CPC recommendations.

Another claim of the Government is that it has accepted the recommendations of the 7^th 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 1^st January 2016 is 7000 + 8750 DA = 15750. The Minimum pay recommended by 7^th 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 6^th 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 7^th 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 7^th 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 7^th 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 1^st 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 7^th 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 7^th 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 2^nd 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 2^nd 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.

=Bruhaspati Samal

Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C

Bhubaneswar Division.