Dated 18-01-2017
IMPORTANT CIRCULAR
To,
1. All National Secretariat Members
2. Chief Executives of all Affiliated Organizations
3. General Secretaries of all C-O-Cs
Dear Comrades,
1. NJCA MEETING - NO CONSENSUS ON REVIVAL OF DEFERRED INDEFINITE STRIKE
Much awaited meeting of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) was held on 17th January at National Council (JCM) Staff-side office at New Delhi. Leaders of Railways, Defence, Postal & Confederation attended. Detailed discussions were held on the developments that took place after the deferment of the indefinite strike of 11th July 2016 and also on the totally negative attitude of the Government towards the 7th Pay Commission related issues of Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners, including increase in Minimum Pay, Fitment formula, Allowances, Pensioner’s Option-I etc.
Unfortunately, there was no consensus regarding revival of the deferred indefinite strike. Hence no decision could be taken. Meeting ended with an understanding to meet again after some days. In the meantime, NJCA Chairman and Convener may try to meet the Cabinet Ministers who have given the assurances on 30th June 2016 to NJCA leaders.
2. IMPORTANCE OF 16TH MARCH 2017 CONFEDERATION STRIKE
The clear picture that emerged from the NJCA meeting held on 17-01-2017 is that there is no possibility of revival of deferred indefinite strike by NJCA in the near future. It is also a fact that Govt. may implement the recommendations of Allowances Committee, Pension Committee etc., before or immediately after March 2017. It has become certain that the Pension Committee has rejected Option-I recommended by 7th CPC, the one and the only good recommendation of 7th CPC and the Implementation Cell of the Finance Ministry is processing the recommendation of Pension Committee for Cabinet approval. Whether the Allowance Committee will recommend change in the recommendations of 7th CPC (I.e., %ge of HRA etc.,) nobody can predict. The request of the Convener of NJCA to the Chairman, Allowance Committee, (Finance Secretary) to hold another meeting with Staff-side was also not conceded by the Committee till date. There is every possibility that Govt. may not implement the recommendations of the Allowance Committee retrospectively from 01-01-2016, instead it may implement it from 01-01-2017 or 01-04-2017. After, Govt. unilaterally implementing everything, declaring strike is a futile exercise and betrayal of the employees and Pensioners. We should strike when the iron is hot. The unilateral decision of the Govt. to implement “very good” benchmark for MACP has cast shadow on the future promotional prospects of a large number of employees who are not in the good book of the Government and administration for reasons best known to them. The NPS Committee appointed by the Govt. is not mandated to recommend scrapping of New Pension Scheme, but it is for recommending cosmetic changes in NPS in the name of streamlining the NPS as recommended by 7th CPC.
Regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula, no High Level Committee is constituted till date, as assured by the Group of Senior Cabinet Ministers to NJCA leaders on 30-06-2016. A Group of Senior Officers held two round discussion with the Staff-side, but surprisingly they had not come prepared to discuss increase in Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula. They made a mockery of the meeting by disclosing in the first meeting that they are not fully aware of the details of the issue and in the second meeting they told that they came for discussing Allowances (though another Committee for Allowances is already constituted) and not Minimum Wage or Fitment Formula!!!. The last meeting was held in October 2016 and thereafter no meeting is notified. All anomalies arising out of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations remain unsettled.
There is no improvement in the issues relating to Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS), Casual, Contract Workers and Daily-rated mazdoors. The GDS Committee Report submitted to Government on 24-11-2016, it yet to be published. Even if it is published, it may take time for implementation. Other demands submitted to Govt. by the NJCA strike notice served on the 10th June 2016 and charter of demands are also pending. The four months time fixed for Allowance Committee already extended to six months. The four months time for increasing Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula expired on 30-10-2016.
All the employees and Pensioners are totally disappointed and are voicing their anger and protest through various forums and social media. In the above circumstances everybody expected that the NJCA shall revive the deferred indefinite strike. Inspite of our best efforts that is not happening.
3. SOMEBODY SHOULD COME FORWARD TO PROTEST AND CONFEDERATION IS TAKING UP THAT RESPONSIBILITY
When the three Cabinet Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, Shri Arun Jaitely, Finance Minister, Shri Suresh Prabhu, Railway Minister have gone back from their assurances and betrayed 33 lakhs Central Govt Employees and 34 lakhs Pensioners, when the Government is going ahead unilaterally without even consulting the NJCA leaders, we cannot remain silent spectators and accept every decision of the Government, lying down, without any protest. Somebody should come forward to protest and if necessary to suffer and sacrifice and history has bestowed that responsibility on Confederation and Confederation is ready to accept the challenge and responsibility. We are not afraid of the NDA Govt. when we are fighting for the justified demands. All employees are eagerly looking towards Confederation and they want Confederation to lead, whether others may follow or not. It is in this background the Diamond Jubilee year, All India Conference of Confederation held at Chennai from 16th to 18th August 2016 has taken the historic decision to organize independent trade union action including strike, if NJCA is not ready to revive the deferred indefinite strike.
4. INTENSIFY MOBILIZATION CAMPAIGN – MAKE THE 2017 MARCH 16th ONE DAY STRIKE A HISTORIC SUCCESS.
All of us should clearly understand that more than the strike, the intensive nationwide mobilization and campaign plays an important role in building up pressure on the Govt and settling the demands. The success of the strike also depends upon the mobilization and campaign work carried out by the leadership, especially the grass-root level leadership. The date of one day strike was postponed to March 16th due to the following reasons :
(a)Election Commission has notified election to five State Assemblies during the month of February and first half of March 2017.
(b)15th February 2017, which was our strike date, happens to be a polling day in Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh.
In the campaign programme of the National Secretariat Members, already published, if any change in date is required, the concerned National Secretariat Members and C-O-Cs may make it in consultation with each other.
5. INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN BY EACH AFFILIATE AND C-O-C IS MOST IMPORTANT
In addition to the campaign programme of National Secretariat members, all affiliated organizations and C-O-Cs should plan their own independent campaign programme. Office meetings, General body meetings, Gate meetings, Conventions, Managing body meetings may be held at all places. Posters, notices, bulletins etc, may be printed and circulated widely among the employees. Maximum publicity may be given through print/electronic media and social media like whatsapp, face book etc,. Intelligence Agencies of the Govt will report each and every movement from our side and let the report reach the Government that the entire Central Government employees and Pensioners are totally disappointed and their resentment is growing day by day. Please give top priority to campaign. No leader whether All India, State or Unit level shall sit idle in the coming days and everybody should be in the field, mobilizing the employees. Betrayal of the Cabinet Ministers of NDA should be exposed among the employees, Pensioners and general public, especially in the poll-bound five States.
6. SERVE STRIKE NOTICE BEFORE 10th FEBRUARY 2017, IF NOT ALREADY SERVED
All Affiliated Organizations should serve the strike notice to their respective departmental Heads. Proforma of the strike notice and charter of demands already published in the Confederation website www.confederationhq.blogspot.com. If any organization has not served the strike notice to their Departmental Head, they should serve it before 10th February 2017. Those organizations which had already served the strike notice as 15th February 2017, should give a letter to the authority concerned, intimating the postponement of the strike date to 16th March 2017, due to declaration of election to five State Assemblies (if necessary, revised strike notice can be given). Copies of the strike notice served to the Departmental Heads should be circulated to all lower units. Complaints are received at Confederation CHQ that some organizations are not circulating their strike notice to lower units which creates a lot of confusion at unit level. This should be avoided and each organization should ensure that copy of the strike notice is circulated to all lower units WITHOUT FAIL.
7. NAME & POSTAL ADDRESS OF WOMEN SUB-COMMITTEE MEMBERS OF CONFEDERATION
Confederation CHQ had already written letters to the concerned Chief Executives of the affiliated organizations to intimate the full postal address with PIN code of all newly elected Women Sub Committee members of Confederation. It is requested that the same may be furnished before 31stJanuary 2017.
8. HELP CONFEDERATION TO SERVE YOU BETTER
All of you are aware that the financial position of the Confederation CHQ is not at all sound. It is needless to mention that without fund, no organization can function. For Parliament March and strike mobilization etc., big amount is already be spent. We are continuously fighting against the Government’s policies and for efficient and vibrant functioning, funds are required. All Affiliated Organizations and C-O-Cs are requested to collect and remit maximum quota and donations to the Confederation immediately. The amount may be remitted to the following address:
Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee
Financial Secretary
Confederation of Central Govt
Employees & Workers
17/C, Kalibari Marg New Delhi – 110 001
Mobile: 09868520926
E-mail: v.aicaea@gmail.com
Bank Account details:
Bank : Indian Overseas Bank
Branch: Goal Market, New Delhi
A/C No.084001000015586
IFSC code : IOBA0000840.
9. CONFEDERATION TRADE UNION EDUCATION CAMP – 2017
Confederation Trade Union Education Camp – 2017 will be held on 2017 May 6th & 7th (Saturday & Sunday) at Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala). Detailed Circular enclosed along with this circular.
Fraternally yours,
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob & whatsapp: 09447068125
E-mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com
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