Wednesday, August 31, 2016

GO AHEAD! ORGANISE THE 2nd SEPTEMBER STRIKE IN FULL SWING!!

2nd SEPTEMBER NATIONWIDE 
GENERAL STRIKE 




More than 20 Crores of Workers will participate in the Strike. No change in Strike Decision.Please do not believe rumours. Make all efforts to ensure 100%  participation of Central Government Employees. 

- M.Krishnan Secretary General Confederation - 
ONE MORE STRIKE DEMAND SETTLED

Bonus ceiling raised to Rs.7000/- from Rs.3500/-  with effect from 01.04.2014 – orders issued.

Earlier Gratuity order for NPS pensioners issued.

Intensify campaign & make the 2nd September 2016 strike a thundering success.

Government Understands the language of struggle and strike only.



Bonus Order

Monday, August 29, 2016

MAKE INTENSIVE PREPARATIONS AND CAMPAIGN TO MOBILIZE ENTIRE POSTAL WORKERS TO MAKE THE 2ND SEPTEMBER, 2016 ONE DAY STRIKE A HISTORIC SUCCESS.

WORKING CLASS UNITY ZINDABAD              INQUILAB ZINDABAD

2nd SEPTEMBER -2016  ONE DAY  ALL INDIA GENERAL STRIKE ON CALL OF ALL CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS & INDEPENDENT FEDERATIONS INCLUDING  CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES  AND WORKERS AND NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES.

2016 September 2nd General Strike 12 Point Charter of Demands of Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions submitted to government

PART – A

      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:  (CGE & POSTAL DEMANDS)

      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.
     MAKE THE STRIKE A HISTORIC SUCCESS IN DEPARTMENT OF POSTS.
                                                         (R.N. Parashar) Secretary General, NFPE                            
EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER SEPTEMBER-2016

Working Class Resistance in 25 Years of
Neo-Liberal Reforms

            THE working class is a prime target of attack under the neo-liberal regime in the country.From the initial days of the policy pronouncements in 1991, ruling class and policy makers have been targeting the working people and their hard earned rights.
            Even while discussing about more investments, industrialisation, creation of employment opportunities, those in the authority could only identify rigidity and multiplicity of labour laws along with the `mushrooming’ of trade unions as hurdles. Along with this were the slogans of `flexibility’ and `downsizing’ which were presented as the way out of the crisis engulfing the country.

            The experience of the Indian working class, during the last 25 years, confirms the apprehensions expressed by the trade unions in the country, though at that time they were not a united voice.  Only those of the Left spectrum had an understanding  of the catastrophe that would happen if these policies were implemented.

            The efforts for implementation of the `reforms’ had begun in 1991 itself.  The labour laws in the country, product of the long drawn battles of the working people, were targeted.  This included the right to form a union of the workers’ choice.  The Trade Union Act in the country was enacted in 1926.  It is also a fact that despite this legislation being enacted during the British regime, the republic of India could not even to-day guarantee the right to collective bargaining for the workers, by making  it mandatory at the  national level for the employers  to recognise a trade union.

            The implementation of the ‘reforms’, as far as the labour laws were concerned had various components like non-implementation of existing laws; dismantling of the enforcement machinery of the government and new amendments to the existing laws against  the interests of workers. But, the resistance movements including the massive strikes and also the overall political situation in the country and the coalition governments at the centre with the major party not having majority of its own were hurdles to these efforts.

            While the attacks on the democratic and trade union rights have been continuing for the last 25 years, major amendments could not be passed. The right to form unions was denied almost fully in the new Industries in various parts of the country.  Not only the multinational companies, but the Indian corporates who had to recognise this right in their establishments earlier, started emulating the MNCs.

            In this situation, the employers could easily get rid of the job security of workers.  Casualisation and contractorisation of regular jobs became the rule.  Extreme cases of not having a single regular worker in factories which went on production schedules for years came to light when workers came out to form unions to fight the exploitation.

            The result of this was that more than 60 percent of the work force in the organised sector is denied even statutory minimum wages and social security benefits like ESI and EPF.  More than 50 percent of workers in the public sector and around 70 percent in private sector are contract workers.  These workers under different nomenclature are employed in permanent, perennial and continuous jobs in total violation of Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act and other labour laws.  12 hours work has become the order of the day in many establishments.

            Another aspect of this is that the share of wages in industrial sector has been continuously declining from around 30 percent in 1982-83 to 12.9 percent in 2012-13.  This has been falling further while the share of profits increased from around 20 percent to 50 percent during the above said period.
The situation from 1991 continued upto 2013 in the same trajectory, though under different regimes.  The situation has changed for the worse with the NDA government under Narendra Modi coming to power after the general elections in 2014. The Modi government is moving aggressively, creating a devastating impact on the lives and livelihood of the working people of the country.

            With the employment opportunities receding, the exploitation has increased manifold.  Working people in all the sectors – organised, unorganised, public, private – are facing a critical situation.  Along with them are those working in the governmental schemes categorised as volunteers who are paid only an honorarium, and who number more than ten millions.

            A series of amendments have been proposed by the government of India during the last 26 months.  While the government has announced its decision to convert 44 Labour laws into five labour codes, removing all the rights and protection clauses for labour, the drafts of Wage Code Bill and Industrial Relation Code are ready to be introduced in parliament.  The Factories Amendments Bill is already in parliament and the government has rejected all the recommendations of the standing committee and is going ahead with more retrograde amendments.  Simultaneously a new Bill – Small Factories Bill – is being readied.  The net result of these two Bills related to factories is that more than 75 percent of the factory workers will go out of coverage of the Factories Act and also 14 other basic labour laws including Minimum Wages Act, Maternity Act, ESI and EPF Acts.

            In total, in the name of ending inspection raj the enforcement machinery has been dismantled, the basic right to form a union of workers choice is being denied and all the existing labour laws are being amended to deprive workers even the minimum guarantee, which existed earlier. The net result is that of increasing the exploitation of workers and converting them literally to bonded labour.

            Not only the central government, but many of the state governments, especially those under the BJP have gone ahead and amended the labour laws, mainly on the lines of the central government's proposals. In fact, with the Rajasthan government taking the lead in enacting the anti-worker amendments, the Prime Ministers Office had written to all the state governments to follow the Rajasthan government.

            The working people in the country have been organising resistance against these policies from 1991 itself.  Despite large-scale victimisation, threats of outright dismissals, physical attacks by police and goondas for making efforts to form unions, there have been powerful fight backs in almost all the major industrial centres in the country.  These have happened even without formal unions being formed and sometimes resulting even in violence at work places. There have been strikes and struggles mainly related to these basic policy related issues at unit, sectoral and state levels, in addition to the country wide general strikes.

            It is to the credit of the organised trade union movement in the country, that the Central Trade Unions and National Federations have been on a joint platform to struggle against these neo-liberal policies.  The charter of demands included not only the work related issues, but demands of all sections of people.  Though from 1991 it was the Left unions – Central Trade Unions and also National Federations – which went on campaigns and struggles, total unity of Central Trade Unions and National Federations could be achieved from September 2009.  A common charter of demands, which was developed into a 10 point charter and later to a 12 point charter were submitted to the government of India.  None of the governments at the Centre took up these demands for serious consideration.

            From 1991, there were 16 countrywide general strikes of 17 days in total.  In the sixteenth general strike on September 2, 2015 the BMS withdrew at the last minute, saying that the government should be given time to implement their assurances. All others went ahead with the strike in which 15 crores of workers and employees had participated.  It is to be noted that 40 percent of those who had participated in the strike were not members of any union.  This could be achieved because of the widespread anger among the workers, especially among sections like road transport workers and workers in the industrial clusters in many states.

After the strike on September 2, 2015, the Modi government has speeded up the `reforms’ in many sectors.  The latest was to announce the `fixed term employment’, which the Vajpayee government had introduced and the Left parties and TUs had forced the UPA government to drop. Fixed term employment will result in the end of job security of workers, resulting in a situation of hire and fire with a legal sanction.

            It is in such a situation that the Central Trade Unions and National Federations are preparing for the seventeenth country wide strike in the 25th year of neo-liberalism, on September 2, 2016.

            It is a fact that the trade unions still have a long way to go in reaching out to all sections of working people.  But the local, sectoral and national level struggles in India against neo-liberal policies are an important component of the world wide struggle of the working people against the offensive of the capitalist class.

A K Padmanabhan
  President, CITU


Saturday, August 27, 2016

IMPORTANT GOVT ORDER

A MAJOR VICTORY OF THE STRUGGLE OF CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES:

             Confederation of central Govt Employees & Workers have been continuously fighting against pension reforms implemented by Govt in tune with the neo-liberal policies and demanding SCRAPPING OF THE NEW PENSION SYSTEM (NPS). Further we have been demanding that those employees who are covered by NPS should be eligible for payment of Death cum Retirement Gratuity (DCRG) and Family Pension and also Govt guaranteed Minimum Pension and Compensation for price rise (Dearness Relief). Now the Govt has conceded one of our demand. Govt of India has issued orders to extend the benefit of Gratuity to all NPS Employees. Further the Cabinet has decided to constitute a committee for streamlining the implementation of NPS. We shall present the remaining issues before that Committee also. Scrapping of NPS is one of the main demand of 2016 September 2nd General Strike also. No struggle will go in vain. Let us make the strike a grand success

 M.Krishnan,
Secretary General
Confederation.                   


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

Lok Nayak Bhawan, Khan Market,
New Delhi-110 003, Dated the 26th August, 2016

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Extension of benefit 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 O.M. 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 O.M. No. 38/41/2006-P&PW(A) dated 5.5.2009.

2.         The issue of grant of gratuity in respect of 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 be  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) Rulke,1972.

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

4.         In their application to the persons belonging to the India 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)
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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   (Click the link below to view original order)

 http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/ppwf_26082016.pdf



Promotion and Postings of Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) officers of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' to Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) of the Service and transfers / postings of regular HAG officers of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' - order dated 26th August 2016
 CLICK HERE. TO VIEW
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Promotion and Posting of Junior Administrative Grade (JAG) officers of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' to the Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) of the service - order dated 26th August 2016      CLICK HERE. TO VIEW

Friday, August 26, 2016

HC Judgement on the Termination of Postal Recruitment PA/SA 2014   CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

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TECHNICAL RESIGNATION & LIEN- CONSOLIDATED GUIDELINES CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS
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Children Education Allowance (CEA) - Clarification

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Clarification on admissibility of Transport Allowance in the eases where the officers are drawing Grade Pay of Rs.10,000/- in PB-4

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Instructions regarding timely issue of Charge-sheet – Dopt Orders on 23.8.2016  CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS




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(Click the link below to view)


http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/ppwf_26082016.pdf

2nd SEPTEMBER 2016 -ALL INDIA GENERAL STRIKE
MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS

The Joint platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) of the Country along with Independent National Federations of employees of different industries and services including Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers, have decided to organize All India General Strike on 2nd September 2016, against the anti-people, anti-workers policies and authoritarian attitude of the NDA Government. Intensive campaign and preparation to make the general strike a resounding historical success is going on in full swing throughout the country. The attitude of the NDA Government is profoundly negative and hugely challenging to the working class including Central Govt. employees. The issues in the Charter of demands submitted by the Trade Unions to the Govt. relate to basic interest of the country’s economy and also issues concerning the livelihood of the working people of both organized and unorganized sectors.

Govt. has not taken any meaningful step to curb price rise of essential commodities and to generate employment except making tall baseless claims. Govt. is mysteriously silent on the question of retrieving the black money stashed abroad and recovering lakhs of crores of rupees of bad debts of public sector banks. Whole range of social security measures are under severe attacks including the pension of post – 2004 entrants in Central Govt. Services. Govt. has launched atrocious attack of drastic cut in interest on small savings deposits. Totally ignoring the united opposition of the working class, the Govt. has been moving fast to demolish existing labour laws thereby empowering the employers with unfettered rights to “hire and fire” and stripping the workers and trade union of all their rights and protection provided in laws. Alongwith the peasantry and agri- labourers are also under severe attack. Attack on public sector has been pushed to unprecedented height with Govt. announcing mega strategic sale and also allowing unlimited FDI in strategic sectors like Railways, Defence and financial Sector as complimentary to the move of privatization and Public Private partnership etc. The anti-worker and authoritarian attitude of the Government is also nakedely reflected in their refusal to implement the consensus recommendations of 43rd, 44th and 45th Indian Labour Conference for formulations of minimum wages, equal wage and benefits of regular workers to the Contract workers.

The neo-liberal economic policies pursued by the Govt. has landed the entire national economy in distress and decline affecting the working people the most.

Central Govt. Employees worst affected:

The policy offensives of the Govt. like downsizing, outsourcing, contractorisation, corporatization and privatization has affected the Central Govt. departments and employees in a worst manner. Ban on creation of new posts and non-filling up of about six lakhs vacant posts had increased the work load of the existing employees and adversely affected the efficiency of the services. 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. Govt. is not ready to modify the 7th CPC recommendations, which is worst ever made by any pay commissions. The assurance given to the staff side regarding enhancement minimum pay and fitment formula is yet to be implemented. All other retrograde recommendations like reduction in the percentage of HRA, abolition of 52 allowances etc. are yet to be modified. Overall the attitude of the Modi Govt. is totally negative towards the Central Govt. employees and pensioners.

The National Secretariat is of the firm opinion that unless the policy of the Govt. is changed, more attacks are likely to come on the Central Govt. employees and working class. To change the policy the united struggle of entire working class is required. It is in this background the Confederation of Central Govt. employees and workers has decided to join the General Strike along with other sections of the working class of our country.

The Confederation National Secretariat calls upon the entirety of Central Govt. employees to make intensive campaign and preparation for making the 2nd September 2016 strike a grand success. Along with the 12 Point charter of demands of the working class, the Confederation has decided to submit the demands pertaining to the Central Govt. employees also as Part-B of the Charter of demands to the Govt. The Chater of demands (Part A and B) is furnished below:

2016 September 2nd General Strike 12 Point Charter of Demands of Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions submitted to government:

PART – A
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 and C-98.
11.No FDI in Railways, Defence and other strategic sectors.
12.No unilateral amendment to labour laws.

PART – B
Demand of the Central Govt. Employees
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.

All affiliated organisations and C-O-Cs are requested to plan phased campaign programme during the month of August 2016 by conducting squad work, general body meetings, conventions, and printing and circulating notices, pamphlets and posters. Each affiliated organization should issue their own separate circulars and instructions to all their units endorsing the decision of the Confederation National Secretariat.


(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob: -09447068125, 09968898009