CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS.
First Floor, North Avenue Post Office,
New Delhi. 110 001.
Website: confederationchq.blogspot.com.
E mail. confederation06@yahoo.co.in
Dear Comrades, 31st August,2015
We have placed on our website the synopsis of the
discussion the leaders of the Central Trade Unions had with the Group of
Ministers on the 12 point charter of demands. The Central Trade Unions
evaluated the Government’s response to the strike call and have come to the
conclusion that in the absence of any tangible result, the strike action must
take place. The only issue on which
there had been a concrete proposal from the Government was on the question of
raising the bonus ceiling. In fact such
an assurance has been given by the earlier Government also. Due to the pressure exerted by the employing
class, the said assurance could not be translated into reality. To have the assurance to be put into
practice, the Bonus Act has to be amended and that is possible only in the next
session of the parliament. In other
words, if one is to believe the assurance held out by the Government on the
question of raising the ceiling for bonus computation, it can only have
prospective effect i.e. for the next year 2016.
We firmly believe that the corporate would not allow the present
government to give effect to this assurance.
The acrimonious ceiling on bonus while allowing unlimited extraction of
profit for the companies is to be fought out through bitter struggles.
There had been no word from the Government on the
question of rolling back its proposals on the labour reforms. The proposed
labour reforms will hurt the working class most. The regularization of contract workers, payment
of minimum wage, ensuring statutory Pension benefit, the registration or
recognition of trade unions within a stipulated time limit to enable the
workers to have the right to collective bargaining, the non implementation of
the agreements reached at the various tripartite Labour conferences were some
of the significant issues on which the working class sought settlement. Introduction
of 100% FDI in Railways, 49% in Defence, corporatisation
& privatisation of government entities, end for contract/casual temporary
employment also met with stoic silence or rejection. The Group of Ministers has successfully
eluded the issues. The BMS unions have declared that they would withdraw from
the strike action. Their decision being
political based is understandable, but is difficult to appreciate. We can only
hope against hope that they would realize the reality of the situation in the
days to come and become part of the joint struggles very soon.
The 7th CPC has sought further time to
submit its report. They are now likely
to submit their report by 31st December, 2015. Given the way the commission had acted on
this vital issue, we are not certain of it.
It is on the specious plea that they would be submitting their report
within the stipulated time, they had rejected our demand for interim
relief. They ought to have submitted an
interim report to the Government before seeking further time on the memorandum
submitted by the Staff Side on merger of DA and Interim relief. Even if the report is submitted say by 31st
December, 2015, which we feel is
unlikely, the Government is bound to take another six months to take a view on
the Commission’s recommendations. It is incumbent upon the National JCA to meet
immediately and take appropriate decision in the light of the unexpected step
taken by the Commission in seeking further time to submit its report. They must go ahead with the decision to go on
strike from 23rd November, 2015 demanding the Commission to submit
urgently an interim report on merger of DA and Interim relief.
There had been no positive steps taken by the
government to revive the functioning of the JCM at National or Departmental
levels. There appears to be no intention
on their part to cause discussion on our charter of demands. In this background we must revitalize and
rejuvenate the functioning of our
Organizations at all levels. We
have received excellent reports of the strike preparation from all over the country.
DO EVERYTHING
NEEDED TO MAKE THE 2ND SEPTEMBER, STRIKE A STUPENDOUS SUCCESS.
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
M.Krishnan
Secretary General
