It
seems that Modi Govt. is not in favour of a negotiated settlement on the 7th
CPC related issues with the staff side. The Seventh CPC report was submitted on
19th November 2015. Six months are almost over since then. Till date
the Govt. has not come forward for a negotiated settlement. Instead, Empowered
Committee of Secretaries (ECoS) headed by Cabinet Secretary conducted a meeting
with the staff side on 1st March 2016. In the meeting Govt. did not
disclose its mind on any of the demands raised by the staf fside in the charter
of demands submitted to Govt. Staf fside explained the justification for each
demand but official side didn’t make any comment, either positive or negative.
The concluding paragraph of the minutes of the meeting reads as follows:
“After hearing the participants, Cabinet
Secretary observed that the deliberations have helped ECoS in understanding the
major concerns of the staff side and said that all issues have been taken note
of. He assured that fair consideration will be given to all points brought out
by JCM before taking final views. He further stated that the ECoS needs to
examine the Report of the Commission in entirety as well as the issues raised
by JCM in consultation with all other stake holders. As such, it may take some
time to take a final call on the recommendations of the Commission.”
It
may be seen that, neither did the Govt. side made any commitment on any
demands, nor did they indicate in the minutes that further discussion will be
held with the staff side to arrive at a negotiated settlement on each demands.
It seems that the Modi Govt is moving ahead to issue unilateral orders taking
the staff side for a ride.
The
JCM staff side Secretary, in his letter dated 2nd May 2016,
addressed to Cabinet Secretary, has made the stand of the staff side clear,
without any ambiguity. The letter reads as follows:
“I have been directed to draw your attention
towards minutes of the Standing Committee of National Council JCM held on 7th
May 2008 and our rejoinder submitted to Govt. in the matter of Report of 6th
CPC.
You will kindly find that it was not only a
general discussion, but also official side explained their views on each and
every issue.
I would therefore request your good self to
kindly arrange for similar type of meeting for bi-lateral settlement on each of
the issues raised by the staff side, NC/JCM before the Empowered Committee of
Secretaries.”
Thus
the picture is clear now. The Govt, it seems, has a hidden agenda to take the
staff side for granted without giving any further opportunity for a negotiated
settlement. The staff side on the other hand has taken a position that if
unilateral orders are issued, without taking the staff side into confidence,
the NJCA shall go ahead with the indefinite strike from 11th July
2016 as already informed to the Govt. Employees have faith in the NJCA and they
believe that the NJCA leadership shall assert itself and shall not compromise
on major demands.
The
coming days are crucial. If the Govt. adopts delaying tactics or issue
unilateral orders rejecting our demands, then confrontation shall become
inevitable. The stand taken by the then Nehru Govt. that “Pay Commission report
is an award and is not negotiable” has resulted in the historic indefinite
strike of 1960, which commenced on July 11th midnight.
The
NJCA leadership should be ready for a showdown, if Modi Govt refuse to arrive
at a negotiated settlement with the staff side as demanded by Secretary,
JCM(NC) staff side.
M KRISHNAN
Secretary General
Confederation
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