All India RMS &MMS Employees Union Group C

GO AHEAD WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 11^thJULY-2016.

NJCA

National Joint Council of Action

4, State Entry Road, New Delhi – 110055

Press statement.

Dated 9^th June, 2016.

The National Joint Council of Action was formed as an apex level organization of the under-mentioned Associations/Federations participating in the negotiating body of the Central Government employees at the National level, called the Joint Consultative Machinery.

1 All India Railway men Federation.

2 National Federation of Indian Railway men

3 All India Defence Employees Federation

4 Indian National Defence Workers Federation

5 Confederation of Central Government employees and workers representing the Unions and Associations in all Departments other than Railways and Defence.

6 National Federation of Postal Employees

7 Federation of National Postal organizations.

It was formed in the wake of the then UPA Government refusing to enter into any meaningful negotiations with the Employees Federation. In the face of the unprecedented rise in the inflation of the Indian Economy during 2006 -16, the employees demanded the Government to effect wage rise for the emoluments fixed on the basis of the 6^thCPC was incapable of meeting the both end of an employee especially at the lowest level. Though under threat the then Government conceded the demand for setting up of the 7^th CPC, they stubbornly refused to grant any interim relief or DA merger, which alone would have mitigated the difficulties of the low paid workers When the NDA Government came to power, the NJCA approached them also with a request that the difficulties of the low paid workers in Central Government must be appreciated and the demand for Interim Relief or DA merger be conceded. The NDA Government too did not respond to the plea made by the NJCA.

The 7^th CPC which was set up in Feb. 2014 was to submit its report in August, 2016. However, at the intervention of the Government, the report was further delayed and it ultimately reached the Government only in November, 2015. Their recommendations were to be effective from 1.1.2016. Except setting up an empowered Committee of Secretaries, the Government did not do anything so far on the report. It is now more than six months the report is with the Government. Normally the revised allowances which form part and parcel of the salary of the employees are granted with prospective effect i.e. from the date of the issue of the orders. The delay in taking decision on the report will rob the employees of the increased allowances for ever. This apart, the report of the 7^th CPC was totally disappointing as it did not address any of the issues projected before them in a proper manner and most of the demands were rejected sans reasoning and logic. The increase they recommended was a paltry 14%, the lowest any Pay Commission had ever suggested. The NJCA in a detailed memorandum submitted on 10^thDecember, 2015, conveyed to the Government as to how the recommendations on all major issues were bereft of logic and reasoning and suggested as to what improvements were required thereon. The NJCA had been pursuing to have a meaningful negotiation and settlement of the issues. Except hearing the leaders, the empowered Committee did not go further. It acted as if it was powerless and the final decision will have to be taken by the Government. At the request of the Cabinet Secretary on Ist March, 2016, when the NJCA deferred the strike action which was to commence in April, 2016.

As there had been no fruitful negotiations or discussions and having realized that the Government has no intention to settle the Charter of demands, the NJCA decided to serve the notice for an Indefinite strike action on 9^th June, 2016. Accordingly, all the constituent organizations have served the strike notice today to their respective heads of Departments. The indefinite strike will commence on 11^th July, 2016, if no satisfactory settlement is brought about on the charter of demands (which is enclosed).

About 35 lakh workers and employees belonging to various Departments of the Government of India will participate in the strike action, which is to commence on11th July, 2016. It will certainly be the largest participated strike action of the Central Civil Servants of the country since its independence. The determination of the Minimum wage on the basis of Dr. Aykhroyd formula enunciated in 1957 to which the Government of India was a party is the most significant issue in the charter of demands. A right settlement thereon will have far reaching impact in the wage determination of the entire working class in the country. The confrontation is between the forces who wanted India to be the destination for cheap labour and others who fight against the exploitation.

The new Contributory Pension scheme introduced by the Government in 2004 has made one third of the Civil servants unsure of their entitlement at the evening of their life even though they were to contribute huge sums from their wages every month compulsorily. The PFRDA bill became an Act in the country as the members of Parliament both belonging to NDA and UPA voted in favour of the loot of the workers. Even the recommendation made by the Standing Committee of the Parliament to provide for a minimum guaranteed annuity pension was rejected when the Bill was passed. The other issue which must have a satisfactory settlement in the charter of demands is about the contributory pension scheme.

There was perhaps only one and only one positive recommendation made by the 7^th CPC. That was to give some relief in the pension entitlement of the past pensioners. The Government has now proposed to reject that recommendation on the specious plea that the relevant records required for the verification of the claim of the individual pensioners especially those retired long time back may not be available with the Government. The Government is duty bound to accept the recommendation of the Commission it has appointed. If the Government chooses to accept such also untenable advices from whichever quarter it emanates, it would not only be unfortunate but will make the strike action an imminent inevitability. While the NJCA hopes that the good counsel will prevail upon the Government to avert the strike action, it appeals all its constituents and through them all Central Government employees to go ahead with the preparation of the strike action, which is slated to commence from 11^th July, 2016 with courage and determination.