NON-FULFILMENT OF COMMITMENT BY THE GOVERNMENT NOT ACCEPTABLE
The attitude of the government on the issue of Guaranteed Pension and Family Pension is totally negative and anti-worker. If Hon’ble Home Minister, Finance Minister and Railways Ministers of the country, instead of adhering to their commitment with the Staff Side, deceive to the Central Government employees, then serious untoward situation is bound to occur in the country.
The way in which the present government is pursuing anti-labour policies, this situation is leading towards direct confrontation between the Center Government and its employees. Since the employees have once been deceived by the government, therefore, there is no question of trust on the Government’s commitments and the same is meaningless as well.
Actually speaking the demand of the employees to restore to the Old Pension Scheme is quite old but, like previous governments, the present government is also not taking any concrete initiative in this matter. When the things are not being heard, the employees have no choice other than agitation. Two years ago, after conducting the strike ballot, we had communicated to the Government in clear terms that, in case our demands are not acceded to, the Central Government employees would go on Indefinite Strike w.e.f. 11th July 2016.
The Central Government on receipt of the Strike Notice came into action and on the intervention of the PMO, Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri Raj Nath Singh, Hon’ble Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley, and Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu and Hon’ble MoSR, Shri Manoj Sinha, held an emergent meeting with the National Joint Council of Action on 30th June, 2016.
Seriousness of the situation can very well be realized by the fact that, the government at that time did not wait till next morning and instead, the meeting started at 08:00 p.m. at the residence of Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri Raj Nath Singh.
At the very outset, the NJCA conveyed to the Group of Ministers in clear terms that, it was not possible to give more time to the government for consideration of their demands and demanded immediate decision on the same. In more than one hour meeting it was assured by the Group of Ministers that, a High Power Committee would be constituted soon and this committee would submit its report within four months’ time on the issue of restoration of Old Guaranteed Pension and Family Pension for NPS Covered Employees and this committee would also submit its report on the issues related to the report of the 7th CPC. The then Hon’ble Minister for Railways, Shri Suresh Prabhu also assured in the same meeting that the Railways related issues would be resolved by mutual dialogue with the recognized federations. The major issues, particularly LARSGESS, Act Apprentices, financial upgradation under MACPS, revision of Running Allowance and progression of Trackmen in the ratio of 10:20:20:50, were specifically raised before Hon’ble MR. We started losing trust on the government when the government did not appoint High Power Committee as per commitment, instead a committee of the Secretary(Finance), Secretary(Exp.) and Secretary(Pension) was formed. This committee was not empowered to take any policy decision. However, this committee of the Secretaries also submitted its report to the government in September 2017. Despite lapse of more than 09 months time, report of this committee has not been disclosed till date, as to what has been recommended by the committee in it’s report. Regular dialogue with Hon’ble Home Minister, Cabinet Secretary and Secretary (Pension) is taking place, but nobody is prepared to tell anything. Four months’ time was given to the NJCA by the government to resolve the demands, but more than two years’ time has elapsed, neither the government acceded to the demands nor clarified its intention. In the prevalent situation, the Central Government employees have lost trust on the government and its commitment. The NJCA is not going to accept the betrayal of the government. The NJCA has accordingly, decided that, in case the Government does not resolve their demands up to 7th August, 2018, the Central Government Employees shall be free to resort to a massive and decisive action. There shall be another important meeting of the NJCA on 18th August, 2018, wherein decision of the movement/direct action shall be announced. If this time, the Central Government employees are compelled to go on an “Indefinite Strike”, the government shall have to face its serious consequences.
With Best Regards!
E-magazine AIRF JULY 2018 has been uploaded below:-
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