The
Joint platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) of the Country of different
industries and services 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
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,
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.
