NJCA
National Joint Council of Action
4, State Entry Road, New Delhi – 110055
Press statement.
Dated 9th 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.
All India Railway men Federation.
National Federation of Indian Railway men
All India Defence Employees Federation
Indian National Defence Workers Federation
Confederation of Central Government employees and workers representing the Unions and Associations in all Departments other than Railways and Defence.
National Federation of Postal Employees
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 6th CPC 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 7th 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 7th 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 7th 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 10th December,
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 9th 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 11th 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 7th 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 11th July, 2016 with courage and determination.
sd/-
SHIV GOPAL MISHRA
CONVENER
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