Charter of Demands (Important Points) including

• Scrap NPS, Scrap the draconian FR 56(j) and Rule 48,
• Withdraw DA and DR freezing orders,
• Appoint 8th Central Pay Commission and revise the Pay, Allowances and Pensionary benefits,
• Increase 7th CPC minimum pay and fitment formula,
• Withdraw “Very Good” bench mark for MACP,
• Stop ban on creation of new posts,
• Stop Corporatisation and privatisation of Railways,
• Defence and Postal Departments,
• Grant equal pay for equal work for all,
• Merger of DA

REVISED CHARTER OF DEMANDS

(Submitted for approval of the National Executive Committee meeting to be held on 26-09-2020)

1. Scrap New Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS). Restore old defined benefit Pension Scheme (OPS) to all employees. Guarantee 50% of the last pay drawn as minimum pension.

2. (a) Scrap the draconian FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972. Stop terrorizing and victimizing employees.

(b) Withdraw the attack against the recognised status of Associations and Federations.

(c) Withdraw the anti-worker Wage/Labour codes and other anti-labour reforms.

(d) Stop attack on trade union rights.

3. (a) Withdraw the orders freezing the DA and DR of employees and Pensioners and impounding of arrears till 30.0-.2021.

(b) Implement five year wage revision and Pension revision to Central Government employees and Pensioners. Appoint 8th Central Pay Commission and revise the Pay, Allowances and Pensionary benefits of Central Government employees and Pensioners with effect from 01-01-2021.

(c) Honour the assurance given by Group of Ministers (GoM) to NJCA leaders on 30-06-2016. Increase minimum pay and fitment formula recommended by 7th CPC. Grant HRA arrears from 01-01-2016.

(d) Withdraw “Very Good” bench mark for MACP, grant promotional heirachy and date of effect of MACP from 01-01-2006.

Also check: MACP ON PROMOTIONAL HIERARCHY – MACP Supreme Court Order – Heard & Reserved 

(e) Grant Option-1 parity recommended by 7th CPC to all Central Govt. Pensioners. Grant one national increment to those who retired on 30th june.

(f) settle all anomalies arising out of 7th CPC implementation.

4. Stop ban on creation of new posts. Fill up all seven lakhs vacant posts in Central Government departments in time bound manner. Scrap National Recruitment Agency and introduce Department wise recruitment and Regional recruitment for Group B and C posts. Stop re-engaging retire personnel in Central Govt. services.

5. Stop Corporatisation and privatisation of Railways, Defence and Postal Departments. Withdraw closure/ merger orders of Govt. of India Printing Presses and Postal Stores depots/ Postal Stamp depots. Stop proposed move to close down salt department. Stop outsourcing and closure of Govt. establishments.

Also check: Merger of Dearness Allowance with the Basic Pay w.e.f. April 1, 2004

6. (a) Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks and grant of Civil Servants status. Implement remaining positive recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra Committee Report.

(b) Regularise all casual and contract workers including those joined service on or after 01-09-1993.

7. Settle all Covid-9 related issues pertaining to Central Govt. employees and Pensioners on top priority basis. Treat the period of absence during lock down as duty. Grant full wages to casual, part-time, contingent contract workers during the lockdown period.

8. Grant equal pay for equal work for all. Remove disparity in pay scales between Central Secretariat staff and similarly placed staff working in field units of various departments.

9. Implement 7th CPC wage revision and pension revision to remaining Autonomous body employees and pensioners. Ensure payment of full arrears without further delay. Grant Bonus to Autonomous body employees pending from 2016-17 onwards.

10. Remove arbitrary 5% ceiling imposed on compassionate appointments. Grant appointment in all eligible cases.

11. Grant five time-bound promotions to Group B & C employees. Complete cadre review in all departments in a time bound manner.

12. Ensure prompt functioning of various negotiating forums under the JCM Scheme at all levels.

Source: confederation

The post Appoint 8th Central Pay Commission and revise the Pay, Allowances and Pensionary benefits – REVISED CHARTER OF DEMANDS appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

Joint Circular No. : 50/2020

Date : 01.09.2020

To,

All the affiliated Unions of
AIDEF, INDWF, BPMS

Demands for the one day strike and one week action programme by the Unions of MES, DRDO, DGQA, DGAQA, EME, NAVY, DRDO, AOC and IAF

Even though there are many issues agitating the minds of the Defence Civilian employees of the above Directorates, we have identified the following important demands of each of the Directorates to be placed as Charter of Demand for the one day strike on 19/10/2020 and for the one week protest programme from 07/09/2020 to 11/09/2020. The demands are to be enclosed with the Strike Notice.

DEMANDS OF MES EMPLOYEES

1) Withdrawal of unwarranted and arbitrary decisions of abolition of 9304 posts of MES.
2) Withdrawal of arbitrary application of APARs for Industrial Employees of MES.
3) Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
4) Grant of skilled pay scale to Valveman.
5) Merger of isolated posts of Lift Operator of MES with FGM.
6) Grant of Cadre structure to Meter Reader of MES on par with Workshop staff.
7) Grant of 4 grade structure to MTS of MES.
8) Review of posting/transfer policy of MES as per the suggestions put forth by the Federations.
9) Arbitrary framing of Recruitment Rules and Cadre Restructuring proposals etc. should be discontinued and all these major policy matters should be discussed with the Recognised Federations before finalisation.
10) All DPCs/Screening committee should be conducted timely, so as to ensure that Promotions/MACP are granted to the employees on due date.
11) Recruitment qualification for MTS should be either Matriculation or ITI and not both.
12) To ensure effective and periodical functioning of Army HQ JCM III Level council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the JS(Works).
13) To provide Medical treatment to the Civilian Employees and the Dependents in the Military/ Command Hospitals.
14) To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

DEMANDS OF NAVY

1) Withdrawal of unwarranted and arbitrary decisions of abolition of 7485 posts of Navy.
2) Stop outsourcing of permanent and perennial nature of jobs.
3) Fill up all the vacant Civilian posts in the Navy immediately.
4) Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
5) Settle all the pending Cadre Restructuring proposals.
6) Grant of Compassionate appointments in a time bound manner without further delay.
7) All DPCs/ Screening committee should be conducted timely, so as to ensure Promotions/ MACP are granted to the employees on due date.
8) Immediate absorption of Ex-Apprentices of Navy under 60 : 40 Ratio.
9) Recruitment qualification for MTS should be either Matriculation or TI and not both.
10) Implementation of cadre restructuring of Ammunition Mechanic at the earliest with One Time Relaxation.
11) Arbitrary framing of Recruitment Rules, Cadre Restructuring, Transfer policy etc. should be dispensed with and all major policy matters should be finalised only in consultation with the Recognised Federations.
12) CGHS facilities to be extended to Defence Civilian employees of left out Units of Navy Mumbai.
13) Immediate allotment of GPRA Accommodation to the employees of Naval Dockyard Mumbai.
14) To ensure effective and periodical functioning of Navy HQ JCM III Level council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the JS( Navy).
15) To provide Medical treatment to the Civilian Employees and the Dependants in the Navy/ Command Hospitals.
16) To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

DEMANDS OF DGQA

1) No restructuring of DGQA which affects the Organisation and its employees.
2) Convening of DPC for Promotion to the post of OS to AO, AO to SAO-II, SAO-II to SAO-I, SSS to SO and Senior Draughtsman to JTO(D).
3) Framing of SRO in respect of IEs and JEs as proposed by the JCM Sub-committee of DGQA.
4) Implementation of the Homogenous working hours and Overtime as approved by the DGQA.
5) Filling up of all the Civilian Posts which are lying vacant in DGQA Establishments.
6) Compassionate Transfer applications may be considered sympathetically by giving due consideration to their difficulties, such as Medical problems etc.
7) To ensure effective functioning of JCMIV level Council.
8) Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972
9) Payment of HRA to the employees without insisting on NAC at par with Ordnance Factory Employees.
10) To ensure effective and periodical functioning of DGQA HQ JCM III Level council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the JS(LS)
11) To constitute a unified QA Agency under the Ministry of Defence.
12) To provide Medical treatment to the Civilian Employees and the Dependants in the Military/Command Hospitals.
13) To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

DEMANDS OF DRDO

1) Stop Revamping of DRDO labs and against the move of the Government to Corportaise PXE, Balasore and closure of many DRDO labs.
2) Stop FDI and 100% privatisation and stop entrusting 108 design and development project works of DRDO to private Industries.
3) Immediately comprehensive review of DRDO DRTC rules as per agreement reached with Federations on 13/02/2016.
4) Immediately finalise and implement Cadre Review of Admin, Stores, Steno, Accounts, Security, fire/FED, Vehicle Operator, Hindi Staff, paramedical, Canteen Staff and MTS categories.
5) Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972
6) Immediately hold review DPCs in respect of Admin and Allied categories to fill up all the existing vacancies.
7) Immediately conduct LDCE to fill up entry level vacancies of Admin & Allied categories among MTS cadre.
8) Immediately pay 20% PRIS to DRDO employees at par with DAE/DOS(ISRO) by ending discrimination.
9) Stop amendments Labour Laws and stop removal of DRDO from the definition of ‘Industry” from the IR Code 2019 Bill introduced in the Parliament
10) Restore ID Act to SBC and extend DRDO DRTC Rules to DRDO-ATVP SBC Cadre, Visakhapatnam.
11) To ensure effective and periodical functioning of DRDO HQ JCM III Level council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the DG(HR)
12) Fill up all the existing vacancies and regularise the services of very large number of Casual/Contract/ Consolidate workers working in DRDO for years together.
13) Immediately settle LTC-80 (2013-14) package availed by the DRDO Employees as one time measure as per DOP&T Orders and remove physical, mental and financial tensions of effected staff.
14) To provide Medical treatment to the Civilian Employees and the Dependants in the Military/ Command Hospitals.
15) To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

DEMANDS OF EME

1) No GOCO Model in Army Base Workshops.
2) No Privatisation of spares/ Assemblies in EME Workshops.
3) Fill up all the vacant Civilian Posts.
4) Framing of Recruitment Rules and Cadre Restructuring of all category of employees in consultation with Recognised Federations.
5) Arbitrary decisions such as framing of RR, conversion of the Cadres into Centrally controlled etc., should be dispensed with and the issues on policy matters should be discussed with the Federations before finalising such policies.
6) Filling up of vacancies in MCM which is pending from 2005 onwards.
7) Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
8) To ensure effective and periodical functioning of Army HQ JCM III Level council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the JS(O).
9) No displacement / transfer of employees from the existing workshops, no reversion in their grade and pay should be ensured as assured by the JS (Army) in the meeting held with the Federations on 9-3-2018.
10) To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

DEMANDS OF AOC

1. No closure of any Depots under AOC.
2. No GOCO model in COD Kanpur and other Depots.
3. Arbitrary decisions such as framing of RR, conversion of the Cadres into Centrally controlled etc., should be dispensed with and the issues on policy matter should be discussed with the Federations before finalising such policies.
4. Recruitment Rules after 7th CPC should be finalised in consultation with the Federations.
5. All the civilian posts lying vacant should be filled up immediately.
6. Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
7. Finalise and implement all cadre restructuring proposals of Industrial and Non Industrial Personnel.
8. To ensure effective and periodical functioning of Army HQ JCM III level Council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the JS(O).
9. To provide Medical treatment to the Civilian Employees and the Dependants in the Military /Command Hospitals.
10. To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

DEMANDS OF AIR FORCE

1. Filling up of all Civilian posts lying vacant in the Air Force units.
2. Immediate approval of all the pending cadre restructuring proposals.
3. Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
4. To ensure effective and periodical functioning of Air HQ JCM III level council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the JS(Air).
5. To provide Medical treatment to the Civilian Employees and the Dependants in the Airforce/Command Hospitals.
6. To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

DEMANDS OF DGAQA

1. Fill up all the civilian posts lying vacant.
2. Implement all the pending cadre restructuring proposals.
3. Scrap NPS and reintroduce Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
4. To ensure effective and periodical functioning of DGAQA HQ JCM III level council and the Additional Meeting Mechanism chaired by the JS.
5. To provide Medical treatment to the Civilian Employees and the Dependants in the Military/Command Hospitals.
6. To extend support and solidarity to the striking workers of Ordnance Factories against Corporatisation of OFB.

One Week protest programme to be observed by the Unions of MES, DRDO, DGQA, DGAQA, EME, NAVY, DRDO, AOC and IAF.

1) 7/9/2020 Issue of Strike Notice after holding demonstration.
2) 8/9/2020 Publication of posters inside the units on the strike demands.
3) 9/9/2020 Publication of pamphlets and Gate Meetings.
4) 10/9/2020 Wearing of demand badges.
5) 11/9/2020 Wearing of demand badges and lunch boycott.

All the above programmes may be observed successfully by all the Affiliated Unions and reports may be submitted to the respective Federations.

FORWARDING OF THE RECORD OF DISCUSSIONS OF THE MEETING HELD IN THE OFFICE OF ADDITIONAL SECRETARY (DP) ON 28-08-2020 AT 16.30 HRS THROUGH VC TO INTERACT WITH FEDERATIONS OF OFB REGARDING THE STRIKE NOTICE.

The DDP have now issued the record of discussion of the meeting held under the Chairmanship of Additional Secretary (DP) on 28-8-2020 to discuss about our strike demands. A copy of the record of discussions of the meeting is enclosed as Annexure-1 of this joint circular. A copy of the Gist of Cabinet Secretariat letter dated 7-8-2020 about the constitution of Empowered Group of Ministers to oversee and guide the entire process of conversion of OFB into a PSU along with its terms of reference received from DDP is enclosed as Annexure-II of this joint circular.

(C. SRIKUMAR)
GENERAL SECRETARY
AIDEF 09444080885 defempfed@gmail.com

(R. SRINIVASAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY INDWF
09444125799 indwfrsrinivasan@gmail.com

(MUKESH SINGH)
GENERAL SECRETARY BPMS
09335621629 gensecbpms@yahoo.co.in

Record of Discussions of the meeting held in the office of Additional Secretary (DP) on 28.08.2020 at 16:30 hrs (through VC) to interact with the Federations of OFB regarding the strike notice

The list of participants is annexed.

2. At the outset, Additional Secretary (DP) welcomed the representatives of the three recognised Federations (AIDEF, INDWF & BPMS.). He stated that the three Federations have given a strike notice,to commence an indefinite strike from 12.10.2020 by the Defence Civilian employees of the OFs and DGQA units functioning inside OFs for various reasons/ demands. He mentioned that DDP has written a letter to the Federations dated 14.08.2020 to support the Government in the process of corporatisation and hot to go on strike. He added that the OFB has also communicated with the Federations at various levels to not go on strike but it is understood that the strike nofice has not been withdrawn. In this context, the present meeting has been convened. He informed about the decision taken by the Cabinet to corporatize OFB and about the order to constitute an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) under the Chairmanship of Raksha Mantri to oversee and guide the entire process of corporatisation. He requested that to complete the entire exercise smoothly, the Federations should co-operate with the Government. Thereafter , he invited the Federations for their views, especially with regard to protection of their service benefits like pension.

3. The Federation representatives spoke one by one. Their views are summarised in the following paragraphs.

4. President, AIDEF thanked DDP for calling the meeting. He asked as to why the Government is corporatizing the Ordnance Factories . AS (DP) replied that it is a Government decesion. President, AIDEF states that the Federations have already written a number of times to Hon’ble PM and MoD about their decision to not accept corporatisation of OFB, giving detailed reasons and justification. However, the Government did not consider their representations at all and not even bothered to reply. Hence, the Federations have taken the decision to commence the indefinite strike, for which the workers have given the mandate through the strike ballot, as per the provisions of the ID Act. OFB and all its factories are under the direct control of the Ministry/DDP . All postings, right from Chairman to GM are being done by the Ministry only. All the policy decisions a.re also taken by the Ministry. In all these decision making processes, there is no role of either the workers or their trade unions. Therefore, if anything is Wrong with OFB, then Ministry is only responsible for the same. Hence, if at all Corporatisation has to take place, first it is the MoD/DDP which should be corporatised and not the Ordnance Factories. He mentioned that the Honble PM, during a defence industry outreach webinar on 27.08.2020, has said that OFs had been run like a “government department” for decades. He mentioned that OFs are responsible for their proouctioh activities at every stage and that the PM has not been briefed properly. He mentioned that Department has not provided any written confirmation of the assumed benefits of corporatisation, nor given any credible proof in support. He said that in case of corporatisation , the OFs will not be viable and will definitely be liquidated, sooner or later. He requested for a Expert Committee to be formed, with all stakeholders.

5. AS (DP) responded that relationship between the DDP and the OFB alongwith the workers/Unions/ Federations is a relation of equals. The Terms of Reference (ToRs) of the EGoM will be shared with the Federations (copy enclosed). One of the ToRs is regarding the financial support required by the OFB for sustenance. The employees will remain employees of a government entity. The only change is that the proposed entity will be a 100% government owned entity instead of a Government department.

6. General Secretary AIDEF stated that Secretary (DP) has given assurance during meeting with Federations on 28.07.2020 that their concerns against corporatisation would be urgently communicated to the RM. However, it is regretted that they have not received any feedback in this regard. Instead, the RM has announced during the above webinar that the corporatisation of OFB will be completed in a year. He stated that the Federations strongly protest against this. He reiterated the contention that all postings, right from Chairman to GM are being done by the Ministry only, so the concerned officials of the Ministry should be corporatized. He stated that the PM is not being correctly briefed by senior government officials. The government should not be a party to a decision of ruining an old and landmark institution. He mentioned that the Prime Minister in his speech on 27.08.2020 in a seminar on defence manufacturing has appreciated the workforce of the Ordnance Factories . Though, he has also made a statement that Ordnance Factories are in the process of becoming a corporation, which will strengthen the workforce of OFB and also the Army. However, the Prime Minister has hot given any details about how corporatisation is going to strengthen the workforce. In our view, corporatisation will rather damage the future of the workforce. Therefore , the senior officers who have written the speech of the Prime Minister should inform how the workers are going to be benefited by Corporatisation .of OFB, when the Government’s policy is to privatise PSUs, as told by Finance Minister during her announcement on 17.05′.2020. He also mentioned that DDP has never been kind and considerate towards OFB. No benefits and no relaxations , in official or HR domain, have been given to the organisation and the workforce over a long period of time . No cadre restructuring proposal has been approved in the last 20 years. 275 products of OFB were declared non-core and OFB was asked to compete with the private sector. The piecework correlation proposal of the 7th CPC is still pending with DDP. The demand for allotment of salary budget separately and not to link the same With the cost of the product, was accepted by the previous Secretary (DP) in a meeting with the Federations , and also in the presence of the Cabinet Secretary, in the National Council JCM meeting. However, the same has not been implemented. There will be no quorum for OF Board after 31.08.2020 , as Members posts are ‘lying vacant. The Government is not coming forward to understand the difficulties of the employees. Instead the government is planning to crush the strike through ESMA etc., which shows their intent. However, we will continue our fight democratically, as permissible under law. OFB is being attacked from all the corners by the vested interests. Even DRDO is being told not to handover new technology to OFB. How can it then be expected that the service conditions will be discussed, or given favorable consideratjon by the DDP now? The decision to convert OFB into a PSU i$ a clear violation of Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution. The Government is going ahead with its decision in violation of the written assurance given by the previous Defence Ministers, assurance given before the Parliament, and the DDP’s own statement before the Parliamentary Standing Committee. He stated that Armed Forces will now have to depend on crony capitalists to meet their requirements . We all know the fate of BSNL and SPMCIL. The government has decided to disinvest its share in HAL. Another DPSU namely BEML is being privatised. Therefore , knowing all these facts, the Federations cannot accept the decision of the government to corporatize Ordnance Factories. He claimed that if given a clear target well in advance, with 2 years roll on indent to start with, OFB will definitely reach Rs 30,000 crore target in 5 years.

7. President, INDWF stated that we expect DDP to act as a bridge to reach the Hon’ble PM and RM. He stated that if the PM can speak to FICCI, and .other industry associations, he should also speak to the workers. He said that the government is hurting the interests of the workers, and their emotions . He said that the RM too speaks highly of the OF workers . There is every reason that the PM and RM interact with the workers and the DDP should facilitate this interaction. He said that they would tell the PM and RM that the OFB is not viable a$ a corporate structure. OFs need to be saved in the interests of the nation.

8. In response AS (DP) suggested that since the government has already taken the decision to corporatize the OFs, and EGoM’ has been formed, the EGoM provides an opportunity to the Federations to interact with a group of ministers including the De.fence Minister, the Home Minister, Finance Minister, etc to put forth their suggestions to safeguard their interests.

9. General Secretary, INDWF stated that the Federations will never support the Government in the process of corporatisation. He said that there are 3 main demands of the Federations – a,) withdraw the decision to corporatise OFB, b) set-up an expert committee to study all the supposed drawbacks and help increase efficiency and output from OFB, and c) service matters of all the employees be protected and considered favourably, within the existing structure of OFB. He said that the government is promoting the private sector in those very areas of defence production where the OFB has a stronghold. However, there are several other areas of defence production Which can be tapped, and the government should encourage the private sector in those fields. He said that in the present structure, OFB is a Government department, which in no way means that the OFB is not an accountable/ responsible body. He pointed out that even MoD takes considerable time to decide on the proposals, and after examination at length, sometimes rejects it. If that does. not make MoD liable for corporatisation, the performance of OFB certainly does not call for corporatisation. There is no guarantee that the interests of the OFB will be safeguarded. In fact, the decisions like the labelling of OFB products as hon core give the opposite impressio , and make the workforce apprehensive about the intentions of the Government. India is a welfare state, however, this intent will be severely compromised, as the private sector is not interested in the welfare of its workforce , and gives far more importance to profits.

10. Vice President BPMS stated that our demand is that the Government should reconsider its decision and start dialogue with Federations on improvement of the performance of OFB, including achieving Rs. 30,000 crore production target within the present set-up. He stated that the OFs have not been provided with adeq1,1ate s1,1pport over a long period of time. He stated that in his khowledge, the PM has never visited an Ordinance Factory. From the PM’s views, it is evident that all the facts were not brought to the notice of the PM and RM by the MoD officials, before taking decision of corporatisation. The Government has taken the decision for corporatisation without discussion with the Federations. The country cannot depend upon the private sector and foreign companies alone for its defence. On the one hand DDP talks about autonomy to OFB, on the other hand there are deliberate attempts to destroy OFB. He pointed out that late Shri Jaitley, former Defence Minister had declined the proposal to increase the privatisation in defence. He said that the reports of the Committees were examined ‘in the Ministry, and it was deciqed not to go ahead with corporatisation . Late Sh Parrikar, former Defence Minister, stated in Parliament that there is no proposal to corporatize OFs-: He said that workload given to OFs is erratic and does not support regular supplies. Efforts by OFs to provide indigenous products have not been unjustifiably scuttled, for e.g. Parachutes by OPF, Kanpur. He stated that Corporatisation is against self-reliance. He reiterated the view that the Government may withdraw its decision on corporattsation of OFB’, give 5 years’ time to them to reach the production target of Rs. 30,000 crores, with timely workload. For this and other reforms within the present set-up, an expert committee may be constituted, with representatives from Federations also.

11. General Secretary, BPMS stated that responsive co-operation is our motto. He said that the proposed strike is not for bread-butter , but an action in the spirit of responsive co-operation. Several stakeholders and supporters had asked to go on strike, but in view of the national exigency notably Chinese threat, the strike was delayed. He stated that in future too, if the nation is under threat form the borders the Federations will give priority to the safety and security of the nation and will withdraw strike immediately. At present, all the unions have joined hands for saving the government sector in defence, namely the Ordnance Factories, DRDO, DGQA, Navy workers etc. He noted that the country is a socialist republic, and without a constitutional amendment, how is it possible to change the structure of a strategic organisation which adversely affects the spirit of the socialist republic. He congratulated and appreciated the PM for his speech during the webinar on 27.08.2020, however, he wondered whether the PM implied that the of family members were good, but the OF family was bad, which seemed contradictory. He concluded that the PM was given a misleading picture by senior government officials. He said that this is supported by the fact that the senior government officials/ policy makers have erred in policy making in the past. As an illustration , he pointed out that the FDI policy in the past has produced lukewarm results, providing just approx. Rs 41 crore from 2001-2018, and merely Rs 1 crore from Apr 2014- Mar 2018, in defence Sector. He stated that Defence Finance is also a challenge, as budget funds envisaged by MoD get stuck in Defence Finance. He said that nevertheless, the strike notice from the Federations stands, as corporatisation is net the solution to any woes.

12. AS (DP) reiterated that the Federations can put their issues before the EGoM. In reply, the Federation representatives pointed out that EGoM is a post-corporatisation exercise and they do not support this interaction. They mentioned that talking to EGoM would be like accepting the corporatisation. Hence, there is no point talking to EGoM.

13. There being no other point, the meeting ended with than.ks to the Chair.

List of Participants

DDP

1. Sh V L Kantha Rao,- AS (.DP) – in Chair
2. Sh Puneet Agarwal- JS (LS)
3. Sh C S Vishwakarma, Addi. DGOF & Mmber, OFB (through VC)
4 . Sh Sandep Jain- Director (P&C)

Representatives from Federations (through VC)

1. Sh S. N. Pathak, President/ AIDEF
2. Sh C.Srikumar , General Secretary/AlDEF
3. Sh Ashok Singh, President/ INDWF
4. Sh R.Srinivasan, General Secretary/ INDWF
5. Sh Sadhu Singh, Vice President/ BPMS
6. Sh Mukesh Srngh, General Secretary/ BPMS

GIST OF THE CABINET SECRETARlAT LETTER N0.143/1/3/2019-TS DATED 07.08.2020

Subject: Constitution of the Empowered Group of Ministers to oversee and guide the entire process of conversion of Ordnance Factory Hoard, a subordinate office of Ministry of Defence into one or more than one 100 % Government owned corporate entities.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) in its meeting held on 29.07.2020 considered the note dated 14-07-2020 from the Department of Defence Production regarding Approval to convert Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) a subordinate office of Ministry of Defence into one or more than one 100% Government owned corporate entities’ and inter alia approved the proposal for constitution of an Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) to oversee and guide the entire process including transition support and redeployment plan of employees while safeguarding their wages and retirement benefits .

2. The composition of the EGoM will be as under :

Minister of Defence – Chairperson.
Minister of Home Affairs.
Minister of Finance.
Minister of Law and Justice.
Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the -Ministry of Labour and Employment. Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievance and Pensions.

3. The Terms of Reference of the EGoM will be as under :

1. Conversion of Ordnance Factory Board into, a single Defene Public Sector undertaking (DPSU) or as multiple DPSUs.
ii Transfer of non-production entities like Training Institutes, or Controllerates of Safety to the proposed entity/entities.
iii Matters related to various categories of employees (Group A, B and C) including protection of their salary and pension of existing employees, number of employees to be transferred to the proposed entity/entities terms of their transfer /absorption; responsibility of pension liability of pre-2004 employees, etc.
iv Grandfathering of orders already being executed by OFB and for which facilities have been created in OFB to ensure continuity in supply of strategic arms and ammunitions.
v. Financial support that may be provided to the entity/entities t0 make them economically Viable and self-reliant for purpose like working capital, modernization of equipment, settlement of employee dues etc.
vi. Treatment for land assets of OFB.
vii. Future of Indian Ordnance Factories Health Service.
viii. Any other related matter, as required.

4. The EGoM will be serviced by Department of Defence Production

Source: BPMS

The post BPMS – DEMANDS OF MES, DRDO, DGQA, DGAQA, EME, NAVY, DRDO, AOC and IAF EMPLOYEES appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

Withdrawal of NPS and reintroduction of Old Pension Scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to the Central Government Employees recruited on or after 01.01.2004.

Demand: In a nutshell all those employees irrespective of their date of recruitment / selection who were recruited against the available vacancies as on 31.12.2003 should all be brought under the Old Pension Scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

Latest Central Government Employees News

Shiva Gopal Mishra
Secretary

National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001

NC-JCM-2020/CS/PM/NPS

March 2, 2020

The Cabinet Secretary
&
Chairman
National Council (JCM)
Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhawan,
New Delhi

Subject: Withdrawal of NPS and reintroduction of Old Pension Scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to the Central Government Employees recruited on or after 01.01.2004.

Reference: Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare OM No. 57/04/2019-P& PW(B) dated 17th February, 2020.

Dear Sir,

Your kind and immediate attention is drawn to the above mentioned subject. You are aware that the entire Central Government Employees are opposing the National Pension System (NPS) imposed arbitrarily by the Government on the Central Government Employees who are recruited on or after 01st January, 2004. The Staff Side of the National Council (JCM) is repeatedly representing to the Government to withdraw the NPS and reintroduce the Old Pension Scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to the Central Government Employees recruited on or after 01.01.2004.

Also check: Steps to complete the pension case as prescribed in in CCS Pension Rules, 1972

This issue was discussed as an Agenda Item (2. Item No. 02/05/NC-44) in the 44th Ordinary Meeting of National Council (JCM) held on 28th May, 2005 under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary. In this meeting the Staff Side have specifically stated that “they would not accept the new Scheme and prefer to disagree.” The Official Side reiterated that the new Scheme was a Defined Contribution Scheme which is fundamentally different from a Defined benefit Scheme. Financial compulsions have necessitated to shift to the New Scheme.

The Official Side, however, stated that the views and concerns of the Staff Side have been noted.

Staff Side requested that action taken on the views noted may be reported and further discussed.

The issue was again discussed in the 45th Meeting of the National Council (JCM) held on 14th October, 2006, as Agenda Item (Item No. 03/06/NC-45). In this meeting the Staff Side has stated “ The new Scheme that has been imposed on the new entrants to Government service (recruited after 01.01.2004) is not acceptable, as the same is subject to the vagaries of the stock market.”

Further again the issue was discussed in the meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council (JCM) held on 14th November, 2006, the Staff Side once again oppose the NPS and reiterated their demand for withdrawing the NPS.

The Staff Side again raised the issue in the Standing Committee Meeting of the National Council (JCM) held on 14th December, 2007, wherein the Official side gave the following assurance. “For employees who had entered w.e.f. 01.01.2004 are not likely to be worse off vis-a-vis the current Pension system in force, as the replacement rate would match to the present one. Thus, NPS is a win-win situation for employees and the Government.”

However, the above assurance given by the Government has proved to be false since at present the employees who are appointed after 01.01.2004 and governed under the NPS have now started retiring from service and they are getting a very meager Pension of Rs. 2,000/- to 3,500/- per month, whereas the minimum Pension under the Government of India to the Central Government Employees is now Rs. 9,000/- + DR.

Considering the above situation we once again represented the matter before the 7th CPC and based on the 7th CPCs recommendation , Government constituted a Committee on NPS. The Staff Side submitted its detailed Memorandum to the Committee and also appeared in person before the Committee and have reiterated our position that the Central Government Employees as a whole must be fully excluded from the ambit of the Defined Contributory Pension Scheme, since it has taken away the benefit of defined and guaranteed Pension to the Central Government Employees.

The issue was once again raised by the Staff Side in the meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) held under the Chairmanship of Secretary / DOP&T. The extract of the Minutes is given below for your ready reference.

“Item No. 7 : Scrap PFRDA Act and re-introduce the Defined Benefit Statutory Pension Scheme :

Staff Side told that they reiterate their stand in that, the NPS should be scraped and the Defined Guaranteed Pension under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 should be ·restored to the employees, who were recruited on or after 01.01.2004. They also demanded that GPF facility may be provided to the NPS governed employees on an optional basis.

Chairman desired that the Department of Pension may consider the demand in reference to GPF of the Staff Side.”

The Staff Side again raised the issue in the presence of the then Cabinet Secretary in the National Council (JCM) Meeting held on 13.04.2009. The relevant portion of the Minutes of the Meeting is given below :-

“4.3 Withdrawal of NPS and re-introduction of Defined pension under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 he emphasized the Government to recommend at least 50% of the last pay drawn as minimum Pension to the retired I retiring Central Government Employees. “

“5.14 Secretary, Staff Side stated that they were opposed to NPS and demanded that the Old Pension Scheme be restored. He further stated that the Government should guarantee Pension of 50% of the last pay drawn to the employees recruited on nor after 01.01.2004. He further demanded facility of GPF and Family Pension to all employees.”

From all the above deliberations which have taken place in the National Council (JCM) you will appreciate that how serious the issue is.

In this situation the Department of Pension and PW vide OM No. 57/04/2019-P&PW (B) dated 17th February, 2020 have issued an instructions extending the benefit of the Old Pension Scheme to a particular section of employees. The relevant portion of the DOP&T OM dated 17th February, 2020 is given below for your kind ready reference.

“4. ……………… in all cases where the results for recruitment were declared before 01.01.2004 against vacancies occurring on or before 31.12.2003, the candidates declared successful for recruitment shall be eligible for coverage under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. Accordingly, such Government servants who were declared successful for recruitment in the results declared on nor before 31.12.2003 against vacancies occurring before 01.01.2004 and are covered under the National Pension System on joining on or after 01.01.2004, may be given a onetime option to be covered under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.”

Already the Government employees are divided into two classes, one making subscription and another making no subscription but receiving 50% of the last Basic Pay as Guaranteed Pension. Now by the above mentioned DOP&T OM again another class of employees within the NPS Scheme has been introduced. This has resulted in lot of discontentment amongst the Central Government Employees. Therefore, without prejudice to our right to continue to represent to the Government to withdraw the NPS and to reintroduce the Old Pension Scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 to all the Central Government Employees especially those who are recruited on or after 01.01.2004, we suggest the following as an immediate redressal of the grievance.

1) All the Central Government Employees who were recruited against the available sanctioned vacancies in different categories during the Year 2003, irrespective of the fact that whether selection process was completed on or before 31.12.2003, or the Notification / Call Letter / Interview / Selection process was completed on any year after 31.12.2003, but vacancies on the particular post were available on 31.12.2003, all such cases should be brought under the coverage of the Old Pension Scheme, since the recruitment process was delayed by the concerned Departments even though vacancies were available on 31.12.2003. In a nutshell all those employees irrespective of their date of recruitment / selection who were recruited against the available vacancies as on 31.12.2003 should all be brought under the Old Pension Scheme under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972.

As assured in the National Council (JCM) Meeting, GPF Scheme may be introduced to the employees governed under NPS at present.

As demanded by the Staff Side 50% of the last pay drawn should be guaranteed as Pension under the NPS Scheme till the Government withdraws the NPS for Central Government Employees.

Conclusion

We request you to convene a meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Council (JCM) under your Chairmanship to discuss the entire issue and to reach an amicable settlement.

Thanking you,
Yours Sincerely,

Sd/-
(SHIVA GOPAL MISHRA)
Secretary

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PRESS MEET

DEMANDING

• recovery of Huge NPAs in Banks
• Immediate wage settlement in banks and insurance
• Recruitment in Banks, Insurance and Central Government
• Scrap NPS

Also check: 2020 Nationwide Strike calls upon entire Central Government Employees

OPPOSING

• Anti Labour Reforms
• Merger of Public Sector Banks
• Corporatisation and Privatisation of PSBs, Postal and Defence Sector
• Increase of FDI in vital and sensitive sectors.

Make the General Strike a Grand Success.

Unions in Banks, Insurance and Central Govt. AIBEA, AIIEA, CC GEW, AIBOA, AIRRBEA, BEFI, NFPE, GIEAIA, AILICEF

Source: Confederation

The post ALL INDIA GENERAL STRIKE ON 8th January 2020 – Confederation appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

BPMS

Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh
(AN ALL INDIA FEDERATION OF DEFENCE WORKERS)
(AN INDUSTRIAL UNIT OF B.M.S.)
(RECOGNISED BY MINISTRY OF DEFENCE, GOVT. OF INDIA)

REF: BPMS/ Cir/18th TC/ 17

Dated: 04.09.2019

To,

The Office Bearers & CEC Members
Bharatiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh
&
The General Secretaries/ Presidents
Unions affiliated to this federation

Subject: One day Hunger Strike on 14.10.2019 at Atal Samadhi (Sadaiv Atal), Delhi.

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sadar Namaskar,

I hope all of you are quite well and busy in accelerating trade union activities to uplift the organization. It is for your kind information that Government Employees National Confederation has decided to conduct one day Hunger Strike on 14.10.2019 from 10:30 hrs to 15:30 hrs at Atal Samadhi (Sadaiv Atal), Near Rajghat, Delhi for various burning issues/ pending demands of Government employees like-

• Eradication of unemployment and filling of vacant posts through permanent employees in various offices/ establishments of Central/ States/ Autonomous Bodies
• Corruption free Government Departments
• No efforts should be made regarding corporatization of establishments of Defence/ Railway/ Postal or any other Government Department
• Restoration of Old Pension Scheme/ Removal of New Pension Scheme Extension of slab for Nil income tax liability upto 8 lakh
• Calculation limit of Bonus should be extended upto 18000 based on recommendation of 7th CPC on Minimum Pay
• Total abolition of Contract Worker System/ Outsourcing System for job of permanent nature in all Govt Departments
• All Allowance should be paid as per 7th CPC recommendations from 01.01.2016
• All employees of State Govt/ Autonomous Bodies should be granted Pay Structure of Central Government, wherever it is less beneficial to the Pay Structure of Central Government etc.

All the unions are requested to mark its presence by at least 5 members so that the hunger strike may be made successful.

With regards,

Brotherly Yours

(Mukesh Singh)
General Secretary

Source: BPMS

The post Pending demands of Central Government Employees – One day Hunger Strike on 14.10.2019 – BPMS appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

Proposal to include in the election manifesto of your party with regard to the scrapping of the National Pension System

“If you will be able to indicate your intention to replace the present new contributory scheme with the old Statutory Pension structure, in your manifesto, it might help immensely to elicit the support of the Central Government employees and their family members to your party candidates in the ensuing general election.”

NJCA
National Joint Council of Action

4, State Entry Road, New Delhi – 110055

No.NC-JCM-2019/NPS

March 8, 2019

To
The Chief Executive,
All Recognised National and State level Political Parties

Sub:- Proposal to include in the election manifesto of your party with regard to the scrapping of the National Pension System which has taken away the pension right of Central Government Employees

Dear Sir /Madam,

We write this on behalf of the organisations of the Central Government employees participating in the Joint Consultative Machinery, set up by the Government of India in 1960s as a negotiating forum to settle various demands and grievances of the employees through discussions. In the meeting that was held on 8th February, 2019, of the Standing committee of the National Council, Staff Side, it was unanimously decided that I in my capacity as the Secretary, Staff side National Council, must write to you to draw your kind attention to one of the most significant demands of the Central Government employees i.e. to replace the newly introduced contributory pension scheme with the old statutory defined Pension system and also to restore the GPF Scheme which was withdrawn by the Government. I have been asked to seek your support to this vital demand of the employees especially of the young workers who have entered government service after 1.1 .2004 and obtain an assurance from you that you will accede to the demand for the withdrawal of the New contributory scheme to replace it with the old Statutory pension system if elected to power in the ensuing general elections to constitute the Lok Sabha. Before going into the difficulties being faced by the employees governed under the New Contributory Pension Scheme which is at present christened as “National Pension System (NPS)”, I would like to invite your attention to the historical judgment delivered by the Hon’ble Supreme Court by a 5 Member Bench consisting of Hon’ ble Chief Justice Y.B.Chandrachud. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in this case has analyzed in detail the entire issue of Pension. The most important portion of the above historical judgment is reproduced below for your kind consideration please.

“From the discussions 3 things emerge

(i) that pension is neither a bounty nor a matter of grace depending upon the sweeting of the employer and that it creates a vested rights subject to 1972 Rules which are statutory in character, because they are enacted in exercise of powers conferred by the proviso to Article 309 and Clause (5) of article 148 of the constitution,

(ii) that Pension is not an ex-gratia payment but it is a payment for the past service rendered and

(iii) it is a social welfare measure rendering socio economic justice to those who in the heyday of their life ceaselessly toiled for the employer on an assurance that in their old age they would not be left in the lurch.”

As you are aware Sir/Madam, that the new contributory pension scheme was introduced by the then NDA Government in 2004 initially through an executive fiat. Later, rather much later, a bill was introduced in the Parliament to enact the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority. After the promulgation of the Notification in 2004, many State Governments adopted the scheme to cover their employees, the only exception being the State of West Bengal presently. The ostentatious reason adduced at the time of promulgation of the Notification and thereafter at the time of the introduction of the PFRDA bill, was the ever increasing financial outflow on pension account, which makes fiscal deficit management difficult. Prima facie the said reason appeared to be true as the quantum of outflow on account of Pension had been on increase. But the fact that it had always been on rise was concealed as also the one that as a percentage to the GDP, the pension payment had been continuously dwindling over the years.

The employees organisations had been pointing out to the Government that the desired objective of containing pension outflow would not come about for the next four decades. When the probable drastic reduction in pension under the new scheme was raised by the Staff Side in the National Council, the Government stated that under the new dispensation, employees will become entitled more annuity than the then existing entitlement of Pension, this assurance was given in writing by Government in the Standing Committee Meeting of the National Council (JCM) held under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Personnel) on 14′h December, 2007 and went on to assure the Government’s intervention if things turns out otherwise. It is also pertinent to mention here that the Government has exempted the Armed Force Personnel from the NPS and they continue to be in the old Pension Scheme. If the NPS is so attractive then why the Government has exempted them from NPS. This is a clear proof that the NPS is very much detrimental when compare to the old Pension Scheme.

The scheme is presently in vogue for the last 15 years. A few employees who were originally recruited as casual workers but got regularised later (retired before completion of the 33 or 35 years of service.) They were given a paltry amount as pension amounting to less than Rs, 2000. Had they been covered under the old Pension scheme, they would have certainly got more than 20,000 as pension. The new scheme has thus become “NO pension scheme’. The new scheme has thus created consternation of a very high order amongst the employees as they rightly feel that their hard earned savings are in effect compulsorily channelled to benefit the corporate entities. Since the Govt. will have to contribute equal amount or more (now 14%)the same would act in future as a real drain on the resources of the Government and will cause hardship in the form of increased tax liability. The anger and discontent of the employees have manifested itself in huge demonstrations and such other programmes and some of them have even resorted to strike action.

We are proud to mention that our principled opposition to the scheme right from the beginning, when it was introduced by the then NDA Government, has now been vindicated as it neither benefits the subscriber nor the Nation. Incidentally we may point out that in the wake of the 6th CPC, Government agreed to set up an expert committee under the chairmanship of Dr.Gayatri, at the Indian institute of social sciences to look into all aspects of the New Pension scheme. The committee has clearly indicated that the new scheme will draw more funds from the exchequer in the coming 40 years, before any reduction in the outflow could be brought about.

We fervently feel that the new contributory scheme must be replaced by the old Pension Scheme under the CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. If you will be able to indicate your intention to replace the present new contributory scheme with the old Statutory Pension structure, in your manifesto, it might help immensely to elicit the support of the Central Government employees and their family members to your party candidates in the ensuing general election.

We shall also be grateful for favour of a word in response to this communication from your end.

With kindest regards,

Yours sincerely,
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Convener

Source: ncjcmstaffside.com

The post Suggestion to include the election manifesto to scrap the national pension system that has taken away the pension rights of central government employees – NC JCM Staff Side appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.

2019 JANUARY 8th & 9th HISTORIC TWO DAYS NATIONWIDE STRIKE AND OUR FUTURE TASK

M.Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & workers

WE SHALL NOT STOP, TILL OUR GOAL IS ACHIEVED

WE SHALL MARCH TOWARS BIGGER STRUGGLE IN THE COMING DAYS

TO SCRAP NPS & TO RESTORE OPS

TO DEFEAT THE PERPETRATORS OF DISASTROUS NEO-LIBERAL POLICIES

Congratulations and big salute to all those leaders and workers who worked tirelessly and organised the most wide-spread and largely participated two days nationwide strike under the banner of Confederation, which is the vanguard of the Central Government employees movement.

Central Government employees had created history again. The two days nationwide strike on 2019 January 8th & 9th was not only widespread but a thundering and magnificent success in all respect, surpassing all the recent past strikes in percentage of participation. Of course, there was weakness in some sections and in some areas, but that didn’t affect the overall success and impact of the strike.

When the dominant leadership of the JCM National Council staffside and National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) ie., Railway Federations, are reluctant to go on strike against the betrayal of the BJP-led NDA Government on Minimum Pay & Fitment formula, NPS, Option-I of Pensioners, HRA arrears etc, inspite of the fact that Confederation and Defence Federation has authorised the Railway Federations leadership to serve strike notice reviving the deferred indefinite strike of 2016 July 11th, it is Confederation, Confederation alone, has shown its commitment to the cause of the 32 lakhs Central Government employees and 33 lakhs Central Govt. Civilian Pensioners, by organising two days historic strike along with the 20 crores workers of Indian working Class.

Confederation organised one day strike on 12-12-2012 and two days strike on 2014 February 13th & 14th demanding appointment of 7th Central Pay Commission, One day strike on 16-03-2017 demanding scrapping of NPS and honouring of assurance given by Group of Ministers and one day strikes on 2nd September 2015 and 2016 along with the mainstream of the working class against the neo-liberal economic policies. We decided to go on strike, demanding 10 points charter of demands of which the first and the main demand is “Scrap NPS & Restore OPS” in the mass convention of Central Government employees held at Hyderabad on 10th June 2018. Intensive campaign for the strike started from July 2018 onwards.

The message of the two days strike went to every nook and corner of the country and reached almost all central Govt. Offices and employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks, Casual/Contract Workers and Autonomous body employees and Pensioners. We are proud that we have stood with the workers and peasants of our country as a class-oriented militant trade union and Confederation represents the hope and aspirations of lakhs and lakhs of Central Government Employees and Central Govt. Civilian Pensioners.

NDA GOVERNMENT AND CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES – OUR EXPERIENCE:

(1) NEW CONTRIBUTORY PENSION SCHEME (NPS):
Everyone of us is aware that it is the previous BJP-led NDA Government which introduced the NPS in 2003 through a Gazette Notification dated 22nd December 2003, to all new entrants recruited on or after 01-01-2004. We are also aware that the Congress-led UPA-II Government passed the PFRDA Bill in Parliament to legalise NPS, with the full support of opposition BJP MPs in 2013 and thereafter PFRDA Act came into effect from 18th September 2013. Only 43 MPs of Left Parties, TMC, JDU, BSP, SP & RJD opposed the bill in Lok Sabha against 125 votes of Congress & BJP. In Rajya Sabha 25 MPs opposed while 115 supported. Confederation along with All India State Govt. Employees Federation (AISGEF) conducted series of agitational programmes against NPS from 2003 onwards including National Convention, Parliament March, signature campaign and strikes.

7th Central Pay Commission headed by Shri. Ashok Kumar Mathur, Retired Justice of Supreme Court of India, in Para 1.24 of its Report made the following observations:

“Almost a whole lot of Central Government employees appointed on or after 01-01-2004 were unhappy with the New Pension Scheme. While National Pension System (NPS) did not form a part of our Terms of Reference; we have recorded the sentiments of the affected employees. The Government should take a call and step into to look into their demands”.

In Para 10.03.11, the 7th CPC again made the following comments:

“The larger Federations and Staff Associations advocated scrapping of the NPS on the ground that it discriminate between two sets of Government employees. Individuals covered under NPS have pleaded for reverting to Old Pension Scheme (OPS) on the grounds of uncertainty regarding the actual value of their future pension, on the face of market related risks.”

Naturally, in tune with the recommendations of 7th CPC, when the NDA Govt. decided to appoint a High Level Committee called “NPS Committee”, the Central Government employees, especially the younger generation, expected that their anxiety and concerns will be taken into account by the Central Government and NPS will be scraped and OPS will be restored. But the final decision of the Government not to scrap NPS but only to increase the percentage of contribution by the Government from 10% to 14% was a great blow to the NPS employees. Their hopes are shattered, “their legitimate aspirations are guillotined” and a situation is created where their “hopes ended in despair”.

Their hope faded further when Shri. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, in his letter dated 3rd January 2019 addressed to Shri. Nitin Gadkari, another Cabinet Minister in the NDA Government, justified the continuation of NPS as follows:

“NPS is expected to provide old age income security to subscribers besides providing capital for the social and economic development of the economy”.

The final blow came when the NDA Government made its stand clear without any ambiguity in a reply dated 25-12-2018 given in Parliament stating that – “Representations have been received which inter-alia also include the demand that Government may revert to Old defined benefit pension system. However, due to the rising and unsustainable pension bill and competing claims on the fiscal, there is no proposal to replace the National Pension System (NPS) with Old Pension System (OPS) in respect of Central Govt. employees recruited on or after 01-01-2004”.

During the past 2-3 years many NPS employees, mainly Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual Labourers promoted to departmental posts after 01-01-2004 (as their previous service is not treated as regular service) and also aged dependents of deceased employees who got compassionate appointment after 01-01-2004 etc, retired from service after completing 10 to 13 years service. Their Annuity Pension under NPS is Rs.700/- to Rs.2700/- maximum per month, thus confirming our apprehension that “NPS is nothing but No Pension System”.

Unlike the BJP led NDA Government at the Centre, certain State Governments understood the seriousness of the situation and they have declared that they want to scrap NPS. (Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu during Jayaalitha’s time, Karnataka and Kerala Governments). Some of them appointed expert Review Committees to work out modalities for coming out of NPS. From the stand taken by the above State Governments it can be seen that it is the political stand of the ruling party that matter. At the centre, it is the political stand of the Political Party ruling the country which is crucial.

2. Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula:

After the continuous struggle by Confederation including strikes from 2011 onwards, the then UPA Government was compelled to announce appointment of 7th Central Pay Commission. Gujarat State Government objected the decision of the UPA Government to appoint 7th CPC. Shri. Narendra Modiji was the Chief Minister of Gujarat at that time. After coming to power at the Centre in 2014, the BJP led NDA Govt. made deliberate attempt and intervention to delay and deny the legitimate demands of the Central Govt. employees and Pensioners including the demands relating to Minimum Pay, Fitment Formula, HRA from 01-01-2016, Option-I for pensioners etc.

When the entire Central Government employees ,under the banner of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) decided to go on indefinite strike from 11th July, 2016 a Group of Cabinet Ministers including Shri. Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, Shri. Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister and the then Railway Minister Shri. Suresh Prabhu, gave categorical assurance on 30-06-2016 that Minimum Pay and Fitment formula will be increased and for that purpose a High Level Committee will be constituted. Even after a lapse of 2½ years neither High Level Committee was constituted nor Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula is increased.

The Finance Ministry in its Lok Sabha reply dated 11-12-2018, categorically stated as follows:

“The fitment factor for the purpose of fixation of pay in the revised pay structure, based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission is 2.57 which is uniformly applicable to all categories of employees. As the same is based on the specific and considered recommendations of the 7th CPC, no change ,thereon is envisaged”.

Thus the BJP led NDA Government has betrayed 32 lakhs Central Govt. employees and 33 lakhs Central Govt. Civilian Pensioners. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in the case of Bhupendra Nath Hazarika and Another Vs. State of Assam and others (reported in 2013(2)Sec.516) observed as follows, which is quoted by 7th CPC in its preface –

“It should always be borne in mind that legitimate aspirations of the employees are not guillotined and a situation is not created where hopes end in despair. Hope for everyone is gloriously precious and that a model employer should not convert it to be deceitful and treacherous…… A sense of calm sensibility and concerned sincerity should be reflected in every step. An atmosphere of trust has to prevail and when the employees are absolutely sure that their trust shall not be betrayed and they shall be treated with dignified fairness, then only the concept of good governance can be concretized. We say no more”.

The NDA Government has “guillotined” our aspirations. NDA Govt. has betrayed the employees and Pensioners and created an atmosphere where “Hopes ended in despair”. NDA Govt. converted our hope to be “deceitful and treacherous”, “Dignified Fairness”, “Calm sensibility” and “Concerned Sincerity” in treating our case is lacking on the part of NDA Government. Hence we have no alternative but to defeat the betrayers in the coming biggest battle of democracy.

The fate of the following other demands raised by the Confederation are also met with the same fate from the NDA Government:

Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual/Contract Workers. Implementation of the remaining favourable recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra Committee on GDS.

Grant of HRA arrears from 01-01-2016, removal of bench mark for MACP and grant of promotional hierarchy and date of effect of MACP from 01-01-2006.

Fill up of all vacant posts. Reintroduce Regional Recruitment for Group B and C Posts.

Implement Option-I formulation of 7th CPC for Pensioners.

Settle anomalies arising out of 7th CPC.

Parity in Pay scales between Central Secretariat Staff and similarly placed staff working in field units of various departments.

Withdraw closure orders of Govt. of India Printing Presses. Stop closure of Govt. establishments and outsourcing of Govt. functions. Stop proposed move to close down salt department.

Implement 7th CPC Wage Revision and Pension revision in remaining Autonomous bodies. Grant Bonus to Autonomous body employees pending from 2016-17 onwards.

Remove 5% ceiling on compassionate appointment and grant appointments in all deserving cases.

Grant five Assured Career Progression to all Group B and Group C employees.

Stop attack on Trade Union rights. Ensure prompt functioning of all JCM forums. Withdraw the draconian FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972.

ELECTION AND CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES:

In a democratic country like in India, elections to the Legislative bodies are also part of the struggle against the anti-worker and anti-people policies of the ruling class. Com.K.G.Bose, the legendary leader of the Central Govt. Employees movement has observed as follows:

“It is a common say, particularly among the Government employees that the Unions should remain aloof from the politics. All the confusion has arisen because of the fact that the correct definition of the “Politics and Trade Union” has not been understood by most of us. Those two things are not separate from each other rather they are inseparable. Politics do not mean the policies of a particular political party. Each and every demand of the Govt. employees is linked with the politics of the country. It is high time that the age old confusions be removed from the minds of the Govt. employees and their unions. Collective thinking on the problems of life in the context of a nation is a fundamental right of every section of the people and therefore, the Central Govt. employees cannot be deprived of their birth right on the plea of “Political influence”.

It is in the above background, we have to take position in the coming General Elections. Our experience during the last five years have proved that BJP-led NDA Government is the most anti-worker and anti-people Government the country had since independence. This Govt. is by the corporates, of the corporates and for the corporates. The working class, including Central Govt. employees, should be made aware of this challenge and prepared to defeat it. It should be kept in mind that defeat of this Government is not the end, but our struggle for reversal of the neo-liberal policies has to continue with increased vigour even after ensuring defeat of the anti-worker government. In any case, continuation of this Government is against the interest of the working class, especially the Central Govt. employees. Change is the need of the hour.

As a class-oriented militant trade union, it is our responsibility to channelize the discontentment and anger of the employees on proper direction with the objective of strengthening united struggles to defeat the neo-liberal policies and ultimately pave the way for taking the struggle towards an exploitation free society. Let us make 2019 that started with the two days historic strike, a year of heightened struggles leading to decisive struggles against the neo-liberal policies. Let us be prepared for a bigger struggle in coming days to “SCRAP NPS & RESTORE OPS” and also for the realisation of our long pending demands.

Let us not forget that the ruling class may use all tricks at their command, all weapons in their armoury to divert the attention of the people and workers, away from their burning day to day livelihood issues, to divide and disrupt their unity to engineer polarisation of the society on caste and communal lines for their electoral gains. We should be prepared to defeat all such machinations and should preserve our unity.

Let us remember the following lines from the famous speech of Late Martin Luther King, Jr –

“Change does not roll in the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle, and so, we must straighten our backs and work for our goal.”

Source: Confederation

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New Pension System To Old Pension Scheme
Karnataka Government Employees Protest against NPS

Karnataka State Government Employees demanded to scrap NPS and on Wednesday they took a streets in Karnataka’s Belgaum City. As per the media news, thousands of agitating employees assembled in Kondaskoppa area of the city, opposite the Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (State Assembly) where he winter session of the Karnataka Assembly is in session.

Earlier the members of the Karnataka State NPS Employees Association demanded scrapping of NPS.

Nothing More…
Nothing Less…
We Want
OLD PENSION SCHEME

Yesterday (12.12.2018), National Secretariat of Confederation decided to observe as DEMANDS DAY raising the demand “SCRAP NPS & RESTORE OPS” through out the country.

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Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers Central Headquarters
Ist Floor, North Avenue Postoffice Building, New Delhi-110001

Dated 03-10-2018.

Welcome to all Women Delegates & Leaders

All India Women’s Trade Union Camp
2018 October 29th & 30th
Haridwar

All Affiliates, C-O-Cs and Women Comrades are requested to mobilize maximum number of delegates to attend the Camp.  Affiliates, please instruct all your units to ensure maximum participation. Book tickets immediately.

Com: Subhashini Ali, Ex.MP – and Fighting leader of the working class will inaugurate the camp. Com: Kirti Singh, Advocate, Supreme Court & Convenor, Legal Cell, AIDWA will take class on “Women’s Social Status and Rights in Indian Society and our Task”.  Com: T.K.Rajalekshmi, Frontline, will take class on “Media and Politics”.  Com. K.K.N.Kutty, President and Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General and other Chief Executives of Confederation and affiliates will speak on the subject – “SCRAP NPS, RESTORE OPS – Confederation charter of demands and Two days Nationwide strike on 8th & 9th January 2019”.  Com.Usha Bonepalli, President, Women’s Committee will preside and Com.R.Seethalakshmi, Convenor, Women’s Committee will address the camp.

Welcome to all women delegates and leaders.  All India Women’s Convention will also be held along with the camp.

Fraternally yours,

R.Seethalakshmi
Chairperson  Convenor
Women’s Committee

Usha Boneppalli,
Women’s Committee.

K.K.N.Kutty  
President,
Confederation.

M.Krishnan
Secretary General,
Confederation.

Com.R.N.Parashar, SG NFPE & Chairman,COC, UP State – Mob: 09718686800
Com.Virendra Tiwari, Working Chairman, COC, UP State – Mob: 09839195933
Com.J.P.Singh, General Secretary, COC, UP State – Mob: 08005445445

Source: Confederation

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Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers Central Headquarters
1st Floor, North Avenue Post office Building, New Delhi-110001

Ref: Confdn/2016-19 Dated – 28.06.2018

* SCRAP NPS Restore Defined Benefit Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all employees.
* SETTLE 10 POINTS CHARACTER OF DEMANDS OF CONFEDERATION

NATIONWIDE ONE DAY STRIKE ON 15-11-2018
MASS RALLY AT NEW DELHI ON 25TH SEPTEMBER 2018

Central Govt. Employees, State Govt. Employees, Public Sector Employees and other Class and Mass organisations will participate.

Dear Comrades,
Please refer to the Confederation Circular dated 25-06-2018 wherein the Resolution & declaration, Programme of action and charter of demands adopted in the 10th June 2018 National Convention of Central Govt. Employees are published. A very big mass rally will be organised at New Delhi on 05-09-2018 along with State Government employees, Public sector employees and other class and mass organisations. Quota fixed for each affiliate and C-O-Cs are furnished below. Regarding accommodation etc. for the participants in the rally, each organisation/C-O-C shall make their own arrangements. Up and down travel tickets of the participants should be booked well in advance. As State Govt. Employees etc. are also participating in the rally, it will be difficult to get confirmed tickets in the last minute. All affiliates and C-O-Cs are requested to finalise the delegates of each unit and first priority may be given for booking tickets. For any help at New Delhi, C-O-C, Delhi State Committee may be contacted.

1. Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee 09868520926
General Secretary, C-O-C. 09013163804
2. Com. Giriraj Singh 09811213808
President, C-O-C.

Name of affiliated
organisation/C-O-C

No.of employees –
quota fixed for mobilising and
participating in the rally.

1. National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE)  – 5,000
2. Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF) – 1,000
3. All India Audit & Accounts Association – 500
4. All India Civil Accounts Employees Association – 500
5. National Federation of Atomic Energy Employees (NFAEE)  – 300
6. All India Central Ground Water Board Employees Association (AICGWBEA) – 300
7. Geological Survey of India Employees Association (GSIEA) – 200
8. All other affiliated organisations  – 100 each
9. C-O-C Delhi – 500
10. C-O-Cs UP  – 800
11. C-O-C West Bengal – 300
12. C-O-C Kerala – 150
13. C-O-C Tamilnadu – 200
14. C-O-C AP & Telangana – 300
15. C-O-C Karnataka – 200
16. C-O-Cs Maharashtra – 300
17. C-O-C Odisha – 150
18. C-O-C Assam & NE – 200
19. All other state C-O-Cs 100 – each

All affiliates are requested to allote quota to their lower units immediately. Please instruct all units to book tickets immediately.

Fraternally Yours,

M. Krishnan
Secretary General,
Confederation.
Mob.& Whats App: 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Source: http://confederationhq.blogspot.com/

The post Scrap NPS restore defined benefit old pension scheme (OPS) for all Central govt employees & State Govt employees. Settle 10 points charter of demands of confederation. appeared first on CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES NEWS.