Central Trade Unions reiterate countrywide General Strike on 2nd September 2016 - Press Statement

Central Trade Unions reiterate countrywide General Strike on 2nd September 2016 - Press Statement

2nd September 2016 - All India General Strike - Make it a Grand Success

2^nd SEPTEMBER 2016 -ALL INDIA GENERAL STRIKE

MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS

The Joint platform of Central Trade Unions (CTUs) of the Country along with Independent National Federations of employees of different industries and services including Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers, have decided to organize All India General Strike on 2^nd 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 43^rd, 44^th and 45^th 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 7^th 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 Confederation National Secretariat calls upon the entirety of Central Govt. employees to make intensive campaign and preparation for making the 2^nd September 2016 strike a grand success. Along with the 12 Point charter of demands of the working class, the Confederation has decided to submit the demands pertaining to the Central Govt. employees also as Part-B of the Charter of demands to the Govt. The Chater of demands (Part A and B) is furnished below:

2016 September 2^nd 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 30^thJune 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 7^th CPC recommendations, submitted to Cabinet Secretary on 10^th 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.

All affiliated organisations and C-O-Cs are requested to plan phased campaign programme during the month of August 2016 by conducting squad work, general body meetings, conventions, and printing and circulating notices, pamphlets and posters. Each affiliated organization should issue their own separate circulars and instructions to all their units endorsing the decision of the Confederation National Secretariat.

(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

Confederation

Mob: -09447068125, 09968898009

E-mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com