Magnificent Response to Strike Call by All Trade Unions!

Magnificent Response to Strike Call by All Trade Unions!

180 Million Indian Workers & Employees Struck Work on 2nd September!

This must be a Guinness record! 18 Crores of Indian Workers (180 Million) went on a nationwide strike on 2nd September, 2016. Many Nations do not have this much population in their countries! The strike, 17th in its number against the neo-liberal policies  of successive Central Governments is an indication of growing discontentment against the attitude of Modi Government towards labour in general! 

The Postal Employees responded magnificently in several states.The response is reportedly better than last strike. Several Head Post Offices and Post Offices found closed totally with not even a single employee turned for work. The attempt of the Central Government to announce implementation of Bonus Ceiling 7000/- instead of 3500/- to CG Employees from last financial year did not deter the CG Employees in general and the Postal Employees in particular from participating in the strike action. The announcement that the NPS covered Employees will get Gratuity did not prevent the newly recruited employees on or after 1.1.2004 from joining the mainstream of workers and employees in the Strike. The implementation of 7th CPC as well as payment of arrears before 31st August also not created any confusion amongst the CG Employees. The indication is very clear! That if the pending High Power Committees fail to deliver proper results in offering enhancement of Minimum Wage and Fitment Factor; fail to change the retrograde recommendations on Allowances etc, the CG Employees will not hesitate to launch the indefinte strike that has been deferred on the request of Group of Ministers!

The response of Pensioners is appreciable. The AIPRPA CHQ is receiving reports from many States that the Pensioners of AIPRPA together with other sister pensioners organisations organised either demonstrations or dharnas on 2nd Septermber, 2016 or on 1st September, 2016 in places where 2nd was a declared bandh as in Kerala. Even some of our members courted arrest by staging rasto roko as in Vellore District of Tamilnadu where four of our own Members of AIPRPA were arrested while staging a rasto roko agitation. Demonstrations and Dharna agitations were held in many District Headquarters at the call of the State COC of Central, State Government and Public Sector Pensioners Organisations of Tamilnadu. Hundreds of Pensioners responded in places like Chennai. Kerala reported demonstrations by AIPRPA in all Districts together with AIBDPA and CGPA. In many centres Pensioners joined hands with employees and staged demonstrations as in Andhra. Delhi State also held a protest demonstration. States like Jharkhand reported joint protest demonstrations with Employees and Pensioners joining hands. More reports are expected and they will be reported as soon as we get them. 

Here are some photographs of Pensioners staging demonstrations / dharnas on 1st or 2nd September:

Erode Tamilnadu

Erode Tamilnadu

Kakinada Andhra

Kakinada Andhra

Tirunelveli Tamilnadu

Tirunelveli Tamilnadu

Four Vellore Tamilnadu Comrades Senjimani (State AGS AIPRPA); S.Perumal (Vellore District Assistant Secretary AIPRPA); S.Selvaraj (Executive Member of AIPRPA Vellore); and  S.Pasupathi (Member AIPRPA Vellore) arrested on 2nd September for their Rasto Rokho agitation - released in the evening of 2nd September!

Chennai Dharna by All Pensioners Coordination Committee

Chennai Dharna - leaders addressing

NCJCM urged Govt to grant HRA and Allowances w.e.f 1.1.2016

Shri. Ragaviah, leader Staff Side NCJCM  urged upon the Chairman, 7th CPC Allowances Committee , to consider granting HRA at 30%, 20% & 10% of 7th CPC Pay, for the staff working in X, Y & Z Cities/Towns w.e.f. 01/01/2016

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

3, CHELMSFORD ROAD, NEW DELHI – 110 055

Affiliated to :

Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC)

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF)

No. IV/NFIR/7 CPC(Imp)/Allowances/2016

Dated: 02/09/2016

The General Secretaries of Affiliated Unions of NFIR

Dear Brother,

Sub: Meeting of the Committee to examine the recommendations of 7th CPC regarding Allowances- September 1, 2016, North Block, New Delhi-reg.

The meeting of the Committee was held on 1st September, 2016 at Room No. 72, North Block, New Delhi under the Chairmanship of Finance Secretary and Secretary (Expr) to discuss on 7th CPC allowances. The JCM (Staff Side) Standing Committee Members have participated in the meeting. All the Standing Committee Members (Staff Side) expressed their serious disappointment over non-fulfillment of the assurance given by the Finance Ministry on 6th July 2016 for setting up High Level Committee to examine 7th CPC issues mainly – Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor.

The Leader Staff Side & General Secretary, NFIR Shri M. Raghavaiah has explained to the Finance Secretary, the discussions held between JCM (Staff Side) Leaders & Senior Ministers namely S/Shri Rajnath Singh, Arun Jaitley, Suresh Prabhu and Shri Manoj Sinha on the night of 30th June, 2016 and subsequent meeting held on 6th July, 2016 with Union Home Minister. He further explained that an assurance was given to appoint a High Level Committee to examine the issues relating to Minimum Wage, Multiplying Factor and other allied issues and accordingly Finance Ministry had issued statement on the night of 06th July, 2016 that a High Level Committee will be constituted. Pursuant to this assurance, the Strike action was deferred by the NJCA/JCM (Staff Side). He conveyed that the non-fulfillment of assurance is causing disappointment among employees. He requested the Chairman of the meeting to take initiative for ensuring that the assurance given is fulfilled.

He also expressed disappointment over non-holding of National Council (JCM) meetings since the last six years, resulting accumulation of grievances.

On the “Allowances”, he urged upon the 7th CPC Allowances Committee   Chairman to consider granting HRA at 30%, 20% & 10% of 7th CPC Pay, for the staff working in X, Y & Z Cities/Towns w.e.f. 01/01/2016. He also contended that the date of effect of the Allowances should be January 1, 2016.

Mr. Raghavaiah has also highlighted the 7th CPC aberrations on Transport Allowance and requested to take action for rectification. He said that Fixed Medical Allowance be revised upwardly. He invited the special attention of the Finance Secretary to Para 8.2.5 of the 7th CPC recommendation which is retrograde and needed to be rejected as the same would cause harm to staff. He cited the case of PCO Allowance, Special Allowance for announcing duties, Special Incentive allowance etc., admissible in railways which are required to be continued and hiked

President/NFIR Shri Guman Singh, Working President Shri R. P. Bhatnagar, Vice President Shri K.S. Murty also spoke and stressed upon the need to continue the existing Allowances like Break Down Allowance in Railways. They also expressed serious disappointment over non-revision of Minimum Wage and Multiplying Factor.

While there has been no commitment from the Chairman and Official Side of the Committee, the Finance Secretary however stated that further meetings will be held and in the meantime the JCM (Staff Side) may list out common issues and send the same to the Joint Secretary (Imp) and equally Departmental specified issues be sent through the respective Administrative Ministries for examination.

The above is for information of Affiliates.

Yours faithfully

(Dr. M. Raghavaiah)

General Secretary

Source-http://www.nfirindia.org