MAGNIFICENT RESPONSE TO THE STRIKE CALL OF CONFEDERATION

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL

GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS

Manihsinath Bhawan

A/2/95 Rajouri Garden

New Delhi. 110 027.

Website: confederationhq. Blogspot.com.

E mail:confederation06@yahoo.co.in.

No. Conf/20/2012 Dated: 14th December, 2012

GLORIOUS RESPONSE TO STRIKE CALL

 Dear Comrades,

                The one day strike on 12.12.12 in pursuance of the 15 point charter of demands elicited magnificent response from the Central Government employees. As per the reports received at the Confederation Headquarters from the State Committees and Affiliates, near about 70% of the CGEs whom the Confederation represents is reported to have participated in the strike action

                On behalf of the Secretariat, we convey our sincere gratitude and thanks to all our State/District/Branch level leaders and through them to all the members who participated in the strike.  We reproduce the Press statement issued by us on 12^th which is reflective of the extent of participation state-wise and organisation-wise.  During the three months long campaign and mobilisation programmes undertaken by our leaders, we could convincingly bring to the understanding of the rank and file of our membership the pernicious impact of the neo-liberal economic policies pursued by the Government since 1991.  The employees could realise more than ever before the need for united, organised and sustained struggles and responded admirably to the call.

                 We were no doubt apprehensive of our decision to organise a day's strike sans the major section of the CGEs i.e. Railways and Defence Federations. We were also aware of the erosion of the efficacy of the Confederation came about in the background of prolonged confabulations and negotiations in the JCM sans struggles.   It, therefore, goes to the credit of the leaders of the affiliates and members of the State Committees that we could successfully overcome our weakness and bring about vibrancy and cohesiveness and enthuse our members for a decisive action.  The crowning success in our endeavour which was considered by many as adventurously risky in the beginning will embolden us to go ahead and chalk out much more intensive struggles in the days to come.

                 The issues which we have projected through this highly successful strike action are of paramount importance and require to be settled without delay. We firmly believe that in the action programmes that will unfold in the coming months, those who did not have the courage to walk along with us on 12^th December, 2012 will join and this Government will be compelled to reverse its policies or perish.  We will ensure through sustained struggles and with unwavering determination that the PFRDA bill is withdrawn, the outsourcing, privatisation, contractorisation is ended; there are no informal, daily rated workers, the Grameen Dak Sewaks enjoy the  status, privileges , perks and salary of a regular employee;  discrimination on various matters like the compassionate appointment, overtime allowance, Bonus entitlement etc., is removed; that the Government employees enjoy the trade union rights, i.e. right to collective bargaining and strike,; that posts are created as per the work requirement; a decent career advancement scheme is evolved to all employees and above all revision of wages is effected through the setting up of the 7^th CPC together with the merger of 50% DA with Basic Pay for all purposes.

                We know there are innumerable problems, hurdles and difficulties.  We also know that nothing is insurmountable.  Let us with determination go ahead and intensify our campaign to make the next struggle, the two days strike on 20^th and 21^st February a grand success. 

                We must record our appreciation over the efforts of the State Committees in organising Press media meet and conferences, which immensely helped in getting widest possible coverage for the strike.   We thank those comrades who could persuade the honourable Members of Parliament to take up our problems with the Government.  Our communication to the Political Parties, Central Trade Unions, Federations and Associations has helped in bringing our demands and problems within the knowledge of the cross section of our countrymen.  We shall intensify our efforts in this regard. The strike action was covered extensively and widely by the Regional Electronic and Print Media and as usual was spurned by the National Media owned by the rich corporate houses.

                We express our gratitude to Com. Basudeb Acharya, Member of Parliament, Leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha and a very senior leader of the CITU for raising our demands in the Parliament on 12^th December, 2012.  His submissions as it appeared in the Lok Sabha records are reproduced.

Statement made by Com. Basudeb Acharya in Lok Sabha on 12.12.12

SHRI BASU DEB ACHARIA (BANKURA): Chairman, Sir today, about one million of Central Government employees are on strike.....(interruptions) The employees' organisations in Postal, Income tax, Audit, Accounts, Printing and Stationery, Geological Survey of India, Customs, Central Excise, Indian Bureau of Mines, CGHS, Ground Water Board, Central Water Commission, Central Public Works, Census, Defence Accounts, Indian Space Research Organisation, Andaman Nicobar and Pondicherry Administrations and Medical Stores Depot are on strike..............(interruption)

Their demand is the constitution of Seventh Pay Commission....(Interruptions) It is due from Ist January, 2011 but the Government of India has not yet constituted the Seventh Pay Commission to consider the revision of Pay and allowances  to the Central Government employees.  They are agitating....(Interruptions)  After acceptance of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, there are several anomalies in their pay scales.  A Committee was constituted but that committee has failed to address the problem of anomalies in regard to their pay scales.........(interruptions)

Mr. Chairman. Hon. Members, Please go back to your seats.  Other Hon. Members are raising their issues. ...(.Interruptions.)

Mr.Chairman:  Hon. Members, I will call your leader.  Please take your seats...........(Interruptions)

SHRI BASUDEB ACHARIA (BANKURA).  Sir, there is a joint consultative machinery to address the problem of Central Government employees but this JCM has become non functional...........(Interruptions) Their meetings are not being held.  As a result of that, the problems of Central Government employees are not being resolved. .............(Interruptions)

Mr. Chairman.  Shri P.K. Biju is associating with the matter raised by Shri Basu Deb Acharia. 

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