NATIONWIDE STRIKE - To Scrap NPS and To Restore OPS
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
