APPOINTMENT OF SECRETARY IN THE DEPARTMENT

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS HAS ENDORSED – 7th C.P.C.

CONVENER, NJCA WRITES TO HOME MINISTER & FINANCE MINISTER FOR SETTING UP OF
HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS ISSUED GAZETTE NOTIFICATION FOR 7TH C.P.C.

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA HAS ISSUED GAZETTE NOTIFICATION FOR 7TH C.P.C.

English version will follow due to technical error in website

7^th CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION

REPLY OF THE FINANCE MINISTER IN RAJYA SABHA

Dear Comrades,

            We are reproducing below the reply given by the Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley in the Rajya Sabha on 19-07-2016 --

            The Finance Minister has made it clear that “the government is responsive to the concerns of the Employees’ Associations and it would be the endeavor of the Government to ensure that the eventuality of a strike does not arise.”

            Regarding increasing of the multiplication factor, the Finance Minister replied that:

“no such proposal is under consideration of the Government, at present’

            The assurance given to the NJCA leaders by the Group of Ministers (including Finance Minister) on 30-06-2016 is that enhancement in minimum pay and fitment factor (multiplication factor) will be considered favourably by the Government, once the proposal in this regard is submitted to Government by the proposed “High Level Committee” within four months. Hence, the matter will come for the  “consideration” of the Govt. only after submission of the report by the High Level Committee.

            In that sense, technically, the reply of the Finance Minister that “at present” there is no such proposal under consideration of the Government, may not be taken in a different manner and we need not jump into the conclusion that multiplication factor will not be increased.

            However, giving due importance to the concerns expressed by many of our comrades and grass-root level leaders, the NJCA will discuss this issue shortly and take appropriate decision. NJCA is keenly observing the move of the Govt. and any going back from the assurances given by the Group of Ministers or any betrayal of 33 lakhs Central Govt. Employees and 40 lakhs pensioners by the NDA Govt., shall result in revival of the deferred strike by the NJCA and Government will be solely responsible for all consequences.

M.KRISHNAN

Secretary General

Confederation

*******************************

THE FINANCE MINISTER STATEMENT ON MULTIPLICATION FACTOR 7th CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION NEWS

The Finance Minister Statement on Multiplication Factor

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF FINANCE

RAJYA SABHA

QUESTION NO 28                                                                            ANSWERED ON 19.07.2016

7th CENTRAL PAY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS

Shri Neeraj Shekhar

            Will the Minister of FINANCE be pleased to state :-

(a) whether Government has implemented the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations;

(b) if so, the details thereof along with the date of notification thereof;

(c) whether increase in pay of Central Government Officials is historically low under 7th CPC; if so, the reasons thereof;

(d) whether employees unions/trade unions have announced to go on indefinite strike against the historically low revision of salaries by Government, if so, the response of Government thereto; and

(e) whether uniform multiplication factor of at least 3 is proposed to be applied for revision of pay under 7th CPC; if not, the reasons there for?

ANSWER

THE FINANCE MINISTER   (SHRI ARUN JAITLEY)

            A statement is being laid on the Table of the House

            Statement Annexed with the Rajya Sabha Starred Question No. 28 for 19.07.2016 by Shri Neeraj Shekhar on 7th Central Pay Commission Recommendations

            (a) & (b): The Government has decided to implement the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission relating to pay, pension and related issues. The requisite notifications are being issued shortly.

            (c) The increase in pay as recommended by the 7th Central Pay commission is based on the detailed deliberations by the Commission keeping in view all relevant factors having a bearing upon the prevailing circumstances

            (d) Employee Associations of Central Government had given a call for strike with effect from 11.07.2016 which has since been deferred. However, the Government is responsive to the concerns of the Employees’ Association and it would be the endeavour of the Government to ensure that the eventuality of a strike does not arise.

(e) In view of the multiplication factor having been accepted based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay commission, no such proposal is under consideration of the Government, at present.

Source: Rajyasabha.nic.in

Massive Participation of Members of AIPSBCOEA, NFPE leaders viz. Com. Giri Raj Singh President NFPE, Com. S. Appan Raj Ex. General Secy. AIPSBCOEA, Com. S.B. Yadav Dy. General Secy. AIPAEA and 

Com. G.P. Dubey Circle Secretary AIPAOEU in Central Working Committee Meeting held at Ujjain (M.P.) on 3rd & 4th July, 2016

Seminar on "Role of SBCO in CBS and India Post Payment Bank" inaugurated by Mrs. Preeti Agrawal, DPS, Indore on 4th July, 2016

The decisions & resolutions passed by House for betterment of service conditions of SBCO Employees shall be circulated separately through forthcoming bulletins in detail.
The photographs during sessions on marvellous events are explored herewith :

 

At Ujjain ( Madhyapradesh ) the holy and historical place, the central working committee of our All India union was held successfully during July 3^rd and 4^th, 2016.

Com. S.S Sathe President (CHQ) was on the chair. He conducted the two days session proceedings is laudable.

On the first day, followed by warm welcome address by Com. Virendra Tewary General Secretary the open session commenced.

Com. Giriraj Singh the president NFPE and General Secretary R3 Union inaugurated the session. In his address he elaborately discussed the present situation in the trade union activities, the rigid attitude of the Government, the struggle against retrograde recommendations of 7^th CPC and rejection of modification sought for by unions and problems faced by SBCO people. He assured to extend solidarity action in settling of SBCO issues either at administrative level or direct action.

Honouring our invitation the leaders Com. S.B Yadav, Asst General Secretary AIPAEA, Com. G.P. Dubey the leader of Administrative union and some other leaders of sister unions of M.P Circle were kind enough to participate and deliver felicitation address. They were honoured in fittest manner in the meeting.

In afternoon , the subject committee commenced under the chairmanship of Com. S.S. Sathe our president.  Nearly ninety comrades including visitors attended  and the house was full. Delegates from two or three were not attending due to their preoccupation with their personal affairs. As a first agenda , the  proceedings of last CWC held on 10^th and 11^th Dec 2015 was confirmed in house. Then the draft report of the present session was read out by Com. Virendra Tewary General Secretary. National situation and related struggles on our demands, the participation of AIPSBCOEA, the demands of indefinite strike of Central government employees and the serious problems of SBCO employees have been narrated in crystal clear. Since, issue of SB order 14 dated 19.10.2015 all the Directorate orders relate to CBS  have been annexed with draft report as ready reference. After that, the brain storming session of discussion over the contents of the draft  report and about agenda of meeting were held. Along with CHQ office bearers, the circle secretaries / delegates those attended made excellent points during their speech. Improper approach of the department towards SBCO employees, bugs in the application of SBCO  finacle software , harmful contributory negligence recovery from SBCO employees and cadre restructure with nomenclature of AUDITOR are main points in the discussion of delegates. Some of them underlined in their speech that the matter posted in CHQ website could not be read out . They suggested to revamp the structure of website and administered by the General Secretary himself. The points raised and suggestions made have been included under resolutions and will be taken by General Secretary with appropriate authorities. As a significant step, the CWC appointed a committee and sub committee headed by Com. S. Appanraj formerly General secretary to review the problems arisen in CBS scenario and to find solutions.

On the day 4^th July at  10 AM, deliberations commenced with Seminar “Role of SBCO in the backdrop of CBS & Formation of India Post Payment Bank“. Com. Virendra Tewary gave introductory speech on the subject. Accepting our invitation, Ms. Preeti Agarwal D.P.S. Indore Region was kind enough to attend our CWC and gave exemplary speech in the seminar. Many innovative points are found place in her address which is very useful to all.

Com. Asitdas Deputy general secretary addressed the body and offered to host the forth coming All India conference in West Bengal among cheers. Then Com. S. Appanraj Formerly General Secretary felicitated the meeting. With the thanks giving address of Com. Subash Jaiswal Circle Secretary M.P. CWC meeting came to end.

Our CHQ convey heartiest thanks to and appreciation to Com. R.V. Muley Regional Secretary Com. Subhash Jaiswal, Circle Secretary, M.P circle and all other executive members for making elaborate and excellent arrangements for conducting CWC at a short notice.

NFPE ZINDABAD                         AIPSBCOEA ZINDABAD

Virendra Tewary

General Secretary

DEFERRING OF THE INDEFINITE STRIKE – CLARIFICATIONS

M. Krishnan, Secretary General,

Confederation of C. G. Employees & Workers

Dear Comrades,

We are in receipt of messages and emails from our grass root leaders and workers conveying their concerns over the decision of NJCA to defer the indefinite strike. Comments are circulated in other social medias like whats app etc. also. As it is not practically possible to reply to all the queries and comments, to put the record straight, we are clarifying below the common points raised by most of our comrades and well-wishers. We sincerely thank all those leaders, comrades and well-wishers, who have conveyed (and still conveying) their views, opinions, criticisms and concerns to the confederation CHQ.

1.      CONVEYING THE DEFERMENT OF THE STRIKE EVEN BEFORE THE NJCA FORMALLY ANNOUNCED IT:

NJCA has taken serious note of this incident and shall take precautionary measures in future.

2.      WHETHER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CABINET DECISION ON 7^TH CPC RECOMMENDATIONS WILL BE DELAYED FURTHER FOR FOUR MONTHS

The question of keeping in abeyance the implementation of the Cabinet decision on 29^th June 2016 regarding 7^thCPC recommendations, till the High Level Committee submits its report to Govt, was discussed in the NJCA meeting. It is decided that NJCA should not demand it, as the employees may be put to hardship, especially those who are in the verge of retirement. Com Shiv Gopal Misra, Convenor, NJCA has confirmed from the Finance Ministry that Govt notification on 7^th CPC recommendations is under process and it will be issued shortly, payment may be made from August salary.

3.      WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN EMPOWERED COMMITTEE CONSTITUTED EARLIER AND THE NEW HIGH LEVEL COMMITTEE?

The new High Level Committee is the product of the discussion held by Group of Ministers including Home Minister, Finance Minister and Railway Minister with NJCA leaders after announcement of the Cabinet decision, in the wake of an impending indefinite strike. Govt is compelled to appoint the new Committee, as the decision taken by the Govt on the proposals submitted by the Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary (details of proposals of ECoS is not known to staff side) is not acceptable to the NJCA. Hence the new Committee shall be to reconsider the decision of the Govt. especially regarding minimum wage and fitment formula. Inspite of the assurance of the Groups of Ministers that the Committee is being constituted to reconsider the Govt. decision, if the Govt. again reject our demand, the NJCA have to reconsider its stand and deferred strike shall be revived.

4.      POSITION REGARDING ALLOWANCES

All allowances including HRA, transport allowance, fixed medical allowance to pensioners etc. are referred to a committee headed by Finance Secretary. Committee shall submit its report within four months. Pending final decision based on the report of the Committee, all existing allowances to be paid as per the existing rates in existing pay structure. Govt. may try to deny arrears of revised rate of allowances by implementing it from prospective date as in the past. This issue will be further discussed by the NJCA with the proposed Committee.

5.      WE WOULD HAVE GOT A BETTER SETTLEMENT IF NJCA HAS GONE AHEAD WITH THE INDEFINITE STRIKE

All of us are aware that NJCA is not a monolithic, composite organization. It is a united forum of independent organisations. Each Federation has its own identity and individuality and take decision as per the direction of the managing bodies of each organization. Hence different views may emerge in the NJCA, but final decision is taken by consensus. If each organization stick on to its own stand and others to follow it, there is no question of consensus and NJCA will not exist.

With all its inherent weakness and limitations, the NJCA has successfully challenged the NDA Govt’s stand that there is no negotiation with the staff side on the 7^th CPC recommendations. Govt. thought that once the Cabinet decision is announced unilaterally, followed by unleashing of well-orchestrated media propaganda that big bonanza is given for Central Govt. Employees, the NJCA will be forced to withdraw its indefinite strike decision. But the calculation of the Govt went wrong. NJCA took a firm stand that unless and until the retrograde recommendations especially minimum wage and fitment formula is modified, there is no question of withdrawing the strike. All the Federations are firm on this demand which ultimately compelled the Hon’ble Prime Minister to intervene. (NJCA has written to Hon’ble Prime Minister for intervention even before the Cabinet decision, but the Govt. ignored the NJCA’s appeal at that time). As per the direction of the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Hon’ble Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Sri Arun Jaitly and Railway Minister Sri Suresh Prabhu discussed the main issues raised in the Charter of demands with NJCA leaders, and assured that Govt. will appoint a High Level Committee to reconsider the decision of the Govt., especially on minimum pay and fitment formula. This assurance was given with the approval of Hon’ble Prime Minster.

Inspite of it, the NJCA has not deferred the strike and insisted written confirmation of the assurance regarding constitution of High Level Committee. Again Hon’ble Home Minister Sri Rajnath Singh called the NJCA leaders and reiterated the earlier assurances and informed that the Finance Minister will issue a press statement confirming the assurance given to NJCA. Only after receipt of the copy of the press statement issued by the Finance Ministry, NJCA has deferred the strike till the finalization of the report of High Level Committee.

As the Hon’ble Prime Minister of  our country has intervened and as three Cabinet Ministers of Govt. of India discussed the demands with NJCA leaders and gave assurance that the demands, especially minimum pay and fitment formula will be reconsidered, and as the Home Minister has again reiterated the assurances to NJCA leaders and Finance Minster has issued press statement confirming the constitution of High Level Committee, the NJCA felt that before embarking upon an indefinite strike which is the last weapon in the hands of the workers, we should give time to the Govt. to implement the Minister’s assurances given as per the direction of the Prime Minister and honour its commitment given to NJCA leaders. NJCA taking a stand that we don’t believe the Ministers and their assurance and shall go ahead with the strike, may not be taken in good spirit by the general public and the media. In case the Govt. backs out from its assurances, the NJCA has got every right to revive the deferred indefinite strike.

Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra, Convenor, NJCA has made it clear in the circular issued on 7^th July 2016, which reads as follows: -

“Though there is positive assurance from the Govt. of India, but all of you will not take rest and assume counseling the cadre and ground staff that they should remain in full preparedness, because if there will not be SATISFACTORY OUTCOME, we will be having no alternative except to agitate the issues again.”

6.      WHAT ABOUT PARITY IN PENSION? WILL IT BE IMPLEMENTED AS THERE IS A CLAUSE IN THE GOVT DECISION THAT THE PROPOSED COMMITTEE WILL EXAMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE OPTION No I, ie PARITY IN PENSION TO PAST PENSIONERS

This issue was raised before the Group of Minister by Com. K. K. N. Kutty, who is also the Secretary General of NCCPA (National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Associations). It was pointed out to the Finance Minister that even though the Govt. has decided to accept 7^th CPC recommendation to have two options to pensioners, it is qualified with the words “subject to feasibility.” The Finance Minister categorically assured the delegation that the Govt. has accepted the recommendations in toto and the Pension Department has only been asked to sort out the difficulties in implementation of the Option-No-I, if any.

7.      WHAT ABOUT DEMANDS OF THE GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS, AS NJCA IS MORE CONCERNED WITH MINIMUM PAY FITMENT FORMULA ONLY

Any increase in the minimum pay and fitment formula for departmental employees (MTS, Postman & PA) will be extended to Gramin Dak Sevaks also proportionately as the GDS Pay Scales are decided based on the pay scales of corresponding category of departmental employees. So, the demand to increase minimum pay and fitment formula of MTS, Postman and PA is equally important for GDS also.

As regards, civil servant status the NJCA has raised this demand before the Govt and 7^th CPC. Even though the 7^th CPC Chairman, Retired Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur has informed the JCM staff side leaders he will not consider the GDS case as they are not included in the terms of reference of the Commission, the Chairman gave a very damaging recommendation to the Govt. that GDS are not Civil Servants but they are part – time employees and Extra-departmental agents. He further stated that all the GDS are having another main independent income from another source and GDS job is only a side-business. NJCA leaders have raised the issue of GDS before the Cabinet Secretary’s Committee and also before the Group of Ministers. We shall again raise the issue before the proposed high level committee also. Govt. has constituted a separate committee for GDS under the Chairmanship of Retired Postal Board Member Sri Kamalesh Chandra. NFPE, AIPEU-GDS and Confederation has submitted detailed memorandum before the Committee and Secretary General NFPE Com. R. N Parashar, General Secretary AIPEU-GDS Com, P. Panduranga Rao along with other leaders has given evidence before the GDS Committee demanding Civil Servant status. The GDS committee will submit its report before December 2016. Further NFPE and AIPEU-GDS has filed a case in the Supreme Court for grant of Civil Servant status. Supreme Court has transferred the case to Delhi High Court which in turn transferred it to Principal Bench of Central Administrative Tribunal, Delhi. The final argument of the case will take place on 25^th July 2016. NJCA, Confederation, NFPE and AIPEU – GDS are jointly trying their level best to get justice to three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Postal Department. If the GDS Committee report is against the GDS, then definitely NJCA and Confederation will be fully supporting the agitational programmes of NFPE & AIPEU-GDS including indefinite strike.

The main hurdle is the policy of the NDA Govt. as the Communication Minister of NDA Govt. has rejected our demand for grant of Civil Servant status to GDS.

  

M. KRISHNAN

Secretary General,

Confederation of Central Govt Employees & Workers

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Mob: 09447068125

NJCA Decision are as follows :-