7th Pay Commission – Non-settlement of demands – 11th July Indefinite Strike – NJCA writes to PM for intervention
Ph.: 23382286
National Council (Staff Side)
Joint Consultative Machinery
for Central Government Employees
13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001
EMail: nc.jcm.np@gmail.com
NO.NC/JCM/2016/CS/PM
Dated: 14.06.2016
Hon’ble Prime Minister of India,
152, South Block,
Raisina Hill,
New Delhi-110011
Respected Sir,
Sub:
Non-settlement of our demands – Decision to go on
“Indefinite Strike” commencing from 11.07.2016 – Request for your
intervention and support.
I write this on behalf of the apex level body of all the Central
Government Employees Organizations who are participating in the
Negotiating Forum; called the Joint Consultative Machinery. The JCM as a
Negotiating Forum was conceived and implemented in 1966 after the
prolonged discussions with the Staff Associations and the Federations in
the Central Services in the wake of first industrial action in 1960.
The idea of setting up the JCM was in realization of the absence of a
platform to discuss, deliberate and settle the
demands/issues/grievances/problems of the Civil Servants. Up to 1995-96
the JCM, which has a three level negotiating platform was functioning
well, meetings were regular. However, after the promulgation of the new
recognition Rules in 1993, the meetings at the Ministry level became few
and far between and at the national level, the deterioration stepped in
a little latter. The National Council, which was to meet thrice in a
year did not meet even once in a year. The last meeting of the National
Council was held on 15.05.2010 The organizations participating in the
JCM were demanding the meeting to be held, but the pleas were ignored by
the successive Cabinet Secretaries. The Charter of Demands (copy
enclosed), in pursuance of which the strike is decided to be organized,
has arisen due to long neglect of the grievances of the
employees/workers.
When the 7th CPC was set up in February, 2014, no announcement for
Interim Relief or DA Merger was made by the then government, which had
all along been the practice whenever the government had set-up the Pay
Commissions earlier. We fully co-operated with the Commission, submitted
a memorandum detailing the issues and explained the reasoning behind
each demand. The 7th CPC submitted report on 19.11.2015 to the
government. In our communication dated 10.12.2015 (copy enclosed), we
sought
improvement/amendment over the recommendations of the 7th CPC and
explained our demands both in writing and orally before the Empowering
Committee. Most of the meetings were monologues except perhaps the last
one. What we have understood, is that, the Empowering Committee might
not come forward to make any major changes. A fruitful meeting is
supposed to be a dialogue where both parties at the negotiating table
exchange their understanding, views and difficulties and reach a
mutually acceptable position. In 1998, when the then Cabinet Secretary
decided not to have such a dialogue with the Staff Side and unalterably
issued the Government Notification on the 5th CPC recommendations, the
then government did set up a committee of Group of Ministers. The GoM
held discussions on all issues and averted the strike action. The 1998
situation establishes, without an iota of doubt, that, the Staff Side
has always taken reasonable stand on all the issues and paved way for
settlement.
The one and only recommendation made by the 7th CPC was to provide
some relief to the past old pensioners. The Department of Pension &
Pensioners’ Welfare has unfortunately recommended to the Cabinet
Secretary that, even that recommendation must be rejected on the
specious plea that the requisite relevant records might not be
available.
These developments have caused anguish, anxiety and anger amongst the
workers. It is now more than six months that the Commission submitted
its report. If the government comes forward to hold a meaningful
discussion with the leaders of the NJCA, a mutually acceptable
settlement can be brought about and the impending strike, slated to
commence from 11.07.2016, can ultimately be avoided.
We seek your co-operation, supports and intervention in the matter
Yours faithfully,
sd/-
(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary(Staff Side),
NC/JCM
Source : National Council (Staff Side)
