HE STRIKE BECOMES INEVITABLE - ARTICLE BY COM. K. K. N. KUTTY, NATIONAL PRESIDENT, CONFEDERATION
THE STRIKE BECOMES
INEVITABLE
K. K. N. Kutty, National
President, Confederation
It is now more than
four months that the Government has held out the assurance to the leaders of
NJCA that they would revisit the minimum wage determination and the consequent
fitment factor of the 7th CPC.
The understanding reached on 30th June, 2016 was that the
Government would set up a high level committee to examine the complaint made by
the employees organizations to the effect that the 7th CPC had not
adhered to the norms of the Dr. Aykhroyd formula. The said decision was in the backdrop of the
NJCA’s strike notice which was served on 9th June, 2016 and its
resolve to go ahead with the said decision to organize the indefinite strike
action from 11th July, 2016.
The employees had realized that
contrary to the impression, the 7th CPC imparted to the leaders during their
interaction with it, its final suggestions were extremely nugatory and were the
product of pressure exerted by the
Government on the Commission .at the fag end of its functioning. They found that the minimum wage determined by
the commission was in violation with the agreed principles of wage
determination in the case of civil servants, it had recommended the least
quantum increase in the wages in comparison with all the earlier Commissions;
it had reduced the rates of various allowances without any valid rhyme or reason; it had abolished certain
allowances despite the continuance of the extra functions/circumstances for
which those allowances were originally granted; had abolished all interest free
advances; had withdrawn the existing
benefits, perks and privileges which had originally granted to a section of the
employees and officers taking into account the peculiarities of the assigned
jobs to them etc. Naturally the disappointment
that arose from such negative attitude of the Commission paved way for anger
and consequent agitation, creating thus
an atmosphere of confrontation.
The setting-up of a committee under
the Chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary was, therefore, seen as a step in the
right direction. After about six months
deliberations, the Committee seems to have given a report to the Government
content of which was not made public. However,
during its inter action with the Staff Side, the Committee had given the
impression and indication that it would
make changes to the quantum of minimum wage and fitment factor and the Fixed
Medical Allowance of the Pensioners would be suitably amended. The Committee intimated the staff Side that
the Government would set up separate Committees for allowances and advances to
effect a relook into the matter in consultation with various nodal departments
of the Government of India. In other
words, the Government through the Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary
conveyed that it would create a conducive climate for a fruitful negotiation
and settlement.
The 29th June
proclamation in the form of Notifications was a bolt from the blue . Was it designed to discredit the NJCA
leadership or snub the Committee headed by the Cabinet Secretary or reflection
of the arrogance of the party in power was not discernible. It was in that background the NJCA met on 30th
June and decided unanimously to go ahead with the preparation for the
indefinite strike action. Undoubtedly
the Government’s attitude had added fuel
to the fire of anger and the leaders especially at the gross root level ,who
had hoped that the Government would avert the situation of confrontation
welcomed the decision of the NJCA wholeheartedly.
The late night discussions, the
group of Ministers had with the NJCA
leadership on 30th June, 2016
and the offer of a negotiated settlement of the core issues through the
setting up of a high level committee was considered a step in the right
direction by the NJCA leadership while accepting the offer of talks, though the
State level leadership in quite a number of states felt that the Government was
indulging in chicanery.
The time frame of six months for the
Committee to complete its deliberations and make suggestions to the government
on the core issues was over technically on 6th November, 2016 . The
National Secretariat of the
Confederation met and rightly decided to chalk out a series of programmes of
action, the second phase of which would be carried out on 15th June,
2016 in the form of a massive march to the Parliament house. These programmes
are to culminate in a strike action.
Isolated action, the Confederation is fully aware is not capable of
bringing about compulsion on the Government to revise their decisions promulgated
on 29th June, 2016.
Confederation is confident that the Defence and Railway organizations
who are the predominant partners in the NJCA would realize the gravity of the
situation and enliven the NJCA and spearhead the movement to its logical
end. Isolated ventures will not be
avoidable in certain exigencies, when
demarcation in action becomes necessary so as to maintain the character and
ideology of the organization and confidence of its members becomes
paramount.
