The young generation of Central Govt./BSNL employees may not know how and when they started getting bonus. Many employees may be thinking that the Bonus was being paid since independance. But the facts are entirely different. it was due to the historic 22 days strike of the Railway workers and a section of Central Government employees in 1974.

As in the present times the Congress government in the 1970s ( no alliance government) were bringing anti-worker acts and rules one after another. Continuous agitations were organised by the working class. It was at this time, on 8th May 1974 that the Railway workers and a section of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & workers (O.P.Gupta & company opposed the strike and did not participate.)went on an indefinite strike demanding that bonus shpould be paid. Till that time bonus was not being paid to CG and Railway employees. Condeferation under the leadership of SK Vyas, NJ Iyer, Adi and others gave call for the strike which was participated by many including the entire circles of Kerala, W.Bengal etc. The strike continued for 22 days by the Railway workers. Thousand were arrested, jailed, dismissed, suspended etc. At last the strike was called off in the face of the brutal repression.

But no strike is in vain. When the Congrees was defeated in 1977 and the Janatha Government came, orders were issued granting for the first time, bonus to the Railway workers. Confederation gave a call for strike and the Government gave orders for payment of bonus to CG employees also. It is how the Railways & other CG Employees achieved bonus.

In the 1974 strike many comrades like me were also arrested, suspended and charge sheets issued. It is through such sustained struggles that we got bonus.