The Economic Crisis of the 1928-30

The political map of the world changed vastly by the end of the First World War (1914-18). Economic crisis of unprecedented nature gripped the world.

As part of the measures to face the economic crisis, the British India Government reduced the pay scales of the Central Government employees w.e.f. 1931. Neither the unions were consulted, nor did any discussion take place. It was a unilateral decision of the government. The principle of ‘Equal Wage for Equal Work’ was abandoned. Reduced pay scales were imposed on the employees, who were recruited from 18^th July 1931.

There were different and discriminating scales and grades for employees before 1920. In 1920, these scales were revised bringing some kind of similarity. The Hazilton Committee recommended time scales for P and T Employees.  The report was given after due consideration to the long hours of duty, night duties, special character of duties, job risks etc. In 1926, the scales of pay were revised after strong demand by the unions.

It is at this time that the government started taking many decisions to reduce the expenditure in the name of austerity. The Sir Kowvasji Jehangir Committee appointed by the government recommended retrenchment of large number of employees. Hence this Committee was known as “Retrenchment Committee”. In continuation, as stated earlier, orders were issued reducing the pay scales with effect from 1931.

The pay scales of Postmen were reduced from Rs. 30-1-50 to 27-1-45; almost 10% reduction. In the same way, orders were issued reducing all the pay scales, despite strong protest from the employees.

Reduction at the rate of ½ Anna for one Rupee was ordered in all pay scales below  Rs. 30.  1 Anna was reduced for Rupee for pay scales above Rs. 30. ( 16 Annas = 1 Rupee).  Government saved more than Rs, 2.75 crore through this reduction of pay scales. Along with this The Emergency Reductions Rules came in to force with effect from 8^th December 1931.

Many cadre unions were formed since 1920 with the support of the administration so as to reduce the strength of the major unions and create disunity. When one union will go on struggle, some other unions will oppose it giving support to the government. It helped the government to sit tight without granting any demanded benefit to the workers. This is the time when the pay scales were reduced.

Strong resentment and anger arose among the workers. They realized that the government was misusing the lack of unity among the unions. Unity and struggle were necessary, they realized.

The All India Conference of the ‘All India Postal and RMS Union’ held at Delhi on 30^th October 1931 adopted a resolution calling upon the employees to launch sustained struggles on the major demands of the employees. It called upon the employees to come to office without wearing shirts and to boycott work beyond  8 hours.

These programmes of agitation were implemented all over the country with effect from 1^st January 1932. Employees attended office without wearing shirts.

Government was not sitting idle. Recognition of unions was withdrawn. Pay cut was imposed on those who went on agitation. The agitation was withdrawn unable to face the bitter victimization by the government. The recognition of the unions was restored on 24^th March 1932.  But the problems remained unsettled.  (to  be continued).

THE EPIC STRIKE OF JULY 1946 BY P AND T EMLOYEES – 3

The Economic Crisis of the 1928-30

The political map of the world changed vastly by the end of the First World War (1914-18). Economic crisis of unprecedented nature gripped the world.

As part of the measures to face the economic crisis, the British India Government reduced the pay scales of the Central Government employees w.e.f. 1931. Neither the unions were consulted, nor did any discussion take place. It was a unilateral decision of the government. The principle of ‘Equal Wage for Equal Work’ was abandoned. Reduced pay scales were imposed on the employees, who were recruited from 18^th July 1931.

There were different and discriminating scales and grades for employees before 1920. In 1920, these scales were revised bringing some kind of similarity. The Hazilton Committee recommended time scales for P and T Employees.  The report was given after due consideration to the long hours of duty, night duties, special character of duties, job risks etc. In 1926, the scales of pay were revised after strong demand by the unions.

It is at this time that the government started taking many decisions to reduce the expenditure in the name of austerity. The Sir Kowvasji Jehangir Committee appointed by the government recommended retrenchment of large number of employees. Hence this Committee was known as “Retrenchment Committee”. In continuation, as stated earlier, orders were issued reducing the pay scales with effect from 1931.

The pay scales of Postmen were reduced from Rs. 30-1-50 to 27-1-45; almost 10% reduction. In the same way, orders were issued reducing all the pay scales, despite strong protest from the employees.

Reduction at the rate of ½ Anna for one Rupee was ordered in all pay scales below  Rs. 30.  1 Anna was reduced for Rupee for pay scales above Rs. 30. ( 16 Annas = 1 Rupee).  Government saved more than Rs, 2.75 crore through this reduction of pay scales. Along with this The Emergency Reductions Rules came in to force with effect from 8^th December 1931.

Many cadre unions were formed since 1920 with the support of the administration so as to reduce the strength of the major unions and create disunity. When one union will go on struggle, some other unions will oppose it giving support to the government. It helped the government to sit tight without granting any demanded benefit to the workers. This is the time when the pay scales were reduced.

Strong resentment and anger arose among the workers. They realized that the government was misusing the lack of unity among the unions. Unity and struggle were necessary, they realized.

The All India Conference of the ‘All India Postal and RMS Union’ held at Delhi on 30^th October 1931 adopted a resolution calling upon the employees to launch sustained struggles on the major demands of the employees. It called upon the employees to come to office without wearing shirts and to boycott work beyond  8 hours.

These programmes of agitation were implemented all over the country with effect from 1^st January 1932. Employees attended office without wearing shirts.

Government was not sitting idle. Recognition of unions was withdrawn. Pay cut was imposed on those who went on agitation. The agitation was withdrawn unable to face the bitter victimization by the government. The recognition of the unions was restored on 24^th March 1932.  But the problems remained unsettled.  (to  be continued).

The All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) is holding its 26th General Conference at Kolkata on 8-11 January 2023. It is one of the strongest union among the PSU Unions and represents vast majority of its workers. Since its formation , it has been perusing a progressive and democratic  outlook and has conducted many successful strikes to achieve the just rights of the Insurance workers. Even now, it is fighting against disinvestment of LIC and making massive propaganda against the anti-worker, anti-PSU policy of the government.

My close relation with AIIEA starts in the 1960s, when a new LIC Division was formed in Calicut and LIC Employees Union was formed there. They became an active partner of the Workers Centre, which was a co-ordination Committee of the Central-State-PSU unions, which organised many struggles as also helped the struggles in other sectors. 

As an All India Office-bearer of All India Telegraph Engineering Employees Union Class III (NFPTE) and later as its General Secretary as also General Secretary of the BSNL Employees Union since its inception in 2001, I have been in good contact with the AIIEA and its all India leaders. Many of our All India Conferences were addressed by General Secretary of AIIEA and vice-versa, which strengthened the co-ordination between the two unions. 

The 26th General Conference of AIIEA is being held at a time, when more and more attacks re coming on the working class. Their hard won rights are being taken away. Attacks are on the secular fabric of the nation. The working class are unitedly fighting for their rights and also against the attacks from the ruling class. I am sure that the Conference will discuss all these issues and take appropriate decision.

Red Salute and Best Wishes for the success of the 26th General Conference of AIIEA !

V.A.N.Namboodiri,

Advisor, All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA)

FORMATION OF UNIONS IN P AND T

THE EPIC STRIKE OF JULY 1946 BY P AND T EMLOYEES – 2

FORMATION OF UNIONS IN P AND T

As mentioned earlier, Postal Service was started in 1766 and Railways and Telegraphs in 1854. Since these services were considered as utmost important to the running of the government, its security and communication needs, all the important and top posts were filled up only by British officers. Anglo-Indians and Indians were recruited for the lower posts only. British wanted to have complete control of these strategic sectors.

The discrimination between the rulers and the ruled was fully evident, whether in recruitment, postings and/or pay scales.  Higher scales for British officers, lower scales for Indians. Service conditions for Indians reminded the days of slavery. Brutal punishments, unending hours of job and no holidays at all. The ruled have no rights, only responsibilities. This was the sad condition of the P and T employees during the British days.

Formation of Unions

The First War of Independence of 1857 or Sepoy Mutiny as the British called it, was brutally crushed by their superior military power and clever strategy. Thousands of Sepoys, their leaders and those who supported the mutiny were mercilessly shot down or hanged and the bodies exhibited in public spaces as warning.  But all these could not extinguish the flames of Independence burning in the hearts of the people. It was only natural that the workers of Railways, P and T etc. also started thinking about independence of the country as also for a better deal for themselves.

A union by name ‘Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants in India’ was formed in Railways in 1854. British government actually treated their Indian employees as servants.  Hence the usages like ‘servants’, ‘yours most obedient servant’ etc. Even after India got Independence in 1947 such words were freely used. Till recently government employees were termed as ‘Government Servants’ – a legacy of the British Rule. Another example is that on all the Indian Planes, whether of government or private, the letters ‘V T’ can be seen even now. ‘V T‘means ‘Viceroy’s Territory’. To a question in Parliament, the concerned Minister stated that ‘we are examining it’!

Postmen in Pune struck work in 1880 raising their important demands. ‘Indian Telegraph Association’ as also ‘All India (including Burma) Post Office and RMS Association’ were formed in 1908 under the leadership of Henry Barton and Babu Tarapada Mukherji respectively. ‘All India Postmen and Lower Grade Staff Union’ was formed in 1919 under the leadership of V.G.Dalvi, Bar-at-Law.  Many all India struggles were organized by these unions.

When the first trade union in India, All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC), was formed in 1921, some of the P and T union leaders were involved in the same. Many leaders of the P and T unions were well known TU leaders or Barristers etc. elected to ensure effective discussion with the government as also to evade victimization. (Most of the Presidents of the National Federation of P and T Employees (NFPTE) which was formed in 1954 were Members of Parliament.)

Leaders of various political parties including Congress, Socialist and Communist were leaders of AITUC. Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, S.A.Dange, Lala Lajpat Rai, Dewan Chaman Lal and many others functioned in AITUC. The P and T Unions had close relation with AITUC.

In short, many unions representing the P and T employees were formed and functioned effectively, organized strike and struggles on their demands. The government was compelled to concede many demands.

All India Railwaymen’s Federation was formed in 1924. All India Audit and Accounts Association, Income Tax Employees Federation and All India Defence Employees Federation were also formed in the 1920s.

The formation of unions in the various departments of the Central Government and the struggles organized by them created an urge for united actions and solidarity with the Independence movement.  (To be continued ..)

-V.A.N.Namboodiri –