Category Archives: CG Employees

Secretary Staff Side, NC, JCM demands the govt to implement court judgment on Pension to those recruited in 2003 but posted after 01-01-2004, as per court judgment

03 Friday May 2019

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The Confederation of CG Employees, as also Staff Side, JCM National council,  has demanded that the officials who were appointed after 01-01-2004, but recruited before the date should be made eligible for pension as per CCS (Pension ) Rules 1972 and not as per NPS. This is a good development.

In the same way, it is necessary that those who were recruited before 01-10-2000, but appointed after 01-10-2000 in BSNL as also all the casual labour regularised after 01-10-2000 should be eligible for pension  as per CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. The case was taken earlier, but the govt. did not agree. Now after the court judgment, the demand has got full justification and legal approval.

The letter from the Staff Side, National council, JCM is reproduced below:

No.NC-JCM-2019/Pension/NPS April , 2019
The Secretary

Government of India
Department of Pension and Pensioners welfare
3rd Floor, Lok Nayak Bhawan.
Khan Market, New Delhi.

Judgment in WP (C)3834/2013 & in WP(C)
2810/2016 dtd. 27/03/2017.
CRPF Lt. No.PAO/CRPF/MHA/NPS/DA-9(1)/
2018-19/797, dtd. 15th March 2019.
Sir,Lt. Dtd. 15th March 2019.
of Delhi, dtd. 12th Feb. 2015 and
27 March 2017.

Sub: Extension of old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972 to the employees who were selected During the year 2003 and who had joined service On or after 01/01/2004.
Ref: 1) Judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi
2) Min. of Home Affairs (Pay & Accounts Office)
* * *
You are aware that the Staff Side of National Council(JCM) is representing in various forums to withdraw the National Pension System and to restore the old Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972, to the Defence Civilian Employees recruited on or after 01/01/2004, since the NPS is determental to the employees as there is no defined guarantee for Pension during the old age. This was one of the important demand, for which the NJCA has served Strike notice on the Govt. For observing In-definite Strike. However due to the assurance given by the Group of Ministers, the proposed In-Definite Strike was deferred.
Sir, at present based on the Judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi in the above referred cases, the Ministry of Home Affairs have decided to extend the benefits of the old pension scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972, to the Para-Military forces who were selected during the year 2003, but joined service on or after 01/01/2004. In this regard your kind attention is drawn to the letter of Ministry of Home Affairs, dtd. 15th March 2019 referred at (2) above (copy enclosed for ready reference). The Ministry of Home Affairs have decided to transfer the NPS contribution of the concerned employees to the GPF Scheme and also to bring the employees who were selected during 2003 on the basis of notification issued during 2002/2003 and joined service on or after 2004, under the coverage of CCS(Pension) Rules 1972.
A large number of Central Govt. Employees in various Departments Like Railways, Defence, Postal and other Departments are similarly placed. These employees were selected for appointment during the year 2003, based on the employment notification issued during 2002/2003 however due to delay in receiving the Attestation Forms(Police Verification Report), Medical fitness etc., they were forced to join service on or after 01/01/2004. Due to no mistake of theirs’ they were brought under the coverage of NPS, thereby denying them the benefit of GPF and Defined Guaranteed Pension under the CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. These employees also have now started representing for extending the benefit given to the Home Ministry Staff for them, and their demand is fully justified and is covered under the Judgment of Hon’ble High Court of Delhi.
Sir, in view of the above, it is requested that you may kindly look into the matter and arrange to issue instructions for extending the benefit given to the Para-Military forces in the Home Ministry to the similarly placed Central Govt. Employees by extending them the benefit of Old Pension Scheme under CCS(Pension) Rules 1972. A copy of your instruction may please be endorsed to this office.
Thanking you,

sign secretary


 
 
Encl: 1) Copy of Ministry of Home Affairs Lt. Dtd. 15th March 2019.
2) Copy of the Judgment

Modi Government against the Pensioners

09 Tuesday Apr 2019

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, CG Employees, NCCPA, Pension

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Modi government never cared for the central pensioners. It seems that the government is of the opinion that the pensioners are a burden on the nation and has to be denied even the basic requirement that a pensioner requires.

The VII Central Pay Commission recommended that ‘One Rank, One  Pension’ system, which was already implemented for the retired army personnel,  be implemented to other central pensioners also. The Modi Government, to deny any improvement in the recommendations, have stated that the CPC is an award and it can not be improved. But in the case of pensioners, why the recommended One Rank One Pension is not being implemented?

Pension Revision is to be implemented to the BSNL absorbed DOT pensioners w.e.f. 01-01-2017, after 10 years of the Pension Revision implemented in 2007. But it is refusing to implement the Pension Revision, causing much anguish and agony to the concerned pensioners.

The demand of the NCCPA  to introduce the statutory benefit pension scheme to those newly recruited since 2004 ( in the case of BSNL recruitees from 2000) instead of the NPS, has not been accepted by the government. (It is to be noted here that the Kerala LDF government has appointed a committee to look in to the conversion of NPS introduced for the kerala state employees by the UDF government in 2013 back to statutory benefit pension scheme. )

While the LDF Government in Kerala is paying Social Security Pension of Rs. 1,200 to all those who completed 60 years and has no other pension, the BJP ( as also the Congress ) led governments are paying a meagre amount of Rs. 200 – 400 only as such social security pension.

Please see that even the respected elder leaders in BJP have been ignored and insulted. That is BJP.

Yes, there is a big difference between the BJP/Congress governments and the Left Front government with their approach to the issues of the pensioners.

The Lok Sabha elections are going on. This is the time teach the Modi government a hard lesson that pensioners will not be silent against attack on them. Vote for the Left, wherever they are there. Vote for the other secular parties where Left candidates are not there.

The defeat of the BJP in this election is a must for the better existence of the pensioners and senior citizens in the country.

 

National Convention of Trade Unions on 5th March 2019 at New Delhi

25 Monday Feb 2019

Posted by in BSNLEU, CG Employees, CITU

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A National Convention of Trade Unions will be held in the Constitution Club Annexe, Rafi Marg, New Delhi (within the campus of Mavalankar Hall ) 1.30 pm on 5th March 2019.

The Convention will review the 2 days national strike on 8-9 January 2019 called by the central trade unions and also decided future course of action. In addition to the delegates from the CTUs, delegates from CG Employees, State employees, PSU employees including BSNL employees and other delegates will participate. 20 delegates from BSNL will be participating.

Confederation on struggle path – Confederation Circular dated 16-02-2019

16 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in CG Employees

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DECISIONS OF THE NATIONAL SECRETARIAT MEETING OF CONFEDERATION

National Secretariat Meeting of Confederation held at New Delhi on 15.02.2019, after detailed deliberations, took the following important decisions. Com. K. K. N. Kutty, National President, presided.
Confederation National Secretariat Strongly Condemned the barbaric attack on Indian security forces by Pakistan sponsored terrorists, killing 40 Jawans. Confederation conveys its deepest Condolences to the bereaved family members of the Jawans who sacrificed their life for the nation.

CONFEDERATION DECLARES THREE PHASE CAMPAIGN AND STRUGGLE.

FOR WORKING CLASS, ELECTIONS ARE ALSO PART OF STRUGGLE.

CHANGE IS INEVITABLE.

The BJP-led NDA Government is going to complete its five years tenure. General Elections to the Parliament is going to be declared shortly. Based on our five years experience, Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners and their families have to take a position and use our right to vote to protect our interest and the interest of the Nation at large. We should remember that “Ballots are more powerful than bullets” in a democratic country.

As far as 32 lakhs Central Government employees and 33 lakhs Central Govt. Civilian Pensioners are concerned this five year period is the worst in the post-independence period. None of our demands are favourably considered by the NDA Government, rather we have been betrayed and our hopes ended is despair. The same is the case with three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Postal department and thousands of casual, contingent and contract workers.

Even though the Group of Cabinet Ministers headed by Shri Rajnath Singh, Home Minister and Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister had given categorical assurance on 30.06.2016 that Minimum Pay and Fitment formula will be increased, in 2018 December, Govt. made it clear in the Parliament that “no such proposal is under consideration of the Government, at present”. Much publicity was given for the Constitution of “NPS Committee”, but the demand to “Scrap NPS &; Restore OPS” is rejected and even the demand for ensuring guaranteed Minimum Pension (i.e., 50% of the last pay drawn or Rs.9000/- whichever is higher) was also turned down. Again, Govt. replied in Parliament that the demand to scrap NPS & Restore OPS cannot be considered favourably due to various reasons. NPS employees are retiring every month with a megre amount of Rs.1000/- to 3000/- as annuity pension. Retirement of each NPS employee is just like a death due to uncertainty about the future life of NPS Pensioner and the family dependent on him/her.

HRA arrears from 01.01.2016 to 30.06.2017 was denied and each employee lost an average Rs. One Lakh. MACP Bench mark, date of effect from 01.01.2006, promotional hierarchy, everything fell on deaf ear. None of the anomalies of 7th CPC are settled. Option-I parity recommended by 7th CPC to Pensioners is mercilessly rejected. Revison of wages and pension of many Autonomous bodies are still pending. Compassionate appointment has become a cruel joke, as majority of the cases are rejected. Trade Union rights are under attack and pro-BJP Unions are given undue favours. All negotiating forums including National Council JCM are either defunct or ineffective.

More than six lakhs posts are lying vacant due to undeclared ban on recruitment. Three lakhs low-paid Gramin Dak Sevaks are cheated by denying arrears of pay for 30 months to be calculated proportionately on the basis of pay scales recommended by the Kamalesh Chandra Committee. Many positive recommendations are either rejected or diluted. Thousands of Casual, part-time, contingent, daily rated mazdoors and contract workers are denied equal wage for equal work. Regularisation of GDS and Casual/Contract workers has become a mirage. None of the 10 points demands of Confederation is settled including sectional demands of various cadres. None of the demands raised by JCM National Council Staff Side and National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) are also settled.

More and more attacks on existence of Central Govt. departments and employees are made. Privatisation of various functions of Railway department, outsourcing of more than 200 items in Defence sector, fast move to corporatize Postal, Closure of 12 out of 17 Govt. of India Printing Presses etc. are threatening the very existence of thousands of employees.

In short, under the BJP led NDA Government our wages and allowances are under attack, our job security and existence is under attack, our social security and pension is under attack, and our trade Union rights and facilities are under attack. Shall we vote for continuation of aggressive implementation of this destructive policies. No, not at all. It is in the above background Confederation National Secretariat has decided to implement the following campaigns and agitational programmes.

I. CAMPAIGN FORTNIGHT FROM 2019 MARCH 15TH TO 30TH CULMINATING IN MASS RALLIES AT ALL STATE HEADQUARTERS AND DISTRICT HEAD QUARTERS.
Intensive campaign among the employees, pensioners and their families and also among the public should be conducted during the fortnight. General body meetings, conventions, group meetings, office to office campaign, seat to seat campaign etc. are to be organized by each COC and each affiliated organization. As a culmination of the campaign programmme mass rallies of employees and pensioners are to be organized in an impressive manner at all state Head Quarters and District/Divisional Head Quarters. Notices, leaflets, posters, boards etc. are to be printed and widely circulated. Maximum publicity through print and electronic media and also through websites and other social media is to be given. 10 point charter of Confederation, of which the 1st and the most important demand is “Scrap NPS & RESTORE OPS”, shall be the basis of the campaign and mass rallies. Wherever Confederation units (COC) are not there, NFPE Divisional Secretaries shall jointly take the responsibility to organize the above programme and also below mentioned other programmes.

II. TWO PROGRAMMES EXCLUSIVELY ON NPS

(1) Day Long Mass Dharna on 11th April 2019 (Thursday) at all Centres – state and District Head Quarters.
(2) “Candle light protest” on 23rd April 2019 (Tuesday) at all Centres at state and District head Quarters.
In the Central Government employees sector Confederation is the only organisation which has been continuously organizing struggle programmes against NPS, including strikes. It is decided to organize the above two programmes, exclusively on one demand i.e., “Scrap NPS & Restore OPS”. These programme are to express our protest and anger against the totally negative attitude of the NDA Government and also to build pressure on other political parties to compel them give top most priority to the above demand. In both the programmes, maximum participation of employees and pensioners is to be ensured. Candle light programme is to be arranged in such a manner, so that maximum public attention and media attention will be received. In both the above programmes, like-minded political Leaders, trade Union leaders, important personalities etc. may also be invited to participate and address. Candle light procession is not required. Maximum mobilization at a selected place is enough on the evening of 23rd April 2019 (Tuesday).

III. NJCA PROGRAMMES

National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) met after a long gap. Eventhough Confederation Leadership reiterated our earlier stand i.e; revival of the deferred indefinite strike, the Railway Leadership (AIRF & NFIR) are reluctant to give a call for strike, for their own reasons. Finally it is decided to organize the following two programmes.

1. 13th March 2019 – NPS Dharna and Demonstration at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi
A massive demonstration – cum – dharna will be organized under the auspices of National JCA to highlight and focus the demand for the withdrawal of New Pension Scheme and restoration of old Pension Scheme for Central Govt. Employees. The National JCA will simultaneously write to all Political parties to make their stand clear on the issue of New Pension Scheme in their respective manifestos. The National JCA will spearhead a campaign amongst the employees for acceptance of the demand by the Political Parties. The dharna will be at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, and the same will be participated by the employees of Railways, Defence and Confederation working in and around Delhi besides NJCA Leaders. On the same day similar dharnas and demonstration will be held in front of the all Central Govt. offices throughout the country. The employees will also be requested to wear black badges projecting the demand for withdrawal of NPS.

Confederation National Secretariat calls upon all COCs and affiliated organisations to mobilise maximum number of Central Govt. employees from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Bihar on 13.03.2019. Dharnas and demonstrations may be organized in all major centres of other states, if possible jointly with Railways and Defence or Confederation alone.

2. 28TH MARCH 2019 – FOR REVIVAL OF JCM FORUMS

A protest day long dharna will be organised at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi, on 28.03.2019, in which all National Council Members will take part, to highlight the need to revive the JCM forums, thus ensuring constant and continuous interaction between the Government and the employees. It will also focus the intolerable attitude of the official side even in issuing orders, where Supreme Court has given the verdict in favour of the employees. The Cabinet Secretary will be informed of this decision well in advance. A huge demonstration will also be organized on the same day in front of dharna venue in which employees working in and around Delhi will participate.

National Secretariat of Confederation calls upon the Delhi C-O-C and affiliated organisations to ensure maximum participation of employees from Delhi in the above programme on 28.03.2019.

IV.NCCPA PROGRAMME – PENSIONERS DEMANDS – 15TH MARCH 2019 – NEW DELHI

National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations (NCCPA) will be organizing a mass dharna at New Delhi on 15.03.2019 demanding early settlement of Charter of demands submitted by NCCPA to Govt. National Secretariat Members of Confederation, COC Delhi and all affiliated organisations are requested to mobilise maximum employees from Delhi to participate in the NCCPA dharna on 15.03.2019.

V. A resolution on important demands of Central Govt. employees and Pensioners

is adopted in the National Secretariat meeting which is to be circulated widely among the Central Govt. employees and Pensioners during the campaign fortnight. Copy of the resolution will be exhibited in the Confederation website shortly.

VI.INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY ON 8TH MARCH 2019

National Secretariat decided to celebrate International Womens Day on 8th March 2019 in a befitting manner alongwith likeminded organisations wherever possible or separately by Confederation. Confederation Womens Sub Committee office bearers Com. Usha Bonepalli (Chairperson) Com. R. Seethalakshmi (Convenor) Com. Gita Bhattacharjee (Joint Convenor) had attended the National Secretariat meeting. An article written by Com. Usha Bonepalli on the theme of the 2019 Women’s Day and also about the importance of International Womens Day will be published shortly in the Confederation website.

VII. NEXT NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF CONFEDERATION

National Secretariat decided to conduct the next National Conference of Confederation at Nagpur (Maharashtra). COC Nagpur will convene their meeting immediately and fix the dates and venue of the Conference. A preparatory committee will also be formed at Nagpur shortly to commence the preliminary work in connection with the National Conference.

VIII. ALL INDIA TRADE UNION CAMP

All India Trade Union Camp, as already decided in the last National Secretariat meeting will be organized after General Elections.

IX. FINANCIAL REVIEW

National Secretariat decided to request all affiliated organisations and COCs to remit their quota arrears before 15.03.2019. Details of quota and arrears is already sent to all by Financial Secretary Com. Vrigu Bhattacharjee. As the Financial position of Confederation CHQ is precarious, all affiliates and COCs are once again requested to remit the quota and arrears before 15.03.2019.
(Courtesy: Confederation website)

Red Salute to Com. E.Balanandan on his 10th death anniversary!

19 Saturday Jan 2019

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Today, 19th January 2019, is the 10th death anniversary of Com. E.Balanandan, the veteran trade union leader, former President of CITU and PB Member of CPI(M).

His life was full of struggles for the working class and he himself had to suffer victimisation and many years in jail. Three times Member of Parliament(both in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha), MLA as also the President of the militant trade union, CITU, he was active till his death.

As to other trade unions and their leaders, Com. Sami, as he was affectionately called by comrades and friends, was also the guide and advisor of P and T, and BSNL employees trade union movement. The more than four decades of contact with him has been always been an inspiration to me and many others. During the crises that the telecom trade union movement had to face, he was always there to guide and help. His presence in the formation Conference of BSNLEU inspired all.

On his death anniversary, I pay respectful homage to Com. E.Balanandan!

Red Salute to Com. Balanandan!

Observe Co. S.K.Vyas Day on 13th February 2019 – Confederation Circular

17 Thursday Jan 2019

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Com. S. K. Vyasji, the legendary leader of the Central Govt. Employees and Pensioners passed away on 13th February, 2015.
Com. Vyasji was the Secretary General and President of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers for forty years from 1967 to 2006. He was the President and Secretary General of All India Audit & Accounts Association for a long time. He continued as the Advisor of the Confederation and also as the Secretary General of National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA) and Bharat Central Pensioners Confederation (BCPC) till death.
Com. Vyasji has led various struggles and strike actions of the Central Govt. Employees and was in the forefront of the leadership which organised the first indefinite strike action of the Central Govt. employees after independence, in the year 1960. Com. Vyas was jailed and dismissed from service. He played an important role in rallying the Central Govt. employees along with the striking Railway employees in the year 1974. He was an able and uncompromising negotiator with the Government in the JCM National Council and Standing Committee. He was responsible for many of the benefits and allowances enjoyed by the Central Govt. employees. The cost indexation of wages was earned by the Govt. employees through the sustained struggles and efforts in 1960s under his leadership. Confederation of Central Govt. employees and workers representing about 15 lakhs Central Govt. employees is in the forefront of the incessant struggle and strike actions organised by Indian Working Class against the neo-liberal economic policies of the Government. Com. S. K. Vyasji’s vision and ideological clarity has made the Confederation, part and parcel of the mainstream of the working class movement in India.
Com. Vyasji was a friend, philosopher, guide and everything for the Central Govt. Employees movement. In the more than six decades long trade union life, Com. Vyasji endeared himself to every section of the Central Govt. Employees. His death has caused irreparable and irreplaceable loss to all of us. He was a great leader, symbol of simplicity, a gem of a person and a leader who is down to earth, extremely polite, kind hearted and compassionate; one of the finest human being, tallest leader, a gentle mentor and a legend.
He is in our hearts! His memories will be forever with us! His long saga of struggle and sacrifice for the Central Govt. employees and pensioners will inspire the generations to come.
The National Secretariat of Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers calls upon all affiliated organisations and C-O-Cs to observe the 4th Death anniversary of Com. S. K. Vyas Ji as “S. K. VYAS JI REMEMBRANCE DAY”.

Com. S. K. Vyasji Amar Rahe!
Long live Com. S. K. Vyasji !!
Long live, Long live !!!

M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation
Mob: 09447068125
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

Central Government employees on strike enmasse!

08 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in CG Employees

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CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES & WORKERS
CENTRAL HEAD QUARTERS
1ST FLOOR, NORTH AVENUE POST OFFICE BUILDING, NEW DELHI-110 001.

PRESS STATEMENT
Dated 8th January, 2019
About thirteen (13) lakhs Central Govt. Employees commenced nationwide two days strike today (8th January 2019) as per the call given by Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers. The main demand of the strike is “Scrap New Contributory Pension Scheme (NPS) & Restore Old Pension Scheme (OPS)”. In fact, the share market oriented NPS is nothing but “No Pension Scheme”. The strike is also to express the anger and protest of the Central Government employees and Pensioners against the betrayal of the NDA Government by not honouring the assurances given by Group of Ministers headed by Sri. Rajnath Singh, Home Minister, to leaders of the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) on 30th June 2016 that the Minimum Pay and Fitment formula will be increased. Even after a lapse of two and a half years, the BJP Government has not implemented the assurance. The indefinite strike from 11th July 2016 was withdrawn believing the assurance.

Massive Strike all over India, Congratulations!

08 Tuesday Jan 2019

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Today, 8th January, 2019 is the first day of the two-day nation-wide general strike call given jointly by 10 Central Trade Unions and independent Federations, against the anti-worker, anti-people and anti-national policies of the BJP-RSS led Central Government.

The reports received from various states show the spontaneous response to the call from the workers in various states and various sectors of economy. Reports from the States of Assom, Manipur, Kerala, Odisha, Meghalaya, Puducherry show that there is complete shut down. Finance Sector, i.e. banking and insurance was closed for business even in Andaman islands. Electricity generation and distribution, coal extraction and movement is affected. Many state governments have declared holidays for schools in view of the strike. The BEST, Mumbai city road transport service provided by the Municipal Corporation, recorded a 100% strike. Very good strike in BSNL. There are reports of arrests of striking workers in Assom and West Bengal, slapping of ESMA and No Work No Pay notices, in various states. It is an attack on democracy, which we strongly condemn.

We congratulate the workers/employees for their exemplary fighting mood and exhort them to carry forward the struggle to 9th January,
2019 also. 10 central Trade Unions Are : INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC (Courtsey:Ganashakti)

Two Days Strike on 8-9 January 2019

01 Tuesday Jan 2019

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLEU, CG Employees, PSU

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New Year 2019 is opening with a massive strike of more than 20 crores of workers on 8-9 January 2019 on 12 demands. All Central Trade Unions except BMS are part of the struggle. Central, State government employees, PSU workers and all other sections of workers are participating. BSNL Employees Union along with other unions have also given call. BSNLCCWF has also given call for strike.

AIBDPA, the biggest organisation of the BSNL-DOT Pensioners has extended all support and solidarity to the strike.

Let us make the strike a complete success!

Pensioners and outsiders as office bearers of workers’ Unions / Associations?

27 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLEU, CG Employees

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A question has been raised by some comrades/friends that what is the necessity of pensioners/outsiders being elected as office-bearers of workers’ unions and associations in central government establishments, PSUs etc.? Is it not against the interest of the workers? Is it not denying the workers their legitimate right to lead their own organisations? Some other connected questions are also being raised.

The principle that the workers themselves should be the leaders of their organisations is correct and not wrong. Then why, most of the unions/associations are having retirees/outsiders as leaders of the movement.

It has got historical and practical reasons. Take for example the case of central government employees. The first to be organised in India were the Railway as also Posts and Telegraph workers. The pioneers of the P and T trade union movement like Tarapada Mukherjee, Henry Barton, Dada Ghosh, K.G.Bose and others were all either removed / dismissed from service, jailed, punished for their trade union activities. V.G.Dalvi, who organised the Postmen in 1919 was an Advocate, who could not be departmentally punished for his trade union activities. Secondly electing office bearers from outside trade union leaders, including M.P.s, gave the benefit that the employees issues could be directly raised in the Parliament etc.Hence since 1946, and especially after 1954 when NFPTE was formed, NFPTE itself and most of its affiliated unions elected sitting M.P.s as their President and sometimes other office-bearers also. This gave much benefits to the workers in raising their demands with the government and fighting against victimisation after the 1960, 1968 strikes etc. when lakhs of workers were victimised and sent out of service. The marathon discussions in Parliament on the issues of the P and T workers, victimisation etc is a shining example. This was the case with Railway Unions also. In the NFPE and NFTE, this system continued till the 1990s, when the Central government issued new recognition rules under which no retired employee could function as office bearer of the service unions. Due to strict implementation of the rule, on retirement, the office-bearer became a non-office-bearer. The union had to elect a working employee to the post.

In the PSU unions, not only pensioners but outsiders are also allowed to be office-bearers. Outsiders can be elected to the extend of 33% of office-bearers. Pensioners are included in the category of workers and can be elected without any limit. In the private establishments, usually some of the leaders are from central trade unions only so that they are always in the mainstream of workers. They have full trade union rights, unlike government employees.

Retired leaders are elected as office bearers since the workers feel that their past experience in the trade union movement or service unions enable them to lead the movement better. Some are reelected even after retirement for respect for their past service. It is due to this that a small percentage of retired workers continue to lead the organisations.

Ultimately, it is the workers who decide that who are to be the office-bearers of the union. Nobody needs to have any grudge when the conferences democratically elect the retired employee or outsiders as office bearers. However, restricting the number to the minimum is always preferred since that will enable the workers themselves to lead their organisations and decide their own destiny.

A further question is raised by some friends. Whether any worker can be elected as office-bearer of the pensioners’ unions/associations? Personally I am for this idea that young and energetic workers can be elected as office-bearers who can help a lot. In fact, in most of the government departments and PSUs, the pensioner organisations have been formed with the help of the unions of workers. In BSNL, the workers organisation BSNLEU took initiative in forming the pensioners association, AIBDPA.