Category Archives: TU News – India

TU News from India

Wage Revision in SAIL w.e.f. 01-01-2012

12 Sunday Jan 2014

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A report on the wage revision of SAIL employees w.e.f. 2012, a five year agreement is given below:

NEW DELHI, JAN 12:
Annual wage outgo of SAIL will go up by at least Rs 1,000 crore with the PSU set to sign a pact with its 85,000 non-executives for a 16 per cent hike in basic and dearness allowances and six per cent rise in perks.

Wage revision in SAIL, done every five years, is pending since January 2012 due to differences on the extent of hike between the company management and its unions’ umbrella body, National Joint Committee for Steel (NJCS).

“The management and the unions have nearly reached an accord at the last meeting held in December. It will be given a final shape in the form of an agreement in the next meeting slated later this month,” a source involved in the discussions told PTI.

At the last meeting, the management conveyed to the union representatives that given the current scenario of the steel industry, it would not be able to shell out more than 16 per cent hike in basic and dearness allowances apart from a 6 per cent rise in perks and pensions each.

Union representatives involved in wage talks were demanding between 17 and 18 per cent hike, the source said, adding the management has asked them to come back with a consensus in next meeting.

Initially, the union had asked for a 21.6 per cent hike, similar to the rise in 2007, in basic and dearness allowances.

However, the management said given the current market condition of steel in which consumption grew by just 0.5 per cent during the April-December period, an encore of 2007 is just not possible.

“Even if the unions agree with management’s proposal, it will add at least Rs 1,000 crore burden on wage front for SAIL each year. Since the revision has been pending for two years, the immediate outgo will be over Rs 2,100 crore,” the source said.

SAIL has already made the required provisions for paying out majority of the arrears and the disbursement would be made soon after the wage revision pact is signed.

The company’s net profit more than doubled to Rs 1,180 crore in the July-September quarter, although realisation fell by 6.5 per cent on subdued prices. Its employee expenses, however, went up to Rs 2,495 crore during the quarter from Rs 2,090 crore in the same period a year ago.

EPF may announce 8.5% interest

12 Sunday Jan 2014

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The Central Board of Trustees of the EPF which will meet on 13th January is expected to announce 8.5 % interest for the deposits, just like last year.

The EPFO, which is estimated to have an income of Rs 20,796.96 crore in the current fiscal, needs Rs 20,740 crore to pay 8.5 per cent interest to the subscribers.

EPFO had provided 8.5 per cent interest in the 2012-13 fiscal, which was higher than 8.25 announced in 2011-12. The demand of the employees organisations are that the interest should be 9.5% which is not agreed.

CG Employees decides for 2 days strike

10 Friday Jan 2014

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The Central secretariat of the Confederation of Central Government Employees which met today, 10th January 2014 has decided to organise 2 days strike on 12th and 13th February on the demands already submitted to the Government and on which a massive dharna was conducted at Jantar Mantar on 9th January.
The demands include acceptance of the terms of reference for VII CPC suggested by the Confederation, regularisation of GDS and other long pending demands.

CG Employees’ Dharna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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A massive day long dharna was held at Jantar Mantar, Parliament Street, New Delhi today, 9th January 2014 by the Central Government Employees as per the call of the Confederation of CGE and Workers to focus the 15 Point demands including to accept of the terms of reference furnished by the Confederation on the VII Central Pay Commission, Five year revision of wages, Interim Relief, Regularisation of Gramin Dak Sevaks, filling up of posts, Five Promotions, Stop victimisation etc.
The dharna was inaugurated by Com. S.K.Vyas, veteran leader of the Central Govt. employees. Coms. A.K.Padmanabhan, President, CITU, K.K.N.Kutty, President Confederation, M.Krishnan, Secretary General Confederation and General Secretaries of the CGE Unions addressed.

The Confederation of the Central Govt. Employees are on agitational path and further programmes may be decided in the Executive Committee being held tomorrow, 10th January 2014.

VII CPC for Central Govt. Employees

26 Thursday Dec 2013

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A report in Hindu dated 19th December 2013 is reproduced below:

Cabinet proposal soon to constitute 7th Pay Commission

The central government is likely to constitute the 7th Pay Commission for revising the salaries of its over 50 lakh employees before the start of process of next general elections due in May, 2014.
“The Finance Ministry is working out a Cabinet proposal for constitution of the 7th Pay Commission which could be taken up for consideration in the next couple of weeks,” a source said.
According to information available, the government’s intention to constitute 7th Pay Commission before going for polls is clear as it has made provision of Rs. 3.5 crore in the second supplementary demands for grants in this regard which was approved by Parliament in the just concluded Winter Session.
Earlier in September this year, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had announced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has approved setting up of the 7th Pay Commission.
According to the announcement, the Commission will be mandated to submit its report in two years time and its recommendations would be implemented from January 1, 2016.
However, after that announcement, no formal proposal was put up before the Union Cabinet for constitution of the Commission.
As per the practice, the Commission is headed by a former Supreme Court Judge and its other members would include experts and officials.
Meanwhile, the government is also believed to have approved fixing minimum pension of Rs 1,000 per month under the Employees’ Pension Scheme 1995 (EPS-95) run by retirement fund body Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO).
The government is also understood to have cleared maximum basic wage ceiling of Rs. 15,000 per month for deduction of Provident Fund from existing Rs. 6,500 per month for private sector workers, in general, covered under schemes run by EPFO.(HINDU – 19 Dec. 2013)

Railway Workers Strike Ballot – 90% support strike

24 Tuesday Dec 2013

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About 90% railways workers have opted for strike in the strike ballot taken by the All India Railwaymens’ Federation (AIRF), which is the biggest and recognised union.
The strike is being planned on the demands of wage revision, filling up of the more than one lakh vacancies, rescinding of the new pension scheme which is detrimental to the interest of workers etc.
There are about 13 lakh workers in Railways, which is the biggest
employer in the country. A strike by the railway workers will have serious implication for the country.
The historical strike of the railway workers in 1974 on the demand of Bonus and other issues paralysed the government which took drastic, inhuman measures to suppress the strike. The demand of Bonus was granted by the Janatha Government.

EPF interest will be decided by 14th January

21 Saturday Dec 2013

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It is reported that the meeting of the EPFO scheduled to be held on 14th January 2013 is expected to announce the interest rate for EPF for 2013-14. The interest for 2011-12 was 8.25% and for 2012-13 it was 8.50%. The Central Trade Unions have been demanding to increase the rate from 8.5%. It is also reported that there is justification for the increase.

Railway Workers take strike ballot on 21-22 December 2013

19 Thursday Dec 2013

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The Railway employees will be taking strike ballot on 21-22 December 2013 on the basis of the 36 point Charter of Demands, which they have already submitted to the Government. The demands include wage rise, guaranteed pension scheme instead of contributory pension,compassionate appointments to the wards of deceased employees, special consideration for women in duties etc. The call for strike ballot has been given by the All India Railway Men’s Federation, which is the majority union in Railways. The results of the strike ballot will be announced on 23rd December, said Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary General of AIRF.
The demands of the railway employees are fully justified and the government needs to consider the issues favourably and settle them, avoiding a strike in the biggest industry in the country employees about 12 lakhs of workers.

Central TU Leaders meet Prime Minister after Mammoth Rally.

13 Friday Dec 2013

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After the Massive Parliament March on 12th December 2013, participated by lakhs of workers who have come from all parts of the country as per the call of the 11 Central Trade Unions on the 10 points Charter of the Workers including arresting price rise, grant of a minimum wage of Rs.10,000 to unorganised workers, No disinvestment/privatisation of Public Sector Units etc. the leaders of the Central Trade Unions met Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and conveyed their dissatisfaction in not taking any decisions on the Charter of demands already submitted to him. Prime minister assured that the issues will be decided on the basis of the Committee headed by Defence Minister A.K.Antony, appointed for this purpose.

Assurances are coming one after another. But what is required is immediate action.

Historical Mammoth March to Parliament

12 Thursday Dec 2013

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The mammoth March to Parliament by Workers on 12th December 2013 was indeed historical. By about 0900 AM, workers started reaching the Parliament street where the rally will meet. The main jatha started from the Ramlila Grounds and marched towards Parliament. Many other jathas were coming to the Parliament by various routes. In fact, all the roads were full of workers with flags of their respective unions.

By about 1100 hours, the main rallies reached the Parliament street where it was stopped by the police with three tier barricade and lot of police officers including women police. The rally started with the leaders sitting in the ready made pandal which can be seen even from far away. The Parliament Street and both its sidewalks were thronged by people for more than one km. The red flags the unions were mingled with the BMS and INTUC flags.
BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF workers started their March from Eastern Court premises. With the banners of the Unions, hundreds of workers marched to the Parliament. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU, Animesh Mitra, Dy.GS BSNLEU, KG Jayaraj, GS AIBDPA, Tapas Ghosh GS BSNLCCWF and other leaders were in the front. Comrades from Delhi and all near by circles came in large numbers.
The Presidents and General Secretaries of the 11 Central Trade Unions who gave the call for the Parliament March were in the dias. One after another the leaders addressed the house and congratulated the workers for the mammoth participation. They also explained the ten demands on which the rally is being held and also on which more than 12 workers participated in the 48 hours strike on 20-21 February 2013 strike. Coms Tapan Sen (CITU), Gurudas Dasgupta (AITUC) and other leaders addressed. The meeting is continuing. (to be continued)