The National Joint Council of Action of the CG Employees has deferred the Indefinite Strike from 11th July. The statement issued by NJCA is given below: Congratulations to the NJCA for the great achievement!

“WEDNESDAY, JULY 6, 2016

NJCA Defers Strike on the face of Government Assuring Consideration of Staff Side Views
NJCA UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVES TO DEFER THE INDEFINITE STRIKE

After the meeting with the Home Minister today by the NJCA and further developments leading to issue of a Press Release by the Government of India assuring consideration of the issues raised by the Staff Side relating to the pay scales and other recommendations of the Pay Commission by a High Level Committee, the NJCA has decided to defer the Indefinite Strike in the background of meetings with the Ministers and the assurance by the Government of India.

The Press Release by the Government today is reproduced below:

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Finance

06-July-2016 20:50 IST

Government assures Representatives of Unions representing employees of the Central Government that the issues raised by them relating to the pay scales and other recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission would be considered by a High Level Committee.

Representatives of Unions representing employees of the Central Government had met the Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, the Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitley and the Minister for Railways Sh. Suresh Prabhu in the evening of 30th June, 2016.

They had requested that certain issues raised by them in relation to the pay scales and other recommendations of the Pay Commission be allowed to be raised before a Committee of Secretaries looking into different aspects of grievances of employees in relation to the Pay Commission recommendations.

The Ministers assured the Union leaders that the issues raised by them would be considered by a High Level Committee.”

Com.VAN Namboodiri President BSNLCCWF met Smt. Madhu Arora GM (Estt) and discussed about regularisation of  casual labours on the basis of court verdicts. This will be examined based on SC judgement.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri Advisor AIBDPA today met Shri IS Deepak Secretary DOT and conveyed thanks for his taking up the issue of 78.2% IDA Pension fixation for pre- 2013 pensioners and als for getting the 60: 40 ratio for payment of pension dropped.
Com.Namboodiri also pointed out the need to settle the Pension Revision of BSNL Retirees.
He met Director (Estt) DOT Shri Prachish Khanna also who took much interest on the case.

NTPC, major profitable PSU, has offered 2.06 crore shares to its employees @ of Rs. 115.90. The market rate of the share is Rs. 152.60

It is reported that over 10,800 employees have taken a total of 1.75 crores. It is not understood whether outside disinvestment is also along with this.

Shri Manoj Sinha is the new Minister of State for Communications with independent charge as per the latest cabinet reshuffle. It seems that this is the first time that Communications have been given charge to a MoS. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, present Communications Minister is the new Law Minister.

Shri Manoj Sinha is the 65th Communications Minister in independent India. Almost all the Prime Ministers have been in charge of Communications for brief periods. This is the first time that there is no Cabinet Minister for the important portfolio of Communications.

We welcome Shri Manoj Sinha and hope that he will try to improve the BSNL and the telecom services! Wish him all success!

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA today, 5th June 2016, met Shri Anupam Shrivstava, CMD BSNL and discussed the following issues raised with regard to the BSNL Pensioners:

1. Restoration of quarterly medical allowance to the BSNL pensioners.

2. Reducing of rent for the quarters allotted to the retirees.

3. Extension of broadband concession to DoT pensioners.

4. Anomaly in pension due to point to point fixation; seniors drawing less than juniors.

Com.Namboodiri pointed out the hardships being suffered by the BSNL Pensioners due to the non-settlement of these demands and demanded that these issues be settled at the earliest. CMD agreed to consider favourably.

Com. Namboodiri suggested to the CMD BSNL that all the state governments and PSUs be approached intimating  the present improvement of the BSNL services requesting them to take BSNL services, if they have not already taken. CMD stated that this is a good suggestion.

It is a very very Glad News!The Cabinet meeting held today has approved the long pending demand of the BSNL pensioners for grant of 78.2% IDA Pension fixation for those retired before 10-06-2013. Since tomorrow is Ramdan, the cabinet meeting was held today.
Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL informed Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor AIBDPA that the Hon. Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had called him yesterday and had discussion on this issue for more than half an hour. CMD informed the present position of the BSNL, the financial position, improving etc. and the excellent role of the workers in improving BSNL. The Minister, he told, took keen interest in the matter.Immediately after the decision was taken by the Cabinet, the Minister contacted the CMD BSNL and conveyed the good news which was conveyed to Com. Namboodiri by the CMD. He thanked the CMD for his best efforts.

The issue has been pending for the last two – three years. Immediately after the 78.2% IDA fixation was granted for the BSNL employees after two strike notices and discussion in June 2012 and June 2013 by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, BSNLEU, AIBDPA, Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations and others took up the case of granting the same to the pensioners who retired before 10-06-2013, the date of issue of the orders.

Continuously meetings were held with the CMD BSNL and Secretary DOT and other officers for getting it approved, but the DOT took the stand it has got to be approved by the Cabinet. In 2015 the entire BSNL workers went on strike for two days on 21-22 April 2015 on issues including 78.2% IDA Pension fixation and in the meeting after the strike the Secretary DOT agreed to process the same for forwarding to the Cabinet.

AIBDPA organised dharnas and demonstrations for getting the demand achieved. A massive Parliament March was organised under the auspices of the AIBDPA and a Memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister for early settlement of the issue.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri Advisor and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA met the Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad who agreed to recommend the same. After that the process took speed. There was objections from the Department of Expenditure but suitable replies were given by DOT. After meeting the new DOT Secretary twice by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri Advisor and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA, at last the cabinet note was prepared and forwarded. But as usual in government, the same came back with some quiries. This was also replied and send to Cabinet two weeks back.

It was to come back in the meeting of the Cabinet held on 29th June, but though it was  in the agenda could not be discussed as most of the time was taken for discussing other important agenda including VII CPC recommendations. The next cabinet meeting was held today, 5th July, probably since tomorrow was holiday for Ramdan. Yesterday itself CMD BSNL was called by the Minister so that the matter could be presented with full details. And fortunately, the Cabinet approved this fully justified demand in its meeting today. The Press Information Bureau has also issued a statement with full details (Please visit AIBDPA website, aibdpa.com).

The Cabinet Note prepared by the DOT has also recommended the withdrawal of the 60:40 condition for payment of pension. This has also been approved as can be seen from the Press Statement that “In respect of BSNL employees, who are absorbed in BSNL, the liability on account of pensionary benefits  shall be fully borne by Government while BSNL will continue to discharge pension liability by way of pension contribution in accordance with FR-116 for the period they so work/worked.” Thus the 60:40 ratio on pension is also gone. It is also a great achievement.

We thank the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, BSNLEU, AIBDPA and other organisations, workers and pensioners who heroically fought for getting the demand. We also thank the CMD BSNL, Shri Anupam Shrivastava, former Secretary DOT Shri Rakesh Garg, present DOT Secretary Shri J.S.Deepak, Member (Finance) Smt. Annie Moraes and the Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad for helping in the settlement. We thank all those who supported and helped in settling the issue.

This is the victory of the workers and pensioners of BSNL! Unity for Struggle, Struggle for Unity and Unity and Struggle for Progress!