People's Democracy

  Defence Employees To Join Sept 29 Strike

THE 4.5 lakh defence civilian employees have decided to join the countrywide strike of the working class on September 29. They have also decided to fight against the retrograde recommendations of the Kelkar committee.

This was decided in the national executive committee meeting of the All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF) held on July 13-14, 2005. The Kelkar committee has recommended corporatisation of the 39 Ordnance factories in the country, which are at present under the direct control of the government of India, with the ultimate intention of privatisation.

The AIDEF has decided to launch persistent struggle demanding for the rejection of the report by the government of India. The AIDEF has directed its 367 affiliated unions to stage massive demonstrations against the Kelkar committee report on August 24, 2005 and also to burn the copies of the report.

The AIDEF has endorsed all the decisions taken in the National Convention of Trade Unions held on July 9, 2005 at New Delhi. The 4.5 lakh defence civilian employees will participate in the September 29 strike. The strike ballot will be taken by the affiliated unions on September 12 and the strike notice will be served on September 15, 2005.

The AIDEF has also opposed the New Contributory Pension Scheme and has decided to stage protest demonstrations on the day when the PFRDA bill is placed for voting in the parliament.