People's Democracy

Central Govt Employees Strike Work

The following is the statement issued by the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers on December 12

NEARLY ten lakhs central government employees took part in the one day token strike on December 12 at the call of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, paralysing the governmental functions in various departments throughout the country.  The strike was to protest against the continued efforts of the government to enact the PFRDA Bill, whereby the existing defined benefit pension of government employees is sought to be converted into a defined contributory pension scheme.  Every reason, the government advanced at the time of the introduction of the new scheme is found to be incorrect and misleading by the Experts Committee set up by the government itself.

Besides, the employees had been demanding wage revision by setting up the Seventh Central Pay Commission, filling up large number of vacant posts, regularisation of the service of Grameen Dak Sewaks/Casual/daily-rated workers, revival of the negotiating machinery ie, JCM, removal of restrictions on compassionate appointments, introduction of public distribution system to arrest the ever increasing prices of essential commodities, stoppage of outsourcing, contractorisation, privatisation etc. 

As per the report received, the strike was total in Assam, Tripura, West Bengal, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Kerala, Chattisgarh, Jharkhand and beyond 80 per cent in Maharashtra, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and about 60 per cent in other States.  The postal, income tax, groundwater board departments came to a grinding halt in all states, as the offices could not be opened at all. In income tax department, the promotee officers also joined the strike paving way of a complete closure. Many establishments of Atomic Energy, Printing and Stationery, Defence accounts, Medical Depots, Audit and Accounts  Departments, Civil Accounts, CGHS, Indian Bureau of Mines, Directorate of Marketing Inspection, Geological Survey of India, Archaeological  and Botanical Survey of India etc remained closed. 

The organisers of the strike have asserted that they will make the general strike of workers slated for February 20-21, 2013 a grand success by enlisting participation of all sections of the central government employees. 

The Confederation will strive to organise an indefinite strike in pursuance of the 15 point charter of demands in 2013 if no settlement is brought about by the government by then.