JCM Staff Side Secretary Writes to PRIME MINISTER
No.NC/JCM/2016/CS/PM
Dated 14.06.2016
Sub: Non-settlement of
our demands – Decision to go on “Indefinite Strike” commencing from 11.07.2016
– Request for your intervention and support.
I write this on behalf of the apex level body of all Central
Government Employees Organizations who are participating in the Negotiating
Forum; called the Joint Consultative
Machinery. The JCM as a Negotiating Forum was conceived and
implemented in 1966 after the prolonged discussions with the Staff Associations
and Federations in the Central Services in the wake of the first industrial
action in 1960. The idea of setting up the JCM was in realization of the
absence of a platform to discuss, deliberate and settle the demands / issues /
grievances / problems of the Civil Servants. Up to 1995-96 the JCM, which has a
three level negotiating platform was functioning well, meetings were regular.
However, after the promulgation of the new recognition rules in 1993, the
meetings at the Ministry level became few and far between and at the national
level, the deterioration steped in a little later. The National Council, which
was to meet thrice in a year, did not meet even once in a year. The last
meeting of the National Council was held on 15.05.2010. The organizations
participating in the JCM were demanding the meeting to be held, but the pleas
were ignored by the successive Cabinet Secretaries. The Charter of Demands (copy enclosed), in pursuance of which the
strike is decided to be organized, has arisen due to long neglect of the
grievances of the employees / workers.
When the 7th CPC was set up in February, 2014, no
announcement for Interim Relief or DA Merger was made by the then
Government, which had all along been the practice whenever the Government had
set up the Pay Commissions earlier. We fully cooperated with the Commission,
submitted a memorandum detailing the issues and explained the reasoning behind
each demand. The 7th CPC submitted report on 19.11.2015 to the
Government. In our communication dated 10.12.2015 (copy enclosed), we sought
improvement / amendment over the recommendations of the 7th CPC and
explained our demands both in writing
and orally before the Empowering Committee. Most of the meetings were
monologues except perhaps the last one. What we have understood, is that, the
Empowering Committee might not come forward to make any major changes. A
fruitful meeting is supposed to be a dialogue where both parties at the
negotiating table exchange their understanding, views and difficulties and
reach a mutually acceptable position. In 1998, when the then Cabinet Secretary
decided not to have such a dialogue with the Staff Side and unilaterally issued
the Government Notification on the 5th CPC recommendations, the then
Government did set up a Committee of Group of Ministers. The GoM held
discussions on all issues and averted the strike action. The 1998 situation
establishes, without an iota of doubt, that the Staff Side has always taken
reasonable stand on all the issues and paved way for settlement.
The one and only recommendation made by the 7th
CPC was to provide some relief to the past old pensioners. The Department of
Pension & Pensioners Welfare has unfortunately recommended to the Cabinet
Secretary that, even that recommendation must be rejected on the specious plea
that the requisite relevant records might not be available.
These developments have caused anguish, anxiety and anger
amongst the workers. It is now more than six months that the Commission
submitted its report. If the Government comes forward to hold a meaningful
discussion with the leaders of the NJCA, a mutually acceptable settlement can
be brought about and the impending strike, slated to commence from 11.07.2016, can ultimately be avoided.
We seek your cooperation, supports and intervention in this
matter.
Yours faithfully,
Shiv Gopal Mishra
Secretary (Staff Side) NC/JCM
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