NFAEE

National Federation of Atomic Energy Employees

NFAEE

DEPARTMENT OF ATOMIC ENERGY

Regn.No.17/9615

Recognised by DAE vide DAE OM No. 8/1/2007 – IR&W/95 dated 13^th June 2007

NFAEE Office, Opp. NIYAMAK BHAVAN, Anushaktinagar, Mumbai 400 094

Web site: www.nfaeehq.blogspot.com ; Email address: nfaee@yahoo.com 

STRIKE IS DEFERRED,

BUT THE STRUGGLE SHALL CONTINUE

Jayaraj KV

Secretary General

The united struggle of 33 lakhs Central Government Employees under the banner of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) comprising Railways, Defence and Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers (In which all other Federations and All India Associations of Central Government Employees are affiliated) has compelled the NDA Government to negotiate with the staff side leaders. Prime Minister has intervened and directed three Cabinet Ministers viz. Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Shri Arun Jaitly and Railway Minister Shri Suresh Prabhu to hold discussion with the NJCA Leaders on 30^th June 2016 and hold another meeting on 6^th July 2016 by Shri. Rajnath Singh. The unity forced the Government who were not ready to discuss the issues with NJCA for 6 months came for discussion twice in the gap of 6 days.  After discussing the demands raised in the Charter of demands, the Ministers assured that a high level committee will be constituted to consider the demands raised by NJCA, especially the demand for improving the minimum wage and fitment formula. The decision was communicated by the Finance Minister through a press communiqué on 6^th July 2016 and the meeting of NJCA held thereafter holds detailed deliberations and unanimously decided to defer the indefinite strike till the committee finalizes its report.

          No doubt the government came under pressure as the unity among the central government employees were increasing day by day and   it was inevitable the indefinite strike be a reality from11th July 2016. That is why the Government who were adamant till on 29^th June 2016 and gone ahead by accepting the pay structure recommended by the 7^th Central Pay Commission without any alteration forced to change their attitude and came forward for discussion on 30^th June 2016 by Group of Ministers. Now the Government assured a High Level Committee shall be considered all issues in relation to the Pay Commission recommendations.

          But that doesn’t mean the struggle is over, STRIKE is just deferred till the committee comes out with their decision. The struggle shall continue. As the watch dog till the High Level Committee submits its report we have to work. Thereafter for re writing the recommendations of the Pay Commission….. So all should be vigilant as well as militant……To become vigilant and militant everyone should know the real impact of the recommendations of the Pay Commission.

The discontentment among the entire central government employees are emerging across the country. All the Federations, All India Associations representing the Central Government Employees and Workers of various Government organizations, with oneness condemned the NDA Governments decision to accept the retrograded recommendations of the 7^th Central Pay Commission.

The central government employees of the entire country under the banner of National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) has already been decided to go for indefinite strike from 11^th July 2016 if the Government has not change the adverse recommendations of the 7^th CPC.

After the submission of the 7^th CPC Report by its Chairman to the Government of India on 19^th November 2015, Government constituted a Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECoS) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary to scrutinize the recommendations of the Pay commission. The ECoS sat on the Pay Commission report more than 6 months, exactly 200 days, but didn’t see any adverse recommendations.

As the Pay Commission cheated the Empowered Committee also cheated and betrayed the Employees and knifed behind. Whenever the Leaders met either the Pay Commission or the Empowered Committee including its Chairman, they shared the concern of the employees with respect to the recommendations of the minimum pay, multiple factor, etc and assured the rectification at a certain level.

But when the Cabinet note prepared and submitted for he consideration of the Cabinet everything became once again retrograded and not a single recommendations on financial impact has been considered by the Government.

Thus the NDA Government once again became the butcher of the central government employees. By introducing the New Pension Scheme (No Pension Scheme) during the Vajpayee government the BJP and its alliance has shown their attitude towards the Government Employees. Now they cemented their anti labour attitude by endorsing all retrograded recommendations of the 7^th Central Pay Commission.

The Cabinet Secretary and Secretaries of various ministries who all were the members of the ECoS pocketed a salary hike of 24% to 25% while awarding pay hike of a mere 14% to the Group C & Group B employees. They were not found any discrepancy in accepting even this recommendation of mere 14.2% increase in the salary of lowest paid employees against 25% to Secretaries. Thus the ratio of minimum pay to maximum from 1:12, it shoot up to 1:14. Instead of the gap being reduced, it has been further increased by the Pay Commission and without any humanitarian approach the “so called popular government” accepted the same. After various deduction for Medical, PF, tax, License Fee, etc, the increase in the take home salary at the entry level becomes less than 8% to all non gazette employees.

It is to be noted that after the independence the Government Employees got 6 Pay revisions including the 7^th CPC. All Pay Commission reports were given gradual increase in the hike of salary such as 14% (2^nd CPC), 20.6 (3^rd CPC), 27.6% (4^th CPC), 31% (5^th CPC) and 54% (6^th CPC). It should be also noted that when 14% hike was recommended by the 2^nd CPC, the Central Government employees for the first time in the history gone for indefinite strike, when Jawaharlal Nehru was the Prime Minister with a thundering majority in the Parliament. Now the Modi Government also with same situation with “strong Government’ with a thumping majority back stabbed the entire central government employees by offering just 14.2% hike in the salary and thus a situation created just like that of 2^nd CPC and compelled the entire Central Government Employees to move on indefinite strike. It is worse ever pay revision for central government employees since independence.

It is worth mentioning here that the Government owned website of Agricultural Ministry depicts the retail prices of commodities which go into the basket of minimum wage based on Dr. Akkroyed formula as approved by the 15^th Indian Labour Conference. If we calculate the minimum pay according to these figures the Minimum pay as on 01.01.2015 would be Rs. 24850. To convert the same as on 01.01.2016 3% assumed DA will be added as suggested by the 7^th CPC, the final computation will be Rs25596 and thus rounded off to Rs. 26000. The then Andhra Pradesh State Government has implemented the state Pay Commission which provided Rs. 22600 as minimum wage as on 01.07.2013. By adding the DA dues in between 2013 and 2015, the corresponding figure to Rs. 22600 shall be Rs. 27000 as on 01.01.2016.

The concern on Minimum pay is not the only one issue in respect of the pay revision. There is en number of anomalies recommended by the Pay Commission and all those issues have been brought to the notice of the ECoS. But none of the issue was considered by the Committee or the Cabinet while taking decision. Recommendations on Fitment Formula, Increment rate, Fixation benefit on promotion, MACP on grade hierarchy, Pay Parity, Revision of Allowances, Leaves, National Pension Scheme abolition, etc are some of the issues raised by the NJCA and its constituent units. Now the Government came out with a decision to constitute another Committee to review the recommendations on allowances. This is nothing but a gimmick to delay the implementation of the revision of allowance at a prospective date. Thus the Government will get the opportunity to avoid the payment of revised allowances from 1^st January 2016 by which again will stab the employees behind once again.

The Committee under the chairmanship of none other than Cabinet Secretary who should be the role model of the entire Central Government Employees could not recommend even a single correction in the discrepancies sighted out in the recommendations of 7^th CPC even after sitting 8 months on that, what would be best can expect another committee probably headed by the same persons. These Cadre Officers become the tools of their political bosses and fulfilled the directions of the Government who all are controlled by Adanis, Ambanis and other Industrialists who don’t want to hike the salaries and perks of the Government Employees.

• If the Government and the ECoS doesn’t want to revise the Minimum Pay what was the necessity to hold the report for a8 months after its submission to the Government?
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• Why the Government failed to give an opportunity to the leaders of the Central Government employees to present their case before taking the final decision?
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• Why the Finance Minister who compared wrongly the number of months taken by the earlier Government took decision on Pay Commission recommendation forget to compare that those Government entrusted Group of Ministers to interact with the elected leaders of the Government employees before reaching a conclusion? Is it authoritarian approach of the Modi Government?
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• Why the political party who leading the Government and claims the single largest trade union of the country belongs to them not even ready to hear the leaders of that trade union?
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• Why the Government not considered to retain the ratio of minimum to maximum pay at least the existing, i.e.1:12 by awarding minimum pay as Rs. 21000 comparing the higher salary of Rs. 2, 50,000 (2, 50,000/12 = 20,833)?
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• What the purpose going to serve delaying the revision of allowances than extending benefit to the employees at a later date?
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• What the reason not to accept the hike in the subscription in CGEIS from the existing rate of 30, 60,120 and 240 to 1500, 2500 & 5000? The chart given below gives the answer.   If the enhanced rate of subscription for CGEIS retained the take home salary for the month of January 2016 for all non gazetted employees shall be less than the salary he/she got for the month of December 2015.
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• Though the Government echoed the claim of the Pay commission that the central Government employees are given a bonanza of 14.2% pay hike, the factual position is that pay hike is just above 4 to 8%. That too only because the Government decided to shelve the subscription hike for CGEIS.

The below given chart shows the actual benefit extended to the employees: 

Grade Pay	Pay as on 31.12.2015	Pay as 01.01.2016	difference	Increase in %	Take home salary after deduction as  on 31.12.2015	Take home salary after deduction as  on 01.01.2016	Difference	Difference in %
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
1800	15750	18000	2250	14.2	14750	15931	1174	7.9
1900	16855	19900	3045	18.1	15794	17775	1981	12.5
2000	19035	21700	2665	14.0	17903	19285	1382	7.7
2400	22298	25500	3202	14.3	20858	22556	1698	8.1
2800	25565	29200	3635	14.2	23467	25075	1608	6.8
4200	30375	35400	5025	16.5	27506	30027	2521	9.1
4600	38565	44900	6335	16.4	34538	37326	2788	8.1
4800	40838	47600	6762	16.5	36489	39234	2745	7.5
5400	49725	56100	6375	12.8	43123	45051	1928	4.5
6600	57038	67700	10662	18.7	48669	53249	4580	9.4

          From the above chart it can be seen that more than 50% of the increase proposed by the pay revision is taken back by various deduction. Columns No. 4 & 7 in the above chart indicates the hike in salary based on the pay commission proposal and after the deduction respectively and the columns 5 & 9 shows it in percentage. In actual the increase in take of home salary shall be just 4% to 8% in almost all the pay structure announced by the Government and not that of 14.2% or 23.5%.

• The pay hike given to the employees based on the recommendations of the 6^th Central Pay Commission is almost equal or nearer to that of the 7^th Central Pay Commission. At the lowest grade in fact the pay hike given by 6^th CPC is higher than that of 7^th CPC. The hike in salary by 7^th CPC at the entry level pay with Grade Pay of Rs. 1800 is Rs.2250 per month, whereas in the lowest grade in the pre revised pay of Rs. 2550 – 3200,  after the implementation of 6^th CPC Report, got the hike of Rs. 2257. It should be noted here that the 6^th Pay revision was carried out 10 years back in the year 2006 and DA component has been added @ 125% as on 1^st January 2016. So if that DA component is added to the increase in hike of the 6^th CPC, minimum hike should be more than Rs5000 (2257 X 125%) at the entry level.  The chart given below has been further showing the discrepancies in the hike in salary. The columns 5 and 9 of the chart given below shows the hike in figure and the columns 6 an d10 shows the increase in % respectively during 6^th CPC and 7^th CPC.

COMPARISON OF PAY HIKE AFTER 6TH CPC AND 7TH CPC
Pay  after Fixation based on 6th CPC						Pay after fixation based on 7th CPC
=Basic  Pay	Pay as on 31.12.2005 Basic X 1.86	PAY AS ON 01.01.2006		DIFFERENCE IN PAY		Pay as on 31.12.15	Pay as on 01.01.16	DIFFERENCE IN PAY
		PB + GP	Total	In Rs	In %	Basic X 1.25	As per Pay Matrix	In Rs	In %
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
2550	4243	5200 + 1800	7000	2257	53.2	15750	18000	2250	14.2
2610	4855	5200 + 1800	7000	2145	44.2
2650	4929	5360 + 1800	7160	2231	45.3
2750	5115	5530 + 1800	7330	2215	43.3
3050	5673	5830 + 1900	7730	2057	36.3	16855	19900	3045	18.1
3200	5952	6460 + 2000	8460	2508	42.1	19035	21700	2665	14.0
4000	7440	7510 + 2400	9910	2470	33.2	22298	25500	3202	14.3
4500	8370	8560 + 2800	11360	2990	35.7	25565	29200	3635	14.2
5000	9300	9300 + 4200	13500	4200	45.2	30375	35400	5025	16.5
5500	10230	9300 + 4600	13700	3070	30.0	38565	44900	6335	16.4
6500	12090	9300 + 4800	14100	2010	16.6	40838	47600	6762	16.5
8000	14880	15600 + 5400	21000	6120	41.1	49725	56100	6375	12.8
10000	18600	18750 + 6600	25350	6750	36.3	57038	67700	10662	18.6

          It is for the first time after independence, the entire central government employees from Railways, Defence, Postal, Income Tax, Central Excise, Audit & Account, Atomic Energy, Space, Civil Accounts, Central Secretariat,  Ground Water, etc etc are came together and unanimously decided to go for industrial action against the decision of the Government. Since the Government came forward for discussion and agreed to look into the grievances raised by the staff side decided to just defer the strike, not withdrawn the strike.

It is  high time for more unity and joint struggle. There should not be any excuses for not to join in the main stream of the movement. Running away from the unity is nothing stabbing behind the colleagues. The time given for Government to do the exercise for correction should be used by us for bringing those people get away from movement and make more stronger unity among the workers. Keep away all differences, ideological or personnel and become part of the united movement of the Central Government employees under the banner of NJCA to fight against the dictatorial government.

          We also appeal to all Nuclear Workers to join in the movement and in the struggle by participating in the agitation including strike as decided by the NJCA/Confederation. Don’t be sit in the fencing and be onlooker of the historical struggle. Be a part of the struggle for protecting our existence, for upheld the self-respect of each and every central government employees. Surrendering to the authoritarian government will lose the dignity of each and every worker. Hence we appeal to all join for unity and participate in the struggle……..

WORKING CLASS UNITY ZINDABAD

UNITY OF  GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ZINDABAD

NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION (NJCA) ZINDABAD

CONFEDERATION OF CG EMPLOYEES & WORKERS CCGEW) ZINDABAD

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF ATOMIC ENERGY EMPLOYEES (NFAEE) ZINDABAD

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Address for Correspondence: Jayaraj. KV, Secretary General, NFAEE

PESS/UED; BARC, Trombay, Mumbai 400 085

Tel. No: (O): 022 – 25596519; (Res): 022 – 25554179; (Mobile): 9869501189

Email Address: nfaee@yahoo.com, jrajkv@yahoo.com