EDITORIAL - BHARTIYA POST, MAY 2013

Seventh Pay Commission

Get ready for indefinite strike

            The demand for setting up of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC), five year wage revision, merger of 50% DA with Pay was first raised by the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and workers, of which National Federation of Postal Employees is a major affiliate. At that time, in 2010, no other Central Govt. Employees organisation including Railways and Defence raised this demand. Phased programme of action and campaign was organised throughout the country. The justification for the next CPC was also well explained to the rank and file membership with well founded facts and figures. The demand catched the  imagination  of the workers, cutting across union affiliation by and large they are convinced that the injustices done by the Sixth CPC can be undone only by setting up another pay commission. The erosion in wages due to the unprecedented price rise is very much felt by each and every employee. Further the demand of five year wage revision and the discrimination in wage revision between public sector employees and Central Govt employees is not at all acceptable to the employees.

            It is in this background, the confederation has decided to step up the campaign and to organise a massive Parliament March on 26^th July 2012 before the parliament, to exhibit before the highest forum of democracy that the entire employees are restive and any delay in setting up of the 7^th CPC is not at all justified. The largest participation of Central Govt. employees of about more than 20000 in the Parliament March, has proved beyond doubt that the pay commission cannot be delayed any further. In that Parliament March a call for nation wide one day Strike on 12^th December 2012 was given by Confederation.

            Hectic campaign was unleashed throughout the length and breadth of the country for making the 12^thDecember strike a thundering success. The fact that confederation alone is organising a strike exclusively on CG demands after 1968, has given added importance to the struggle. Finally when the strike took place on 12^thDecember, it became one of the biggest strike of CG employees with the participation from every section, surpassing the estimation of the leadership.

            It is at this stage only, the leadership of other Central Govt organisations are convinced that it is high time to demand the setting up of the 7^th CPC. Only because of the sustained and determined effort made by the Confederation, such a situation has emerged. In the meantime, all the Central Trade Unions including INTUC, BMS, AITUC, CITU, HMS etc. has also submitted a memorandum to the Finance Minister setting of 7^th  CPC in the 2013 budget itself. And now the biggest Railway Federation (AIRF) and Defence employees Federation (AIDEF) has come forward for a joint programme of action on the two major demands of the CG Employees, viz. Setting up of 7^th CPC and scrapping the PFRDA Bill. A joint call is given by AIRF, AIDEF and confederation to organise nation wide protest demonstration, rallies etc on 29^th April 2013 and also for sending telegrams to Prime Minister.

            Thus, now the Govt cannot any longer delay or deny the demand for setting up of 7^th CPC. If the Govt still deny the demand, there is only one alternative left before the employees, i.e. indefinite strike. Let us start mobilising the workers now onwards, so that we can jump into action, if situation warrants.