Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers Calls for Nation-wide Strike on November 15

The central government employees plan to observe a day long pan-India strike on November 15, 2018, demanding the removal of Contributory Pension Scheme and implementation of the old pension system for all.  The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, in a national convention of central government employees, held in Hyderabad on June 10, has given the strike call and put forward a charter of demands. The All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF) has also backed this call. 

While addressing the convention, A.Sreekumar, General Secretary of AISGEF declared that state government employees will also go on a nationwide strike on November 15, 2018, along with central government employees, to press the demands. 

The convention asserted the need of pressing the main demands, i.e.- to scrap off the Contributory Pension Scheme; to honour the assurance given by a group of ministers regarding the increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula; to stop outsourcing of government functions and contractorisation; to grant equal pay for equal work; to settle charter of demands etc. 

The charter of demand includes the scraping off of the new pension scheme and extend defined pension to all, settle 7th pay commission related issues, fill up all vacant posts, regularize Gramin Dak Sevak and grant civil servant status, regularize all casual and contract workers, ensure equal pay for equal work, stop closure of government establishments, withdraw closure orders of government of India presses and other departments, implement 7th pay commission to autonomous body employees and pensioners, remove the five percent ceiling on compassionate appointments, grant five time bound promotions, stop attack on trade union rights, ensure JCM/department council  functioning at all levels, withdraw FR 56(j) which allows periodical review etc. 

The conventiondisplayed solidarity among all the section of workers. Sanjeeva Reddy- National President of Indian National Trade Union Congress, Amarjeet Kaur - National General Secretary of All India Trade Union Congress, Venkatesh - Telangana State General Secretary of Centre for Indian Trade Unions, Gopal Rao-  All India Defence Employees Federation, and M.Krishnan- Secretary General  of Confederation spoke at the convention. 

The convention was also greeted by about twenty eight delegates representing different organisations and state level Coordination Committees including Giriraj Singh, President of National Federation of Postal Employees, Venkatesan of Income Tax Employees Federation, M.S.Raja, Secretary General of All India Audit & Accounts Association, C.U.Jayakumar, Secretary General of National Federation of Atomic Energy Employees, Nilesh D Nazare, General Secretary of Indian Bureau of Mines Employees Association, P.S.Prasad  of All India Ground Water Board Employees Association, and R.Seethalaksmi, Convenor of All India Women's Committee of Confederation.