The one day strike of the central government employees on 19th September 1968 on the demand of need based minimum wage was historic  and is remembered by the workers as a turning  point in the  movement of the CG Employees. The strike focused on the major demand of need based minimum wage for all workers.  Brutal victimisation was imposed on lakhs of workers. Thousands were arrested, jailed, dismissed, terminated and imposed with maximum punishments. Their only ‘crime’ was that they demanded justice to the low paid employees. Their crime was that they stood up and fought against the anti-worker policy of the government against all odds, the military, the police, the black laws and the insensitive government. They faced all attacks, well realising that they are fighting for the generations of workers against the injustice heaped on them. They were ordinary workers, but their actions were almost superhuman. The unions were de-recognised and most of the office-bearers were transferred to distant places. Fake unions were recognised in many departments under the patronage of the then ruling party, Congress. The victimisation in the P and T was the maximum. The government thought that they have broken the workers and their unions. But they were mistaken.

The three year period till all the workers were taken back,was a saga of sacrifice and struggle. Almost every day, the workers demonstrated or organised agitational programmes. Collections were made and paid to the dismissed and terminated employees as their wages. The entire trade unions supported and expressed their solidarity to the fighting workers. Lawyers argued the cases in the court free of charge.

The continued fight of the workers for about three years compelled the government to take back almost every body, but the scar of the punishment continued. The workers and leaders suffered heavily, but they took it as awards for their fights for the fully justified demands. The government was compelled to restore recognition to the unions and reinstate all terminated/dismissed employees, expect a few top leaders.

The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has now called to organise various programmes in memory of the great struggle, throughout  one year from 19th September 2017 to 19th September 2018, the 50th year of the great struggle.Many of those who participated in the glorious struggle have passed away, but their memory will always inspire us to march ahead with more courage and conviction.

A similar situation is developing under the present Modi Government. Government has refused to grant the minimum wage of Rs. 26,000 to CG employees. It has reduced the HRA. Trade Union rights achieved through sustained struggles are being snatched away. There is no recruitment and exploitation of the workers is increasing. They are thrown at the mercy of the management and the employer. PSUs are being privatised one after another.

The pensioners are also under attack after the introduction of contributory pension scheme from 01-01-2004 replacing the statutory defined benefit pension scheme and this National Pension Scheme, rather, No Pension Scheme, was legalised in the Parliament at the fag end of UPA II regime with the full support of BJP, the then main opposition party. The only recommendation by the 7th Pay Commission in respect of the pensioners, Option 1, is rejected by the government. BSNL pensioners are on the war path to get the pension revision due from 01-01-2017.

The secular fabric of the country is being torn to pieces. It is reassuring that the trade unions, mass organisations and the democratic forces are coming to fight together against these brutal attacks.

Participate in these programmes and pass over the message to all the workers. On this day, we salute all those martyrs of the 1968 strike! We assure you comrades, that your struggle is not in vain. We will continue the struggle with all our efforts.

19th September 1968  one day strike by the Central government employees is historic in all respects. The main demand of the strike was ‘Need Based Minimum Wage’ as accepted by the 1957 tripartite Indian Labour Conference. The entire central government employees went on struggle on that day irrespective of the victimisation and threat from the government. Essential Service Maintenance Act was passed and the same was used against the striking workers. Brutal repression and punishments followed. 17 comrades were killed during the struggle, who sacrificed their valuable lives for the cause of the workers. Thousands were arrested and jailed; terminated from service or dismissed; brutal punishments were imposed on others. The Indira Gandhi government dealt with the workers as they were enemies of the country. But the workers stood their ground against all those atrocities and fought against victimisation. There was not a single worker, who did not have some punishments for participation in the strike. The sacrifice and commitment exhibited by the workers on those days is a saga which never can be forgotten.

 Confederation of CG Employees  and Workers have decided to celebrate the one year from 19th September 2017 to 19th September 2018 as 50th Anniversary of the 1968 strike and organise many programmes. This is necessary to inculcate in the minds of the new workers with how much sacrifice and valour our forefathers have fought for the demands of the workers and how the gains have been achieved.

As proposed by the Confederation, the 50th Anniversary on 19th September 2018 should be organised in such a way that a clear picture of the great struggle is known to all.

AIBDPA units are requested to join such programmes where ever possible.

The petrol companies are looting the public with daily price rise, increasing the petrol price, with out any justification. Within the last two months alone, they have increased Rs. 7.3 per litre. It is to be noted that this huge increase is being imposed on the people, when the international price of crude oil has come down drastically. The government has refused to intervene stating that the reforms will go on. Do reforms mean imposing misery on the people by increasing the price of petrol arbitrarily. The petrol companies are reaping lakhs of crores of rupees through this cheating.

Any government worth its name should have intervened in this loot. But not Mody Government, which is the government of the corporates, for the corporates and by the corporates. Strong opposition from the people is necessary to force the government to act.