A meeting commemorating Com. SK Vyas Ex-Secretary General of NCCPA and BCPC on the occasion of his first death anniversary was held at CTO Union room organized jointly by AIBDPA WB Circle and Kolkata District. The main speaker Com. Ananta Bhattacherjee All India President enlightened the house with his elaborate speech on the life of the departed leader who sacrificed his whole life to the cause of the working people. Com Pijush Chakraborty ACS reviewed the AIC just held at Tirupati and Com. Ajit Nandan District Secretary Kolkata announced the series of ensuing programmes. Com. PK Nandi Vice President Kolkata District presided over the meeting.

Shri. J.S.Deepak , Secretary, Department of Telecom has assured the AIBDPA delegation that he will do the needful in extending the benefit of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners. The delegation consisting Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary and Com.R.A.Nair, Treasurer handed over him the letter of intimation of the Tirupati AIC’s decision for countrywide Mass Dharna on 10-03-2016 demanding immediate settlement of 78.2% IDA merger and the list of new office bearers elected by the All India Conference.

However unless and until something emerges positively in clear terms there will not be any change in our decision of Mass Dharna on 10-03-2016.

Today, Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary and Com.R.Aravindakshan Nair, Treasurer met Ms.Annie Moreas, Member (Finance), Shri.N.K.Yadav, Member (Services), Shri.S.K.Jain, DDG (Esatblishment) and Shri. Prachish Khanna, Director (Establishment ) in Sanchar Bhawan and discussed the issue of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL Pensioners. As you may recall our earlier posting to the effect that the new Secretary, DoT had wanted certain clarifications from the Member (Services) on the cabinet note.

So today the Member (services), DDG (Estt) and Director (Estt) have met the Secretary, DoT and have clarified the points and both the Member (Services) and DDG (Estt) have stated that they are hopeful that now the Secretary may clear the file and submit to the Minister.

We have also sought a meeting with the Secretary, DoT, Shri.J.S.Deepak and hope to meet him tomorrow.

A General Body meeting organized by AIBDPA Contai Branch under Kharagpur District was held on 27.2.16 on All India Conference and organisational matter. The meeting was presided over by Com.BN Gayen. Raipada Guchhait Branch Secretary placed the initial speech and explained the purpose of the meeting. Com Pijush Chakraborty ACS delivered a lengthy speech on both the subjects.

Prior to the above a joint demonstration of BSNLEU, CMU and AIBDPA with submission of memorandum to the Sub divisional head on the local issues and problems was held followed by a meeting presided over by Com. Krishnendu Sansmal. Speakers were Com. Raipada Guchhait Branch Secretary AIBDPA Contai, Pankaj Jana District Secretary BSNLEU Kharagpur, Pijush Chakraborty ACS AIBDPA and Tapas Ghosh CS BSNLCMU.

Com. K.G.jayaraj, General Secretary has joined CHQ on 29th February, 2016. Com.R.Aravindakshan Nair, the newly elected Treasurer has also come with him who will return on 02-03-2016. General Secretary will be available at New Delhi up to 15-03-2016. 

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Minutes of the Meeting of Joint Secretary (IC) with the Members of the Staff-Side of the Standing Committee (National Council-JCM) held on 19.02.2016

A Meeting was held under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, with the Members of the StaffSide of the Standing Committee (National Council-JCM) on 19.2.2016 to discuss the issues raised by the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) {Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM)} in their letter No. NJC/2015/7th CPC dt. 10.12.2015, addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, regarding their Charter of Demands on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission. The Secretary, Staff-Side of the Standing Committee (National Council- JCM), who is the convener of the NJCA, along with other office bearers attended the meeting. The list of the participants from the Staff-Side is attached at Annexure.

2. Welcoming the members of the Staff-Side, JS(IC) mentioned that the meeting has been convened to enable the Staff-Side to bring out their concerns on the recommendations of the 7th CPC in the light of the Charter of Demands made by them in the aforesaid letter of NJCA so that same could be examined in the Implementation Cell and submitted for consideration of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries. He informed the office bearers that before arriving at a decision, the ECoS would also hold separate discussions with the Staff Side.

2. Commencing the discussions from the Side of the Members of the Staff-Side, Secretary, Staff-Side, Standing Committee (National Council-JCM), explained that they have already placed their Charter of Demands as per the letter of NJCA dated 10.12.2015. He mentioned that the reasons based on which these demands have been made have also been explained therein. He, however, highlighted that the Staff-Side is not at all happy with the recommendations of the 7th CPC and, in fact, no section of the employees is satisfied, as the Commission has recommended a minimal pay increase as compared to the previous Pay Commissions. He mentioned that the Staff-Side does not agree with the minimum pay of Rs. 18000 and the reason as to why the methodology adopted by the 7th CPC to arrive at this figure is not correct has been explained in their letter dated 10.12.2015. He stated that Staff-Side demands enhancement of the minimum pay to Rs. 26000 and the reasons in support of this have been given in their aforesaid letter. He further stated that an amicable and mutually negotiated settlement of these demands is necessary as non-acceptance would further cause resentment in the employees. He informed that Staff-Side has already made their stand clear to go on strike from 11th April, 2016 if their demands are not considered and no amicable settlement happens.

3. Thereafter, the other members of the Staff-Side also expressed their arguments for acceptance of these demands and all of them emphasised that the minimum pay needs to be revised. Consequently, the fitment multiple of 2.57 would also need commensurate change. The leader of the Staff-Side explained that the office bearers who were present in the meeting represent various sections of Central Government employees including railways, defence civilians, postal employees etc., the number of which is around Rs. 32 lakhs.

4. The Staff-Side brought out their concerns on all the 26 demands included in the Charter of Demands and all the points brought out by them in the letter of the NJCA dt. 10.12.2015 were reiterated. However, following issues in support of their demands were highlighted :-

(i) Minimum Pay needs to be revised to Rs. 26000 p.m. and the minimum pay of Rs. 18000 p.m. as recommended by 7th CPC is not acceptable. This would require upward revision in the fitment multiple of 2.57 and change in the Pay Matrix. It was argued that if the 10% of the pay for NPS contribution and the recommended increase in the CGEIS contribution are taken into account, there would be a drop in the take-home salary of the employees at the minimum pay of Rs.18000.

(ii) Central Government employees need to be excluded from the National Pension Scheme (NPS), which has been a long pending demand of the StaffSide. The Staff-Side stated that the Pension Fund which has been created under NPS to generate annuity for employees, would not ensure reasonable pension. Rather it is quite likely that it may generate negative returns because of the dismal performance of the financial market to which the fund is invested, leaving the employees without any reasonable social security benefit.

(iii) The 7th CPC has recommended abolition of 52 allowances without properly appreciating the justification of these allowances. The example of break-down allowance in case of Railway employees was given, stating that this allowances is given so that the concerned employees take up the necessary follow up action in the case of breakdown on an urgent basis and therefore its withdrawal is not justified in operational interests of Railways.

(iv) The withdrawal of advances, especially LTC, TA, Medical, National Calamity Advance, was not justified. It was argued that these advances are recovered from the employees and, therefore, the same should be retained. (v) In regard to enhancement of contribution under Group Insurance Scheme, it was argued that increase in the contribution from the employees was not justified and if the same is to be raised, the Government should bear the insurance premium.

(vi) The post of LDC should be upgraded to UDC and as part of delayering, Grade Pays of Rs. 1900, Rs. 2400 and Rs. 4600 should be abolished and merged with the next higher Grades.

(vii) The rate of increment needs to be raised from 3% to 5% because pay is revised in the Central Government after 10 years. It was mentioned that in the PSUs the pay is revised after 5 years and the rate of increment is also higher.

(viii) Two increments in the feeder post may be granted as promotion benefit.

(ix) Fixed medical allowance for pensioners who are not covered by CGHS and REHS needs to be increased from Rs. 500 p.m. to Rs. 2000 p.m.

(x) The recommendation regarding grant of only 80% of salary for the second year of Child Care Leave need not be accepted and the existing provisions may be retained

(xi) It was also demanded that though the D/o Expenditure has sought the comments of the Ministries/Department on the issues pertaining to them after consulting the Staff Associations, administrative Departments are not inviting the Staff associations for discussions.

5. After detailed explanation by the Staff-Side on all the demands included in the Charter of Demands, JS(IC), while concluding the discussions, assured the Staff-Side that the concerns and demands made by them would be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries for consideration after examining the same in the light of the recommendations of the Commission. He also mentioned that in cases where the comments of the administrative Ministries/ Departments would be necessary, e.g., the case of break-down allowance pertaining to Ministry of Railways, the same would be considered before the issues are placed before the E-CoS. As regards the issue raised that the administrative Departments are not inviting staff associations for discussions, JS(IC) mentioned that the Departments have to formulate the views keeping in view the representations made by the Staff Associations.

6. Thereafter, the meeting ended with thanks to the chair.

Members of the Staff side of the National Joint Council (JCM), who attended the meeting with JS (IC) held on 19.02.2016 -7th Central Pay Commission S.No Name (S/Shri) 1. Shiva Gopal Mishra 2. M.Raghavaiah 3. N.Kanniah 4. Guman Singh 5. K.K.N.Kutty 6. C.Srikumar 7. S.N.Pathak 8. Ashok Singh 9. R.N.Prashar 10. M.S. Raja 11. Giri Raj singh 12. Satish Chander 13. R.Srinivasan

source:finmin.nic.in

Meeting of Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) with Standing Committee Members, NCJCM Staff Side on recommendations of the 7th Central Pay

F.No.1-2/2016-IC Government of India Ministry Of Finance Department of Expenditure Implementation Cell

Dated: 25th February 2016

To

Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra Secretary National council (Staff Side) 13-C, Ferozshah Road New Delhi – 110 001 Fax- 23363167)

Subject: Meeting of Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) with Office bearers of Staff Side of Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) on recommendations of the 7th Central Pay – Postponement – reg.

Sir,

In partial Supersession of this office letter of even number dated 24.02.2016 it is intimated the meeting of the office bearers of the staff side of Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) with the Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) will now be held on 01.03.2016 at 6.45 PM in the Committee Room, Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi.

2. The above change in the date and time of the meeting may please be noted.

3. Inconvenience caused is regretted.

Thanking you

Yours faithfully

sd/- (Ram Gopal) Under Secretary (IC-I) Tel: 26116647

Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary along with Com.R.Aravindakshan Nair, Treasurer were to reach New Delhi on 26-02-2016 as per the original travel schedule. But they could not start the journey due to cancellation of the train by the Railways citing Jat stir. However as per the rescheduled journey, they are expected to join CHQ on 29-02-2016.