Demands for DA Merger & Interim
Relief strengthen Once again…NC JCM Staff Side emergency meeting on October 12
National
Council JCM Staff Side meeting will be held on 12th October 2014 to discuss and
finalise future course of action on major demands of DA Merger, Interim Relief
and Date of effect of 7th CPC.
The
responsibility of Trade Unions and Federations is to ensure that the demands
and anticipation of the employees are fulfilled. Demands for DA Merger are
being raised for more than 3 years now, ever since Dearness Allowance crossed
50% (01.01.2011).
Previously,
when Dearness Allowance crossed 50%, on April 1, 2004 it was added to the basic
pay, during the Fifth Pay Commission.
All
over the country, employees are demanding that DA be added to the basic pay
once again in 6th CPC which is crossed 50%. Sensing this, all the Central
Government Employees Federations and Unions began negotiating with the
Government in various levels. When the Centre refused, a number of protests
were held across the nation. Confederation successfully conducted a 2-day long
total strike including for this demand.
Despite
the fact that the demand occupied prominent position in a number of protests,
there was an expectation that decision in this regard would be made during the
final cabinet meeting of the previous government, which was held on February
28, 2014. Most of the Employees Federations had withdrawn their protests,
trusting the assurance of the then government. But when no such announcement
was made, there was an immense sense of disappointment.
Then
there were expectations that the new government at the Centre would fulfil this
demand. There are no signs of the important demands being granted.
n order to draw the attention of the Government to their demands, the National
Council JCM (Staff Side) is going to meet on 12.10.2014. The meeting assumes
prominence because all the National Council JCM Staff Side members are going to
participate in it. Merger of Dearness Allowance, Payment of Interim Relief, and
Declaration of 01.01.2014 as the date of effect of the recommendations of the
7th CPC are the important demands of the meeting. Plan of action will also be
drawn on how to make the Centre accept these demands.