CIRCULAR- 11/09

Dear Comrades, The 23rd National Council meeting of the Confederation was held at New Delhi from 4th to 6thDecember, 2009. The meeting was inaugurated by Com. Sukomal Sen, former Member of Parliament and former General Secretary of TUI-PAE. The inaugural session was held at Muktadhara, Gol market, New Delhi. Com. Tapan Sen, MP and Chairman, Reception Committee welcomed the Guests, Councillors, and observers on behalf of the Reception Committee. The Council was addressed by Com. M.K. Pandhe, President, CITU, Com. Umraomal Purohit, General Secretary, HMS and Secretary Staff Side, JCM, National Council. Com. S.P. Tewari, General Secretary, TUCC, Com. Subba Rao, Secretary, BMS, Com. Sreekumar, General Secretary, All India Defence Employees Federation, Com. Rajesh Menon, General Secretary, Confederation of Central Government Officers Federations. Com. Swapan Mukherjee General Secretary AICCTU, Com. Sebastiano Soares, General Secretary, TUI, Com. Nguyen Ngoc Ben, Senior Vice President, Vietnam Public Services Union had sent in their messages, which were read out at the inaugural session. On behalf of the Presidium, Com. S.K. Vyas, President, Com. C.C.: Pillai, Working President, Com. T. Narasihman addressed the session. Com Vrighu Bhattacharya, proposed vote of thanks. Com. G.L. Dhar, Secretary, AITUC, Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union, and Com S. Mohan, Secretary General, All India Audit & Accounts Officers Association addressed the delegate session on 5th Dec 2009. The subject session of the Council meeting were held at Garhwal Bhawan, New Delhi. 35 Affiliated Associations/Federations and 14 COCs were present at the subject session. From our Association Kousik Roy and N.Venkatakrishnan attended the meeting. In all 51 comrades participated in the discussion on the report. The Secretariat provided all the clarification sought by the members before adopting the accounts. The Council adopted various resolutions moved by the Sectt and a few moved by the affiliates and COC representatives. The amendments to the Constitution proposed by the National Executive Committee, which had already been circulated were adopted. Besides, the Secretariat submitted certain proposals on the basis of the feedback from the affiliates and COCs. These were also approved by the Council after deliberations. The amendments were to give effect to the following proposals. (a) To replace the existing National Council with the triennial National Conference. (b) To have a National Council as the second tier of functioning to meet once in a year. (c) To have the National Executive with the members of the elected Secretariat members, Members nominated by the affiliated organizations having membership of more than 3000 and if those organizations do not have a representative in the Secretariat. (d) To have a progressive representation of councilors/Associate Councillors for the COCs in the National Conference on the basis of paid up amount of subscription with a ceiling limit of one Councilor and four associate Councillors , the maximum subscription being Rs. 5000 and the minimum at Rs.1000. (e) To have the National Council, the representation of each of the affiliated Associations/Federation through their Chief Executive and the State Secretaries of the COCs. (f) To expand the number of Secretariat members for the ensuing term to give wider representation to the affiliates. The Council also decided to adopt the logo of the Confederation as was exhibited at the meeting and change the nomenclature of the COCs as "Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, ………….State Committee/District Committee" as the case may be. The Resolution moved by the Secretariat on Policy and Programme was discussed in the background of the Government's decision to re-introduce the PFRDA bill in the Parliament seeking even the support of the NDA partners. It was decided by the house that the Secretariat must hold discussion with the leaders of the All India State Government employees Federation and All India Defence Employees Federation to carry out the earlier proposal of organizing a day's strike action as and when the Bill is placed before the Parliament. The resolution on Policy and Programme was adopted. The same is annexed to this letter. The Council elected the following as the office bearers for the ensuing term of three years. The house unanimously accepted the suggestion of Com. S.K.Vyas, President to appoint Com. P.V. Ramachandran as Auditor of the Confederation. The Council concluded its deliberations on 6th at 6.00 PM. LIST OF MEMBERS OF SECRETARIAT OF CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS, NEW DELHI. (Elected in the XXIII National Council Meeting held on 4-6 December, 2009) S.No Name of Post Name of Comrade Parent organization Tel. Number. 1 President S.K.Vyas Audit 9868244035 2 Working President K.Ragavendran NFPE 9868819295 3 Vice Presidents: T. Narasimhan NFPE 9440056969 4 K.V.Sridharan NFPE 9868545552 5 K.P.Rajagopal ITEF 9443914467 6 M. Duraipandian Audit 9789833552 7 N. Somayya Ground Water. 9811748243 8 Secretary General K.K.N.Kutty ITEF 9811048303 9 Secretary M.S.Raja Audit 9868145667 10. Assistant Secys. Virghu Bhattacharjee Civil Accounts 9868520920 11 Ashok B Salunkhe ITEF 9869477401 12 Ishwar Singh Dabas NFPE 9968099272 13 Jayaraj.K.V. Atomic Energy 9869501189 14 S.S. Mahadevaiah GDS 9811577701 15 Finance Secretary Giri Raj Singh NFPE 9818801178 16 Organising Secys. P.K.Das IBM 9423635211 17 Ashok Kanojia ITEF 9810206426 18 Mani Achari Atomic Energy 9442155128 19 Geeta Ghoshal ITEF 9433960750 20 P.Suresh NFPE 9885077451 21 R.Seethalakshmi NFPE 9448819821 22 Nageswara Rao Audit 9912348233 23 Pijush Roy Civil Accounts 9433515577 24 P. Rajanayagam Postal Accounts 9868451466 25 R.P.Singh Agmark 9969080996 26 D.P.S.Madan Central Secretariat 9871372438 27 T.K.R.Pillai Stts.Prog. Implementation 9425372172 28 Auditor P.V.Ramachandran ITEF 9424417526

Copy of Resolution on Policy and Programme adopted at the National Council meeting on 6^thDecember, 2009.

RESOLUTION ON POLICY AND PROGRAMME

In the beginning of nineties, India, succumbing to the pressure exerted by the imperialist powers through the IMF, opened-up its economy to globalization, stating that it was left with no alternative. Globalization and liberalization were the panacea suggested for bringing about faster economic growth. Faster growth of economy indeed was brought about but only to the lender nations. Most of the third world countries, setting aside the planned development path adopted the neo-liberal economic policies. What emerged on pursuance of the ill advised policy is the accentuation of hunger, poverty and unemployment. Sharper division between the rich and poor countries ensued. The gulf between the haves and have-nots widened. Most of the nations in South Asia and sub-Sahara Africa suffered from high levels of hunger. The global intake of food articles was substantially reduced. Between 2003-and 2008, the cost of rice in the retail market rose by four times and corn by three times. Our country became distinct for its largest food-insecure population i.e. about 200 million.

Throughout the world, workers rose in struggle. To combat this ongoing resistance, the Trade Union rights were denied. Enactments were made to abridge the labour welfare measures. In India we even witnessed brutal physical assaults with the active collaboration of the Police and state machinery as happened in Gurgaon, Rajasthan and Orissa. Thousands of peasants ended their life during the period. There had been incessant resistance to the policies from all sections of the working people. More and more people began to participate in the resistance movement. The strike actions, under the united platform of Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions elicited more and more participation of the workers.

The Central Government employees, who were reluctant partners in the struggle in the beginning, realized the enormity and pernicious impact of these policies in the day to day life. The strike action of 30^{th t} October, 2007

against the pension fund reforms was the manifestation of the growing realization of the issues involved. It was only on the threat of an indefinite strike action; the Government of India revised its stand and decided to set up the 6^th CPC. The downsizing, contractorsation, privatization, outsourcing etc were the various methodologies adopted to shed regular employment and usher in informalisation of workforce to carry on even the unavoidable perennial and permanent nature of functions. This has continued unabated and serious struggles are required to stem the rot. We are to take initiative in mobilizing the entirety of Central Government employees.

There had been no bilateral discussions and negotiations with the Unions/Federations/Associations of the Central Government employees worth the name on the demands placed jointly by all these organizations to the Government on the recommendations of 6^th CPC. What all in the name of discussions happened was to provide an audience to the Staff Side of JCM by the Committee of Secretaries. Most of the issues/demands in the charter were rejected without adducing any reasons whatsoever. This meeting calls upon the National Executive to strive to bring those issues to the centre stage of discussion, demand negotiation with the group of Ministers and organize programme of action including strike to bring about a satisfactory settlement support thereof.

The situation makes it binding on us to prepare for a long and sustained struggle. This conference exhorts its members to strive their best to bring about a much more united and militant movement to make it possible.

On 4^th of December Secretary General and Vice-President (South) went to North Block met different officials of C.B.E.C on the pending demands and discussed with the Administration about the possibility of granting notional fixation from 01.01.1996 in the light of Cuttack CAT judgment. It was decided that another round of discussion will be held on 15^th of December with the Board officials.

In the organizational front we are receiving positive response from Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra hope the aperture will be set right.

For renewal of recognition this is an SOS to all the circles and branches ‘kindly respond without more ado and send your D.D.O certificates forthwith’.

To

The President,

All office Bearers,

Circle and Branch Secretaries Comradely Yours

For wide circulation KOUSIK ROY