The State Coordination Committee of
Central Government Employees and Workers, Odisha arranged a grand strike
meeting in the premises of Bhubaneswar GPO at 6 PM on 23.01.2014 with active
participation of hundreds of members from NFPE and other Central Govt.
establishments stationed in Bhubaneswar.
The meeting was organized by the
Divisional JCA, Bhubaneswar leaded by Com. B Samal, Divisional Secretary,
AIPEU, Group-C and assisted by Com. S K Swain, Divisional Secretary, AIPEU,
Postman & MTS and Com. G S Panda, AIPEU GDS ( NFPE ).
The meeting was presided by Com. M M
Samal and the welcome speech was given by Com. R N Dhal, President and General
Secretary, Odisha State CoC respectively.
The meeting was addressed by Com. M
Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation , Com. N Somaiah, General Secretary, CGWB and
Com. R C Mishra, Circle Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C, Odisha Circle and
Vice-President, CHQ.
Addressing the meeting Com. Somaiah
criticized the neoliberal policy of the UPA-II Govt. leaded by Congress and
gave a clear picture of the negative attitude of the present Govt. towards the
legitimate demands of the Central Govt. employees. Citing the attitude and
silence of the Railway and Defence
Federation to join in the coming 2-days strike on 12th & 13th
February, 2014, Com. Somaiah told that the Confederation of Central Govt.
employees will not wait for anybody and will proceed ahead at the right time to
achieve the genuine demands of the Central Govt. employees. Since ahead there
is Lok Sabha election, it is the right time to go on strike before the code of
conduct is announced and hammer the present Govt. in the coming Parliament
Budget Session. It will be seer foolishness to wait for the new Govt. to come
and put forth our demand, Com. Somaiah said. “An employee having a fear in his
mind has no right to go on strike since the Confederation believes in real
fight with brave hearts. Confederation never teaches to beg but to snatch away
one’s legitimate right with rigorous struggle” – Com. Somaiah told. He appealed
the gathering to bring roaring success to the forth coming two-days strike in Odisha.
Narrating briefly the history of
Confederation’s struggle movements, Com. M Krishnan told that while other
organizations walk with the time, Confederation walks ahead of the time
creating history. Due to the sincere efforts of the Confederation only, Central
Pay Commissions are being set up and not only the Central Govt. employees but
the State Govt. employees are being benefited. From constitution of 2nd
CPC till 6th CPC, Confederation has played a definite role. And this
time, while other organizations are quite reluctant for 7th CPC, it
is the Confederation which has decided for compelling the Central Govt. for
constitution of the same with pay revision in every 5 years. Confederation
demanded for automatic promotion and we got it in the name of ACP.
Confederation demanded for three promotions, we got in the name of MACP. Every
time, Confederation has fought sincerely and got the benefits. Confederation
has given us, defined working hours, leave, D A, bonus, OTA and such other
benefits which we are enjoying. It had never waited for any other organization
earlier either to join or help in its struggle movements and thus, in spite of
no response from Railway and Defence Federation, Confederation is committed to
work for the entirety of Central Govt. employees. Both mathematically and
logically, Com Krishnan justified the demands. Citing the example of Latin
American countries, Com. Krishnan told that it is quite possible to compel the
Congress Govt. to stay away from the neoliberal policies. It is possible to
achieve every demand provided we go for a united struggle under the banner of
the Confederation. Employees are afraid of not joining in strikes due to two
reasons – fear of victimization or fear of loss of pay. So far as victimization
is concerned, it is baseless and an apprehension only. When this Confederation
has already fought several times against the powerful Govt. with full majority
in the House leaded by Pandit Neheru and Indira Gandhi, this weak UPA Govt.
will not commit a mistake in victimizing the striking employees in any manner
since the Confederation keeps the power and strength to paralyze the Govt. with
the support of all the Central Trade Unions. And the fear of loss of pay is
nothing in comparison to the benefit we achieved. Thus, he appealed all the
Central Govt. employees to join enmasse in the forth coming two-days
nation-wide strike and bring a thundering success in Odisha Circle. Few years
back, there was no satisfactory conductance of agitational programmes called by
the Confederation in Odisha Circle. But now , Odisha is at par with Kerala and
West Bengal etc. Giving advance congratulation to the Comrades of Odisha Circle,
Com. Krishnana expected successful conductance of the two-days strike.
Lastly, while Com. R C Mishra, Circle
Secretary, AIPEU, Group-C, Odisha Circle
assured the Confederation leadership for total success of the two-days
strike in Odisha Circle, Com. D B Mohanty, Circle Secretary, AIPEU, Postman
& MTS, Odisha Circle gave the vote
of thanks.
