The National Joint Council of Action (NJCA), an umbrella organisation comprising various Central Government employees’ unions, has temporarily postponed the indefinite strike scheduled from July 11 after Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed a committee of Ministers to negotiate with union leaders on their demands.
NJCA convener (South Zone) N. Kanniah said even as the Cabinet approved the 7th Pay Commission, representatives of various unions, including the All India Railwaymen Federation, decided to go ahead with the proposed strike demanding a minimum pay of Rs. 26,000.
The claim that the government was giving a 14.28 per cent hike in pay was false since the calculations revealed an increase of only 11.31 per cent, which would further decline to 4.51 per cent after deductions towards provident fund and pension scheme contributions.
Mr. Kanniah, who is also the general secretary of Southern Railway Mazdoor Union, said the unions were opposed to privatisation and foreign direct investment in Defence, Railway etc.
“Since the Prime Minister has intervened and initiated the process of negotiation, we have decided to temporarily postpone the indefinite strike. The NJCA will make sure that the genuine demands of the employees are met with,” he said.
