In October 2021, the Indian government corporatized the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), restructuring it into seven Defence Public Sector Undertakings (DPSUs). Defence civilian workers have been continuously opposing corporatization and demanding that workers deputed to DPSUs should retain their status as Central Government employees till their retirement, so that they can continue to avail of their rights such as job security and pension benefits. However, the government has now constituted a committee to submit recommendations on absorbing employees into the DPSUs. This will take away many rights of workers and leave them vulnerable to mergers, closures, and privatisation. Different unions of defence workers have announced a joint action program to protest this move, including gate meetings, signature campaigns, and a strike ballot. Such united actions are the need of the hour! Workers of all sectors must support this struggle!
Joint Statement of All India Defence Employees’ Federation (AIDEF), Indian National Defence Workers’ Federation (INDWF), Bhartiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS), and Confederation of Defence Recognized Associations (CDRA)
