Report by Kamgar Ekta Committee (KEC) correspondent
A meeting of the senior leaders of All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), Bhartiya Pratiraksha Mazdoor Sangh (BPMS) and Confederation of Defence Recognised Associations (CDRA) was held on 04-09-2022.
A unanimous resolution was adopted in the meeting condemning the unilateral, insensitive and unhelpful attitude of the Department of Defence Production (DDP) and the Corporations. (Resolution is given below)
The meeting decided to observe a one-week protest programme in support of their demands:
- Withdrawal of Corporatization,
- Allowing the employees to remain as Government employees till their retirement,
- Withdrawal of NPS (New Pension Scheme),
- Settle all pending demands,
- Creation of IR mechanism in accordance with the provisions of Trade Union Act and Industrial Dispute Act.
Resolution adopted in the joint meeting of the AIDEF, BPMS & CDRA held on 04/09/2022 through video conference
The Joint meeting of the AIDEF, BPMS & CDRA held on 04/09/2022 through video conference took a very serious note of the prevailing situation in the Ordnance Factories especially the attack and harassment being faced by the employees of all categories due to the indifferent, unhelpful and insensitive attitude of the DDP and some of the CMDs of the Ordnance Factory Corporations.
The meeting expressed its displeasure, dissatisfaction and anguish about the total negative attitude of the DDP authorities in settling the issues represented by the AIDEF, BPMS & CDRA. The CMDs are taking unilateral decisions in constitution of the IR/Consultative Machinery, changing of the service condition of the employees, such as increasing the working hours in violation of the Cabinet decision and the commitment given before the Hon’ble High Courts, rejecting the compassionate ground transfer applications given by the employees and transferring the employees in a vindictive manner etc., it is a matter of serious concern that even in the official meetings conducted by the DDP, the authorities are not conducting the meetings in a congenial manner and there is no positive approach to settle the outstanding issues and demands of the employees.
The meeting also noted with concern that despite the assurance given by the Hon’ble Defence Minister, no steps are being taken either by the DDP or the CMDs for fully utilising the available manpower and infrastructure by providing sufficient workload to all the 41 Ordnance Factories. The Ordnance Factories under TCL, YIL, AWEIL, IOL will not be having full-fledged workload for the next financial year, i.e., 2023-24.
The situation has become so worse in the Ordnance Factories, even the Officers Association (IOFSOA) is forced to lodge so many complaints against the functioning style of the CMDs of the Corporations.
The meeting also noted with concern about the manner in which the payment of PLB issue is being dealt by the Directorate and the Corporations. The meeting urges upon the DDP/Directorate of Ordnance(C&S) to take all steps to release the payment of the PLB due to the employees of Ordnance Factories before the Dusshera holidays.
The meeting also took a decision that since the entire workforce of Ordnance Factories is against the Corporatisation of Ordnance Factories and the employees continue to remain as Government employees, the employees should not participate in the Corporation Day Celebrations and also to wear Black Badge on the same day.
Considering all the above issues the meeting decided to fight back against the indifferent attitude of the DDP and the Corporations. AIDEF & BPMS proposed for a strike action in the near future in case the issues are not settled by the DDP and the CMDs. Therefore, the meeting has unanimously decided to observe one week protest programme from 31/10/2022 to 04/11/2022 in all the Ordnance Factories by the Affiliated Unions of AIDEF, BPMS and the Affiliates of CDRA in the following manner.
The meeting calls upon the Defence Civilian Employees of all the 41 Ordnance Factories to remain united and to fight back relentlessly till the Government withdraw Corporatization and allow the employees to remain as Government Employees till their superannuation from service and also to realise all the outstanding issues represented by AIDEF, BPMS & CDRA.
The meeting urges upon the Government of India instead of behaving in an insensitive manner towards the employees of Ordnance Factories who are subjected unnecessary hardship due to the Corporatization decision taken by the Government, should come forward with a pro-employee approach to settle all the outstanding issues.