Railway unions threat of action if Bonus is not declared within 20th October

 The Railway workers union has threatened of ‘direct action’ if their productivity linked bonus, which is usually paid before the onset of Durga Puja, is not released by October 20.

This was decided in a virtual standing committee meeting of the All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF) held on Friday.

AIRF general secretary Shiv Gopal Mishra said railwaymen worked 24X7 during the COVID-19 pandemic but the government was ignoring this “legitimate” demand of the railway employees.

“It was decided in the meeting that if orders for payment of productivity linked bonus to railwaymen are not issued by the Railway Ministry by October 20, direct action shall be taken on October 22, 2020,” he said.

The file related to the bonus has been sent by the Railway Board (Ministry of Railways) to the Finance Ministry, which is not clearing it and adopting an indifferent attitude in this regard, Mr. Mishra claimed.

Source : The Hindu

He said the payment used to be made before Durga Puja but this time it has not been done so far, resulting in serious resentment and unrest amongst the railwaymen.

In the meeting, officials also expressed anguish over anti-labour policies of the government and demanded direct action.

The meeting also raised issues regarding the privatisation/outsourcing and corporatisation in the Railways, restoration of the old pension scheme, and releasing of dearness allowance/dearness relief.

The board’s general secretary said that during the meeting, it was also decided to form Save Railway-Save Nation Campaign Committees at all 7,600 railway stations across the country.

He demanded that local rail users and other prominent personalities be involved in the formation of the said committees to create an effective atmosphere to halt the policies of privatisation and corporatisation in the Indian Railways.

Bank Wage Revision : Bipartite talk with officers' associations comes to a standstill

 The bipartite talk between IBA and Officers Associations suddenly derailed yesterday. 

 IBA in the forenoon informed their inability to conclude and ink the joint note pertaining to officers’ wage revision w.e.f. 01.11.2017. The lame reason cited by them was not signing the costing exercise with the Workmen Unions till then.

Aggrieved with the decision, the Officers' Associations immediately went to warpath. They decided to take following industrial actions.

" In this background after the analysis of series of developments it has been decided unanimously to retaliate with agitational programmes in a phased manner. The action programmes chalked out will commence with the following forthwith:

a) Withdrawal of extra cooperation. 

b) Officers should restrict to the allocated work upto 6.00 p.m. only. 

c) Officers should not respond official SMS/ Whatsapp beyond 6 p.m. 

d) Officers are directed not to do any official work on Sundays and holidays viz. attend webinars/ office/ participate any programme related to canvassing of third-party products/ marketing drives/ training programmes/ ‘P’ Review meetings."

Click here for AIBOC Circular

IBA and workmen union differ on special allowance

 In yesterday's meeting with IBA, they proposed a 16.4% hike in special allowance as agreed by officers' association.

Workme unions rejected the offer and demanded 20% increase.

Next meeting fixed on 17th and final agreement may be reached today.

Stay with us for further update.

Bank Bipartite Update by AIBOC

 There will be talks with IBA on financial and non Financial issues on 16th and day after. Most probably the settlement can be signed on 17th or 18th. IBA is planning to release the arrears before 25th this month. 

Regarding 5 day banking, is an open subject and will not appear in the final settlement. Association is trying for that. It needs govt clearance. 

Lets hope positive result.

Central staff and pensioners may get D.A. soon : Media Report

One of the media report claims that Central Govt. is considering seriously to revive the freezed D.A. / D.R for employees and pensioners. Discussions are on and it may be materialized in December, the report says.

Report :

"The Narendra Modi government had in April announced that the Central government employees and pensioners would not get 21 per cent Dearness Allowance, which they would have received from January 1, 2020, as per the 7th Pay Commission recommendation.

The decision was part of the Centre’s efforts to deal with the financial crisis like situation emerged due to the COVID-19 pandemic in March this year.

“…the additional instalment of DA payable to the Central government employees and Dearness Relief (DR) to the Central government pensioners due from 1st January 2020 shall not be paid,” a government order read.

It further said that the additional instalment of DA and DR due from July 1, 2020 and January 1, 2020 shall not be paid, but both at current rates will continue to be paid.

Though there were rumours that the April order has been withdrawn, the news was later found to be a fake one.

However, the Centre is now mulling to announce the DA and DR for the employees and the pensioners. Discussions are on and it may be materialised in the month of December, said a source on the condition of anonymity.

The government is serious about the allowances for its employees. The pandemic situation has put a burden on both the government and the employees but the duo has so far stood tall, and the situation is currently improving, he added."

Source : Odisha TV