Wage Committee – Joint Recommendations. |
Translated by P Ramadurai |
On January 15th, 2010 the wage committee has finalized its recommendations. The same has been signed by both the management and union. It is not clear whether this will be a bilateral agreement. In PSUs like coal India the bi lateral settlement is captioned as memorandum of agreement Joint Bi Partite Committee. Even during the April 26,2002 settlement, The title was "Agreement between management of BSNL and representative of new applicant unions". C M D, DIR HR and Dir Fin. were the ones who signed the settlement from management side. |
This time Joint Bi partite is downgraded to what they call as "Recommendations of wage revision committee". Those who signed for the management side are only the officials in the second level like ED Fin. ED CM and GMs,AGMs. Recognized unions may satisfy themselves by accepting these kinds of recommendations signed by second level officials. But Joint Bi Partite (The soul of PSU) is being brutally murdered. |
The recommendation includes 8 important features. |
1 Introduction and back ground 2 Terms of settlement 3 Wage structure 4 Perks and allowances 5 Bonus 6 Retirement benefits 7 General 8 Work culture |
The introductory portion of DPE (Dated: April 2 2009) regarding 78.2 [ D A Merger ] has been cleverly omitted. But Under the feature GENERAL, it has been generously mentioned that the merger will be extended when it is to be given to the officers. We are loosing 12% in our basic pay since we have been denied 78.2%, which is being enjoyed by other PSUs. Periodicity has been recommended as Coterminus with that of executives. By this we have lost our Trade Union right of choosing the periodicity. |
Recommended pay structures are as follows. |
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Pay structure has been reduced when compared to that of officers. Though Starting pay scale as that of executives starts from 1.91, the end scale which was given to the executives as 2.77 times has been reduced to us as 2.3 – 2.5. The highly expected Pay scales during the discussions on promotion policy such as 9200, 9850 did not find their places in the wage structure recommendations. It was stated that it will be announced after getting the acceptance from DOT. |
The down gradation of our pay structure is very much clear when compared to the central Govt.'s 6th CPC settlement. The recognized union not only failed to increase the ratio of IDA structure but also incapable in keeping the ratio which was achieved during 2002. |
In particular the employees getting the scale of 7100(TTA,OTBP /Sr TOA) were |
pushed down to the CDA scales. From 01 01 07 the new DA will be Zero and it will be fixed as per the DPE directives. The employees appointed on or after 01 jan 07 will come under new pay scale. If the fitment is more than the new pay scale the difference will be considered as personal pay and this will affect the employees appointed after 01 jan 07. |
• The New Basic pay = the Basic Pay as on 01.01.2007 X 1.688X1.3. • There is no mention about Minimum Guarantee benefit, which was mentioned as Rs 1500/ in the previous settlement. • The stagnation pay will be given only 3 times once in two years. |
During promotion, a notional increment of 3% will be given. Those who were getting increment as on 01.01.2007 will be fixed in the new pay scale. New pay scale fixation may be opted either from 01.01.2007 or from their date of increment after 01.01.2007. |
• In the pay revision one increment benefit will be given for 2 stages bunch. |
Revised HRA will come into effect from 27.02.2009 onwards. But in the 2002 pay settlement we got HRA right from 01.10.2000(which itself was the pay revision day). |
• CCA will be stopped from 27.02.2009. |
No changes in perks and allowances and it is said that the same will be considered after 01.01.2012 or when revised for executives. We have been deprived of transport allowances where as Central Govt. Employees have achieved a tremendous change in the same. |
• 50% hike in CMA and WA. The existing Food allowances will be stopped. • 2% Performance allowances will be given as given for executives. There is no reference about MRS. • No change in leave rules. M L is enhanced to 180 days from existing 135 days. |
BONUS: |
New formula will be derived in accordance with Performance Management system. |
Retirement benefit: |
Only generalized statements were found under this head. DOT employees absorbed in BSNL are eligible for pension under rule 37A. The BSNL recruited employees will get pension benefits under EPF and miscellaneous provision Act of 1952. There is no statement to guarantee pension in the new IDA. In 2002 agreement it was stated that “For the purpose of reckoning emoluments for calculation of pension and pensionary benefits the emoluments as defined CCS pension rules, in PSU in the IDA pay scale shall be treated as emoluments”. The above statement is not included in the present agreement. There are DOP, DOT orders after 2002 agreement. These orders are not included in the recommendation. |
Gratuity: |
The employees from DOT will get as per Central Govt. rulings. The direct recruited BSNL employees will get as per the act of 1972. Change is needed in the gratuity rules so that the direct recruited employees will get the same benefits as that of employees from DOT. But this is not found in the recommendations. |
Adhoc payment will be adjusted from the arrears. But there is no mention or assurance about the number of installments and time period. Whereas this had been specified in the previous wage settlement [2002] |
General: |
It was stated that, Implementation of new Promotion policy Upgradation of scales for certain cadres did not come under the perimeter of discussions of wage committee. But in the previous wage agreement this policy was stated as follows “Promotional system of OTBP/BCR/Grade IV will continue to operate as in CDA system till it is revised by an Agreement similarly. Where ACP system is in operation, it will continue till it is revised by an agreement” .But now, promotion policy is excluded as a new separate track. The question of promotion under the circumstances |
like expiry of old wage agreement and non implementation of the new promotion policy is still unanswered. |
The recognized union has accepted to give its full support for every decision taken by the management regarding work culture. The training under certain circumstances is accepted. These following questions are in a galore, |
• How much is incurred for wage revision? • Whether there will be any separate agreement in future? • Would these recommendations be taken to the board for approval? • Would the board accept all the recommendations with out negations? • When will it be sent to DOT? • When will the arrears be paid? • Will that be in a single installment? • When will the new pay structure (as per 01 jan 07) come to effect? • Will there be hindrances for getting pension under the new IDA? • What are the Pros and Cons of Bonus with respect to Performance Management system? • What are the fore front measures from management side regarding work culture? • Will it be discussed with the staff side? |
These are some questions arising on seeing the recommendations. These questions are being raised not for the sake of criticism. But for the employees to get clear idea about the same. |
Dineshchandra D. Mistry,
General Secretary,
BSNL & DoT Pensioners Association & ASG FNTO ND
C-11, Suvarnadham Avenue, Near Pink City,
Ranip, Ahmedabad 382480
TF Union Office:079-25500800 (R) 079-27521400
Cell: 9879090682
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