7th CPC: Unions reject Centre's pay hike, threaten to go on strike

NEW DELHI: The Confederation of Central Government Employees today rejected the pay hike announced by the government and threatened to go on a strike next week, a decision which got support from the central trade unions. The Confederation said the pay hike approved by the Cabinet on the 7th Central Pay Commission's recommendations is "not acceptable". RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) and other trade unions also rejected the hike, saying this is the lowest increase in the past 17 years that would increase disparity between the minimum and maximum pay. Central trade unions have also sided with government employees and have given a call to hold nationwide demonstrations against the pay hike. "In the prevailing economic conditions, the proposed hike as per the Pay Commission is inadequate. It is not acceptable to us," M Duraipandian, General Secretary, Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, Tamil Nadu, said. He added the Confederation will be forced to advance the indefinite strike call to July 4 instead of July 11, if the government does not heed to its demand of revising the hike. Earlier in the day, its members staged a demonstration at Rajaji Bhavan in Chennai, home to several state government's offices. All India Trade Union Congress Secretary D L Sachdev said: "It is the lowest increase in last 17 years. Central trade unions will support the strike call given by central government employees." While, BMS said it will organise country-wide protests on July 8 against the decision, adding the government has "disappointed" the employees and it may lead to industrial unrest. "The formula should be 3.42 instead of 2.57 as approved by the government. Similarly the annual increment should be 5 per cent instead of 3 per cent given. The disparity between the minimum and maximum pay has also been increased," BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said. In a statement, he said the Sangh will organise protests across the country in all districts on July 8 and will discuss on the alternative of going on a strike at its national executive in August. BMS also demanded for a uniform minimum pay of Rs 18,000 per month to all the workers including the private sector.