ATTENTION .. ALL CATEGORY III-IV FCI EMPLOYEES.DON'T BE PART OF ILLOGICAL BOYCOTT  CAMPAIGN

 CONTINUE OBSERVANCE OF WORK TO RULE AGITATION WITH HIGH SPIRIT

Comrades, FCI management has unilaterally announced IR, We have a strong protest on that and we will express it through our future struggles in FCI HQ. We assure that we will make it a grand success and we request your co-operation.

The details of the program will be intimated shortly.

Dear comrades, we cannot forget the recent past which still beats inside of us.

It was January, 2014 when the Golden Jubilee Celebration of FCI was proposed to be held by the Ministry. The announcement and thereby implementation of DCPS and PRMS as per the MOS dated 01.04.2018, other assured benefits along with a memento of Gold Coin to each and every workmen in celebration of the Golden Jubilee of FCI were in the programme schedule. But there was a boycott campaign against the said programme at the call of one so-called majority union, and that too at the behest of a section of vested interests amongst themselves.

The occasion was scheduled to be graced by the Hon’ble President of India, Shi Pranab Mukherjee, who happened to be the Finance Minister of India (2009-12) in 2010 when our wage proposal (MOU) with financial implications wad approved and the MOS was accordingly signed. But due to the thoughtlessness and lack of prudence of the so-called leadership of the said union who called for boycott of that Golden Jubilee programme, the entire programme was cancelled and we lost the opportune moment of seeking intervention of the President of India in the matter of implementation of the MOS in true letter and spirit.

Thereafter consequent upon our continuous efforts, struggles at the various level under the banner of Joint Action Council lead by Dr A Sampath MP, we could achieve to implement the Defined Contribution Pension and Post Retirement Medical Schemes w.e.f 1-12-2008 and w.e.f 1-4-2016 receptively  instead of 01.01.2007.

In the name of review/scrutiny by newly appointed COS, the award of the MOS date 01.04.2010, duly approved by the previous Government after necessary financial concurrence was mysteriously changed later while determining the date of giving effect of PRMS and DCPS which was categorically specified as 01.01.2007. As a result, we have lost the awarded benefits of 23 months’ FCI-Contribution on DCPS @10% and 111 months’ on PRMS @ 3.83% amounting to total loss of about Rs.1000 crores in both funds as on date.

At this predicament, we remind you that, these entire financial losses have never and ever taken up at appropriate levels by these so-called leadership who were the Signatories of MOS dated 1-4-2010 and had given the call for boycott the Golden Jubilee Celebration earlier.

In FCI, the young category III & IV Employees who are the pillar of the organisation has over-burdened with these financial losses and their career has decelerated by these vested elements.

Now, it may be understood that Management has released orders for PLI and Interim Relief (IR). But considering the deep frustration prevailing in FCI Employees, some vested interests on behalf of their union have given the call for boycott of PLI and Interim Relief (IR) without any Future remedy or vision.

The Central Committee of this Association vehemently condemns such infantile call and request all employees to defeat the hidden agenda of the Management and their puppets and their conspiracy against your wages and allowances, financial security and overall interest.

Boycotting/refusing PLI or IR will never bring any positive result as you are aware that the chairman of FCI is already relieved from this corporation and the Lok-Sabha may dissolve very soon.

The acceptance of IR/PLI will definitely and lawfully register our rights and claims for Wage Revision as well as PLI which are already due.

The new Ministry after election will legally have the obligation to implement our wage revision w.e.f 1-1-2017 since IR shall be effected from 01.01.2017.

As a responsible trade union, we cannot propagate lies or spread any Gimmick like these puppets of the Management.

We rather ask you to accept the IR/PLI ‘on protest’. We strongly believe in united movements and struggles.

You may be aware that the CWC employees have also accepted the IR and they are on rightful path of struggle for wage revision.

Comrades, we are confident that our highly qualified youth comrades will definitely understand the circumstances and continue observance of work to rule agitation called by us with full spirit.

We convey our strong message to comrades that don’t bother about IR, and only concentrate to strengthen our struggles and agitation demanding wage revision.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it 

Our future programme of agitation/movement will be intimated shortly.

Red Salute comrades...Working Class unity Zindabad....

Yours Fraternity   

                Sd/-

(Gibin Varghese)

     Dated 30-11-18                                       General Secretary                                                                                                                                                                                   

Press Release

FCI Employees are on Struggle path.

FCI Employees Association called Work to rule w.e.f 15-11-18. Agitation by FCI employees may affect PDS distribution and Food grain movement though out country.    

The FCI Employees Association (CITU) and other FCI staff unions called work-to-rule agitation due to non settlement of wage revision in respect of category III&IV employees and other pending demands. The work to rule agitation has already started in some northern states and from 15.11.18 the entire staffs throughout the country in FCI will observe work to rule demanding justice to their legitimate demands. The work-to-rule agitation of staff of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), could substantially impact inter-state and intra-state movement of foodgrain.  

Around 19,000 of FCI's 22,000 employees have been part of the stir, demanding to Save FCI by sanctioning adequate amount of subsidy for FCI’s operations and Wage revision for Category III&IV employees among other things. During the observance of Work to Rule, the FCI Employees will not attend Overtime posting/Holiday posting in all places of Food Corporation of India.

The Food Corporation of India operations is under serious threat. The Subsidy received every year by FCI was lower than claimed for from the GoI. On an average, only 67 percent of subsidy claimed was released by the GoI over the last five years because of which FCI had to borrow from other costlier means of finance. As on today FCI is working with below 45 % staff strength. We consider that this move is for dissolution of FCI offices and reducing the responsibilities of the FCI and it is a serious threat to the food security of the nation and PDS system. FCI meets its requirement of funds mainly through subsidy therefore we also demand timely release of subsidy to carry out its main activities of food grains procurement, storage, distribution and to meet other administrative costs.

The anti working class policy of Central Government and inhuman attitude of FCI management has resulted deep disrupt in the industrial harmony at Food Corporation of India. The wage revision of FCI Category III & IV employees is due w.e.f 1-1-2017. Revision of their wages happened 12 years before and at that time the current employees who joined after 1-1-2007 has got only 8% increment when DPE was allowed 30 % benefits. FCI management has categorically denied their legitimate demands one by one. The last was denial of their Productivity Linked incentive. The current productivity of FCI has increased by more than four times compare to 1-1-2007. The turnover per employee on 2006-7 FY was 1598.2 MT now it has been increased into 7000 MT in 17-18.

This year, the five-day festival Diwali is not celebrated by FCI employees as well as labours who are the symbols of Food Security of the nation, due to denial of Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) by FCI Management. This year Management has not even released a single rupee as advance. In the history of FCI, it has not happened ever before. Therefore the FCI and its Employees Marked it us a black day and observed black Diwali. The employees will definitely harden their stand in the coming weeks by observing work to rule at first phase of agitation.

In November and December, evacuation of paddy is more as this is the peak procurement season. Therefore, If employees will not attend overtime / holiday posting management face big difficulties in managing food grain movements through railway rakes. Inter-state and intra-state movement of foodgrain is crucial for smooth operation of a nationwide PDS. The demands if not settled the Association is compelled to intensify the struggles in the second phase.

Dear comrades, FCI Employees Association (CITU) central committee has held on 11-11-18 at 10.00 am in Kochi and issued the following statement.

FCI Employees Association (CITU) condemned the lackadaisical attitude of FCI management in the matter of Category III&IV Employees wage revision. even after 8th round negotiation meeting it had ended with no result. The central committee of fci employees association pointed out that the current pathetic situation is the Aftermath of unilateralism and anti working class policy. Therefore, considering the future,hardships and pain of category III &IV employees who are the pillar of FCI and symbols of food security we have decided to intensify our struggles/ direct trade union actions and decided to observe work to rule w.e.f 15-11-18. Since WTR is a direct trade union action, a detailed strike notice will be issued on tomorrow to management. As decided in the previous central committee meeting, the FCI EA CITU scheduled to strengthen the intensified struggles if the long pending demands are not settled by this year.

Also FCI Employees Association noted that In the matter of PLI, management has prepared agenda note to release PLI payment consequent on our timely intervention at ministry level and mobilisation of the situation. 25000+5000 is expected to clear by Board shortly.

Working class unity Zindabad.

Comradely yours

Gibin Varghese 

General Secretary 

FCI Employees Association (CITU)

Reg No:124/84

 FCI EMPLOYEES WHO ARE THE SYMBOLS OF FOOD SECURITY OF THE NATION OBSERVES BLACK DIWALI

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    FCI Employees who are the Symbols of Food Security of the nation observes black Diwali, over GOI and FCI Management decision on denial of  Wage Increase, Bonus and allowances. The General Secretary of FCI Employees Association informed situation to Shri Ramvilas Paswan, Honorable Minister for Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on his letter dated 07-11-18. We will continue with our stir till if the lackadaisical attitude of FCI Management and Anti Working class policies of GoI continues. Diwali festival is India's biggest and most significant celebration of every year. The five-day festival Diwali is not celebrated by FCI employees as well as labours who are the symbols of Food Security of the nation, due to denial of Productivity Linked Incentive (PLI) by FCI Management. In the history of FCI, it has not happened before. The productivity of Food Corporation of India has increased twofold compared to 1-1-2007. Even though, FCI management categorically denied the hard-working field employee’s PLI Payment w.e.f 2010-11 to till now. The GoI should take note that the current staff strength is below 45 % (approx) and due to the hardworking nature of current Category III employees and labours, the operations of FCI is not yet hindered. FCI management has not even released single rupee as an advance. Despite repeated representations and number of protests, the Management authorities have remained mute. This clearly shows the inhuman behaviour of FCI Management and GoI.

      Also, FCI Management unilaterally and illegitimately imposing financial restrictions on Category III & IV employee’s wages and allowances by fabricating their own bureaucratic vision as circulars. The Management unilaterally abolished advance pay on transfer, Natural Calamity advance and the advance of leave salary vide circular EP-24-2018-28 dated 05-11-2018. In a democratic country as a responsible union in FCI, we express a deep protest over this decision of FCI management.  

With regard to most waited wage revision, Even after 22 months from the due date and 3 months from GOI permission, the management of Food Corporation of India just for name sake conducted some negotiation meeting without recording any minutes. Management has not yet constituted a permanent committee for the negotiation process from Trade Unions side and Management side.  Also, Management’s silence on the important issue of employees i.e 5 Year Periodicity, Percentage based Fringe Benefit, Lease Accommodation, Removal of 50 per cent ceiling in the matter of PLI and implementation of minimum basic pay on par with Graduate post in the central government organization is a matter of serious concern to all of us.  

                

             Association noted that the wage revision of category I &II officers have already implemented on war foot basis and the discrimination in the matter has created deep frustration among the category III employees. During the last 11 years, they have not received any wage increase. During the last settlement the existing Cat III &IV employees who joined in the corporation after 01-01-2007 has got only 8% increase on their Basic Pay instead of 30% basic pay and the then 78.2% DA increase in their wages. Management also failed to incorporate 40% cafeteria allowance for Category III-IV employees even though GOI extended to all CPSEs employees including Food Corporation of India vide DPE OM dated 26-11-2008 and 01-04-2009. Hence the current employees are facing huge financial hardships now.

        

             The inordinate delay in the wage settlement will bring more hurdles in its implementation since the current period of Lok Sabha will end within 6 months. The issue will become more complicated if the Lok Sabha dissolves before its end of operation period. Uncertainty in the matter spoiled the career and life of FCI Category III employees who are the pillar of Food Corporation of India which provide food security to the nation. 

Published by FCI Employees Association (CITU)

Reg No:124/1984