AIBSNLPWA

No spoiling game please!

We once again reiterate that we are not interested in polemics and we are not against the unity of workers and pensioners.  Everyone knows that the demands and interest of workers and pensioners are different.  The seasoned leader avoided answers to some of our points and the pensioners and leaders who read both the postings would understand them.  So, we are not willing to raise any controversy between the organizations.

But, the core issue for DoT absorbed BSNL pensioners is revision of pension from 1/1/2017.  Let us concentrate on this issue.  The doubts raised by the seasoned leader and our reply:

Doubt - Point 5 – Let us assume that the Govt. accepts pension revision of BSNL retirees on the basis of VII CPC CDA scales instead of III PRC IDA scales.  From which date it will be implemented from 2016 or 2017?

Reply – (i) Pension revision is not on the basis of CDA or IDA scales.  It is determined on the basis of existing pension plus DR plus weightage benefit.  (ii) Our simple demand is that the pension plus DR plus weightage suggested by 7th CPC should be given to BSNL IDA pensioners.  (iii) Since last pension revision was given in 2007 we demand it from 2017.

Doubt – Point 6 – Discrimination/Anomaly –

Reply - It is on the wrong presumption or understanding that we demand CDA pension revision and they demand IDA pension revision and hence there is confusion of discrimination, anomaly etc.  However if our demand is conceded and if the pay revision is not commensurate with that pension revision, anomaly may arise but to solve that anomaly we have some ideas.

Doubt – Point 7 – Again unnecessary doubt - Either our demand is not understood correctly or with a view to confuse the pensioners.

Reply – After the 6th CPC recommendations, the department had its own confusion about its applicability to BSNL pensioners.  There was OM issued by DoP&PW on 19/9/2003 which says notional conversion from IDA to CDA and then implement the recommendation.  DoT wanted to implement it and another agency also agreed with that.  But DoP&PW which issued that OM differed because of the Apex court judgement, we referred earlier.  So, there is no possibility of notional conversion from IDA to CDA as threatened by the seasoned leader.

Doubt – Point 8 – Now they say that it is only the fitment factor that they have demanded.  How is the fitment calculated?  It is on the basis of calculating the fitment factor based on the price index for the CDA.

Reply – From the beginning our demand was “Implement Same fitment formula suggested by 7th CPC” and it is not our latest demand.  We are surprised to know that fitment factor is based on price index for the CDA.  7th CPC has gone into the concept of minimum wage and arrived at a figure.  One of its recommendations was multiply the existing pay/pension by 2.57.  That was arrived at with pay plus DA/DR plus 32% of basic pay/pension.  We are aware the index and methodology of CDA & IDA are different but the fact remains that Central Dearness Allowance is more beneficial than Industrial Dearness Allowance.  Because of that factor, FCI/VSNL pensioners wanted pension on IDA and DR on CDA which was rejected by the Supreme Court which said that both can only be on IDA.  We are aware about CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 and particularly 37-A.  It is a statutory one.  Sub-rule 10 speaks about industrial DA only.  We want that statutory protection should remain.  With the existing frame of mind, bureaucracy on its own may not take a positive decision and we are trying our best to interpret the rules and orders in favour of pensioners.  We want other organizations also to join for pushing it fast and if that is not possible let them not play atleast spoiling game.   

According to the seasoned leader’s posting on 2/3/2018 their demand is “on the basis of III PRC, pension revision should be ordered with 15% fitment, without waiting for the wage revision…….will not create the large number of serious anomalies”.

i) No terms of reference for III PRC for pension revision and naturally no recommendation also.  The recommendation is for pay revision with 3 fitment formula depending upon the profit of concerned PSU.

ii)         For argumentsake if that demand is conceded by the Govt. will not create anomaly between pre-2017 retirees and post-2017 retirees?  Because the demand is without waiting for wage revision.

 

.... D Gopalakrishnan.