▪ WAGE ARREARS ON NOV.1 ▪ ALL GLORY TO AIIEA
By the time this communication is in your hands, the employees would have received the arrears of wages on November 01, 2010 with a great sense of jubilation for what we have struggled for over three years. A magnificent wage revision has been achieved. It is gratifying to note that employees and officers irrespective of cadre and union affiliations have offered to pay donation to AIIEA appreciating the stellar role played by AIIEA in getting this wage revision. This is the best ever wage revision secured by AIIEA, both in terms of quantum of arrears and in terms of percentage of increase.
▪ 4% LEVY CALL OF AIIEA
▪ RS.16.5 LACS ADVANCE LEVY PAID IN SOUTH ZONE & 92 NEW MEMBERS ENROLLED
Even before release of wage arrears by the management, it is heartening to note that the members of the AIIEA have already started paying their levy to their organization in many centres as per the call of AIIEA for payment of levy at the rate of 4% of their net arrears. In the 14th General Conference of GIEA, South Zone, being held at Davangere (Karnataka) from Oct 31 to Nov 02, it is reported that its eight Regional units in South have together received a levy payment of over Rs.16.5 lacs from the members in advance. The Conference also reports enrolment of 92 new members into AIIEA after conclusion of wage revision. Payment of advance levy of 4% to AIIEA by the members in West Bengal and Bihar-Jharkhand has also been reported. Our congratulations to all those comrades.
▪ FIGHT AGAINST PRIVATIZATION ▪ AIIEA’S MISSION CONTINUES
On the day the employees will receive their wage arrears on Nov. 01, AIIEA would be engaging in the continuing struggle against privatization of public sector general insurance companies. On the invitation of the Parliamentary Standing Committee (Finance), the President and General Secretary of AIIEA will be giving deposition before the Committee giving our considered views against the Insurance Laws (Amendment) Bill 2008. The Bill, inter-alia, provides for increase in FDI limit in Insurance from the present 26% to 49% and provides for disinvestment of public sector general insurance companies. We will have to mobilize support to fight against this Bill and against any attempt of Govt to dismember the PS insurance companies.
▪ FUTURE TASKS
The other tasks set by AIIEA include – (1) the demand for Merger of the four PS general insurance companies; (2) Recruitment (including upgradation of PTEs & restoration of compassionate appointments); (3) our opposition to the arbitrary imposition of the New Pension Scheme; (4) the demand for another option for pension under the existing GI Pension Scheme 1995. Already a one-hour protest walk-out strike against imposition of NPS was observed by AIIEA on 20.10.2010 with the slogan of protest NPS to protect new recruits, protest NPS to protect existing pension and protest NPS to strengthen demand for another option under the existing Pension Scheme. Further measures are being taken to fight the imposition of NPS.
▪ UNCLEARED ISSUES
There are still matters relating to wage revision which require further representations, viz, early clearance for extension of wage revision benefit to PTEs and care takers of guest houses, agreed improvements on LTS, Encashment of EL, Vehicle Advance, Housing Loan, Conveyance Allowance for PH, Running scale for Substaff, Driver and RCs, fitment on promotion, etc.
▪ CONFUSION GALORE
We are aware of the discrepancies and confusions in the implementation of wage revision and payment of arrears. More problems would be encountered when the arrears are paid to the employees on 01.11.2010, such as ad-hoc collection of IT (without giving 89(1) relief etc.), omission of certain allowances, wrong calculation, protection of HRA/CCA on TMP transfers, release of additional stagnation increments due on 01.11.2010, release of benefits to retired employees etc. These problems arise in spite of companies spending several hundred crores of rupees on Information Technology, BPR initiatives etc., since there has been no coordination between the author of wage revision (Personnel department) and IT department who have developed software. The management also did not choose to consult unions so that these difficulties could have been obviated. The problems would be taken up by AIIEA appropriately with the authorities.
▪ STRENGTHEN AIIEA FINANCIALLY & NUMERICALLY
AIIEA has delivered its promise of a unique wage revision and the present wage revision is unprecedented in all respects. Naturally, therefore, the employees have a great sense of appreciation to the organization which is reflected in the levy paid in advance by many employees in a number of centres. This is a clear acknowledgment of all classes of employees that it is only the AIIEA which has delivered on the question of wage revision and is only capable of meeting the future challenges. AIIEA feels that the employees would not only contribute 4% levy voluntarily but also help the organization in different centres to reach out to the other sections of the officers and employees so that the organization will have considerable financial consolidation. This is also the occasion for the units to bestir for organizational consolidation by enrolling more members.
With greetings,
Comradely Yours,
(J. Gurumurthy)
Secretary
Additional 36 slabs of DA from Nov 2010:
The employees and officers will receive an additional 5.40% of their revised basic pay as DA w.e.f. Nov 2010
36 slabs x 0.15% = 5.40%
