CPSU officers strike on May 21

The strike notices have been served by the Professional Workers’ Trade Union Centre of India (PWTUC), the only trade union of officers, on all the ministries which control PSUs and to the chief labour commissioner (central), according to A K Brahmachari, secretary general of NCOA.A memorandum was submitted to the prime minister and all the ministries, he said. PWTUC has also sought the support of all other centraltrade unions such as the Centre for Indian Trade Unions, All India Trade Union Congress, Indian National Trade Union Congress, Bharatiya Majdoor Sangh.

NCOA has also demanded that the government should provide need-based funds by way of budgetary allocation for both plan and non-plan expenditures of PSUs.

Brahmachari alleged that the archaic DA formula, under which officers are compensated at the rate of Rs 2.00 per point rise in the price index, is still prevailing in some PSUs. As a result, officers of sick PSUs get wages which are only half of what their counterparts get in other PSUs. "In many cases, salaries are not paid to the officers for months together," he said.

The other demands of the NCOA include recognition of PWTUC and NCOA, right for collective bargaining, legal framework for resolution of dispute, gratuity without ceiling and representation of officers on board of directors.