AIDEF Meeting Resolves To Fight For Withdrawal Of Corporatization Of Ordnance Factories
NPS and retaining status of the Employees as Central Government Employees / Defence Civilian Employees also high on priority list
A meeting of the representatives of the 41 Ordnance Factories Unions affiliated to All India Defence Employees’ Federation (AIDEF) was held at Khadki, Pune on the 06th and 07th April, 2022. The meeting discussed about the ill-effects of Corporatization not only on the employees but also on the national security and Defence preparedness of our Country.
The meeting has noted that it is evident about the intention of the Government in splintering the Ordnance Factories into 7 Companies that it is only to favour the Corporate Houses and the crony capitalist in a short period through monetization, disinvestment and privatization. The security of the country is given the least concern.
Therefore, this meeting of the AIDEF affiliated Unions of the 41 Ordnance Factories urges upon the Government of India in the interest of national security and Defence preparedness the decision of splintering the Ordnance Factories should be quashed and all the 41 Ordnance Factories and its Headquarters formation should be brought back directly under the control of Government of India as a departmental organization as existed on 30 th September, 2021.
The meeting further resolved and urged upon the Government of India to withdraw the draconian Essential Defence Services Act – 2021 which has criminalized the strike right of the Defence Civilian Employees.
The meeting fully endorsed the decision taken jointly by the AIDEF, BPMS, CDRA and IOFSOA to form a United Forum of Ordnance Factories (UFOE) and to fight for achieving the retaining of the status of the 75 thousand employees as Central Government Employees / Defence Civilian Employees.
The meeting also demanded to withdraw the NPS and to restore the Old Pension Scheme. The meeting further called upon the entire workforce of the Ordnance Factories to remain united and be prepared for the joint action programmes to be decided in the near future. The propaganda and campaigning against Corporatization and also to educate the employees about the requirement and importance of remaining as Central Government Employees / Defence Civilian Employees till superannuation and not to opt for joining the Corporations should be further intensified.
www.indianpsu.com contacted C. Srikumar / General Secretary of AIDEF after receipt of the Press Release and Resolution and asked about the future course of action.
Responding to our queries, C. Srikumar stated that in the 2 days meeting of the Leaders of 41 Ordnance Factories Trade Unions affiliated to AIDEF held under the Chairmanship of S.N.Pathak / President the entire Delegates are of the unanimous view that the Government decision of corporatizing the Ordnance Factories has proved as a wrong decision since it is neither beneficial to the country nor to the Employees. This is the 6 months experience of the employees after Corporatization. The Government and the 7 Corporations are attempting to show to the public that Corporatization is a successful exercise, which is not a fact. He stated that the United Forum of Ordnance employees consisting of AIDEF, BPMS, CDRA and IOFSOA will study the statements being made by the 7 Corporations by creating a rosy picture and bring the factual position before the public, how the Corporations are struggling to pay the wages, payment to the suppliers, extending Medical facilities to the employees, undue delay in payment of pension, terminal benefits and even GPF to the Employees. Therefore, the struggle against Corporatization of Ordnance Factories will continue and also to retain the status of the employees as Central Government Employees will be intensified. The United Forum will meet soon and take joint decisions for future course of action.
