‘We will fight the govt’s order with all our strength’

‘We will fight the govt’s order with all our strength’
Shailesh Gaikwad

MUMBAI, JAN 14: With the recent storming of Mantralaya, government’s employees’ unions voiced their protests against the state’s refusal to hike their salaries and delinking of dearness allowances from the agenda altogether.

Accusing the State of bringing privatisation through the back door, R G Karnik, General Secretary of the Confederation of State Government Employees’ Union says, ‘‘We will fight against the Government’s decision with all our strength.’’ He spoke to The Indian Express in an exclusive interview on Friday. Excerpts from the talk:

What is your reaction to the State government’s decision to delink dearness allowance (DA) from salaries and cut down other monetary benefits of its employees?

It did not surprise the unions as we were expecting such a move. In fact, the government had informed us about the decision on September 30 last.

Don’t you think the decision was inevitable considering the State’s poor financial condition and the heavy expenditure incurred on the employee’s salaries?

Firstly, the government is misleading the people by saying that it spends 73 per cent of its funds on our salaries. The pays and allowances of government employees cannot be more than 20 per cent. It will be 24 per cent if we add the pensions being paid to retired government employees.

Secondly, if the government is in a financial mess, why the DF ministry is not cutting its own expenditure. Or is there any cut in the non-planned expenditure? Let them tell the people what are their priorities and how much are they spending on them.

The real moves of the government are centered around privatisation which is being brought in through backdoor. They have already privatised irrigation, public works, ports departments and in the process of doing so in higher technical education department.

Why is it that the employees’ unions fight for hike in salaries as recommended by the fifth pay panel, but oppose recommendations like cutting cost on staff?

Why should the employees not accept the recommendations which increases their payments? It was necessary considering the all round inflation. The pay hike looked hefty due to merging of dearness allowance. But then, it was the same principle adopted by the fourth pay panel. About the pay panel’s recommendations on privatisation and reducing workforce, they are anti-Constitutional. Our Constitution makes it mandatory for the government to provide basic services to the people through its departments and corporations.

Do you justify the way the Mantralaya employees protested outside the CM cabin on Friday?

It was a spontaneous reaction of the employees after they read about Cabinet’s decisions in the newspapers. But, I don’t want to justify it. This is not the way to protest against any government decision. But then, there are miscreants everywhere. There were a few who attempted to create disturbances. Leaders of our unions prevented the angry staff from barging into the CM’s cabin. This will not happen again. Even if we protest, it will be in a peaceful manner.

Will you participate in the discussions if the Cabinet sub-comittee headed by Finance Minister Jayant Patil invites you for talks?

We are not going to accept the. 40 per cent cut in our dearness allowance. However, we will participate in the talks if invitated.