On the call of AICCTU, an all-India Protest Day was organised on 6th September demanding scrapping of UPS (Unified Pension Scheme) and NPS and restoration of OPS (Old Pension Scheme). Protest demonstrations were held at several places including Delhi, Patna, Bhubaneshwar, Kolkata, Allahabad, Lohardaga (Jharkhand). Protests were also held in the form of rallies, demonstrations and sit-ins in several railway zones by AICCTU affiliated IREF (Indian Railways Employees Federation) and its affiliated zonal unions in which railway employees participated in large numbers. The protests by railway employees on 6th September were the culmination of a 5-days black badge wearing campaign (from 2 to 6 September) launched by IREF. The protests were also held throughout Bihar under the banner of Bihar state non-gazetted Employees Federation (Mahasangh – Gope).
The speakers in these demonstrations castigated the Modi government for approving UPS, which is nothing but a ploy to deceive and divide the government employees. Although, the introduction of UPS by the Modi government is a measure compelled by the relentless movement of government employees against the NPS and for OPS, but actually, it is an Old Wine in a New Bottle and a complete denial of employees’ right to the Old Pension Scheme as well as a blatant violation of several Supreme Court judgements and the constitution itself.
Emphasising upon restoration of OPS, the speakers said that whereas OPS is a defined benefit scheme and it did not require the employees to pay any contribution towards their pension, the UPS, like NPS, continues to be a contributory one and the employees are forced to contribute 10% of their salary including DA. Moreover, UPS remains a market driven scheme and dependent on the vagaries of the market. So, whatever be the proposal for any assured pension, the UPS is also extremely vulnerable.
While congratulating the employees for rejecting the deceptive and divisive UPS, the speakers called for intensifying the movement for restoration of OPS to give a befitting reply to Modi government’s machinations.
The protest held at Jantar Mantar, Delhi was addressed by the AICCTU general secretary, Rajiv Dimri along with IREF leader Kishan Kumar and AICCTU leaders Santosh Roy and Sucheta De.
