7th Pay Commission: Employees pay demand clearance may be paved by this big happening

7th Pay Commission: Although Central government has implemented the recommendations of the pay panel report for employees and pensioners, they are still waiting for a hike in their salary as well as fitment factor beyond the recommendations as the same has been promised by several Union ministers including Finance Minister and Home Minister. The government has so far not given any concrete indication in this regard, but the employees are hopeful that their demand for a hike in fitment factor to 3.68 times with minimum pay scale of Rs 26,000 would be fulfilled as economy is witnessing positive changes. The most recent factor that can be counted is related to better tax collection in indirect taxes through goods and services tax, besides the government has also seen a spike in income tax collections. 
 
These factors have sent a very encouraging message and along with this are the impending state and general elections next year that may tilt the balance in favour of salary hike beyond 7th pay commission recommendations But, the soundness of the economy would play, no doubt, a very crucial role because the issue of impact on revenues has been raised by even state governments from Tamil Nadu to J&K who are bearing the brunt of fiscal deficit. If the economy grows in a significant manner, the Centre will be able to bear the load of a hike and keep things in control.
 
Amidst this scenario, Indian Railway employees' union has given a call for a 72-hour relay hunger strike across the country from today against the non-implementation of the provisions of the 7th pay commission. They are also irked over reported move of the government to privatise the national transporter, as the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) yesterday stated that despite several meetings of the AIRF with leaders of the central government organisations, the government has not taken any decision on their 7th Pay commission linked demands. 
 
The union stated that "Despite requests to the government of India to consider the demands of the Central Government Employees -- improvement in minimum wage and fitment factor after implementation of 7th CPC recommendations, provision of guaranteed pension and family pension to all the NPS (National Pension Scheme) covered employees, irrespective of their date of appointment...Contractorisation leading towards wholesale privatisation, no fruitful outcome has emerged as yet despite lapse of around two years' precious time."

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According to the Union agitation call, large number of Indian Railway employees would sit on the relay hunger strike to press for their major 7th pay commission linked demands.