Mint workers threaten indefinite strike

Employee unions of the nine security press units across the country have unanimously decided to go on an indefinite strike to protest against the government decision to corporatise mints, security press and paper mills.

On September 2, the Union cabinet approved the corporatisation of government mints, security press, paper mills and the establishment of the Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India. The decision to launch an indefinite strike was unanimously taken at a joint meeting of union leaders held at Nashik Road.

S R Kulkarni, president of ISP Mazdoor Sangh and All India Port & Dock Workers Federation, as well as S Reddy, MP and chairman of the central government's committee on labour, described the decision of the Union cabinet as illegal. They described the decision being against the interest of central government employees and also a threat to national security.

"The matter is already awaiting a judicial decision. If the government takes any action to bypass the due process of law and change the service conditions of the concerned employees, the unions will have no option but to go on a strike to protect the legitimate interest of employees. Around 20,000 employees of the nine units will join the strike in protest," Kulkarni said.

He further added, "In a communication addressed to the general managers of government press and mints by the deputy secretary of the ministry of finance, it has been categorically mentioned that the employees would be deemed to be on deputation to the proposed corporation for two years. They can opt to become an employee of the corporation in the period, failing which they would be declared surplus and deployed to the surplus pool of the central government."

Kulkarni further added, "Once the workers join the corporation, they will be governed by a separate wage structure which may be inferior."

Kulkarni referred to an important recommendation made by the Economic Reforms Commission headed by Gita Krishnan, which observed that corporatisation of the mints would require an amendment to the India Coinage Act. The committee has further observed that corporatisation may also require amendment in the Company's Act. This can only be done by the parliament, which alone has the power to do so and not the Cabinet.

"The decision taken by the Union cabinet, immediately after the parliament session was over, is most deplorable as such an important issue was not discussed there. The corporatisation of mints and security press is the first step towards total privatisation. In a majority of the countries, mints are owned by the government and private interests are given no role," Reddy said.