Settlement arrived at between Director, PGI and Joint Action Committee

Chandigarh, 04 March 2024: Sh. Arun Sood, Ex State President BJP Chandigarh & Ex Mayor, Chandigarh intervened to strike the settlement

Contract Workers indefinite strike started from 6 am on Wednesday has been called off at 09:10 pm today

Chandigarh 4th April, 2024;         The PGI Joint Action Committee consisting of PGI Safai Karamchari Contract Workers Union, PGI Security Guard Contract Workers Union, PGI Hospital Attendant Contract Workers Union and PGI Electrical Contract Workers Union resorted to lightning strike after their leaders were arrested on 2nd April at from outside PGI before the Rally announced from PGI To Sector 25 to burn effigy.

In the notice dated 20.03.2024, it was made clear that the rally will be taken out after duty hours, without causing any disruption of patient care services. However, the arrest of leaders resulted in lightning strike.

The strike was held for following 5 points charter;

1.       Absorption/Regularization of contract labour in terms of GOI Notification dated 12.12.2014 read with CACLB Orders dated 26.04.2018. 

2. Implementation of same and similar wage under Rule 25 of CLRA Rules, 1971 in terms of Notification dated 09.10.2018 Read With award dated 11.01.2010 and Hon’ble High Court Judgment dated 13.03.2019.
3. Medical facilities to Contract Staff who are not covered under ESI.
4. Grant of Bonus to contract staff drawing wages more than Rs. 21000.
5. Round the clock Canteen Facility for contract staff.

On the 2nd day of strike, Sh. Arun Sood, BJP held 3 rounds of negotiations with Dr. Vivek Lal, Director and Sh. Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director from 4 pm to 9 pm, and the following settlement was arrived;

a)        That Sh. Pankaj Rai, Deputy Director along with 1-2 officers will visit Ministry for approval of funds to release same and similar wage to comply with Notification dated 09.10.2018 and Hon’ble High Court Judgment dated 13.03.2019 on Point No. 2, and to atleats pay revised wages with immediate effect.

b)       That the negotiations on 4 other issues will be started next week including regularization of contract workers in terms of GOI contract labour prohibition notification dated 12.12.2014 read with Central Advisory Contract Labour Board directions dated 26.04.2018 by creation of regular workforce and law laid down by Hon’ble Supreme Court Judgment dated 30.08.2021 titled SAIL Vs National Water Front. 

The PGI Administration will issue the written information by 10 am tomorrow.

The Joint Action Committee of consisting of 4 registered Unions namely PGI Safai Karamchari Contract Workers Union, PGI Security Guard Contract Workers Union, PGI Hospital Attendant Contract Workers Union and PGI Electrical Contract Workers Union agreed to withdraw the strike.

Sh. Ravinder Kumar Saini, President, PGI Employees Union along with its team of Office Bearers, and JAC and Office Bearers of 4 registered Unions namely Sh. Sanjeev Kumar, Sh. Balwinder Singh, Sh. Parminder Singh, Sh. Rinku, Sh. Ravinder Kalyan, Sh. Satnam Singh, Sh. Vinod Kumar, Sh. Rajesh Ali, Sh. Dev Raj, Sh. Sunil Kumar and others participated in the negotiations.

The JAC convey its sincere thanks and gratitude to Sh. Arun Sood, BJP, Chandigarh, who spent 4 hours by acting as bridge between the contract workers and PGI Management, and after 3 rounds of negotiations, the ice broke and the strike was called off. The JAC shall remain indebted to Sh. Arun Sood for his untiring efforts to bring a settlement by breaking the deadlock. It was also agreed that there will be no victimization of any worker.

The date for next round of negotiations will be communicated by PGI Management tomorrow.

 
(Ashwani Kumar Munjal)                                                     Dated: – 04.04.2024
Chairman, Joint Action Committee