BKNK

[Audio] Good morning everyone. Today, we will be learning about the Food Corporation of India (FCI). Established in 1964, FCI is a government body that has been critical in India achieving food security. We will also be covering the trade union, BKNK Sangh, which was founded in 1977 and has managed to attain significant labor reforms. Let's get started!.

[Audio] FCI was established in 1964 under the Food Corporation's Act. Its first Headquarter was in Chennai and it was inaugurated in Thanjavur in 1965 with the launch of the first digital food museum. This was also the first office of FCI in the South Zone. We will now discuss the organization and trade union of FCI in more detail..

[Audio] Our organization was founded in 1966. Between 1970-71, we reached food sufficiency, and from 1971-72, we began a higher recruitment rate. Our first direct recruitment was done in RDF Jaipur. Unfortunately, staff was declared as surplus, and some direct recruits were retrenched. In 1974, our organization was further established..

[Audio] Trade unions are an effective way of representing the rights and interests of workers – advocating for fair wages, safe working conditions, decent working hours, job security and other benefits. At FCI, we are committed to facilitating and promoting trade union activities that protect and foster the rights of employees. We strive to better the working lives of all employees through collective bargaining..

[Audio] In 1974 the All India Central Food Employees Association and the FCI Employees Union established the foundation of our organization and our trade union. Since then, our organization and our union have drastically expanded, now representing hundreds of workers and fighting for their rights..

[Audio] The Trade Union of our organization has been a pillar of strength. Their contributions have been crucial to our success. They have achieved noteworthy accomplishments, like securing better pay and adding more benefits for our staff members. Moreover, they have zeroed in on bolstering job security, establishing a healthier office setting, and making sure that our workers have a safe working area. All of these initiatives have enabled us to become a more prosperous and competitive organization..

[Audio] In 1975, when India declared Emergency, the trade union movement came to a standstill and registrations were cancelled, thus stagnating the workers' rights. To counter this, our organization and union launched the Jail Bharo Andolan, or protest march, which caught the attention of Mr. Dabara, an IAS officer appointed in 1973. His efforts, known as the Defence of Rule on Employees (DRI), resulted in the indefinite fasting of Sh Upender Kumar, ultimately resulting in the reversal of the status of Class IV employees from South Zone..

[Audio] Slide 8 of our presentation focuses on the revival of trade union movements and the 1978 agitation at 7 Race Course Road, Delhi. The Hindu Maha Sabha Conference held after the 1975 emergency saw an impressive turnout of around 5000 employees from across the country. 25 FCI employees were dismissed under Section 19 of the Indian Constitution, marking the revival of the trade union movement. This was followed in 1978 by an agitation at 7 Race Course Road, Delhi. This served as the catalyst for the further growth of trade union movements in India, which will be explored in more detail in subsequent slides..

[Audio] Our organization and trade union have accomplished a lot recently. We have successfully rehired staff, altered policies to suit the current environment and reinstated 25 workers with full entitlements. This shows our loyalty and devotion to both the organization and the union..

BHARTIYA KHADYA NIGAM KARAMCHARI SANGH.

[Audio] BKNK Sangh was formed in 1977 as an affiliated body of the FCI Employees Union (North Zone) and was officially registered in July of that same year. It subsequently gained recognition at the national level and Slide number 11 provides a brief overview of the organization..

[Audio] For central government employees, in 1980 there was no Dearness Allowance put into place by the FCI. To combat this, an agitation was held from 1984 to 1986, finally leading to the wage revision of 1986 and 1987, effective from 1983. The four major trade unions involved in the process were part of the Joint Action Concern, and amongst their key accomplishments was that of the BKNK..

[Audio] Seeing our organization's history and our Trade Union, since 1992, there has been a steady progression towards wage revisions, the first being in 1986. This continued from 1987-88, 1997 to 2007 and 2017. At the All India level, these successes can be credited to Sh. M C Tyagi, who was the General Secretary of the organization during this time. His leadership and guidance has been paramount for the progress made in reform and economic improvement for all..

[Audio] In 1995-96, the Central Government Congress introduced the Double OTA, also referred to as the 'Golden Period'. This policy aimed to reduce the number of employees, however, in 2004, it was met with backlash and demonstrations were organized at the Parliament. Despite this, the number of staff remained in surplus. To address the issue, a Voluntary Retirement Scheme was implemented and approximately 9000 employees opted for the scheme..

[Audio] Our Trade Union has a long history of advocating for the rights of workers, and have achieved great success with the abolishment of the Exit Policy. To help address the concerns of our employees, the MacKanzee Committee was formed and took the initiative to make sure the voices of workers were heard. Although the report they provided was initially overlooked, they remained persistent in pursuing justice. Thanks to their dedication, their hard work resulted in the abolishment of the Exit Policy, ultimately bringing us closer to our goal of a healthy and inclusive workplace..

[Audio] Our organization has 50000 employees split into three categories. A time and motion study was conducted in order to develop effective andolan norms, with the union being part of the creation. This ensures that our employees have the best possible working conditions..

[Audio] In 2007-2008, our organization and trade union underwent a series of changes and approvals that resulted in the recruitment of new members in 2010. This new recruitment allowed us to grow and expand our presence, reaching new audiences and expanding our influence. Today, we have a strong presence in the area, and continue to fight for the rights and needs of our members..

2007 Pension scheme PRMS 2017 Marvelous wage revision was received – No. 1 in PSU sector Cafeteria & fringe benefits were out of total benefit.

[Audio] We can all benefit from being part of a union by having access to the collective power and resources it provides. Through our union's historical wage revisions, PRMS, Cafeteria Fringe benefits, and pension Schemes, we are given a great chance to protect ourselves and our future. So we must show our union representatives our appreciation by giving them our full support and following their lead..

[Audio] Our organization and trade union have demonstrated the power of a collective that is unseen and too often underestimated. Together, we are making strides that could not be achieved alone. Our slogan captures this sentiment: united, we stand, and united we are strong. Splitting off in our own directions will lead to less success. Our logo serves as a reminder of our power when we come together and to that end, we invite you to join us..

[Audio] We come to the end of this presentation, giving us the opportunity to recognize the work of our organization and trade union. Our organization is devoted to making sure employees are given a strong support system to help them in reaching their professional goals and aspirations. Our trade union is instrumental in making sure that our workers are treated with fairness and respect. We are proud of what our organization and trade union have accomplished and endeavor to keep making a positive impact on the lives of those in our community. Appreciate your time and consideration..