Mumbai: Bombay University and College Teachers’ Union Declare Indefinite Strike Over Pension Scheme

Mumbai, 17th March 2023: In a notice to Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, the Bombay University And College Teachers’ Union (BUCTU) and its members from Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, Raigad, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg, an urgent communication was made regarding Defined Contribution Pension Scheme (DCPS) and the movement for restoration of Old Pension Scheme (OPS). They have declared an indefinite strike from 14th March of the Co-ordination Committee for Government- Semi-government employees, Teachers and Non-teaching employees Organisations (Samanvay Samiti), Maharashtra.

“Employees joining after 1st November 2005 were pushed to the DCPS and discriminated against other employees in terms of annuity benefits. Now, vide recent GR, they are pushed to the NPS scheme. Whereas, from time to time, on different forums, these employees from all sectors in Maharashtra have declared that transfer to NPS is not welcomed by them, and on several occasions, they have tried to negotiate with the Government of Maharashtra through Samanvay Samiti), Maharashtra, to reinstate the Old Pension Scheme,” the notice stated.

Demands:

Restoration of the old pension scheme
Filling of vacant posts
Scraping of NEP

“In the absence of an affirmative response on the above three crucial demands, the Samanvay Samiti has given a call for an Indefinite Strike from 14th March 2023 to all its constituents viz. Government employees, Teachers and Non-Teaching Employees from Schools and Colleges. The demand for non-implementation of NEP2020 is also included at the behest of teachers from schools and colleges,” BUCTU stated in the notice.