Confederation Announces Agitation on 8th CPC and OPS

The Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers has announced a fresh, phase-wise agitational programme culminating in a one-day token strike, to press its revised charter of demands on pay revision, pensions, NPS/UPS, DA arrears, compassionate appointments and trade union rights. The decision follows what the Confederation terms as the Government’s inaction on long-pending issues, despite sustained agitations since December and a one-day token strike on 9 July 2025. The new call has been issued through a circular dated 24 November 2025.

Concerns on 8th CPC ToR and Pension Exclusion

According to the circular, the Confederation has been agitating since December 22 on a seven-point demand charter affecting Central Government employees, which eventually led to the one-day strike in July 2025. The Confederation notes that, so far, no tangible action has been initiated by the Government to resolve these grievances, barring constitution of the 8th Central Pay Commission (CPC).

The Confederation has strongly objected to the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 8th CPC as notified by the Ministry of Finance on 3 November 2025, pointing out that:

Revision of pension for pensioners and family pensioners has been explicitly kept outside the purview of the 8th CPC.
A new terminology has been introduced in the ToR asking the Commission to examine the “unfunded cost of non-contributory pension schemes”, which, the Confederation fears, will have a cascading effect on the existing Old Pension Scheme (OPS).

The circular links these developments to the Validation of Pension Act, 2025, which forms part of the Finance Bill, 2025, and expresses apprehension that pensionary benefits of Central Government employees may be further curtailed.

Allegations of Victimisation and Attack on Unions

The Confederation has also highlighted what it describes as “repressive measures” adopted by the Government towards staff associations and federations:

De-recognition of existing organisations and denial of recognition to staff associations and federations, even when they fulfil all the conditions of the CCS (RSA) Rules, 1993.
Vindictive victimisation of union functionaries, including:
- Suspension of the General Secretary of Kerala Co-ordination Committee (CoC).
- Dismissal from engagement of the General Secretary of AIGDSU (Department of Posts).

The Confederation has also criticised the Government’s reluctance to honour its own commitments under the Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM) by not implementing the Awards of the Board of Arbitration, even in cases where consensus has been reached with the staff side.

Phase-wise Agitational Programme Announced

After a detailed discussion in the National Executive Committee meeting held on 25 October, the Confederation has decided to renew a phased agitational programme across the country in support of its revised charter of demands.

1. Intensive Campaign up to 15 December 2025

A countrywide campaign will be carried out to popularise the charter of demands and strengthen organisational structures.
National Secretariat members will tour the states as per an approved programme to address meetings and mobilise members.
The campaign is to be completed by 15 December 2025.

2. Lunch-Hour Demonstrations on 16 December 2025

Lunch-hour demonstrations will be organised in all offices and workplaces on 16 December 2025.
After the demonstrations, resolutions highlighting the demands are to be sent to the concerned authorities.

3. State Conventions and CoC Conferences by 31 December 2025

State Conventions in support of the demands will be held on or before 31 December 2025.
Members of the National Secretariat will attend these conventions.
In states where State CoC conferences are overdue, the Confederation has directed that these conferences be concluded by 31 December 2025.

The circular notes that further course of action will be decided after reviewing the implementation and impact of these three phases.

Charter of Demands: 8th CPC, DA, OPS, NPS and More

The Confederation’s latest call is anchored in a comprehensive Charter of Demands, which includes the following key points:

8th CPC ToR and Pay/Pension Revision
- Modify the Terms of Reference of the 8th CPC by incorporating the views and suggestions submitted by the Confederation and the staff side of the National Council–JCM, particularly on revision of emoluments of employees and pensioners and other related issues.
DA/DR Merger and Interim Relief
- Merge 50% of DA/DR with basic pay/pension.
- Grant 20% of pay/pension as Interim Relief (IR) with effect from 1 January 2026.
Scrap NPS/UPS and Restore OPS
- Scrap the New Pension Scheme (NPS) and Unified Pension Scheme (UPS).
- Restore the Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for all employees.
Parity among Pensioners
- No distinction should be made among pensioners on the basis of date of retirement or the CPC recommendations under which they retired.
DA/DR Arrears and Commutation Period
- Release the three instalments (18 months) of DA/DR that were frozen during the COVID-19 pandemic to both employees and pensioners.
- Restore the commuted portion of pension after 11 years, instead of the current 15-year period.
Compassionate Appointments
- Remove the 5% ceiling on compassionate appointments.
- Grant compassionate appointment in all eligible cases to the wards/dependants of deceased employees.
Filling Vacancies and Stopping Outsourcing
- Fill up all vacant posts in all cadres and departments.
- Stop outsourcing and corporatisation in Government departments.
Democratic Functioning and Recognition of Associations
- Ensure democratic functioning of associations/federations in line with the JCM mechanism.
- Grant recognition to associations/federations whose recognition proposals are pending.
- Withdraw de-recognition orders issued against AIPEU Group-C Union, NFPE and ISROSA.
- Stop imposing Rule 15(1)(c) on service associations/federations.
- Stop vindictive victimisation of union functionaries.
Implementation of Arbitration Awards
- Implement the Awards of the Board of Arbitration under JCM where consensus has already been reached, including CA Ref. No. 3/2001.
Regularisation and Status of Various Categories of Staff
- Regularise casual, contingent and contractual workers and Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).
- Grant equal status to employees of Autonomous Bodies at par with Central Government employees.

Opposition to Labour Codes and Solidarity with CTU Protest

The circular points out that the Government has unilaterally notified four labour codes via a Gazette Notification dated 21 November 2025, paving the way for their implementation.

According to the Confederation, these codes would make the functioning of trade unions “very difficult” and significantly weaken workers’ rights.

Ten Central Trade Unions (CTUs) have called for a massive protest demonstration on 26 November, demanding repeal of the notification on labour codes.
The Confederation has expressed full solidarity with the CTUs’ agitations and urged its affiliates to stand with these struggles.

All-India Tour Programme of National Secretariat

To implement the first phase of the campaign effectively, the Confederation has drawn up a detailed tour programme of National Secretariat members, to be completed by 15 December 2025. The proposed visits cover all major regions and states.

Proposed Tour Programme of National Secretariat Members

S. No.	Circle / States	Visiting Leaders
1	Maharashtra, Goa & Gujarat	Com. Rupak Sarkar, Com. Ravindran Nair, Com. B.K. Chalke, Com. Sreedharan
2	Assam & North Eastern States	Com. Arup Chatterjee, Com. Amitava Chakraborty, Com. Rupak Mukhopadhya
3	Madhya Pradesh & Chhattisgarh	Com. Yashwant Purohit, Com. P.U. Khadse
4	Rajasthan	Com. S.B. Yadav, Com. P.U. Khadse, Com. Rajendra Meena
5	Tamil Nadu, Puducherry & Kerala	Com. Venkatesh, Com. R.B. Suresh, Com. G.R. Pramod, Com. Dhanya Savithri
6	Andhra Pradesh & Telangana	Com. P. Suresh, Com. D.N. Murty, Com. Ajit Huparikar, Com. Sushila Rani, Com. Ramesh Gaddum, Com. Mukhtar Ahmed
7	Karnataka	Com. Venkatesh, Com. Siddhar Babu, Com. S. Janakiram
8	Delhi, Haryana & Punjab	Com. R.N. Parashar, Com. Giriraj Singh, Com. Anil Kumar, Com. Naresh Gupta, Com. Subhash Chandra Pandey
9	West Bengal	Com. Rupak Sarkar, Com. Arup Chatterjee, Com. Rajiv Bannerjee, Com. Santanu Nandi, Com. Saurabh Das, Com. Tapan Bhowmick
10	Bihar, Jharkhand & Odisha	Com. Tapas Bose, Com. Janardan Majumdar, Com. D.B. Mohanti
11	Himachal Pradesh & Jammu & Kashmir	Com. Tapas Bose, Com. Anil Kumar, Com. S.B. Yadav
12	Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand	Com. S.B. Yadav, Com. R.N. Parashar, Com. Subhash Chandra Pandey

The circular instructs National Secretariat members to finalise their tour dates in consultation with the General Secretaries of respective State CoCs.

It also specifically requests office bearers of the women’s sub-committee to extend active support to campaign meetings and programmes in their states.

Call to Coordinate and Mobilise

In its concluding appeal, the Confederation urges:

National Secretariat members,
General Secretaries/Secretary Generals of affiliated associations and federations, and
General Secretaries of State CoCs

to coordinate closely, finalise campaign programmes at the state and district levels, and conduct joint, vigorous campaigning among the rank and file.

The Confederation emphasises that only a united and determined struggle can compel the Government to address the issues flagged in the charter of demands, signing off with the slogan: