All Circle Secretaries/Divisional Secretaries/Branch Secretaries
All Members of the CWC AIPEDEU
Dear Comrades,
We are furnishing hereunder some recent developments concerning the postal employees in general and GDS employees in particular.
Central Working Committee MEETING
I am happy to inform you that this Central Working Committee Meeting of AIPEDEU was held at Historical City of Warangal from 5-12-2010 to 7-12-2010 under the president ship of Com. D. N. Giri President CHQ. The C.W.C. open session was held on 05-12-2010 and inaugurated by Com M. Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE, and the open session was addressed and addressed by Com Sathyanarayana, General Secretary, Postal Accounts, Com. P. Suresh General Secretary, R-IV, Com. Pratap Reddy, Chairman Reception Committee, Com. B.G. Tamhankar, former President, NFPE, Com. G.S. Asiwal Ex AGS P –III, CHQ (M.P. Circle), Com. D.P. Diwakar, Com. Sampat Rao C/S BSNL, Com. Ramchandran President, Admin. Union chq, Com. D.A.S.V.Prasad, Circle Secretary P-III, Com. S. Humayun, President P-IV CHQ, Com.R.J.Madhusudanarao, Circle Secretary, R-III, Com. S. Kumar Swamy, Ex. Circle Secretary A.I.P.E.D.E.U, Com. B.V. Rao, President, A.P. Com. P. Panduranga Rao, C/S A.P, Com. Bhupendrasingh (Thau)(Ex-Circle Secretary, Uttarakhand), Com. Y. Nagabushanam, Ex. Circle Secretary, R-III, Com. N. Sammaiah General Secretary Reception Committee, Com. S.S. Mahadevaiah General Secretary and others Local Leaders.
The Warangal Divisional Reception Committee, Andhra Pradesh Circle Leaders and Comrades had made elaborate arrangements for successful conduct the CWC Meeting. Our sincere gratitude to the Organizers and all those who are instrumental in this historic event.
The C.W.C. members who have attended the meeting debated and deliberated the issues at length. After fruitful discussions, the C.W.C. adopted valuable resolutions on the issues confronting the GDS employees.
Resolutions on Policy & Programme
The present National political scenario is divesting discouraging we never heard in the recent past that the parliament has been observed pandemonium and consequently adjourned more than15 days without transacting and consensus.
The local ground fast this ugly episode was that malpractice took place in allotment of 2G Spectrum in Tele Communication laid, the UPA Government. The other vulnerable episode is Corruption in organising and building Common Wealth Sports, Aadrash building Construction and allotment of flats etc. The ruling UPA Government took the deeds in allotment of Govt funds etc to individuals related to ruling party Ministers both in Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh. The innocent poor Common Man has been left in street in lurch. The Corruption, malpractices have become the order of the day.
The American economy which is said to be the further and another for Liberalisation privatasation and Globalisation policies met with severe set backs and the financial institutions and Banks in the contrary declined bankrupsy. The Countries which followed the policies of USA also met with same calamity
The economy in India is stated to be in sound position which motivated foreigners to invest in Indian trades etc. This is only due to the left parties which supported the UPA Government besides brocking UPA Government steps towards LPG
After re-election of Mr. Manmohan Singh's Govt. without the support of the left parties, is following the L.P.G with an unbridled horse which power the way fast the rich people to become richer. The online Trade increased the cost of commodities which the common people to use for these everyday walks of life, we could cite the cases of Daals, oils etc. The automatic petrol price like has further developed the increases in cost of living. Ultimately people in middle classes family and those labourers below poverty line unable not face sky marketing price rise in our country.
The working class has no other option but to oppose the Govt. policies which resulted alarmingly endangering the living conditions of common citizens in which GDS employees are also a part to do their share. This Central Working Committee feels and decides that we must build a strong unity amongst working class and joint struggles organized by other central unions to fight against the onslaughts unleashed on working class and the citizens of India
The Department of Posts is always turns a deaf-ear towards our demand of regularization of GDS employees i.e, status of Govt. Servant to GDS employees, which has became a mirrage all along these years.
The Department has come forward with the proposal for extending (a) Medical facilities and Service Discharge benefits Scheme for payment of pension to GDS employees. Although the Schemes require much modification to suit GDS employees, we welcome the proposals.
As regards Promotional avenues, the present promotional avenues of GDS to postman is not uniform to all GDS employees. The GDS employees in cities or adjoining to cities are getting postman promotions in good number while other GDS in remote areas hardly get such postman promotions. This inequality should be removed.
Similarly the promotion of GDS to MTS (Group'D') has become a stand still in our Department. The Department is considering upgradation Group-D post as multi tasking staff consequent on 6th CPC. The recruitment rules are being modified to that extent. The Condition of Tenth pass should be removed so that all the GDS employees could be considered for Postmen/MTS promotion.
In the case of selection for Postal Assistants' posts, the present age condition should be removed. Further the willing GDS employees may be allowed to sit for the Examination along with the LGOs irrespective of percentage of marks secured in +2 in the LGOs examination, the preference may be given to LGOs and the unfilled vacancies thrown open to GDS after the prescribed in training computers etc.
Apart from the above, the three promotions as per regular employees (viz) MACP should be made applicable to GDS employees also which would pave the way for uniformity in the field of promotion.
As regards House Rent Allowance, it is our long pending demand that all the GDS employees should be paid at par with regular employees like HBA, GPF, Festival, Scooter advance etc.
The case of leave facilities, it should be further improved at par with regular employees and in terms and FR & SR etc ruling made applicable to GDS employees also.
In fact all GDS employees are working more than 5 hrs daily and deserve to get their TRCA fixed for eight hour duty at par with regular employees.
Although the Supreme Court of our country had given Judgment the GDS employees are also entitled to get payment of DCRG at par with regular employees and statutory Pension rules. The Department of Posts is refusing to extend full benefits under this scheme to GDS employees. The attitude of the Department is disappointing.
Similarly in the case of Bonus, although the Ministry of Finance did not discriminate Bonus to be paid to regular and GDS employees, the Department of Posts had arbitrarily reduced the Bonus ceiling from Rs. 3500/- to Rs. 2500/- for GDS employees. This shows the step motherly treatment shown of Department of Posts. The appeal made by the Department against the decision of CAT, Chennai and various CATs and High Court, Tamil Nadu to pay Rs.3500/- to GDS has been rejected.
As regards tightening of norms, without consulting the staff side the Department had unilaterally revised the norms for calculating the workload with regards to cash handling one point for every Rs.1000/- into Rs.20,000/-. This is nothing but breaking the GDS BPMs below the belt. The CHQ has been confronting with the administration to reduce this severity with futile results. In this meanwhile some circles, have gone to CATs and get stay orders against the implementation of the same.
The earned facility of availing L.W.A. to remain at Head Quarters by the General Secretary has been cancelled by the administration. The same has not yet been restored. The Trade Union Facilities have not yet been fully extended to GDS Union from top to bottom. This should be made available for each and every one serving in the Department.
The Department of Post is considering implementing computers in Branch offices and the Technology Department is proposing to bring out that effect. In the interest of rural public we welcome this proposal of Department with an overall hope that the GDS employees would also be adequately enhanced with TRCA etc. It is not out of place to state here that the GDS employees are responsible for postal net work in rural areas. Similarly the GDS employee plays a vital role in securing major portion of investment in small savings in the Department of Posts. More than 80% of Deposits are made in rural post offices. If proper accounting is made as in the case of nationals Banks i.e., commission is paid by the Ministry of Finance towards small saving schemes, the much claimed loss in our Department could be off set considerably.
It is also pertinent to mention here that the IRDA has since approved the Insurance business in our Department, Provisionally, about Rs.10,000/- Crore have been in deposit under the head PLI/RPLI. In the recent years securing of RPLI policies gained momentum, each GDS employees is collecting RPLI polices to the tune of several lakhs of Rupees (i.e) minimum 30 lakhs per year, the total business in this sector would be one lakh Crores every year earning crores and crores of Rupees by way of RPLI premium. In addition to this we are procuring PLI/RPLI business also which also earns income by way of PLI premium. It both the premia put together, the total in this field would cross more than Rs.30,000/- crores. If this factor is taken into account, towards income and cost, we could proudly claim that we are remaining in our Department of Posts profitably and thus would be entitled to get all the benefits as enjoyed by the employees working in LIC of India etc.
This Central Working Committee Meeting of AIPEDEU held at Warangal from 5-12-2010 to 7-12-2010 after indepth the discussion of GDS employees problems unanimously resolves to demand the following for the settlement of GDS employees.
1. Grant "Status/Regularisation as Government Servant" to GDS employees.
Implement Supreme Court Judgement for payment of DCRG and pension to all GDS employees.
(i) Minimum Quantum of pension has to be paid as indicated in the Service Discharge Benefit
Scheme.
(ii) Contribution from GDS should also be accepted.
(iii) Family Pension Scheme at par with regular employees is to be introduced for GDS also.
(iv) Grant all retirement benefits with effect from 1-1-2006
1. Grant Leave Facilities at par with regular employees.
(i) Casual leave
(ii) Earned leave
(iii) Half pay leave
(iv) Commuted leave
(v) Child Care leave
(vi) Maternity leave at par with regular employees
3. Accord promotion under MACP to GDS employees.
4. (i) Remove age condition for appearing PA exam.
(ii) All GDS employees to appear for LGO examination promotion of PAs along
with Postman etc irrespective of +2 Qualification.
(iii) Fill in GDS employees against the unfilled vacancies of LGO's.
(iv) Instead of Dictation test for postman exam. Introduce essay writing in regional language.
5. Grant facilities
(a) Grant insurance cover to GDS in Nuxal/Extremist area.
(b) (i) House Rent Allowance
(ii) Hill Allowance/Uttrakhand allowance.
(iii) Children's Education Allowance.
(iv) Medical facilities including after retirement.
(v) SDA to Assam and North East GDS employees.
6. Fix office with minimum of 5 Hours workload
(i) Fix time factor to PLI, RPLI
(ii) Fix time factor for collection of Electricity Bill, water Bill etc.
7. Fill up all vacant posts of Group-D
(i) In all Post offices including circle office etc.
(ii) In all RMS offices.
8. Fill up all Vacant GDS Posts.
(i) Substitutes of GDS has be paid with TRCA from 1-1-2006.
9. Grant all Trade Union facilities to GDS Union at all leads and its office leaves including Foreign Service to Chief executives from Circle to All India.
(i) Inclusion in JCM (ii) Periodical Meeting
10. Grant all advances viz., (i) HBA (ii) Scooter advance (iii) Festival advance
(iv) GPF (v) co-operative society
11. Grant Rs.3500/- ceiling as Bonus to GDS employees.
12. Remove tightening of norms for GDS BPMs (i.e) Rs.20,000/- cash to earn one point,stamp sale and to allow status Quo Ante.
13. Grant Transfers to GDS without affecting the yearly increases earned by them.
14. Grant of TA/DA for organizing training camps besides ensuring weekly off on Sundays.
15. Grant compassionate appointments to GDS within three months.
16. Grant cash conveyance allowance to GDS and also to escorts.
To achieve the above demands this CWC decides the following agitational programmes:
i) Countrywide action and submission of memorandum 18-01-2011
ii) Hunger fast by all office bearers at Div. HQs 10-02-2011
iii) Dharna at Regional HQ on 23-03-2011
iv) State Level convention during month of May 2011
v) All India Convention during July/August 2011
vi) Direct industrial action:
This Central Working Committee further authorized the General Secretary to fix the day and date of agitational programmes in consultation with the JCA for the realization of our demands.
This Central Working Committee further resolves and direct all divisional/Circle Secretaries to ensure participation of minimum of ten member from each divisional branches to attend the all India Convention.
It is also further resolves to direct all the Circle Secretaries to mobilize good number for participation in 23rd February 2011 march to Parliament programme.
Strengthen the organization:
The CWC discussed and resolved further strengthen the organization at all levels. We request all our branch and divisional secretaries to take all necessary steps to improve membership and organize in such a manner to uplift our organization to higher levels to do better service to the members who are our masters.
LOGO for our union is unveiled
In our CWC held at Warangal a separate LOGO has designed and unveiled by our All India President Com. D.N.Giri. Our CHQ requesting the suggestions / modifications to be made to the LOGO, if necessary.
Promotional Avenue for GDS
Multi Tasking Staff (Group.D) recruitment rules and Postman recruitment rules are going to be finalized and will be released shortly. Law Ministry approved the recruitment rules for Multi tasking Staff (Gr.D) and the Gazette publication will be under process; could be expected in a fortnight. Postman and Mail Guard recruitment rules are also cleared by DoPT, Gazette notification and Hindi translation is under process and the same will expected soon.
India Post Presentation on Technological Developments
Presentation on Technological Developments in Department of Posts was held on 23.11.2010 in the presence of Ms Radhika Doraiswamy. Chairman Postal Board, Ms Manjula Parasar Member (O) Shri S. Samant Member (Technology) Ms Kavari Banarjia DDG (PO&CP), Shri A.K. Sharma DDG(Estt.), Shri Das DDG PMU/DDG (Tech), Ms Aruna Jain DDG (Tiring), Shri Subash Chandra Director( SR)The Staff side was represented by all General Secretaries of All India Unions and Secretary Generals of Federations. The presentation was elaborately dealt with the vast changes that are going to take place in the Department of Posts due to large scale induction of Information and communication Technology (ICT). A budget of Rs. 1800 crores has been earmarked for the project which is to be completed by the year end of 2013.The vast network and infrastructure of India Post, have already enabled it to become the preferred point of inter face between Government and the members of public for delivery of social and economic welfare schemes of the Government of India and various state governments. Introduction of modern ICT will help in timely and transparent delivery of social benefit schemes to the beneficiaries viz. MGNREGS, Indira Gandhi Old Age Pension Scheme (IGOAPS). Computerised and connected network of Post office on a single integrated platform will also help India Post to retail products and services of other service providers viz. Banks, Government & Non Government financial institutions, Government Agencies and Mutual Fund houses in the rural and remote areas. Next year August, 2011 under pilot project 6 Postal Circles namely Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, U.P. Circle & Assam Circle computerization will be commenced. We welcome the Technological development. It will give benefit to the rural masses and rural Post offices.
Remittance of quota & dues to CHQ
All divisional and branch secretaries are requested to clear all quota and dues for their branches and divisions at the earliest. CHQ is persuing the problems of GDSs continuously and has to strengthen our organization with all efforts doing at all levels to achieve our justified and desirable demands through struggles in the near future.
MARCH TO PARLIAMENT PROGRAM ON 23-02-2011
Organize and mobilize the cadre to make success the "March to Parliament" program by participating in large number to show our unity and strength as a working class. Our CHQ made all arrangements for accommodation in Delhi.
Further requesting all our divisional and branch secretaries and active members to popularize our demands among the members and public, to make success of our CHQ struggle program.
LATEST: Work norms for GDSBPMs framed which is again anti GDS and discriminative. When the matter of cash handling is in court, department itself has stated it a subjudice, the norms are published and given effect to which is totally opposed and not acceptable. Similarly NREGS accounts are not taken for norms. The unilateral decision to bring the norms to force is the cause of concern everywhere and we shall fight unitedly till justice is rendered to us.
BE UNITED, BE STRONG AND FIRM TO FIGHT THE ONSLAUGHT AGAINST THE DEPRIVED CLASS OF THIS SOCIETY. LONG LIVE WORKERS' UNITY.
--
S.S.Mahadevaiah
General Secretary
All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union
