Editorial
heads I win tails you lose
In the great epic, the Ramcharitmanas, Goswami Tulisi Das has said that the powerful person is beyond any sort of wrong doing. Similar is the saying: the king makes no mistakes. These sayings hold good ever today as ever. There may be no king in stricter sense of the term, but the kingship remains and the powerful do assert that what they say 'the rule'. All justifications, all legalities fail to make the powerful see the reason. So, the king and the kingship remain intact- the powerful politician behaving like kings and the kingship resting with the powerful bureaucrats.
Probably, our memory is not that short. Sometime back, the Hon'ble Minister for Communications while replying to a letter from some MP said that Justice Talwar Committee did not recommend merger of DA with Pay. When the actual recommendations of Justice Talwar Committee read with the recommendations of the 5th CPC were pointed out and explained, the power-that-be took to another track and very cleverly offered to appoint a committee of bureaucrats. Know On 12.02.07 the CHQ received a letter from the Directorate sent by Shri Harinder Singh, Member (P), vide D.O. No.F.6-1/2006-PE.II (Pt ) in which it was mentioned that the Dept had already appointed a GDS Committee to look in to the grievances of GDS employees. The Committee is headed by a Chairman and Sri A.K. Sharma, DDG (Estt.) is functioning as the Member Secretary. It is not revealed the name of Chairman of the Committee.
Thus the Dept. has decided to negate our request in formation of judicial committee for GDS demands. We are demanding the same only in order to revive and review the positive recommendation of Justice Talwar Committee which is the Magna corta of GDS workers. If we desire equality with Govt. staff, Pensionery benefits, regularisation, better service conditions, the recommendation of the justice Talwar Committee should not be buried by the subsequent committee appointed for this purpose. Its out of 42 recommendations several positive recommendations like departmentalisation, prorata basis, Social Securities like DCRG at par with regular employees, Pension, Family Pension, Maternity leave to Women employees, Leave facilities, HRA, CCA, Transport Allowance, loans and advances, Medical facilities, transfer, TA/DA facilities, Leave Travel Concessions etc., the Department has considered and implemented only five of its recommendations on 17-12-98 and closed the entire chapters of the other recommendations of the committee by repeatedly saying that the same is the full and final settlement of the recommendations. The Govt did not implement the recommendations of the Justice Talwar Committee and decided to continue the exploitation of the Rural Postal Workers. This paved way in denying the justified grant of 50% DA merger to GDS employees resulting in a continuous erosion of wages every month to the GDS for more than Rs. 100/- within these two years.
The committee or the bureaucracy can trust the things in the way it likes. If Justice Talwar Committee did not recommend the merger, it will not be given. If such merger and regulation of DA was recommended by Justice Talwar Committee and even if the same has been accepted, ever then it will not be given. Why? Because the powerful do not accept anything against what it thinks. They only win-heads or tails.
National Federation of Postal Employees
1 st Floor, North Avenue, Post Office Building, New Delhi-110001
Federation of National Postal Organisations
T-24, Atul Grove, New Delhi –110001
No.JCA/12(C)/2007 Dated: 09th April 2007
To
The Secretary,
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan,
New Delhi – 110001
Sir,
In accordance with the provisions of Sub Section (1) of section 22 of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947, we hereby notify that the employees of the Postal, RMS, MMS, Administrative, Postal Accounts and Gramin Dak Sevaks will go on indefinite strike from 24th April 2007. The demands for acceptance on which that employee will embark upon a total indefinite strike are detailed in the Charter of Demands enclosed.
| (C.C.Pillai) Secretary General, NFPE |
| (D. Theagarajan) Secretary General, FNPO |
|
(K.V. Sridharan) General Secretary, AIPEU Gr. 'C' |
(Des Raj Sharma) General Secretary, AIPEU Postmen & Gr. 'D', |
(D. Kishan Rao) General Secretary, NUPE Gr. 'C' |
|
(Giri Raj Singh) General Secretary, AIRMS & MMS EU Gr. 'C' |
(D. Theagarajan) General Secretary, NURMS & MMS E Gr. 'C' |
(T.N. Rahate) General Secretary, NUPE Postmen & Gr. 'D' |
|
(P.Suresh) General Secretary, AIRMS &MMS EU MGs & Gr.'D' |
(S.P. Mukherjee) General Secretary, AIPAOEU Group 'C' & 'D' |
(S. Noor Ahamed) General Secretary, NURMS & MMS E MGs & Gr. 'D' |
|
(S.S. Mahadevaiah) General Secretary, AIPEDEU
|
(P. Rajanayagam) General Secretary, AIPAEA |
(P.U. Muraleedharan) General Secretary, NUED Employees |
Charter of Demands
1. Appointment of Judicial Committee / Commission for GDS and grant status and Pension to GDS Employees.
2. Exempt Department of Posts from the purview of Reduction of staff strength and fill up all vacant posts in all cadres in Postal / RMS / MMS / Circle / Regional Offices / Postal Accounts and GDS, including residual vacancies.
3. Drop Franchising of Postal Scheme, stop closure of Post Offices / RMS Offices, Transit Sections / Relocation & merger of offices and Divisions, stop combination of betas of Postmen / stop curtailment of Postal deliveries, Outsourcing of PAO functions etc.
4. Ensure monopoly of collection, conveyance and delivery of letter mail by the Department of Posts as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee.
5. Regularize Casual Labourers / Full Time / Part Time Contingency paid.
6. Filling up of all Norms based LSG / HSG –II / HSG-I posts & Restore periodicity of Junior Accountant promotion to Senior Accountant as 3 years.
7. Encashment of all pending bills OTA / TA / Medical / RPLI Commission etc.
8. Grant Compassionate appointments to eligible candidates and absorb all approved candidates.
9. Complete take over of POSB and PLI by the Postal Department and accord full Autonomy to the Postal Board as in the case of Railway Board.
10. Recognition of Federations and setting up of councils at all level.
|
| |
| (C.C. Pillai) Secretary General National Federation of Postal Employees | (D. Theagarajan) Secretary General Federation of National Postal Organisations
|
POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
National Federation of PostalEmployees
1 st Floor, North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110001
Federation of National Postal Organisations
T-24, Atul Grove, New Delhi –110001
No.PF-12 (C)/JCA / 2007 Dated: 1st April, 2007
CIRCULAR
To,
1. All General Secretaries of NFPE & FNPO
2. All Office Bearers of NFPE & FNPO Unions
3. All Circle Secretaries of NFPE & FNPO
4. All Branch / Divisional Secretaries through Circle Secretaries
Guidelines for conducting Strike
Dear Comrades/ Friends,
The Postal Joint Council of Action has already expressed its dissatisfaction on the negative approach of the Postal Department towards the problems faced by the Postal Workers and JCA in its meeting held on 20 th March 2007 has already decided and calls upon all Postal Employees to participate and make the Countrywide Indefinite Postal Strike from 24 th April, 2007 a grand success. The strike Notice would be served to the Secretary Department of Posts on 9 th April, 2007. Lunch Hour Demonstration and Rallies has to be organized all over the country at all work places by the JCA on 9 th April, 2007. Effective campaign and propaganda has to be continued by the JCA at all levels till the commencement of Strike. JCA may be formed at all levels if it is not already done.
Campaign Tour by Central JCA Leaders
Central JCA has decided to organize tour to all Circle/ Regional Headquarters. Federations and CHQs leaders of NFPE / FNPO will participate and address the meetings at all Centres. Circle /Divisional/Branch Unions are to organize meetings under JCA. Moblise entirety of Postal Staff in all meetings. All are requested to vigorously campaign for successful conduct of the indefinite strike for settlement of long pending demands of 5.5 lakh Postal Workers. Copy of strike notice which would be served to the Secretary Department of Posts, and Charter of Demands are enclosed herewith. Tour Programme of JCA Leaders are already Circulated to all Branches, by the respective Circle Secretary. All CHQ Office Bearers of NFPE/FNPO and its affiliates who are not deputed for All India campaign tour programme are requested to join the campaign meetings in their respective Circles .Follow the guide lines strictly for the success of the strike.
Guidelines for conducting Strike
1. Ensure formation of Joint Council of Action at Circle/Divisional/Branch level and complete this task without further delay.
2. The Indefinite Strike should commence at 6A.M. on 24-04-2007. In RMS Strike will commence from the commencement of duty on 24th April, 2007.
3. The Department through field officers may ask each employee to submit a declaration to state whether he/she is going to participate in the Strike or not. The declaration be returned to the Head of the Office with a statement of the concerned official that he/she will act as per the directive/decision of the Postal Joint Council of Action.
4. The Government may resort to punitive measures. All these attempts be foiled by mobilizing the entire work force in favour of the indefinite strike.
5. All who are in-charge of office and Joint Custodian should keep the keys with them. However if the Department wants surrender of those keys, the same should be done on proper quittance.
6. Employees on strike need not come to the office premises.
7. The office of the respective CHQ / Federation will function round the clock from 23-04-2007 and all Circle/Divisional/Branch level information be communicated over Telephone and also to ascertain the required information and direction. The Telephone, Mobile and Fax numbers of Federations/ CHQ are noted below:-
| NFPE and affiliates
|
|
|
|
| NFPE | 23092771 | 09811213808 | 23369106 |
| P-III | 25706040 | 09811488400 | 25896278 |
| P-IV | 23368085 | 09811602772 | 23341333 |
| R-III | 23743667 | 09818801178 | 23369106 |
| R-IV | 65592288 | 09885077451 |
|
| E. D. | 23697701 | 09811577701 | 23697701 |
| Admn | 23363334 | 09433028964 |
|
| Postal Accts | 65949635 | 09868451466 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| FNPO and affiliates | Telephone | Mobiles | Fax
|
| FNPO | 23321378 | 09444841440 | 23321378 |
| NU P-III |
| 09440065675/ 09810523638 |
|
| NU P-IV |
| 09869121277 |
|
| NU R-III | 23321378 | 09444841440 | 23321378 |
| NU R-IV |
| 09444442041 |
|
| NU E. D. |
| 09446436592 |
|
8. Hand written Posters in regional languages be exhibited in all offices. A proforma of such posters is being published in our journals.
9. Intensive campaign be started immediately by holding General Body meetings/ gate meetings/Lunch hour meetings in each and every work places jointly.
10. Daily demonstration before opening of the office/ set during lunch hour between two shifts be arranged from 16-04-2007 to 23-04-2007. During the period eminent personalities / MPs/MLAs be contacted to get their solidarity and support to our struggle.
11. All rumors through media/Press /Interested quarters be ignored and nobody should believe such news unless it is verified from respective CHQ/Federations.
12. Do not be frightened with adverse criticism of the Government made in the Press and Electronic Media let loose to sabotage our struggle.
13. Ensure collection of strike fund and remit its share to the respective Circle/CHQ/ Federation immediately.
Yours Fraternally,
POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
National Federation of Postal Employees
1 st Floor, North Avenue Post Office Building, New Delhi-110001
Federation of National Postal Organisations
T-24, Atul Grove, New Delhi –110001
No.PF-12 (C)/JCA / 2007 Dated: 20th March, 2007
CIRCULAR
To,
1. All General Secretaries of NFPE & FNPO
2. All Office Bearers of NFPE & FNPO Unions
3. All Circle Secretaries of NFPE & FNPO
4. All Branch / Divisional Secretaries through Circle
Secretaries
Indefinite Strike from 24 th April, 2007
Dear Comrades and Friends,
The National Postal Joint Council of Action comprising National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) and Federation of National Postal Organizations (FNPO) and its affiliated Unions met on 20th March 2007,, 5 P.M. at NFPE Office and reviewed the developments on the Charter of Demands submitted to the Secretary Department of Posts on 29th January, 2007. Com. D. Theagarajan, Secretary General, FNPO presided over the meeting.
The Department of Posts vide their letter No. 8-1/2007-SR (Pt) dated 22 nd February, 2007 communicated to the Federations item wise position of our Charter of Demands. The reply has been reviewed by the JCA. The JCA has expressed dissatisfaction on the negative approach of the Department towards the problems faced by the Postal Workers. The Dept. has not taken serious efforts to resolve the problems.
The JCA has therefore, decided : -
· to launch indefinite strike from 24th April 2007 .
· The strike notice would be issued to the Secretary Department of Posts on 09 th April 2007.
· Lunch hour demonstration has to be organized all over the country at all work places by the JCA on 09 th April, 2007.
· Effective campaign and propaganda has to be continued by the JCA at all levels till the commencement of strike.
National JCA has decided an All India Campaign Tour programme. The tour programme of JCA leaders are enclosed herewith. All Circle Unions under the JCA has to organize massive meetings at places where leaders attended the meeting. Federations and CHQ Leaders of affiliated unions of NFPE and FNPO who are not listed for tour programmes are requested to participate in all campaign meetings in their respective Circles.
JCA at all levels are requested to ensure effective and vigorous campaign among the employees for successful conduct of indefinite strike for settlement of our justified demands.
JCA may be formed at all levels if it is not already done.
With greetings.