“There are some leaders who still advocate isolationism. This time our GDS employees will not be held back from common movement to cater the views of some obscurantist leaders and their leadership"

AIPEU GDS (NFPE) – AN ORGANIZATION BORN WITH THE IDEALS OF TRADE UNION DEMOCRACY, UNITY & UNITED STRUGGLES FOR THE EMANCIPATION OF GDS.

With reference to the letter by G/S  AIGDSU, the Directorate addressed to the Secretary General of NFPE & FNPO now clearly shown the way of the so called recognized GDS union, the methodology to delink the GDS from the Department. 

At the time of 6^th CPC also, this type of write-ups cause much damage to solve the GDS issues and lead to an unbearable circumstances; still members did not digested. The same analogy is now being in practice at this time of 7^th CPC also. This is very unfair and do never good to GDS members.

Except recognition (for some time), nothing will remain with that so called recognized union with this type of attitude being avoidance of taking up the  GDS issues by the motherly organizations ie., Federations.

Agonized leadership of that so called recognized union lost its balance to convince GDS after the failure of strike with their unilateral and impulsive agreement became tangle to their neck. In the name of their so called recogniztion (only with dept.) taking advantage to lead their way in to dark and trying to pull & push all the GDS cadre with sheer confusion to defend their undetermined activities.

“Give a fool rope enough and he will hang himself”

The letter now issued by the Directorate “GDS issues will not be included in the formal meetings with NFPE & FNPO or any other recognized union” caused bitterness in lower levels and the result will be revolted, possibly.

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08-03-2014 - INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

The theme of 2014 IWD declared as :

'Equality for Women is Progress for All'

         International Women's Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women's Day is a national holiday.
     Suffragettes campaigned for women's right to vote. The word 'Suffragette' is derived from the word "suffrage" meaning the right to vote. International Women's Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women's success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed. 

The first International Women's Day event was run in 1911 .
          International Women's Day has been observed since in the early 1900's, a time of great expansion and turbulence in the industrialized world that saw booming population growth and the rise of radical ideologies.

1908 :  Great unrest and critical debate was occurring amongst women. Women's oppression and inequality was spurring women to become more vocal and active in campaigning for change. Then in 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter hours, better pay and voting rights.
1909:In accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, the first National Woman's Day (NWD) was observed across the United States on 28 February. Women continued to celebrate NWD on the last Sunday of February until 1913.

1910: In 1910 a second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen. A woman named a Clara Zetkin (Leader of the 'Women's Office' for the Social Democratic Party in Germany) tabled the idea of an International Women's Day. She proposed that every year in every country there should be a celebration on the same day - a Women's Day - to press for their demands. The conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, representing unions, socialist parties, working women's clubs, and including the first three women elected to the Finnish parliament, greeted Zetkin's suggestion with unanimous approval and thus International Women's Day was the result.

1911:   Following the decision agreed at Copenhagen in 1911, International Women's Day (IWD) was honoured the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland on 19 March. More than one million women and men attended IWD rallies campaigning for women's rights to work, vote, be trained, to hold public office and end discrimination. However less than a week later on 25 March, the tragic 'Triangle Fire' in New York City took the lives of more than 140 working women, most of them Italian and Jewish immigrants. This disastrous event drew significant attention to working conditions and labour legislation in the United States that became a focus of subsequent International Women's Day events. 1911 also saw women's 'Bread and Roses' campaign.
1913-1914: On the eve of World War I campaigning for peace, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. In 1913 following discussions, International Women's Day was transferred to 8 March and this day has remained the global date for International Women's Day ever since. In 1914 further women across Europe held rallies to campaign against the war and to express women's solidarity.

1917:  On the last Sunday of February, Russian women began a strike for "bread and peace" in response to the death over 2 million Russian soldiers in war. Opposed by political leaders the women continued to strike until four days later the Czar was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. The date the women's strike commenced was Sunday 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia. This day on the Gregorian calendar in use elsewhere was 8 March.

1918 - 1999:  Since its birth in the socialist movement, International Women's Day has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across developed and developing countries alike. For decades, IWD has grown from strength to strength annually. For many years the United Nations has held an annual IWD conference to coordinate international efforts for women's rights and participation in social, political and economic processes. 1975 was designated as 'International Women's Year' by the United Nations. Women's organisations and governments around the world have also observed IWD annually on 8 March by holding large-scale events that honour women's advancement and while diligently reminding of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women's equality is gained and maintained in all aspects of life.
2000 and beyond:  IWD is now an official holiday in Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, China (for women only), Cuba, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Laos, Madagascar (for women only), Moldova, Mongolia, Montenegro, Nepal (for women only), Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Zambia. The tradition sees men honouring their mothers, wives, girlfriends, colleagues, etc with flowers and small gifts. In some countries IWD has the equivalent status of Mother's Day where children give small presents to their mothers and grandmothers.

           The new millennium has witnessed a significant change and attitudinal shift in both women's and society's thoughts about women's equality and emancipation. Many from a younger generation feel that 'all the battles have been won for women' while many feminists from the 1970's know only too well the longevity and ingrained complexity of patriarchy. With more women in the boardroom, greater equality in legislative rights, and an increased critical mass of women's visibility as impressive role models in every aspect of life, one could think that women have gained true equality. The unfortunate fact is that women are still not paid equally to that of their male counterparts, women still are not present in equal numbers in business or politics, and globally women's education, health and the violence against them is worse than that of men.

              However, great improvements have been made. We do have female astronauts and prime ministers, school girls are welcomed into university, women can work and have a family, women have real choices. And so the tone and nature of IWD has, for the past few years, moved from being a reminder about the negatives to a celebration of the positives.

          Annually on 8 March, thousands of events are held throughout the world to inspire women and celebrate achievements. A global web of rich and diverse local activity connects women from all around the world ranging from political rallies, business conferences, government activities and networking events through to local women's craft markets, theatric performances, fashion parades and more. 

          Many global corporations have also started to more actively support IWD by running their own internal events and through supporting external ones. For example, on 8 March search engine and media giant Google some years even changes its logo on its global search pages. Year on year IWD is certainly increasing in status. The United States even designates the whole month of March as 'Women's History Month'.

So make a difference, think globally and act locally !! 

Make everyday International Women's Day. 

Do your bit to ensure that the future for girls is bright, equal, safe and rewarding.

How equality for women is progress for all?

Several people also spoke on how equality for women would be the headway to solving many of the world's problems such as poverty.

"Women spend the majority of their income on the well-being of their children and family. Raising women's labour force participation increases economic growth," 

"By ending women's poverty, we will sustainably and significantly reduce extreme poverty worldwide." 

Equality for women can also help combat global environmental challenges, including land degradation and climate change.

"Today, more than 2 billion people depend on small scale farmers, and women play a pivotal role. They make up nearly half of the agricultural labor force," 

"Securing their equality would not only benefit them, but everyone as well."

"If we want to increase, our productivity, our food security and improve our resilience to climate change, if we want to reverse outmigration, water conflicts, civil wars and state failure, we need policy incentives that, at the very least, place female land users, farmers and producers on par with males in their access to resources, knowledge and decision-making," 

International Women’s Day Themes:

International Women’s Day is celebrated annually using a particular theme. Some of the year wise themes are given below:

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 1975 was 

           “United Nations recognizes International Women’s Day”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 1996 was 

           “Celebrating the Past, Planning for the Future”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 1997 was 

           “Women and the Peace Table”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 1998 was 

          “Women and Human Rights”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 1999 was

           “World Free of Violence against Women”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2000 was 

           “Women Uniting for Peace”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2001 was 

           “Women and Peace: Women Managing Conflicts”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2002 was 

           “Afghan Women Today: Realities and Opportunities”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2003 was 

           “Gender Equality and the Millennium Development Goals”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2004 was 

            “Women and HIV / AIDS”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2005 was 

           “Gender Equality Beyond 2005; Building a More Secure Future”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2006 was 

           “Women in Decision-making”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2007 was 

           “Ending Impunity for Violence against Women and Girls”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2008 was 

            “Investing in Women and Girls”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2009 was 

           “Women and Men United to End Violence against Women and Girls”.

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2010 was 

           “Equal Rights, Equal Opportunities: Progress for All”.

·        The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2011 was 

       “Equal Access to Education, Training, and Science and Technology: Pathway to  Decent Work for Women”. 

·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2012 was 

          “Empower Rural Women, End Poverty and Hunger”.
·         The theme of the International Women’s Day celebration of 2013 was 

          “A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence against Women”.

   (extracted & compiled from other websites)

POSTAL JCA WROTE TO DoP&T TO MAKE AMENDMENTS IN THE ToR

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 Road, New Delhi - 110001

 

Ref: JCA/Postal/2014                                                                                       Dated – 06.03.2014

To

The Secretary

Department of Personnel & Training

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions,

North Block, New Delhi – 110001

Dear Sir,

Sub: -  Terms of Reference of the 7^th Central Pay Commission.

We have gone through the Terms of Reference of 7^th Central Pay Commission approved and notified by the Government on 28.02.2014. We find that the Terms of Reference finalized by the Government is at variance in many respects to the Draft Terms of Reference the Staff Side had submitted to you on 25.10.2013 after holding in-house discussion on 24.10.2013.

At the conclusion of the meeting held on 24.10.2013, it was agreed that the Government would consider our suggestions in the matter and will convene another meeting with the presence of the Secretary (Expenditure) to iron out the differences, if any, and explore the possibilities of an agreement in the matter.

We regret to inform you that no such meeting was convened and no attempt was made by the Official Side to arrive at an agreed Terms of Reference. We find that the Government has rejected the suggestions of Staff side for either taking a decision in the matter of Interim Relief, Merger of DA, representation of labour nominee in the Commission itself, inclusion of the Grameen Dak Sewaks within the purview of the 7^th CPC, bringing parity in pension between the past and present pensioners, covering the employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004 within the ambit of the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, date of effect, settlement of the pending items in the National Anomaly Committee etc. or referring those issues to the Commission itself for an Interim Report.

Besides, we are to state that the existing Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) Scheme, being a bilateral agreement, cannot be subjected to scrutiny and examination by the 7^th CPC.

We, therefore request you to kindly convene a meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) to discuss the issue, so as to make amendments to the Terms of Reference finalized by the Government arbitrarily.

Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                           

(D. Theagarajan)                                                                              (M. Krishnan)

Secretary General, FNPO &                                                  Secretary General, NFPE &

Member, National Council - JCM                                         Member, National Council - JCM

Mobile: 09968349422                                                                      Mobile: 09447068125         

E-mail: theagarajannachi@hotmail.com                     E-mail: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

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TUMKUR DIVISION (KARNATAKA CIRCLE) AIPEU GDS (NFPE)

Meeting held on 02-03-2014 - Yediur

LIST OF OFFICE BEARERS:

1) Divisional President : 1) Sri Syed Munawar Hussain, GDS Packer,Sira Bazar P.O, Sira.

2) Vice President        :   1)     Sri B.R. Ramesh, GDS BPM, Malagondanahally, A/w Biligere, S.O

                                         2)    Sri Channagiriyappa, GDS MD, Byatha B.O A/W Urdigere, S.O                                                   

3) Divisional Secretary:  1)     Sri D.C Thataiah, GDS BPM, Dasihally, B.O A/.W Mayasandra S.O

4) Asst. Secretary        :   1)     Smt. T.G. Rekha, GDS MD/ MC. Karadi B.O A/W Biligere S.O

2)          Sri L.C. Ganganna, GDS Packer, Chelur, S.O

3)          Sri K.P Sheshadri, GDS MD/MC Oorkere B.O A/W N.R. Exten., SO, Tumkur-6

                                        4)     Sri Y.S. Chandrappa, GDS BPM, Yeliyoor, B.O A/W Sira, S.O

5) Financial Secretary:   1)      Sri G. Mahesh , GDS BPM, Doddamavathur, B.O A/W Kunigal S.O

6) Asst. Financial Secretary:1) Sri K.P. Shankaraiah, GDS MD/MC Belavatta B.O A/W Kadaba S.O

7) Organizing Secretary: 1)     Smt. Shyla .A, GDS BPM. Talakere BO A/W  Myasandra .S.O

2)      Sri Kantharaju, GDS BPM Thoremavinahally BO A/W Banasandra S.O

3)      Sri T.G. Shanegowda, GDS BPM, Mullkunte B.O A/W Honnudike S.O

4)      Smt. M. Rudramma, GDS BPM, Melekote, BO A/W Maralur S.O

5)      Sri B.S. Venkatesh, GDS Packer, Kadaba S.O

8) Auditor                   :    1)    Sri T.E. Gopinath, GDS MD. N.R Extension, SO  Tumkur-6

                                 Thanking you,

Yours Faithfully

(D.C. THATAIAH)

Divisional Secretary

AIPEU GDS (NFPE)

Tumkur Division,

Tumkur-572101.

EDITORIAL - POSTAL CRUSADER

VOTE OUT NEO-LIBERAL GLOBALISATION POLICIES.

VOTE FOR ALTERNATIVE PRO-PEOPLE, PRO-WORKING CLASS POLICIES

               Once again our country is going for a general election.  India is the biggest democratic country in the world and general election is an opportunity to every citizen to express their opinion about the future Government and also future of our country.

               We, the Central Government employees including Postal employees are well aware of the fact that future of the Central Government Employees and various Central Government departments depends upon the policy of the Central Government.  As we are working directly under the Central Government, the policies are first experimented on us.  Upto 1991, the policy of the Government was to strengthen and expand the Central services and Public sector.  Based on this policy more and more offices were opened and employees are recruited and appointed to fill up vacant posts and also newly created posts.  The total number of Central Government employees went upto 40 lakhs.

               From 1991 onwards, the policy of the Government changed and started implementing the neo-liberal globalisation policies.  Ban on filling up of vacant posts and creation of new posts was imposed.  The process of converting Government departments into corporation started with the hidden agenda of ultimate privatization.  Attack came on the Telecom department first, and it is converted into three Corporations.   Expenditure reforms committee under the former Finance Secretary Geetha Krishnan was constituted and it recommended sweeping changes in all Central Government departments in tune with the liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (LPG) policies of the Government.  Government started large scale outsourcing of the Government functions and many small departments were closed and many are in the verge of closure.  Downsizing has reached its peak and thousands of posts are abolished.  Casual and Contract worker employment has become the order of the day and in some departments the number of casual/contract workers exceeded the number of regular employees.

               When the NDA government came to power defeating the Congress government, employees were under the impression that the above policies of earlier government will be changed.  But to their dismay, the new government also persued the same policies.  A separate portfolio for disinvestment was created and a Cabinet Minister is appointed as incharge of the Disinvestment Ministry.  Downsizing, outsourcing, contractorisation and privatisation continued unabated.  Attack on the Central Government departments and employees continued.  Finally New Pension Scheme called Contributory Pension Scheme was also introduced. 

               UPA Government led by Congress which again came to power continued the same policy more vigourously.  The Pension Privatisation bill called PFRDA Bill was introduced in the Parliament with the help of main opposition party, BJP and again when the bill was passed both the NDA and UPA voted in favour of the bill.  Only left parties opposed the bill.  Regarding the main demands of the Central Government employees also the attitude of both the Governments was negative.  Only due to the continuous struggle conducted by Confederation and NFPE some improvements could be achieved.  In Postal, entire employees went on 14 days strike in 2000 but the then NDA Government constituted a cabinet committee of group of ministers under the then Home Minister and rejected all the demands.  Now also the UPA government rejected all our main demands. 

               Both the governments tried to privatise postal sector by amending Indian Post Office Act for granting licence to private courier services.  The move to close down 9797 post offices and 300 RMS offices were defeated only because of the united resistance of the Postal employees.  The attitude of both the Government towards departmentalisation of Gramin Dak Sevak was totally negative.  Even after the pronouncement of Supreme Court that GDS are Civil Servants the government is not ready to grant Civil Servant status to GDS. 

          From the above we can understand that future of the Central Government employees including Postal employees depends upon the policies of the Government.  Without changing the policy, we cannot except any positive action from Government.  Hence the coming general election is very crucial to us.  From our past experience we should recognise our friends and foes.  We have to defeat the anti -people, anti-worker neo liberal policies at any cost.   NFPE calls upon the entire Postal employees to vote out the Neo Liberal Globalisation Policies and to vote for an alternative pro-people, pro-working class policies.

NFIR WANTS TO MAKE AMENDMENTS IN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF 7TH CPC

NFIR

National Federation of Indian Railwaymen

No.IV/NFIR/7th CPC/2013/Pt.I

The Secretary (DoP&T),
Department of Personnel & Training,

North Block,

New Delhi

Dear Sir,

Sub: Terms of Reference of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

On perusal of the notification issued by the Government of India through Gazette of India bearing No.1/1/2013-E III (A) dated 28/02/2014, we find that the Terms of Reference notified by the Government is at variance in many respects to the Draft Terms of Reference the Staff Side had submitted to the Government on 25.10.2013 as desired during discussions in the meeting chaired by Secretary, DoP&T.

At the conclusion of the meeting held on 24.10.2013, it was agreed that the Government would consider our suggestions in the matter and will convene another meeting with the participation of the Secretary (Expenditure) to iron out the differences, if any and explore the possibilities of an agreement in the matter.

We regret to inform you that no such meeting was convened and no attempt was made by the Official Side to work for an agreed Terms of Reference. We find that the Government has rejected our suggestions for either taking decision in the matter of Interim Relief Merger of D.A., representation of labour representative in the Commission itself, bringing in parity with the past and present pensioners, covering the employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004 within the ambit of the Defined Benefitted Pension Scheme, date of effect, settlement of the pending items in the National Anomaly Committee etc., or referring those issues to the Commission itself for an Interim Report.

In the meeting held on 24th October, 2013 the Staff Side also pointed out that proposals of various ministries seeking clearance of Finance Ministry for rectification of 6th CPC anomalies are still pending with Ministry of Finance and requested that the said proposals may be cleared before constituting the 7th Central Pay Commission. However, the proposals are yet to be cleared by the Ministry of Finance.

Besides, we are to state that the existing Productivity Linked Bonus (PLB) Scheme being a bilateral agreement, cannot be subjected to scrutiny and examination by the 7th CPC.

We, therefore, request you to kindly convene a meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) to discuss the issue, so as to make amendments to the Terms of Reference.

Dated: 04/03/2014

Yours faithfully

sd/-

(M.Raghavaiah)

General Secretary

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Member, National Council JCM raised strong objections against the ToR of 7th Pay Commission

Com. Shiva Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, AIRF, Member,Standing Committee, National Council JCM  raised strong objections against the ToR of 7th Pay Commission

NATIONAL COUNCIL (Staff Side)

Joint Consultative Machinery

for Central Government Employees

13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi-110001

No.NC-JCM/2014/VII CPC                                                                                            Dated: March 3, 2014

The Secretary,

Department of Personnel & Training,

Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions,

North Block, New Delhi.

Dear Sir,

                           Sub: Terms of Reference of the 7th Central Pay Commission.

               It is reported that, the Union Cabinet in its meeting, held on 28th February, 2014, has approved the Terms of Reference of the 7th Central Pay Commission. We have gone through the same. We find that the Terms of Reference finalized by the Government is at variance in many respects to the Draft Terms of Reference the Staff Side had submitted to you on 25.10.2014 after holding in-house discussion on 24.10.2013.

            At the conclusion of the meeting held on 24.10.2013, it was agreed that the Government would consider our suggestions in the matter and will convene another meeting with the presence of the Secretary (Expenditure) to iron out the differences, if any, and explore the possibilities of an agreement in the matter.

             We regret to inform you that no such meeting was convened and no attempt was made by the Official Side to arrive at an agreed Terms of Reference. We find that the Government has rejected our suggestions for either taking a decision in the matter of Interim Relief, Merger of D.A., representation of labour nominee in the Commission itself, inclusion of the Grameen Dak Sewaks within the purview of the 7th CPC, bringing parity in pension between the past and present pensioners, covering the employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004 within the ambit of the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme, date of effect, settlement of the pending items in the National Anomaly Committee etc. or referring those issues to the Commission itself for an Interim Report.

                During discussions on 24th October, 2013, the Staff Side had also pointed out that the proposals sent by various ministries, seeking approval for rectification in VI CPC anomalies, are pending with the Ministry of Finance, and requested that approval may be given to all such proposals before finalization of VII CPC Terms of Reference. 

                  It seems, no action has been taken on those proposals.

           Besides, we are to state that the existing Productivity Linked Bonus(PLB) Scheme, being a bilateral agreement, cannot be subjected to scrutiny and examination by the 7th CPC.

          We, therefore, request you to kindly convene a meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council (JCM) to discuss the issue, so as to make amendments to the Terms of Reference finalized by the Government arbitrarily.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)

Member

Standing Committee National Council – JCM

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