No.AIPEU-GDS(NFPE)/CIRCULAR-4/2013 Date
: 13-05-2013
Dear Comrades & Colleagues,
I
have much pleasure to place before you about the growth of our organization in
the divisions & Circles. There is a very good and positive response from
many active comrades to join in AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) and forming divisions in many
circles for the last 2 months after successful conducting of the 1st
All India Conference in Chennai. It proved that total unity of postal workers
both Departmental Unions and GDS in the 12-12-12 strike & 48 hours strike
(20th, 21st) in February 2013. It was asserted in the
AIC, Chennai with the participation of 19 circles and more than 250 divisions
and made the Conference a thundering success. It resulted in creating
confidence on our union and thereby providing ground for all round growth in
the membership, further strengthening in the divisions and Circles.
With
such an inspiring response towards our Union and accepting the facts about the
genuine demands of GDS it became an open discussion among departmental unions
and the organizations of various Central Govt. employees to support our Union .
All
of us are aware of the loss we have suffered during last 2years, i.e., after
implementation of Nataraja Murthy Committee recommendations. It is again
emphasized to mention here particularly about the attacks on our GDS employees
& cadres. As it could be made in a serial viz., all the EDSOs were
downgraded and GDS SPM cadre has been abolished and the TRCA scale for BPMs
introduced for 5 slabs, GDS Stamp Vendor posts have been abolished in the name
of increasing norms and reduced time factor for stamp sales, GDS Mail Men cadre
in RMS treated as wasting cadre and
thousands of vacancies of GDSMM have been abolished, Compassionate appointment
in GDS cadre is restricted by introduction of merit points, impracticable work
load including cash handling norms have been imposed on BPMs causing heavy
reduction in TRCA, instead of norms incentive schemes are offered to GDS forcing
them to remain in duty beyond 5 hours, bonus ceiling has been reduced and
discrimination with regular departmental employees imposed by deviating from
the regular sanction of bonus ceiling for the last so many years, seniority cum
selection for postman recruitment from
GDS has been removed, open market recruitment in postman & MTS cadres
introduced, thousands of posts are being unfilled and combination of duties
enforced in many places, GDS ‘Employment
Rules’ changed as ‘Engagement Rules’ etc.,
It
may be mentioned here about the mounting pressure on GDS, as the policies of
the Govt. & Department rather forcibly intrude in many ways such as
‘National Postal Policy – 2012’. At this juncture, the NFPE / JCA became
vigilant and came forward to resist all the attacks on postal workers including
GDS. Now it is the time to consolidate our GDS cadre on one platform with a
broader out look for unity with all others. The orientation of our AIC proved
and prevailed in many quarters to march forward with united struggles.
Comrades,
we have adopted the ‘Policy & Program’ of our AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) union in our
1st AIC and declared program of action to enlighten our demands
among the cadres and bring pressure on the department and Govt. with a series
of struggles. Our union has formulated all the demands of GDS in a charter and
published in our Report (AIC) also. This is the time to demand the Govt. to
include the GDS issues in 7th CPC, especially departmentalization
& Regularization of GDS, a separate
pay Committee further constituted for GDS could not fulfill the demand for
civil servant status of GDS, except
dismantling the cadres and system. We must be united amongst ourselves and
unite with all our Departmental Unions & NFPE to achieve our goal.
Deviation from the unity becomes suicidal, particularly for GDS as it was
proved recently and stood a good example in the agitating minds of GDS. We must
have to consolidate all the membership to a united platform and march ahead
with struggles, otherwise the department will take advantage and will try to
impose their anti-worker policies.
As
decided in Chennai AIC the following program of action has been announced by
our CHQ after consulting with our NFPE leadership to conduct all the programmes
in such a way to build up pressure on the Department and Govt.
Program of action :-
28-05-2013 - Day long
dharna in front of Divisional Offices in all Circles.
25-06-2013 - Day long
dharna in front of Circle Offices in all Circles.
23-07-2013 - Day long dharna in front of Dak Bhawan, New Delhi
Sep, 2013 - March to Parliament by GDS employees
(subject to the commencement of Parliament session, date will be announced later)
Last Phase -
Indefinite strike (date
will be announced later)
All the Circle Secretaries, CHQ
office bearers are requested to circulate the program of action among all
Divisions/Branches formed in their respective Circles, arrange meetings with
all affiliates of NFPE, there by giving wide publicity to mobilize the members
to make the struggle program
successfull.
Study Camps by NFPE :
South Zone study camp was conducted
in Chennai during October 2012 (13th & 14th) for AP,
Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu Circles. Central Zone study camp conducted in
Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh) during January 2013 (19th & 20th)
for Maharashtra, Gujrat, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh, Bihar
circles. Eastern Zone study camp conducted in Guwahati (Assam ) during Aril 2013 (27th &
28th) for West Bengal, Orissa, North East, Assam
The Northern Zone study camp is
scheduled during June 2013 (22nd & 23rd) at Ghaziabad (Uttar Pradesh) for
Uttar Pradesh, Uttara Khand & Delhi circles. For all the above study camps,
our GDS have been given an opportunity to participate from respective circles
and attended in good number. The attended delegates expressed their
satisfaction in enlightening their knowledge and awareness about Trade Union
movement and class oriented struggles of NFPE.
24th
National Conference of Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers :
Confederation of Central Govt.
Employees & Workers (CCGEW) (except Railways& Defence)
is a large united forum of 105 constituent organizations of various Central
Govt. Departmental organizations, having a consolidated membership of about 13
lakhs, including GDS. The 24th National Conference of CCGEW has been
held from 4th to 6th May 2013 in Kolkata and our CHQ
President, Com.Bijoy Gopal Sur and General Secretary, P.Pandurangarao were
participated as Delegates representing AIPEU-GDS(NFPE) as an Associate Member
of NFPE.
The 24th National
Conference of CCGEW unanimously elected a new set of office bearers
representing from various prominent organizations of Central Govt. Departments,
kept the Postal NFPE in a highest position. Com.S.K.Vyas (83years) Chairman, a legendary personality, described as a
walking university for Central Govt. Employees movement and served in various
positions in the Confederation for the last 45 years, rendering unblemished
services for the Trade Union movement is elected as Advisor for the Confederation. Com.K.K.N.Kutty, has
been honoured with the position of President. Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary
General, NFPE elected as Secretary General, Confederation and this position was
accepted after 56 years of formation of Confederation (1956) founder leader of
Confederation Com.K.G.Bose, now to our Postal leader representing from NFPE,
the top most organization leading the entire Central Govt. Employees movement
through Confederation for the last few decades and Com.Vrighu Bhattacharya
(Civil Accounts) is elected as Financial Secretary for the Confederation.
This situation gives a unique
opportunity for GDS, who continuously took part in the Central Govt. Employees
movement from the year 1956 onwards.. That is why it is boldly expressed by our
leadership about the demand of inclusion of GDS in 7th CPC for which
the NFPE is ready to go for an indefinite strike with the total support of all
Central Govt. organizations representing CCGEW.
Now the responsibility is laid on
our shoulders to bring the GDS movement in total consolidation of all its
membership to move ahead with the united struggles for the emancipation of GDS
from the present situation of bonded labour and severe exploitation.
9th
Federal Council of NFPE
From 9th to 12th
June 2013, the 9th Federal Council meeting of NFPE is scheduled in Hyderabad
Central Working
Committee meeting
In the meantime, during the sessions
of Federal Council on 10th & 11th of June 2013, CHQ
will arrange a Central Working Committee meeting with the attending CHQ office
bearers/Circle Secretaries/Special Invitees/Mahila Committee members to sort
out all the organizational matters in their respective Circles and discuss
about the feasible date and arrangements for “March to Parliament” programme,
exclusively by our GDS members.
Comrades, our union formed on the
basis of the concept of unity. Unity with Departmental Unions, unity with
sister unions, unity with all Central Govt. organizations, unity with working
class is the need of the hour. For that the AIPEU-GDS(NFPE) stood in the front
row with the banner of NFPE and plays a
prominent role to resist the attacks of the policies of the Govt. there by preventing the anti-worker policies of the
Department to a great extent.
With best
regards
Yours
fraternally, (P.PANDURANGARAO) GENERAL
SECRETARY
CHARTER OF DEMANDS – AIPEU-GDS(NFPE)
1.Departmentalization
of Gramin Dak Savaks and all benefits of Departmental employees extended to GDS
as recommended by Justice Talwar Committee.
2.Constitute
7th CPC and refer GDS wage revision also to the consideration of Pay
Commission; Merger 50% of DA with TRCA for all purposes.
3.Restore
the historical prorata wage structure of GDS MD and GDS BPM on par with Postman
and Sorting Postman pay scales respectively as recommended by the 6th CPC by
rectifying the mistakes committed by the Nataraja Murthy Committee.
4. Withdrew new GDS (Conduct & Engagement)
Rules, 2011 and restore GDS (Conduct & Employment) Rules, 2001.
5. Ensure minimum statutory monthly pension of
Rs.3500/- to GDS and grant other retirement benefits like gratuity etc., based
on the formula applicable to departmental employees and under Gratuity Act 1972
besides family pension facility to GDS.
6.Enhance
the bonus quantum ceiling from Rs.2500/- to Rs.3500/- and end the
discrimination.
7.Reduce
cash handling norms from Rs.20,000 to 4,000 and also stamp sale norms.
8.Ensure
full protection of existing TRCA when there is fall in the work load. TRCA
should not be reduced under any circumstances.
9.Remove
the outside recruitment quota for Postman Recruitment and 100% Postman
vacancies be given to GDS.
10.Remove
the 50 points compulsory conditions and provide compassionate appointment for
all eligible dependents in the families of deceased GDS.
11.Introduce
a medical reimbursement scheme for GDS.
12.Grant
full trade union facilities including special casual leave and Foreign Service
facilities to GDS Union Representatives.
13.Enhance
to 6 months maternity leave to female GDS instead of 3 months and grant child
care leave.
14.Grant
full transfer facility to GDS and ensure protection of the existing TRCA on
transfer.
15.Grant
revised TRCA slabs up to 125 points to BPMs based on the workload as on
01.01.2006.
16.Grant
three time bound financial up gradations to all GDS on 10th, 20th and 25th year.
17.Grant
all advances to GDS at par with Regular departmental employees.
18.Stop
combination of duties of GDSMD with that of BPM as it will result in
restriction of business hours of BO thereby causing loss of revenue.
19.Enhance
age limit for the departmental examination for promotion to the cadre of Postal
Assistant from GDS at par with Postman cadre.
20.Modify
date of superannuation of GDS as the last working day of the month.
21.Remove
the ceiling limit of Rs.50 for cash allowance for conveyance of cash from BO to
AO and vice versa.
22.Grant
of LTC and home town LTC facilities to GDS.
23.Remove
the discrimination in grant of welfare assistance to GDS in respect of
prolonged illness, Book awards, educational assistance etc,.
24.Provide
norms for MNREGS work at par with SB transactions & cash conveyance from BO
to AO and vice versa.
25.Relax
the embargo of fixing of minimum TRCA in respect of new appointees, Minimum
should be the entitled TRCA drawn by the earlier incumbent. No fresh statistics
need to be compiled.
26.Fix
norms for all new items of work entrusted to GDS and until then grant enhanced
incentives.
27.Payment
of rent for BO to be borne by the department and till that time grant
enhancement of Office Maintenance Allowance (OMA) @ Rs.500 per month.
28.Redeployment
of GDS should not be done beyond 5 kms and full protection of TRCA should be
given; in case of redeployment from one post to another, eligible women GDS
working as GDSMC/MD/Pkr will be given opportunity to the posts of GDS BPM when
fallen vacant in the name of transfer.
29.Prompt
issuing of SDBS cards to all GDS employees.
30.Grant
Children Educational Allowance and small family incentive to all GDS.
31.Fill
up all GDS posts in RMS and convert all GDS MM posts as MTS.
32. Make an early payment of RPLI incentive and
remove the minimum condition and the maximum limit in the grant of NREGS
incentive.