NFPE MARCH AHEAD
WITH TOTAL UNITY AND DETERMINATION
9TH FEDERAL
COUNCIL – A MEMORABLE EVENT
The 9th Federal
Council of National Federation of Postal Employees was held in the land of the
great legendary Leader, Late Com. K. Adinarayana, the Ex-Secretary General of
NFPE at Sundaraiah Vignan Kendra, Hyderabad Union , Andhra Pradesh] had made very excellent
arrangements for the conduct of the Federal Council. The inaugural session
commenced with the unfurling of both the National Flag and the NFPE Flag by
Com. B. G. Tamhankar, Ex-President, NFPE and Com. D. K. Rahate, President, NFPE
and after that floral tributes to the Martyrs Column were held.
On the eve of 9th Federal Council of National
Federation of Postal Employees, on 9.6.2013, as the first programme, the AP
Postal Women Employees Convention was held. Com. T. Sakuntala, Convener, Women
Subcommittee, NFPE presided the convention. Ms. Sandhya Rani, IPoS, Post Master
General (BD & Technology) was the Chief Guest and delivered a valuable
oration. Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General, as the chief Guest of Honour has
dealt all the work undertaken by the Federation for the welfare of women
comrades and its commitment to form All India body in all the affiliated unions
exclusively for the women comrades. The other speakers on the occasion were
Com. Pushpeswari Devi, Member, All India Women Committee, P3 NFPE, Com. K. Swaruparani, General
Secretary, AIDWA, Com. K. Dhanalakshmi,
State Convener, Working Women’s Co-ordination
Committee, Andhra Pradesh, Com.
C. P. Sobhana, Convener, CCGEW Mahila Committee, Com. R. Seethalakshmi, Asst.
Secretary General, NFPE and Com.
Nalini, (R-III).
In the afternoon, a big rally from Indira Park
Com. D. Theagarajan, Secretary General FNPO
addressed the delegate session of the Federal Council and elaborately dealt
with the problems faced by the Postal and RMS employees and stressed the need
for total unity to resist the attack on Postal services. Com. K. Venugopal,
General Secretary, All India Insurance Employees Association, made valuable and
educative special address on 11.06.2013 on the subject “Neo liberal Policies –
Role of employees”. The Chief Postmaster General, Andhra Pradesh, Circle, Sri.
B. V. Sudhakar, IPoS addressed the Federal Council on 12.06.2013 as Chief
Guest. He stressed the need to improve the efficientcy and productivity of the
Department of Posts for its survival.
The triennial report which in itself is a valuable
and comprehensive document and audited accounts were unanimously approved and
adopted by the delegates and thereafter the election of office bearers was
held. The 9th Federal Council unanimously elected
the following team of Office Bearers:
President
: Shri Giri Raj Singh R-3
(Delhi ).
Working
President : Shri. Manoharan P-3 (Tamil Nadu)
Vice
Presidents 1. Shri Pranab Bhattacharya
Admin. Union (WB)
2. Shri T.Sathyanaryana (Andhra Pradesh)
3. Shri K.K. Sharma (New Delhi) .
Secretary
General : Shri M.Krishnan, (Kerala)
Dy. Secy.
General : Shri Ishwar Singh
Dabas (NewDelhi).
Asstt.
Secy. General: 1. Shri
R.N.Parashar, (UP)
2. Shri S. Raghupathy (TN)
3. Smt. R. Seethalakshmi, (Karnataka)
Financial
Secretary : Shri
Raj Kumar, (New Delhi)
The Federal Council decided to form a Mahila
Committee of NFPE at the apex level with two Mahila representative from each
affiliated union.
There were 110 Federal Councillors; Ex-officio
Office Bearers and Federal Executive Members, 21 fraternal delegates and 45
visitors in the Council. Total 176. About 61 participants took part in the
deliberations and debates. There
was all round appreciation about the functioning of the Federation which
exhibited their confidence and faith in the leadership of the mighty organisation. The Federal
Council approved the decision of according associate membership to AIPEU GDS
NFPE by its executive and decided to champion the cause of the GDS employees
through all its actions and Programmes. The
resolution on policy and programme was unanimously adopted at the Federal
Council. The following other
resolutions were also adopted unanimously. The details will be published in the
ensuing Postal Crusader.
1. Resolution on common demands of
Central Government Employees
2. Resolution on scrapping of new pension
scheme
3. Resolution on cadre restructuring
4. Resolution on departmentalisation of
Grameen Dak Sewaks and other issues
5. Resolution on issues of Casual Labour
6. Resolution on the sectional demands of
the Postman and MTS
7. Resolution on the issues of RMS and
MMS Group ‘C’ staff
8. Resolution on issues of Mail Guards
& MTS in RMS
9. Resolution on the issues
Administrative Offices Employees
10. Resolution on the issues of Postal
Accounts
11. Resolution on the issues of SBCO staff
12. Resolution on augmentation of adequate
posts for new services
13. Resolution on Postmaster Cadre
14. Resolution on System Administrators
15. Resolution on Marketing Executives
16. Resolution on modified ACP Scheme
17. Resolution on PO & RMS Accountants
18. Resolution on counting of past
services as R.T.P. for promotion
19. Resolution on the grant of Naxalist
Threat Area allowance to the Postal Employees working in Naxalist Threat Areas
20. Resolution on upward revision of cash
handling allowance to treasurers of post offices
21. Resolution on bureaucratic excesses
22. Resolution on monetary recovery and
disciplinary action on contributory negligence factor
23. Resolution on problems of Women
Employees
The Reception Committee has organised cultural
programmes on two days, viz: “Veera Telangana Armed struggle” an inspiring play
by Praja Natya Mandali, Nalgonda and another programme by Guruswamy and Team.
Welcome song was sung by the singers of PNM Hyderabad.
The Federal Council placed its appreciations on
record the services rendered by the outgoing office bearers Com D. K. Rahate,
President, Com C. Chandrasekar, Working President, Com. S. P. Mukherjee, Vice
President and Com. K. V. Sridharan, Ex-General Secretary of AIPEU Group ‘C’. The Federation is fully confident that
with the total cooperation of all, the huge task and the challenges posed to us
by the neo liberal reforms and the proposed National Postal Policy etc will be
met with by building up rock-like unity and resisting it with all forces at our
command. We assure that we will strive hard to live up to the expectations of all
our comrades in the rank and file at the grass root level and march ahead,
keeping in mind always the legacy of sacrifice, determination and commitment of
our founder leaders and martyrs.
The following are the most important decisions of
the 9th Federal Council.
1. To Celebrate the 60th year of NFPE as Diamond Jubilee year
for one year and convene a Diamond Jubilee All India Convention of NFPE at
Jamnagar, Gujarat, on 24th November
2014.
2. To conduct indefinite strike along
with other Central Government Employees organisations under the banner of
Confederation., if the demands raised by Confederation in its 15 points charter
of demands including setting up of 7th Pay Commission and 50% merger of DA
are not accepted by Government.
3. To conduct joint indefinite strike, if
Government refuses to include the GDS employees under the purview of the 7th Pay Commission.
4. To oppose and defeat the National
Postal Policy which envisages opening up of postal services to private sector.
5. To organise agitational programmes
including indefinite hunger fast for settlement of the demands raised by the
Postal Joint Council of Action (NFPE & FNPO) in the memorandum submitted to
Secretary, Department of Posts, including the issues of GDS and casual
labourers.
6. To take initiative to form and build
up an All India organisation for Postal and RMS pensioners.
7. To make maximum effort to organise
women employees including GDS in all circles and Divisions.
8. To conduct Trade Union Education
Camps.
9. To Form Circle co-ordinating
committees in all Circles.
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General
POLICY AND PROGRAMME RESOLUTION ADOPTED IN THE 9TH FEDERAL COUNCIL HELD AT HYDERABAD
1. The World capitalist economy is in the
grip of a severe financial crisis. The inherent inconsistencies and
contradictions of the capitalism have ultimately resulted in the present
crisis. The crisis that erupted and exploded in the USA India
2. This 9th Federal Council of National
Federation of Postal Employees salutes those countries especially in Latin
America, who are fighting against the imperialist policies of the USA
3. The 9th Federal Council of the National
Federation of Employees is being held in the midst of the UPA II Government
completed its four year term with the record breaking corruptions and fastest
implementation of neoliberal globalization policies as the international
financial crisis continue to haunt the world economies. The Indian Government
intensifies its attacks by resorting to further financial reforms and pension
reforms, allowing FDI in retail and insurance sectors. The phasing out of all
welfare measures, disinvestment of PSUs, Privatization of Government
organizations, Outsourcing, Curtailment of Trade Union rights, Privatization of
health care and education were the few things UPA II made during the period.
4. This 9th Federal Council records with a
happiness to note that for the first time in the history of our country, all
the Central Trade Unions including that of the INTUC and BMS have come together
on a single platform with the Left Trade Union Centres and Confederation and
Federations and independent Unions of Public Sector, Central Government, State
Government and Teachers Organisations to resist the attacks of the
liberalization guided policies of the Government. This Federal Council also
records with pleasure that the united platform of all Central Trade Union
Centres and other Organisations is the befitting reply to the forces of
globalization which are on the attacking spree against the working class and
the common people. This Federal Council is more contented to note that the
Central Trade Unions have established their decision to carry forward their new
found unity for strengthening the anti-liberalization struggle and to defend
the working class against the evil designs of the Government by holding two
days historic strike in February 2013.In this background this Federal Council
unanimously resolves to play our role in strengthening of such struggles in
accordance with the decisions of Confederation and NFPE that is guided by the
historic resolution of the 1992 Dharwad Federal Council.
5. The working class of India
6. This 9th Federal Council of NFPE declares that
we shall join every struggle organized by the Central Trade Unions including
general strike against the anti-people and anti-labour policies of the Central
Government and also against the machinations of the divisive and communal
forces. This Federal Council salutes and congratulates the Central Government
Employees, especially the Postal employees who had participated in the
28.2.2012, 12.12.12 & 21, 22.2.2013 strikes and made them a grand success.
7. The Call of the Confederation of CG
Employees & Workers for nationwide one day token strike on 12.12.2012
demanding settlement on a 15 Point Common Charter of Demands of CG Employees
which includes stop price rise
and strengthen PDS, stop downsizing, outsourcing, contractorisation,
corporatisation and privatization of Governmental functions, fill up all vacant
posts and create posts on functional requirements, scrap the New Pension scheme
and extend the statutory defined benefit pension to all Central Government
Employees irrespective of date of recruitment, Regularize the Gramin Dak
Sevaks, casual contingent and daily rated workers by bringing about a definite
scheme of regularization, remove restriction imposed on compassionate
appointments, stop the move to introduce the performance Related Pay (PRP) and
Performance Related Incentive Scheme (PRIS), make right to strike a legal right
and stop victimizations and curtailment of trade union rights, the immediate constitution of 7th CPC for the revision of wages with
effect from 1.1.2011 i.e., once in five years on par with the Public
Sector undertakings and Merger of 50% DA with Basic Pay including GDS, five
promotions etc. This Federal Council hails the Confederation’s independent
Programme of Action which was successfully conducted and created a condition
and compulsion for a larger platform of unity to struggle under the banner of
the Steering Committee of JCM National Council Organisations for the formation
of 7th Pay Commission
etc. This Federal Council acknowledges the tactics of the Confederation for its
determination and decision to carry forward the struggle for the formation of
next pay commission since the plethora of anomalies caused by the
implementation of 6th CPC
and through the MACP Scheme can be sorted out only after the formation of
Seventh Pay Commission. This Federal Council therefore unanimously resolves to
call upon the entire leadership of all the affiliated unions of the Federation
at all levels to fully involve ourselves in converting the Programme of Action
a tremendous success and enhance the pride of the NFPE to establish its
credentials as the vanguard of the Confederation.
8. The last four year rule of the UPA
Government has resulted in aggravating the poverty and unemployment. The prices
of essential commodities are escalating day by day. The divisive and communal
and terrorist forces are trying to divide the country and also the unity of the
working class. The real wages of Central Govt. Employees have eroded
significantly in as much as the inflations had raised the prices of essential
commodities especially of food items beyond 200%. The JCM functioning at
National level has deteriorated and meeting has become extremely
irregular. Many of the demands of the Central Government employees still
remain unsettled and the Government is vigorously implementing the
globalization policies in the Central Government services. It has become
imperative to resist this onslaught by mobilizing the employees.
9. The Three Lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks
working in the Postal department have been subjected to inhuman exploitation
and discrimination by the Central Government. The Government has refused to
appoint a judicial Committee for the revision of wages and service conditions
of Gramin Dak Sevaks; instead a committee headed by a retired Postal Board
Member Sri Natarajamurthy has been appointed. The Government has accepted all
the retrograde recommendations of Natarajamurthy committee. The long pending
demands for conferring civil servant status, grant of pro-rata pay scale,
statutory Pension, Time bound promotion and medical facilities have been
rejected. The norms for cash handling allowance has been drastically reduced,
the monthly ceiling of Bonus of 3500/- reduced to 2500/-, the denial of revised
125 points allowance to BPMs from 1.1.2006, large scale down gradation of EDSOs
etc have created a sense of insecurity and resentment among the GDS. This
Federal Council takes the pledge and calls upon the postal employees to be
ready and keep the gun powder dry to participate in all agitational programmes
for the realization of the demands of the Gramin Dak Sevaks including
indefinite strike.
10. The Central Government is moving ahead
with the agenda of globalization in the Department of Posts also. Earlier, the
Department has released its corporate proposals of India Post. In order to
facilitate corporatization there is a move to amend the Indian Post office Act
1898 which will provide a level playing field to couriers by unbundling the
role of the Department as a Government service and introducing the public
private partnership in the communication sector. In the Postal sector the Government
has declared the draft National Postal Policy 2012. It is nothing but a
road-map to privatisation of Postal services by amending the Indian Post Office
Act and granting licences to the multi-national
courier services. Government want to close down post offices in the name
of loss. Just like in Telecom, a
regulatory authority called Postal Regulatory Authority of India (PRAI) is to
be constituted. Corporatization is the first step towards privatization. The
experience of the BSNL workers is a lesson for us. This Federal Council while
extending full support to the authorities increasing the efficiency and
productivity of the Postal service, strongly oppose any move to corporatise the
Postal Department. This Federal Council calls upon as affiliated unions and the
workers to be vigilant and be ready by conducting an effective campaign among
the workers against the dangers of the amendment of the Postal Act, unbundling
the monopoly of postal and allowing couriers by providing a level playing field
by the constitution of Postal regulatory authority and the
corporatization of Postal, and keep them ready for major struggle in the event
of pushing through this retrograde globalization policy in the Department. This
Federal Council further declares that any unilateral move to corporate the
Postal Department, will be resisted with all forces at our command.
11. This Federal Council notes with
happiness that we have played our due role in the Postal JCA struggles in the
recent past and registered impressive gains from the Postal Board. The National
Federation of Postal Employees has taken the initiative to organise agitational
programmes and mobilise the employees for action including indefinite strikes
and as a result the Postal Administration was compelled to stop their move for
closure of 9797 Post Offices. Many long pending issues are settled and
mass scale recruitment has taken place. The department was forced to
convene the JCM Departmental Council meetings and formal meetings and discussed
all the issues with the staff side. This Federal Council hails the timely
action with serious preparedness exhibited by the leaders and gross root level
cadres of the affiliated unions against the serious attacks of the Department
like abolition of thousands of Post Offices and liquidate RMS etc which were
halted by the efforts of the NFPE and Postal JCA. However it is the constant
vigil and a state of complete readiness of the entire Postal Employees that
only can insulate us against the dangers emanating from the policies of the
Government. This Federal Council also notes with concern that all the
assurances of the Postal Board and the MOSC have not been translated into
reality and we had to resort to struggle again and again to ensure progress. This Federal Council views with grave
concern the delay in settlement of various demands of the employees by the
Postal Board and Government such as revision of wages of the casual labourers
including part time and daily rated workers, stop filling up of erstwhile Group
'D' posts and Postmen Posts from open market, cadre restructuring, creation of
separate cadre for system Administrators, postmen and the GDS related issues
etc. This Federal Council urges upon the Government and Postal Board to settle
the above justified demands of the Postal Employees at an early date. This Federal Council therefore
resolves and appeals all the affiliate unions and its members to be in a state
of readiness for any action decided upon by the NFPE or Postal JCA at the
appropriate time and play our due role in consolidating the unity of Postal
Employees in future also.
12. This Federal Council further resolves to
(1) organize more Circle level conventions and ensuing the functioning of
circle coordinating Committees (2) conducting state level/Divisional level
study camps (3) organizing women conventions and formations of women's sub
committees (4) formation of AIPEU GDS (NFPE) branches at divisional levels and
the casual labour unions at divisional/circle level etc. This Federal Council
calls upon the Circle/Divisional secretaries of the affiliated unions to take
the responsibility of implementing the above decisions of NFPE.
