STRIKE DECLARED BY
NFPE CIRCLE CO-ORDINATING COMMITTEE
on 13th July 2017
FAST IN FRONT OF CPMG OFFICE CALLED OFF
MOST INSPIRING STRUGGLE IN THE HISTORY OF CASUAL LABOURERS.
As per the decision taken by the Central Working Committee of All India Postal Casual , Partime , Contingent and Contract Workers Federation , the fast infront of Chief PMG office Chennai commenced on 27th June 2017 demanding revision of wages of Casual Labourers with effect from 01.01.2006 and 01.01.2016 as per orders issued by Postal Directorate.
Along with leaders of Casual Labour Federation , leaders of NFPE Circle Co-ordinating Committee (CCC) , Confederation State Committee also joined the programme extending full support and solidarity. The programme was organised under the leadership of NFPE CCC Tamilnadu Circle. More than 1000 casual workers participated in the struggle.
Chief PMG held two round discussions with Circle Secretaries of NFPE on 27th June. CPMG took a stand that Directorate orders are not implemented in any circle and challenged our leaders to produce copies of the orders issued by Divisions in other circles. Next day morning Circle leaders produced before the Assistant Director , copies of orders issued and implemented in many divisions of Kerala , Andhra and Telangana including Vijayawada Region where the CPMG was working as PMG prior to his promotion as CPMG Tamilnadu. Understanding that his arguments stands demolished by NFPE Circle Unions , the CPMG , instead showing the courage to face the NFPE leaders again in the discussion table , suddenly left Chennai (ran away !!) without intimating the leaders. It is learnt that he will not be available in Chennai for next four days.
NFPE COC held an emergent meeting and decided to declare one day strike on 13th July 2017 protesting against the negative stand of the Circle administration and demanding immediate wage revision of Casual Labourers. Accordingly 14 days legal notice for the strike was served on 28th June 2017. Entire employees of Tamilnadu Circle (P3 , P4 , R3 , R4 , Admin , Postal Accounts , SBCO , GDS and Casual Labourers) will go on strike for the cause of Casual Labourers declaring -- "an injury to one is an injury to all" !!!.
As strike is declared , NFPE CCC decided to call off the fast in front of CPMG office and the mass fast ended at 5 PM on 28th June with thundering slogans.
The Fast was inaugurated by Com M.Durai Pandian , General Secretary , Confederation Tamilnadu state. Com: T.K.Rangarajan , MP (CPIM) and Shri R.S.Bharati , MP (DMK) addressed the programme. National leaders of Casual Labour Federation Coms: M.Krishnan (President) Y.Nagabhushanam (Working President) P.Mohan (General Secretary) D.Sivagurunathan (CHQ Treasurer) S.Balamurugan (CHQ OGS) alongwith NFPE leaders Coms: J.Ramamurthy (CHQ President P3 & CS P3 ) B.Paranthaman (President CCC NFPE) G.Kannan (Convenor CCC NFPE) Angel Sathyanathan (Chairman , Women's Committee) participated in the fast. Com A.G.Pasupathy , veteran leader of P&T Trade Union movement (86 years) participated on two days. Coms: K.Raghavendran (Ex-SG NFPE & GS AIPRPA) K.V.Sreedharan (Ex-GS P3) K.Regupathy ( Asst SG NFPE) A.Veeramani (AGS P3 CHQ) R.B.Suresh (CS AIPAEA) K.R.Ganesan (Circle President R3 ) Dhananjay (CS AIPEU -GDS) Santhoshkumar (President , AIPAEA CHQ) attended and addressed the gathering. Shri D.Theagarajan (SG FNPO) and Shri Kumar (FNPO & Chairman PJCA) Leaders of AIRF, DREU and Confederation affiliates also addressed.
The inspiring struggle of the most down trodden, marginalised and poor casual labourers of Tamilnadu will be written in red letters in the history of the struggles of Postal employees.
Red Salute to the NFPE / Confederation/ Casual Labour leaders and members who made it a historic struggle.
M.Krishnan R.N.Parashar
President Secretary General
Casual Labour Federation. NFPE