NFPE Circlular on Recognition of Federation

Dear Comrades! The circular of NFPE on Recognition of Federation is reproduced below.
--
C.C.Pillai
Secretary General NFPE

 

Tele-23092771

National Federation of Postal Employees

1st Floor, North Avenue Post Office Building , New Delhi – 110001

 

No.PF-1 (e)/2006 Dated:  29^th May, 2007

 

CIRCULAR

1. All General Secretaries
2. All Office Bearers of NFPE and
3. All Circle / Divisional / Branch Secretaries of all affiliates of NFPE.

Recognition of Federations in the Central Government Departments

Dear Comrades,

      The Central Government has issued guidelines vide DOP&T No. 2/14/98-JCA dated 3 ^rd July 2002 for recognition of Federations . The Central Civil Services (Recognitions of Service Associations) Rules-1993 coves all Central Government Employees to whom the CCS (Conduct) Rules 1964 apply. The approval of recognition to the Federation would be accorded only with the federating unions / Associations recognized under CCS (RSA) Rules-1993. It was clarified by the DOP&T and Department of Posts that the Unions recognized under CCS (RSA) Rules-1993 are only eligible for affiliation. Unions recognized under different rules in the Department of Posts are not eligible to be federated with the Federation.

      However the, the National Federation of Postal Employees in its Federal Executive meeting held on 14 ^th August, 2002 decided to apply for Recognition of the Federation with all unions including ED Unions .The NFPE has submitted application on 22^nd August,2002. There was no response from the Govt. When queries were made in this regard it was revealed that the verification of membership results held in November, 2000 could not be announced due to the Stay Order granted by the Hon'ble Chennai High Court on a petition filed by the BPEF. The NFPE then decided to implead in the court case pending since 2000. The Hon'ble High Court of Chennai vacated the stay order on announcement of verification results during April, 2006. Accordingly The Department of Posts ordered recognitions of unions secured eligible membership on 30^th June, 2006 . All our affiliates secured status of first Unions in the Department of Posts. Thereafter the Department of Posts had asked to submit the application for recognition of Federations with recognition under CCS(RSA) Rules -1993. The NFPE had submitted application for recognition of the Federation to the Department of Posts on 26^th June, 2006 federating all unions including ED Union.

     The Department of Posts vide letter No 6-2/2002-SR ( Vol.II) dated 13^th July, 2006, after scrutiny of the application intimated that the ED Union can not be allowed to federate with the Federations as they are not regular / full time Central Govt. Employees, according to DOP&T. On receipt of this communication from the Govt. all General Secretaries including ED Union met Secretary (Posts) on 20^th July, 2006 and requested for an appropriate action for affiliation of ED Union. The NFPE also taken up with the Hon'ble Minister (C) for appropriate action at his level vide its No. PF-124/2006 dated 7^th August, 2006.

      Recognition of Federation was one of the items in the Charter of Demands, for which indefinite strike notice was served to the Department w.e.f. 24^th April, 2007 . The Department of Posts communicated the NFPE the item wise position of the strike charter vide letter No 8-1/ 2007(SR) Pt. of dated 22-2-07 in which it was stated that on the initiative of the ED Union Shri Gurudas Dasgupta, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) wrote to the DOP&T for affiliation of unions representing Gramin Dak Sewaks with the Federation which is not in line with the policy of the Government.

      The DOP&T vide No. 2/5/2006-JCA dated 19^th April, 2007 ordered that All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union included as one of the affiliates of the Federation by the NFPE is not eligible for affiliation and the same will not be treated as Federated with the NFPE. The proposal of the Federation to federate All India Postal Accts. Employees Association has been approved. The DOP&T and the Dept. of Posts vide DG (Posts) No. 6-2/2002-SR(V0l-II) Dated 24-4-07 has asked the Federation to modify the constitutional provisions of NFPE as per the observations made by them in their letters referred above. The NFPE had replied to the Dept. of Posts for granting recognition of Federation with all relevant documents required to be submitted to the Department from the Unions recognized under CCS (RSA) Rules-1993.

      All Unions are of the firm view to obtain recognition to the Federation. Accordingly Federal Secretariat meeting was held on 30^th April 2007 . Available office bearers and General Secretaries were present in the meeting. Com. S.S. Mahadevaiah GS, ED union demanded not to seek recognition to NFPE without ED union. All other leaders present expressed their desire to get the recognition first and then continue effects for inclusion of GDS in the Federation. The Secretary General has conveyed in the meeting that the NFPE will continue its effects as before for settlement of their legitimate demands and they will remain as part of the postal fraternity. The NFPE only had all along struggled for the cause of GDS and will continue to be an umbrella organisation for safeguarding the interest of entirety of Postal Workers including GDS. 

      The NFPE has neither eliminated nor expelled E.D. Union from the Federation at any point of time. Despite our best efforts we could not concede the demand for affiliation of ED Union due to the existing Policy, rules and instructions of the Govt. on recognition of Unions and Federations in the Central Govt. departments including Dept. of Posts. However, we will continue our sincere and serious efforts for inclusion of GDS Union under the banner of NFPE.

      Federations in the Dept. of Posts were unrecognized since 1995. Negotiating forums at all levels were not available till now. JCA Regional Councils, Departmental Council, National Council, Periodical Meetings etc are totally paralyzed. We managed with limited facilities all these years. Recognition of the Federation will only strengthen the movement further. It will also facilitate improvement in the long pending burning issues of GDS employees. False propaganda unleashed by ED union CHQ and same vested interests against seeking recognition of the Federation is not in the interest of the Postal Workers including GDS.

      In view of the details dwelt in the above paras we call up on all Circle/ Division/ Branch Secretaries to hold General body meetings and explain the reality and unify the entirely of Postal Employees to resist the onslaughts and achieve the legitimate demands of postal workers.

      All officials elected in the Federal Council session held during November 2004 at Thiruvananthapuram [Kerala] as office bearers, and subsequently retired from service, and GDS officials elected as office bearers will cease to be office bearers of the Federation on recognition of National Federation of Postal Employees.

     All General Secretaries and Circle Secretaries are requested to circulate this circular to all Divisions and Branch Unions and direct them to hold general body meetings and report the whole developments to all postal workers.

     Let us unite and march ahead.

       With fraternal greetings.

                                          Yours Comradely,

(C.C. Pillai)

       Secretary General