IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS AT HEADQUARTERS

ALL INDIA COVENTION ON 29.11.2008 AT GUNTUR AS NOTIFIED EARLIER - NO CHANGE - ALL CIRCLE SECRETARIES AND CHQ OFFICE BEARERS ARE INVITED TO ATTEND WITHOUT FAIL BY NFPE.

 

 

 

NFPE WILL SUBMIT ITS NOTE FOR MODIFICATION OF GDS COMMITTEE REPORT TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS SHORTLY.

 

NFPE SECRETARY GENERAL AND ALL GENERAL SECRETARIES OF AFFILIATED UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS ATTENDED THE MEETING TAKEN BY HONOURABLE MINISTER OF STATE FOR COMMUNICATIONS & IT.

 

DRAFT NOTE PREPARED BY NFPE ON CHARGE HAND OF MMS HIGHER PAY SCALES FOR DISCUSSION IN THE FAST TRACK COMMITTEE IS EXHIBITED FOR STUDY AND SUGGESTIONS BY CIRCLES.

 

NFPE ALL INDIA CONVENTION OF CIRCLE SECRETARIES AND CHQ OFFICE BEARERS AT GUNTUR ON 29.11.2008 AS SCHEDULED.

 

Dear Comrades!

 

NFPE SEEKS MODIFICATIONS OF GDS COMMITTEE:

 

NFPE has prepared its Note seeking modifications in the Nataraja Murthi Committee and the same will be submitted on Monday to the Secretary Department of Posts. NFPE is requesting for a discussion with the Staff Side before taking final decisions on the GDS Committee. After careful consideration of the Nataraja Murthi Committee Report in comparison with the Justice Talwar Committee Report and all other relevant developments including the Supreme Court Judgment on Statutory Gratuity, NFPE has come to the conclusion that seeking modifications is the best approach. There are some recommendations that try to negate all the achievements and improvements made by the NFPTE and NFPE during the past. The Federal Secretariat has decided that we should seek modifications to protect our existing benefits and to improve while reserving our right to the demands of Status and Statutory Pension for GDS. The Federal Secretariat also had decided that we should explore the possibilities of joint struggle on a common charter of demands of regular and GDS including industrial action if the common as well as the issues of GDS Committee are not settled. Accordingly we are submitting our Note seeking the modifications. The Note of NFPE will be exhibited in our website shortly.

 

MEETING ON PROJECT ARROW BY THE HONOURABLE MOSC & IT:

 

On 11.11.2008 a meeting was taken by the Honourable Minister of State for Communications & IT Shri.Jyotiradiya M.Scindia. The meeting was held in the Electronic Niketan, CGO Complex, New Delhi. The Secretary Department of Posts, the DDG [Planning] and the Director SR.

 

NFPE Secretary General and the General Secretaries of P3, P4, R3, R4, Admn and GDS attended in addition to FNPO and other recognised associations.

 

The Honourable Minster sought the cooperation of the staff side for Project Arrow launched by the Department of Posts. He assured that his total concentration for the development of Postal Department.

Since the meeting was only for half an hour, no detailed discussion could take place. However NFPE has in writing presented the view points of our federation. NFPE welcomed the initiative for improving the service to public and assured cooperation for such projects aimed at the welfare of the public. The letter pin pointed 5 important issues of employees relating to the Project Arrow viz., the transparency in launching such projects; the attack on Postmen and delivery system; the exemption from Screening Committee for keeping full compliment of staff strength; the need for training time to learn new technology and factors of Demotivation. The letter of NFPE is reproduced at the end of this write up.

 

 NFPE  NOTE ON CHARGE HAND TO FAST TRACK COMMITTEE:

 

NFPE took up with the Department of Posts requsting the issue of higher pay scale of Charge Hand to be remitted to the Fast Track Committee constituted by the Government along with the Master Craftsmen of Railways and Defence. Accordingly the issue had been referred to the Fast Track Committee. The issue is likely to be discussed shortly at the level of the Fast Track Committee in which Confederation leaders who are members of the Standing Committee National Council JCM will take up this issue. The Note prepared by NFPE is placed at the end of this write up for the consumption of Circle Secretaries and others. Comrades are requested to study and send their opinions if any immediately.

 

ALL INDIA NFPE CONVENTION OF CIRCLE SECRETARIES AND CHQ OFFICE BEARERS:

 

As notified in the NFPE Circular dated 31.10.2008, the National Convention of NFPE consisting of all Circle Secretaries of NFPE unions / associations and the CHQ / NFPE Office Bearers will be held in Guntur, Andhra.

 

The venue is the Nagarjuna University Campus. It is 15 KMs away from Vijayawada, in the National Highway between Vijayawada and Guntur. Reception Committee Comrades will guide all comrades from Vijayawada Railway Junction RMS.

 

The Convention is on 29^th November 2008 one-day only. All are once again informed that the dates printed in Postal Crusader are wrong and to suit the convenience of all the date has been preponed to 29.11.2008.

 

NFPE had discussions with the FNPO and Confederation. NFPE had discussion with the GDS General Secretary also. Our opinion is that before the notification of general elections, the issues related to Pay Commission and GDS Committee should be seriously negotiated and settled. NFPE Convention shall finalise the future programme of action including industrial action. NFPE has taken all efforts for a united action and consulting Postal JCA and Confederation.

 

GUNTUR ALL INDIA CONVENTION SHALL PLAN OUR FUTURE STRATEGY.

 

We are reproducing the NOTE ON CHARGE HAND FOR FAST TRACK COMMITTEE and the LETTER ON PROJECT ARROW SUBMITTED TO HONOURABLE MOSC & IT hereunder for the consumption of our comrades at all levels:

 

NOTE ON MASTER CRAFTSMAN IN MMS UNDER DEPARTMENT OF POSTS FOR DISCUSSION IN THE FAST TRACK COMMITTEE

 

The hierarchical structure of Mail Motor Service work shop cadres is as follows:

 

1. Artisan Grade III. [3050-4590]
2. Artisan Grade II : [4000-6000]
3. Artisan Grade I  : [4000-6000] *
4. Charge Hand    : [4500-7000]
5. Technical Supervisor: [5000-8000]

 

[* Note: This anomaly is due to merger of 1200-1800; 1320-2040 scales by V CPC]

 

The 6^th CPC recommended as follows in Para 7.6.8 under Department of Posts:

 

" Restructuring of the category of Artisans in Mail Motor Service has been demanded. It is observed that Technical Supervisors are diploma holders in automobiles and are in the pay scale of Rs.4500-7000. Their entry post of Artisan Grade II is in the pay scale of Rs.4000-6000 which is identical to that of Artisan Grade I even though the latter is a feeder post for promotion to the former. Technical Supervisors being diploma holders need to be extended the higher scale of Rs.5000-8000. On account of restructuring of pay structure, the post will be placed in the revised pay scale of Rs.6500-10500. Artisan Grade I will then be upgraded to the pay scale of Rs.4500-7000 corresponding to the revised pay band PB-1 of Rs.4860-20200 along with grade pay of Rs.2800. This revised structure will remove all the present problems in the hierarchical structure. The post of Charge Hand that is presently in the pay scale of Rs.4500-7000 shall be merged with that of Artisan Grade I in the same pay scale corresponding to revised pay band PB-1 of Rs.4860-20200 along with grade pay of Rs.2800."

 

The above recommendation has sorted out the anomaly in existence since V CPC viz., both the feeder cadre Artisan Grade II and its promotional cadre Artisan Grade I in the same pay scale of 4000-6000 due to the merger of IV CPC scales of 1200-1800 and 1320-2040. This anomaly was brought before the VI CPC by the Staff Side and the recommendation of the 6^th CPC solves this anomaly. But while doing so, another anomaly has been created by merging the Artisan Grade I with its promotional cadre the Charge hand, which is the master craftsman cadre in Department of Posts. Now the feeder cadre Artisan Grade I as well as its promotional cadre the Charge Hand are placed in the same pay band of 5200-20200 with grade pay 2800. Thus the existing hierarchical structure stands distorted and the status of a master craftsman cadre lowered. The 6^th CPC revised pay structure is as follows:

 

1. Artisan Grade III : [5200-20200 + Grade Pay 1900]
2. Artisan Grade II :  [5200-20200 + Grade Pay 2400]
3. Artisan Grade I  :  [5200-20200 + Grade Pay 2800]
4. Charge Hand     :  [5200-20200 + Grade Pay 2800] *
5. Technical Supervisor: [9300-34800 + Grade Pay 4200]

 

[* Note: The merger of Artisan Grade I with the Charge Hand caused this anomaly]

 

SITUATION IN RAILWAYS AND DEFENCE:

 

The Technical Supervisors and Chargeman Grade II in the Railways and Defence are in the following pay scales since III CPC:

 

3^rd CPC: 425-640

4^th CPC: 1400-2300

5^th CPC: 5000-8000.

6^th CPC: PB-2 with Grade Pay 4200.

 

The Master Craftsman cadre in Railways and Defence are in the following pay scales:

 

3^rd CPC: 425-640

4^th CPC: 1400-2300

5^th CPC: 4500-7000

 

* In Railways the above pay scale was modified with w.e.f. 1.1.1996 as 5000-8000. However In Defence the scale continued as 4500-7000.

 

In the Department of Posts the Charge Hand were given the following pay scales wherein except the 3^rd CPC the scales recommended identical by 4^th and 5^th CPCs:

 

3^rd CPC: 330-480

4^th CPC: 1400-2300

5^th CPC: 4500-7000

 

It can be seen that this Charge Hand was granted with lower scale of pay than his counterpart in Railways and Defence by 3^rd CPC but the anomaly was set right by the 4^th CPC which had granted an identical pay scale of 1400-2300 as like Railways and Defence. The 5^th Central Pay Commissions also maintained this parity on par with the Railways and the Defence by granting 4500-7000 pay scales. Even though the Railways modified it to the higher scale of 5000-8000 through fast tract committee, the Defence so far remained identical with Postal Master Craftsman. Now the Defence as well as the Railways have claimed higher pay scale for their Master Craftsman and the issue is once again going to the Fast Track Committee set up by the Government. Therefore  we request that the Master Craftsman of MMS in Department of Posts also should be granted with the identical higher scale of pay.

 

MERGER OF SCALES CAUSING REPEATED PROBLEMS:

 

Master Craftsman cadre in MMS of Department of Posts is the Charge Hand. As like Railways and Defence this cadre was given identical scales by 4^th and 5^th CPC. But the 5^th CPC recommendations caused another problem to the hierarchical structure. Because of 5th CPC's recommendation of merger of 1200-1800; 1200-2040 and 1320-2040 scales  both the Artisan Grade II and Artisan Grade I were placed in the same scale of pay of 4000-6000. The Charge Hand which is the promotional post for Artisan was also placed only in 4500-7000 unlike the Railways where 5000-8000 was implemented from 1.1.96.

 

Now the VI CPC has while granting 4500-7000 pre-revised scale to Artisan Grade I, has merged the Artisan Grade I with the Master Craftsman Cadre of Charge Hand despite the fact that the latter is the promotional cadre for the former. Both the feeder and promotional cadres are placed in the same PB-1 with Grade pay 2800.

 

MASTER CRAFTSMAN JOB PROFILE  JUSTIFYING HIGHER SCALE

 

Actually the Charge Hand which is the Master Craftsman cadre should have been placed identically with the Technical Supervisor / Charge man Grade II in PB-2 with Grade Pay 4200. This was the recommendation by 3^rd and 4^th CPCs. Though the 5^th CPC altered the situation, the Railways could modify the recommendations by once again establishing parity between the Master Craftsman and Technical Supervisors. The Defence demanded and not settled so far but there some percentage improvement was made in the strength of Master Craftsman in Defence.

 

The Charge Hand cadre therefore should have been placed identical with the Technical Supervisors instead of Artisan Grade I for the following reasons:

 

1. Artisan Grade I cadre looks after individual crafts like Mechanical or Electrical or Carpentry or Painting etc since their appointment as Artisan Grade III. From their appointment as Grade III Artisans to both of their next promotion as Grade II and then Grade I Artisans they perform their stream of craft only.

 

2. But the Charge Hand which is the promotional cadre for Artisan grade I practically supervises all the other Artisans Grade I, II and III. There is no Charge Hand separately for different crafts like Mechanical, Electrical, Painting, Carpentry etc. The Charge Hand is supervising the work of all the above craftsmen. Therefore the merger of Artisan Grade I with the supervisory and higher job content holder 'Charge Hand' [Master Craftsman] is not correct.

 

3. The Technical Supervisor which is the further promotional supervisory post for the Charge Hand with Diploma qualifications performs identical nature of job like Charge Hand. The Charge Hands are doing the same job content and discharges same work like Technical Supervisors. No difference in job content can be seen in the work of both Technical Supervisors and Charge Hand.

 

4. Therefore the Master Craftsman of Mail Motor Service under Department of Posts 'Charge Hand' shall be granted the pay band of 9300-34800 with grade pay 4200 as demanded by the Railway and Defence Master Craftsman cadres.

 

5. There shall be absolute parity for the MMS Charge Hand with the same cadre of Railways and Defence departments.

 

 

NFPE LETTER TO MOSC & IT ON PROJECT ARROW

 

PF- 09/2008    Dated 11^th November 2008 

 

To

Shri. Jyotiraditya M. Scindia

Honourable Minister of State for Communications & IT

Government of India

New Delhi – 110001

 

Sub: Project Arrow – reg.

 

Sir,

 

This Federation welcomes the Project Arrow initiative by the Department of Posts at your behest. We welcome any project that is aimed at improving the postal services to common man. However, this Federation desires to bring the following observations for your kind notice in order to achieve the aims and objectives of the Project Arrow:

 

1. Transparency: It is always better to take the staff side at all levels into total confidence before launching of any major schemes or projects as commitment  from staff is derived through transparency. Giving credence to the view points of staff side at field level is the key to success. This Federation is disappointed to note that this factor is only partially recognised in places of implementation of Project Arrow. We suggest more transparency and accommodativeness.

 

2. Mail Delivery: The mail delivery has been recognised as the mainstay of our organisation and Project Arrow is supposed to lead to betterment of mail delivery performance. Stringent measurers for betterment of delivery combined with technology induction are planned to reach the above objective. It is unfortunate that stringent measurers are understood as curtailment of delivery staff and conversion of 'double postmen beat' into 'single postman beat' and irrational change of delivery time and staff attendance etc. These measures in our considered opinion are not going to improve the desired delivery performance at all. The time-tested double beat postmen system is the basic element of successful delivery performance. Changing it into single beat postman system with reduced number of postmen in the Project Arrow Post offices will only further harm the existing efficiency of delivery. Without proper scheduling of mail vans and if necessary increase of mail conveyance facilities to deliver the mail bags intended for delivery at the delivery post offices in time but rescheduling of delivery time and delivery attendance unscientifically will fail to bring success to one of the basic targets of Project Arrow viz., a delighted customer leave alone a satisfied customer! We seek change of approach.

  3. Full Staff compliment: This Federation learns that instructions have been issued to keep the Project Arrow offices under full compliment of sanctioned staff 

     strength. This is a welcome decision. But since the project is being monitored from the level of the Directorate on day to day basis, the staff strength is being maintained by diversion of staff from other offices at present. The expansion of Project Arrow to thousands of other offices will render it impossible for the Divisional Heads to maintain the sanctioned strength of all the Project Arrow offices without the Postal Department is exempted from the ambit of Screening Committee and without increasing the strength of Leave Reserve staff of all cadres. It is also pertinent to be mentioned here that the non-filling up of posts including the residual vacancies in many circles from the year 2001 etc adding to the existence of above-30% shortage of staff. This situation should change for the success of projects like Project Arrow aimed at betterment of performances.

 

4. Technology: The importance of technology in the success of this project is appreciated. New services introduced by the Department of Posts should have a cushion-in-period for the staff to be imparted with the technology and new services. Introduction of new services with urgency and without time for the field staff to acquaint with the same is causing problems of efficiency and even leading to disciplinary action against innocent staff.  There shall be an experimental trial in selected offices before operationalizing it at a larger level. The field level staff are depending

 

5. Demotivation: The success of any project lies in motivating the staff in general. The instructions gone for Project Arrow had emphasised that as far possible the FTP Supervisors [Fast Track Promotion] are to be made Supervisors in the Project Arrow post offices. We can understand distinguishing Supervisors with proper aptitude to be posted in such offices of experimentation but this type of discrimination between the Supervisors of Regular Promotion and Fast Track Promotion made by the Department is causing all-round dissatisfaction amongst the majority of supervisory staff. In what way this will help the success of the project is anybody's guess. We suggest training and retraining to all without any discriminatory selections in future.

 

Thanking you Sir,

 

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE