MAINTAIN THE TEMPO AND KEEP ON PREPARING FOR THE INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 20.01.2009

   

SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS HELD DISCUSSION WITH NFPE ON 13.01.2009 ON POSTAL CHARTER OF DEMANDS

 

DISCUSSION AT GOVERMENTAL LEVEL ON COMMON CHARTER OF DEMANDS OF CG EMPLOYEES IS AWAITED

 

NATIONAL EXECUTIVE OF CONFEDERATION WILL MEET ON 15.01.2009

 

NFPE FEDERAL SECRETARIAT WILL ALSO MEET ON 15.01.2009 AFTER THE CONFEDERATION MEETING

 

CONFEDERATION NATIONAL EXECUTIVE'S DECISION WILL BE FINAL ON INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 20.01.2009

 

RANK & FILE IS CALLED UPON TO CONTINUE TO CARRY FORWARD THE PREPARATIONS FOR INDEFINITE STRIKE WITHOUT ANY LET UP

 

MEETING TAKEN BY THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS WITH THE SECRETARY GENERAL NFPE AND GENERAL SECRETARIES OF RECOGNIZED SERVICE ASSOCIATIONS AFFILIATED TO NFPE ON 13.01.2009 IN THE COMMITTEE ROOM, DAK BHAVAN, NEW DELHI.

 

AT 15.00 Hrs on 13.01.2009, the Secretary Department of Posts took a meeting with the Secretary General NFPE and all General Secretaries of affiliated Unions / Associations of NFPE in the Committee Room, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi on our Charter of Demands submitted by us on 10.12.2008 [which were reproduced along with the Strike Notice on 2.1.2009 also].  

 

From the Official Side the Postal Board Members, Member [P] and Member [D] and DDG [Estt]; DDG [P]; Director [SPN]; and Director [SR] were present.

 

The Main Charter of Demands submitted by us was completely discussed. The following is the actual position and outcome of the discussion but we have to wait for the official minutes for confirmation. We pointed out that no minutes were supplied to us for the official meeting held by the Member [P] on 16.09.2008 on pay commission related issues including formation of anomaly committee. We also pointed out that appointments to meet informally the Secretary [P] and Members of Postal Board is not quickly forthcoming to the Secretary General and General Secretaries and that there should be preference in meeting us informally. The Official Side agreed to issue minutes to that meeting. The informal meetings would be given on prior appointment. Thereupon the following issues were discussed with the following results:

 

1. GDS Committee: The abnormal delay in submission of report by the Senior Officers Committee headed by Shri. P.K.Gopinath Chief Postmaster General Delhi Circle was pointed out by us and our fear was also expressed that this type of undue delay would cause serious problems in implementation of the Report with the modifications sought by us if the Election Commission announced elections in February. Secretary [P] conceded that there has been some delay on the part of the Gopinath Committee and instructed that the Report should be submitted to the Department by the Senior Officers Committee without further delay. The Secretary [P] also assured us that well before the Election Commission announcement the implementation would be ensured and by the end of January the issues would be sent to Cabinet. We have reminded that the department has assured to provide us adequate opportunity for placing our view points before sending the proposals to the Cabinet approval.  

 

2. Refixation of wages of Paid Substitutes / RRR/ Casual / Contingent etc: The issue is being referred to DOPT on the advice of Internal Finance. However the refixation will be made on the basis of the revised Basic Pay + Dearness Allowance without including the HRA & other allowances. We pointed out that as per the Honourable High Court of Madras the allowances also should be taken into account for computation of daily wages for these sections and that from 1.1.2006 the arrears also should be paid. While the date of effect from 1.1.2006 was not disputed, the computation of daily wages by including the Allowances like HRA etc the Official Side did not agree. It was pointed out by the Official Side that as per the observation of the Madras High Court the basic order of the Main Finance is being revised by the Government in this matter. We anyway urged for early orders.

 

3. Screening Committee: The Secretary [P] stated that a meeting of the Committee headed by DOPT Secretary is convened on 21.01.2009 and that this exemption for Postal Department would be obtained on that day. All vacant posts in all cadres would be thereupon cleared for filling up.

 

4. Holding Periodical / JCM Departmental Council Meetings: It has been agreed to hold both the Periodical Meeting with Federation and affiliated Unions / Associations and the meeting of Departmental Council JCM as per the schedule.

 

5. April 2007 Strike Settlement: An Action Taken Report on the April 2007 Strike Settlement has been supplied by the Administration. The non filling up of HSG-I/HSG-II/LSG posts and non grant of notional promotions and non filling up of residual vacancies as agreed upon were pointed out. Secretary [P] directed the DDG Estt to pass instructions on filling up of residual vacancies. Other issues of settlement not implemented also pointed out. It is stated that after studying the Action Taken Statement, the Staff Side can have further discussions with the Directorate on those issues. It was agreed to issue revised syllabus for LGO Examination by modifying the existing recruitment rules.

 

6. Sectional Charter of Demands submitted on 15.02.2008: An Action Taken Report on all the 200+ issues has been supplied to us by the Directorate in the meeting. The Secretary [P] requested us to study the same and sit with various concerned DDGs for detailed further discussion. [The complete Action Taken Report will be placed in the web site shortly for the information of the members. The outcome of discussions with respective DDGs on the Sectional Charter of Demands also will be communicated after such meetings are over]

 

7. Cadre Review of all Cadres: The Secretary [P] directed the DDG [Estt] to study the Cadre Review proposals submitted by the Unions. The proposals of the Unions would be subsequently discussed with us. On our part we have placed all arguments in favour of cadre restructuring and the earlier agreement in principle with the former Secretary [P] on this matter.

 

8. Improving the ACP for implementation: It has been agreed by the Secretary [P] that on release of DOPT Orders on modified ACP Scheme a special meeting between the Official and Staff Side can be immediately held to finalise the same.

 

9. Removal of victimisation: We have pointed out the increasing number of victimising Rule 37 transfer of office bearers of unions in several circles. The recovery of huge sums ordered in lieu of over payment of Postmen pay fixation after 5^th CPC and huge recovery in the name of contributory negligence were raised by us. The Official Side agreed to reconsider the issue of recovery of over payment of Postmen pay fixation. On contributory negligence cases individual cases will be reconsidered on merit. On victimisation the Official Side maintained that those orders were issued on specific cases.

 

10. New Schemes without consultation: We pointed out the problems we face due to sudden introduction of new schemes without proper training and time for the staff. The problem faced due to sudden introduction of e-MO without sufficient infrastructure like uninterrupted internet connectivity, installation of software and its activation, training of staff in the module etc were pointed out. Similarly on new projects like Project Arrow for which the Staff Side had given its support for improving the public amenities, the amount of work pressure on Postmasters, staff and Postmen etc were pointed out. The curtailment of delivery, reduction of postmen, single beat system, change of attendance and transfer of staff etc being resorted to at many offices earmarked for Project Arrow. The ongoing struggle in Hyderabad GPO also was pointed out and discussion with the staff side before introduction of such schemes was insisted. The Official Side agreed to look with open mind about single beat system or double beat system on the basis of the concrete condition prevailing in a particular office and not on mechanical manner. Regarding Hyderabad GPO the Secretary [P] appealed for restoring normalcy of delivery work first for intervention thereafter. We appealed that the Chief PMG may be instructed for holding discussion with the Circle Unions based on the proposals of the staff side presented before the DPS HQ and till such time status-quo be maintained in delivery pattern and staff. The Secretary did not agree to issue any instructions before normalcy restored in GPO Hyderabad.

 

11. Withdrawing SLP against RRR: The Official Side did not agree for withdrawal of SLP by stating that the SLP was filed on the advice of Law Ministry etc. We presented the arguments that the action of going on SLP was unjustified. We pointed out that while the administration could take one-time measure regularisation for ad-hoc appointees in the past, why similar yardstick could not be extended to RRR candidates also. Our arguments were heard but no positive response from Official Side was forthcoming in favour of withdrawal of SLP.

 

12. Higher Pay Scale for Postmen/Mailguard: It was stated by the Official Side that orders have been since issued on this matter. We pointed out that the omission of Mailguards is delaying grant of the same to Mailguard staff in several places and requested proper instructions.  We have also pointed out that the absence of any such orders for grant of higher scale of pay to Matriculate Group D and the failure to instruct training for non-matriculate Group D so far is causing great resentment. It was assured by the Official Side that instructions would be soon issued for grant of higher pay scale to Matriculate Group D and that the required training for all non-matriculate Group D would be imparted and higher scale granted to them also before the end of February 2009.

 

13. Higher Pay Scale to Head Mail Peon: The Official Side maintained that the Head Mail Peon cadre is not on par with Postmen cadre but belong to a Group D cadre. On assigning the job of Head Mail Peon in MMS they were treated as on deputation and higher pay was granted on par with Postmen. If the deputed Group D is already on TBOP or BCR they were being given the same TBOP or BCR level of pay. The Head Mail Peon is not a separate cadre on par with Postmen / Mailguard. However on our insistence the official side agreed to further discuss the issue.

 

14. Notional Fixation to Artisan Grade I from 1.1.96: The Official Side did not agree this demand on the ground the anomaly existed in the matter of Artisan Grade I and Grade II has been sorted out by the 6^th Pay Commission. The new anomaly between the Artisan Grade I and Charge Hand caused by the recommendations of the Pay Commission is being addressed by the Department. The Staff Side can have further discussions with the DDG [Estt] on this matter.

 

15. Redistribution of LSG/HSG-II/HSG-I in Admn: The issue would be further discussed with the Staff Side by the Director [SPN].

 

16. Withdrawal of decentralisation of PLI/RPLI: The issue would be addressed with an open mind by the administration in the backdrop of new technology to be introduced and its impact on the over all situation.

 

17. Periodicity of deputationists to COs: The Official Side expressed difficulty in conceding this issue immediately. However once the exemption from Screening Committee is permitted we can revert the deputationists to their parent units since new recruitment can take place in COs.

 

18. Decentralisation of Postal Accounts: The Official Side confirmed that there are no moves to decentralise the postal accounts at present. The integration of all Accounting streams in DOP will be taken care of by introduction of future technology.

 

19. Restoration of 3 year periodicity for Sr. Accountants: The Official Side informed that this has not been approved by DOP&T. We contradicted this point and thereupon official side agreed to look into this matter. Further discussions would follow on this issue.

 

20. Regularisation of Casual Labourers: The Official Side agreed to reconsider its stand of rejecting grant of Temporary Status to Casual Labourers who completed 240 days / 206 days of work in a year in operative / administrative offices even though they were recruited before the cut off date of 29.11.1989.

 

21. Pending OTA and other Bills: The Official Side maintained that no pending claims from Circles are lying for want of funds from Directorate as per the note of the Budget Branch. We opposed this stand and pointed out the pending bills in different circles. We also requested the Secretary to help the acceptance of OTA Arbitration Award but the Official Side explained its incapacity on this matter which has to be dealt by us in the Standing Committee JCM only. We suggested that one time measure clearing of all pending bills is the only remedy to the problem. The Official Side requested for the full circle wise details of long pending bills which we have agreed to provide.

 

22.  System Administrators: The move of the Department calling for interested Technology Consultant was pointed out by the Staff Side and we asked for details of the same and also questioned as to whether any existing work of the department would be outsourced. The Official Side clarified that the technology for core banking and national networking etc are to be provided only by a specialist Consultant. The Official Side told that the Department would be moving in the direction of a separate Technology Wing in the Department of Posts with specific cadres on the basis of specified qualifications and recruitment Rules. We requested that the services of present System Administrators should be recognised and they should be absorbed in the new technology wing and the Official Side agreed to keep this in mind. The difficulties faced by the System Administrators were explained in the meeting by us and it was agreed by the Official Side that the responsibility for signing AMC for UPS with Service Providers etc is not contemplated as such task is on the Circle Offices only and that for undertaking tour for attending different offices necessary mileage allowance etc as available to other Government Staff would be instructed to be provided.

 

23. Revised duties of Postmen: We raised the issue of recent orders on revised duties of Postmen staff entrusting preparation of beat lists for registered articles, MOs and speed articles in computer and taking returns after delivery and pointed out the difficulties and other problems involved in transferring the work of PAs to Postmen in this manner. The Official Side agreed to reconsider the issue.

 

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE