HIGHLIGHTS FROM HEADQUARTERS

SECRETARY GENERAL BACK FROM JAKARTA [INDONESIA] UNI APRO TWO DAYS CONFERENCE

 

GDS CABINET NOTE GONE FROM DEPARTMENT OF POSTS - AFTER FORMALITY BETWEEN NODAL MINISTRIES APPROVAL BY CABINET IS

 

PA/SA INDUCTION TRAINING ORDERED FROM 16.08.2009 AND 24.08.2009

 

ACP - OFFICIAL SIDE INTERNAL DISCUSSION OVER AND FILE IS EXPECTED TO GO TO JS&FA SHORTLY FOR APPROVAL

 

 

Dear Comrades!

 

I was out of India to attend an International Conference organised by the TUI Apro [Trade Union International – Asia Pacific Regional Organisation] on analysing country wide report of Post and Logistics services and also about analysing the conditions in CEPL Industry that covers our business competitors and business rivals like DHL etc. The Conference was held in Jakarta [Indonesia] on 28^th and 29^th July 2009.

 

The International Conference was attended by leaders of UNI and also representatives from different countries like Switzerland, Japan, New Zealand, Korea, India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Nepal, Srilanka, Thailand and Bangladesh. The India was represented by the Secretary General NFPE and Secretary General FNPO.

 

The Conference exposed the real face of Multinational Courier and Logistics players in general and the DHL in particular. Except in very few countries in the world like New Zealand etc there are no unions available for the employees of DHL and all other CEPL players. In fact the DHL do not permit any of its employee attempts to form any union and those who try to form were sacked from employment by different means including offering retirement benefits. Employees who are doubted of showing trends to form union are watched by agents and all are threatened not to speak with any outsiders who try to form unions. The policy is that No third party will be permitted between the management and their employees.

 

The Conference helped us to understand that our competitor and rival is one of the private post and logistics players among many who demand no monopoly of letters to Postal Departments and level playing field should be provided to them without any restrictive favours to Postal Departments like India Post etc are on the other hand not recognising the basic trade union rights of their own employees.

 

We have presented the country report of India and the situation prevailing about India Post and our problems also.

 

SOME HIGHLIGHTS FROM HEADQUARTERS

 

1. GDS: Cabinet Note on GDS Committee implementation has gone from the Department of Posts and the process between the other Ministries and Finance Ministry etc are hectically going on. It is expected that any time the Union Cabinet may take a decision and announce the details of implementation of GDS Committee Report.

 

2. PA/SA Induction Training: Today we met Officers in the Postal Directorate as a follow up to our discussion with the DDG Training about the PA/SA Induction Training in lieu of the cancelled training class at Darbhanga. It is confirmed that for 191 candidates from different Circles including all from West Bengal and Orissa but except Bihar and Assam, the Induction Training for PA cadre will be held at the PTC Vadodara [Gujarat] from 17.08.2009. Similarly for all candidates of SA Induction Training, the training has been fixed at the PTC Saharanpur from 24.08.2009. For the Candidates of Bihar and Assam, the DDG Training will take a decision soon in consultation with different PTCs. NFPE and All India Unions are pursuing the matter for fixing the training for the remaining candidates also.

 

3.  ACP: The Orders on Modified ACP is getting final touches. Discussion between officers with DDG [Estt] has been over and shortly the ACP file is likely to be placed for the concurrence of JS&FA. Only after approval from JS&FA the Orders will be issued. NFPE has communicated the concern of the employees and requested to expedite the issue of orders.

 

4. Absorption of JAO Qualified: The developments about the discussion the NFPE delegation had with the Secretary [P] and Member [P] has already been communicated by us in the website. On my return to India, immediately a NFPE delegation try to meet the Member [P] to find out the situation but could not do so today as the Member [P] is on leave and is expected only on Monday. NFPE Delegation will meet Member [P] on Monday. Meanwhile the Postal Accounts Officers Association has written a letter to DOT opposing one-time absorption and demanding implementation of merger of DOP-DOT as decided already at the level of the Ministry or else legal action will be taken against the move of DOT. One section strong feel that absorption without merger is not beneficial. The JAO Qualified Officials may discuss the whole matter amongst them and give their considered opinion.

 5.Postmen Uniforms : The Staff Side had demanded reversion of Postmen Uniform from blue to khaki once again. The issue was under consideration of the department. Now before taking a final decision on this matter, an official meeting has been convened by the department on 3.8.2009. In addition to place our final opinion on the colour of the uniform, the department is asking us about the acceptability of supply of fully-stitched uniform instead of cloth. Based on our experience in the past, we have decided to insist for the supply of cloth only instead of stitched uniforms. The outcome of the 3^rd August discussion would be reported through our websites.

 

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE

NEWS FLASH FROM HEADQUARTERS

 INFORMAL MEETING WITH SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS HELD - 24/07/2009

 

NFPE DELEGATION CONSISTING OF SECRETARY GENERAL AND GENERAL SECRETARIES P4 – R3 - R4 MET THE SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS FOR AN INFORMAL DISCUSSION ON 24.07.2009 AFTERNOON – MEMBER [P] ALSO WAS PRESENT IN THE MEETING.

 

THE ISSUES ON WHICH INFORMAL DISCUSSION TOOK PLACE ARE REPRODUCED BELOW ALONG WITH THE OUTCOME OF THE MEETING.

 

 

1. RECRUITMENT TO MULTI SKILLED EMPLOYEE CADRE

 

Secretary [P] held that the Posts of erstwhile Group D upgraded into Group 'C' Posts are not cleared by the Screening Committee for absorption for the three years ADR vacancies. However these Multi Skilled Employees posts will be filled up in future as we are free to fill up all posts arising from 1.4.2009 because of winding up of the Screening Committee. We have insisted that since GDS are absorbed in the Group C vacancies of Postmen, this MSE Cadre also shall continue to be filled up in the same manner.

 

2. KEEPING THE DOT MOVE FOR ONE TIME ABSORPTION OF JAO / AAO IN ABEYANCE AND RESOLVING THE ISSUE THROUGH MINISTRY.

 

We stated that the issue of cadre control etc shall be settled amicably between two departments through Ministry but the promotional opportunity of large number of Postal JAO Qualified Officials should not be adversely affected. The position of the department is that the circular calling for one time absorption by the DOT would be circulated by the Department of Posts amongst all our officials immediately and the volunteers from our Department want to get absorption would be permitted to do so. Since we can fill up the future vacancies from 1.4.2009 due to winding up of the Screening Committee, the Department will have no problem in allowing the JAO Qualified Officials to get absorption in DOT.

 

3. RE-VERIFICATION OF STATISTICS OF RMS 'P' DIVISION AND KEEPING IN ABEYANCE OF MERGER MOVE WITH RMS 'PT' DIVISION

                           

We have urged for recalculations of the statistics before taking a decision as there are clear justification for the continued existence of RMS 'P' Division. The Secretary [P] would discuss the issue with the Chief Postmaster General Bihar Circle on this issue.   

 

4. 'POSB' – CHOICE BE INCLUDED FOR PAY DISBURSEMENT

 

We insisted for including the choice of POSB also for Pay Disbursement. The absence of core banking was cited by the Secretary [P] and suggested that the officials can switch over to POSB later when we go for core banking in future. But we placed all our arguments in favour of POSB and requested to delay the process of direct credit or cheque system until our own POSB is developed. We also requested to give option for POSB now itself for our officials. The Secretary [P] assured to take a final decision on this matter after holding a discussion with the DDG [PAF] soon.

 

5. CADRE RESTRUCTURING – DISCUSSION WITH STAFF SIDE BE INITIATED – POSTMASTER CADRE CREATION BE LINKED WITH IT

 

Some discussions took place about the need for cadre restructuring in Department of Posts and Modified ACP would not be sufficient in the absence of adequate promotional avenues. Member [P] assured go into the proposals submitted by us on cadre restructuring.

 

6. DDG LEVEL MEETINGS BE FIXED AS PER THE DECISION OF 13.01.2009 MEETING TAKEN BY THE SECRETARY [P] FOLLOWED BY PERIODICAL MEETING

           

Member [P] assured to discuss with the concerned DDGs to speed up those meetings on Action Taken Reports shortly. Holding of Periodical Meeting by Secretary [P] after that also was insisted by us.

 

7. SUSPENDED POSTMAN TO BE REINSTATED IN PROJECT ARROW OFFICE

 

We requested intervention for reinstatement of suspended Postman in Patel Nagar Post office New Delhi who was suspended for non-delivery of some speed post articles. After some more verification of the situation that led to the suspension, we have to revert back to Member [P] on this issue.

 

8. ON ADVICE FROM SECRETARY [P] ON 13.01.2009 ALL POSTMEN CANCELLED LEAVE AND JOINED DUTY IN HYDERABAD GPO – DIES NON BE REMOVED [ 5 DAYS]

 

This issue is to be discussed at the level of the Chief Postmaster General Andhra since the Chief PMG is competent to take suitable decisions.

 

9. PRO RATA FORMULA FOR GDS BPM AND MAIL DELIVERER TO BE MAINTAINED – AND ON PENSION NATARAJA MURTI COMMITTEE DECISION BE ACCEPTED

 

The issue of Social Security for GDS would receive the consideration of the Department separately. Discussion about the dilution of prorata wages was held in detail and we placed that the historical parity with the scales of pay of Postmen and Mail Overseer are diluted this time. The Secretary [P] assured to look into this issue and if there is any omission on this matter the same would be taken up by the Department for redressal.

 

10. UNDUE DELAY IN FIXATION OF PAID SUBSTITUTES / PART TIME CONTINGENT WAGES

 

There was some discussion about the issue and finally the Secretary [P] said that this matter will be looked into.

 

            We discussed some other issues like outsourcing of mail conveyance to private vehicles resorted to in Bangalore and Assam but could not make any progress. The issue is being looked into on 'profit – loss basis' by the official side.

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE

HEADQUARTERS NEWS FLASH

CABINET MEMO ON PROPOSALS CLEARED BY MOF ON GDS COMMITTEE IS GEETTING READY IN DIRECTORATE – EXPECTED TO GO TO CABINET SOON

 

ACP ORDERS STILL UNDER PREPARATION – IT MAY TAKE SOME MORE TIME FOR FINALISATION AS PER OUR SOURCE OF INFORMATION

 

ALTERNATE ARRANGEMENTS FOR PA/SA INDUCTION TRAINING FOR LGO CANDIDATES SOON IN PLACE OF CANCELLED TRAINING AT DARBANGA PTC – DDG [Training] INFORMED NFPE – LETTER GIVEN BY NFPE IS REPRODUCED BELOW

 

DDG Training INFORMED THAT OLD SYLLABUS WILL CONTINUE FOR LGO EXAMINATION FOR SOME MORE TIME - ALL DEPARTMENTAL VOLUMES [IN ADDITION TO ALREADY UPLOADED VOLUMES] NECESSARY FOR LGO EXAMINATION WILL BE ATTEMPTED TO BE UPLOADED IN THE DEPARTMET OFFICIAL WEBSITE - 

 

NFPE HAS SOUGHT INTERVIEW WITH THE SECRETARY [P] – HAS GIVEN LETTER TO SECRETARY [P] & MEMBER [FINANCE] ON ABSORPTION OF JAOs  - LETTERS FURNISHED BELOW - A DETAILED LETTER ON THIS ISSUE IS UNDER PREPARATION SEEKING INTERVENTION OF HONOURABLE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS ALSO

 

ADR VACANCIES OF 2006, 2007, AND 2008 DO NOT CONTAIN EVEN A SINGLE VACANCY OF GROUP D [MULTI SKILLED EMPLOYEE] – NFPE HAS GIVEN LETTERS TO CONTINUE RECRUITMENT OF 'MSE' [Multi Skilled Employee] FROM GDS AND TEMPORARY STATUS CASUAL LABOURERS

 

COMMITTEE HEADED BY PMG KURNOOL PROPOSED TOTAL MERGER OF SROs WITH POST OFFICES – NFPE PROTESTED AND LETTER GIVEN TO SECRETARY IS REPRODUCED BELOW

 

 

LETTER ON CANCELLATION OF DARBANGA PA/SA INDUCTION TRAINING:

 

PF-67-3/2009                                                                          Dated 22^nd July 2009

 

To         

 

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

                                          

Sub: Cancellation of PA/SA Training Class in Darbanga Postal Training Centre – Alternative Training Class – reg.

 

Madam,

 

This Federation is constrained to bring the matter of cancellation of training class for PA/SA Promotees in the Postal Training Centre of Darbanga and request for alternative local training class to facilitate the disappointed LGO Promotees undergo the training and get absorbed in the promoted cadre.

 

We are informed that a training class was ordered and lot of candidates from different circles have been deputed to the above training also. But on reaching the Darbanga PTC they were all shocked with the information that the intended training has been cancelled and hence all should return to their original LGO Posts. All the Candidates who have come with lot of hope and ambitions were subjected to mental agony and shock. This Federation expresses its strong protests over the cancellation of training class after the trainees have reached the PTC. Besides the mental agony of all such Candidates, huge financial loss also has been incurred by the Department. We demand suitable action against the Officer responsible for the above thuglak-like decisions.

 

We are also learning that the above cancellation of training class had been done in the name of priority to Project Arrow related training. We maintain that Project Arrow cannot sustain without adequate hands and as long as shortage of staff plaguing us the Project cannot succeed. Therefore while the training for Project Arrow related matters are important, the training for PA/SA Cadre for the LGO Promotees is not less important.

 

This Federation therefore urges upon you to kindly consider the matter in urgency and cause to issue suitable orders for holding the PA/SA Training Classes locally in all Circles in different places in order to facilitate all the Promotees undergo the training immediately and join in the PA/SA Promoted cadre. Your favourable action would go a long a way to enthuse all the Promotees to serve better to our Service.

 

A line in reply into the nature of action taken would receive our maximum appreciation.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

LETTER ON JAO ABSORPTION TO SECRETARY AND MEMBER FINANCE IN DOT:

PF-64/2009                                                                       Dated 22^nd July 2009

 

To

        

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

        

Sub: Filing up the posts of JAOs / AAOs in the Department of Telecommunications on one time measure – reg.

                                                    

Madam,

 

This Federation would wish to draw your kind attention to the recent circular of the Department of Telecommunications calling for one time absorption in the cadre of JAOs from eligible officials working in all Government Departments and would like to place the following for your kind reconsideration:

 

1. There are quite a number of JAO vacancies to be filled up in the Department of Telecommunications and promotional opportunities as AAOs etc are also in the offing. The opening of the absorption to JAO qualified hands from all departments would finish once for all the absorption and promotional opportunities of all our JAO Qualified hands in the Department of Posts.
2. It appears that this measure of DOT appears to be an action provoked by the recent stand of the Department of Posts for not going ahead with the decision of the Inter-Departmental Committee headed by Late Shri.Raghavlal Chief PMG Delhi Circle and the subsequent approval by the Ministry through Honourale Minister of State for Communications that translated into a Presidential Order. The career prospects of our more than 500 employees is put into jeopardy by this and the general feeling spreading amongst employees is that as to whether the same attitude would have been exhibited if the issue is one of Group A Officers and their promotional prospects?
3. it is further pointed out that even now the Group A posts viz., JTS and STS of Accounts cadre are manned in the ratio of 1:1. Once the present man power strength of 11 Group B officers belonging to DOT get promoted to Group A cadre, then the entire cadre up to JTS and STS shall be exclusively manned by Postal Officials only. If the merger of Accounts Cadres of DOP and DOT is denied for any extraneous reasons, this newly found regular promotional channel to Postal Employees would be lost for ever.

 

4. Shortage was being cited as one of the major reasons for not accepting the offer of the DOT and going ahead with the proposed merger of DOP and DOT.  But taking into account that many JAOs are already working in officiating arrangements in DOT and that the opportunity for filling up all vacant posts is opened now consequent on winding up of the Screening Committee from 1.4.2009, the Department of Posts may allow the merger of various Account Cadres and sort out the issue of cadre controlling subsequently.
5. The issue of Cadre Controlling is an inter-departmental issue between two departments of the same Ministry and that should be sorted out either by a decision of the Ministry or by the DOPT etc and the final opportunity for absorption and promotion for JAO Qualified officials of our Department should not be ignored in the name of any inter-departmental differences.
6.  This Federation requests for your personal reconsideration of the whole issue to facilitate filling up of all the vacancies in DOT by the JAO Qualified Officials of Department of Posts only as both are of the same Ministry and therefore preference shall go to the Department of Posts over other Government Departments.

 

This Federation would highly appreciate your positive intervention and a line in reply into the nature of action in this urgent and vital matter.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

PF-64/2009                                                                             Dated 22^nd July 2009

 

To

 

The Member [Finance]

Department of Telecommunications

Sanchar Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Absorption of Qualified JAO Officials of Department of Posts in DOT – reg.

Ref: DOT No.17-1/2008-SEA-II Dated 2.7.2009

 

Sir,

 

This Federation is constrained to seek your attention to the above letter of the DOT addressed to all Ministries of Government of India on the subject of permanent absorption on one time basis for the Assistant Accounts Officers and place the following for your kind consideration:

 

1. The Inter-Departmental Committee headed by the Late Shri.Raghavlal Chief Postmaster General Delhi Circle had recommended the merger of DOT-DOP and the same had been given approval of the Ministry of Communications through a decision of the Honourable Minister of State for Communications & IT. Subsequently a Presidential order also had been issued.

 

2. There are some differences on the matter of merger of DOP-DOT between two departments of Ministry of Communications which are yet to be resolved totally.

 

3. The present decision of the DOT to seek volunteers from all Departments of Government of India would act harshly against the interests of the JAO Qualified Officials who are in large number in the Department of Posts. Being the arm of the erstwhile same Department of P&T, the Officials of Postal Department should be shown preference and the move of the DOT will harm the interests of Postal JAO Qualified Officials as the move would not only jeopardise their chances of absorption but also their promotional avenues.

 

4. This Federation requests for keeping in abeyance of the above letter written to various other departments and to continue sorting out the hitch through the intervention of the Ministry of Communications.

 

This Federation also requests that a difference in approach on a single issue in the management of two departments of the same Ministry should not affect adversely the interests of hundreds of JAO Qualified Officials of Department of Posts and therefore all efforts may continue to be taken at your level for reaching an amicable understanding between our two departments at an early date.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

LETTER ON RECRUITMENT TO GROUP D POSTS:

 

PF-17/2009 Dated 22^nd July 2009

 

To

 

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

Sub:  Recruitment in the cadre of erstwhile Group D upgraded as Multi Skilled Employee in the Department of Posts – reg.

 

Madam,

 

This Federation is constrained to bring to your kind notice the following facts to facilitate consideration and causing orders to continue the recruitment of erstwhile Group D upgraded and renamed as Multi Skilled Employees:

 

1. The Postal Department being one of the biggest operative departments with multifarious functions with greater responsibilities and therefore the duties and responsibilities discharged by the erstwhile Group D employees shall continue to be discharged by the Multi Skilled Employees. The Directorate orders also reflects this aspect by the categorical mention in its orders No.1-20/2008-PCC dated 27.03.2009. Therefore the discontinuation of recruitment if any as against the erstwhile Group D posts in future would cause operational problems in discharging those duties and responsibilities smoothly.

 

2. The posts of Group D are used to be filled up from amongst the GDS and Temporary Status Casual Labourers with a 75%:25% ratio. DPC used to meet and approve the eligible Candidates on seniority – cum – fitness to the posts of Group D. Now consequent on upgradation of Group D into Group C under the recommendation of the 6^th CPC, the recruitment against these vacancies appear to have been halted.

 

3. The upgradation of posts of Group D into Group C shall not in any way to stop the process of recruitment from amongst the GDS and Temporary Status Casual Labourers. As otherwise the Temporary Status Casual Labourers Scheme implemented by the Government will lose its purpose and meaning and hundreds of TS Casual Labourers placed in the pay scale with 1800/- Grade Pay will have to retire without absorption and without any retirement benefits. Similarly there are more than 3 lakhs GDS whose absorption chances will be drastically reduced if recruitment do not continue to the upgraded posts of Group D from amongst them.

 

4. The continued recruitment to the post of upgraded Group D is fully justified because of the fact that already the posts of Postmen which are Group C and bearing a higher scale of pay than the upgraded Group D are being filled up from amongst the eligible GDS through seniority – cum – fitness and through competitive examination on 50:50 basis. Therefore when already Group C posts are being filled up from amongst the GDS in the Department of Posts for so many years, the recently upgraded posts of Group D into Multi-Skilled Employees shall also continue to be filled up. If necessary the same training offered to non-matriculate Group D before upgradation can be imparted to the GDS also who are non-matriculates before absorption.

 

This Federation therefore urges upon you to kindly give enough consideration to all these points and cause orders for the continued recruitment against the vacancies of Multi Skilled Employees from amongst the GDS and Temporary Status Casual Labourers as before.

 

A line in reply into the nature of action taken would receive our high appreciation.

 

Thanking you,

 

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

[K.Ragavendran]

                                                                                                                                                                                    Secretary General 

PF-17/2009     Dated 22^nd July 2009

 

To

               

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Non-sanction of Multi Skilled Employee posts in the ADR Vacancies of 2006, 2007 and 2008 for absorption – reg.

Ref: Our letter No.PF-45/08 Dated 17.03.2008 on Change in the procedure of abolition of 2/3^rd of entire vacancies of Group D in Department of Posts.

 

This Federation is shocked to find that not even a single vacancy of erstwhile Group D now renamed as the Multi Skilled Employee is sanctioned for filling up amongst the ADR vacancies released for the financial years 2005-06, 2006-07 and 2007-08. We place the following view points in favour of filling up the vacant posts of Multi Skilled Employees:

 

1. The Honourable High Court of Kerala had dismissed the petition of the Department of Posts and had upheld the views of Ernakulum CAT that no clearance is required from the Screening Committee for filling up the vacant posts of Group D and that even if there is a ban, it was limited to direct recruitment vacancies only.

 

2. Since the posts of Group D are being filled up from amongst the GDS and TS Casual Labourers through the DPC, the subjection of all the Group D vacancies for abolition under the Screening Committee was also a wrong procedure followed.

 

3. In spite of the above all posts of Group D have been subjected to Screening Committee but what is more the entire vacancies of erstwhile Group D and the renamed Multi Skilled Employees  are totally neglected while considering the sanction of different posts for filling up under the ADR for 2006, 2007 and 2008. 

 

4. Some Circles like Andhra, Karnataka etc were following the understanding that Group D vacancies are not to be taken under direct recruitment quota and continue fill up the vacancies. Even the Directorate has committed in writing to this Federation in its Action Taken Report supplied to us on 13.01.2009 during the course of the meeting taken by the Secretary [P] that the Group D vacancies are not falling under the Screening Committee. In spite of this position many circles did not fill up Group D vacancies at all.

 

5. For operational reasons also the posts of Multi Skilled Employee require filling up and the quantum of abolition that had taken place with regard to Group D employees is causing great hardship on the existing employees. The cadre of erstwhile group D and the present Multi Skilled Employees in Department of Posts should be viewed differently from other Ministries / Departments where the Group D are generally working in administrative offices only.

 

6. The vast section of GDS and the Casual Labourers with Temporary Status are stagnating without any avenue for absorption because of maximum abolition of Group D posts than any other posts in the Department of Posts.

 

This Federation therefore urges upon you to kindly consider all the above points and cause to issue instructions for filling up Multi Skilled Employee Posts also as in the past.

 

We would appreciate a line in reply.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

LETTER ON PROPOSAL TO MERGE SROs WITH POST OFFICES:

 

PF-45/2009     Dated 22^nd July 2009

 

To

 

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

 

 

Sub: Approach Paper on Merger of SROs with Post Offices – reg.

Ref: DO Letter of PMG Kurnool to Secretary [P] Dated 14.05.2009

                                                                                                      

Madam,

 

This Federation is shocked to learn that a Committee of sorts under the head of PMG Kurnool was constituted to examine merger of SROs with Post Offices but no effort was made to have any consultation with the Staff Side over such an important issue having serious and adverse implications on the interests of staff and service. The DO letter of our PMG Kurnool is categorical that the merger can be done quickly! In fact such hasty moves would be totally detrimental to the interests of service and staff.

 

The Staff Side had been subjected to enormous pressure by the Official Side by taking various unilateral decisions in the past too. The employees in particular have been at the receiving end for all the lopsided decisions taken by the Official Side in the past. Moreover the sudden love for merging SROs with Post Offices is against the spirit and letter of the agreement reached by the Department with the Staff Side that assures us that no RMS Office would be merged with Post Office.

 

The merger contemplated by the Committee headed by the PMG Kurnool is nothing but a frontal attack on the existence of the RMS wing itself. The theory put forward by the Approach Paper that tries to compare the work of both SROs and Post Offices and that about the feasibility of merging the software modules of the work etc cannot be the ground for such merger since it is a fact that basic work of SRO and Post Office are constructed for different specialised purposes.

 

This Federation strongly objects any such unilateral move contemplated on the part of the Department of Posts to merge SROs with Post Offices and requests to maintain the agreement already reached between us against merger of any RMS office with Post Office.

 

A line in reply assuring us of no unilateral action on such things would receive our high appreciation.

 

Thanking you,

 

Yours faithfully,

 

 

 

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

 

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE

ADR VACANCIES OF 2006 AND 2007 CLEARED

ORDERS ARE ISSUED BY THE DIRECTORATE FOR RELEASE OF VACANCIES PERTAINING TO ADR VACANCIES OF 2005-06 & 2006-07

 

A TOTAL OF 5190 VACANCIES IN ALL CADRES HAVE BEEN CLEARED FOR FILLING UP

 

FULL TEXT OF THE DIRECTORATE ORDERS NUMBER 37-15/2008-SPB I Dated 17July 2009 WILL BE PUBLISHED IN OUR WEBSITE TOMORROW

 

THE FOLLOWING ARE THE NUMBER OF VACANCIES CLEARED FOR OPERATIVE GROUP C CADRES:

                                                                             

                                                                                2005-06                                                                 2006-07

 

Postal Assistant,Postal/CO/PLI,Group C             1416                                       1459

Sorting Assistant, RMS, Group C                            186                                         149

Postman Group C                                                      894                                         712

Junior Accountant                                                         95                                           37

Junior Engineers                                                            9                                              9

Junior Engineers Electrical                                           0                                              1

 

 

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE

NFPE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE

NFPE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD IN NEW DELHI ON 16-17 JULY 2009

 

DECISIONS OF FEDERAL EXECUTIVE AND THE NOTE PRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL NFPE TO THE MEETING ARE FURNISHED BELOW

 

1. FEDERAL EXECUTIVE DISCUSSIONS:

 

The Federal Executive Meeting of NFPE was held in New Delhi on 16^th and 17^th of July 2009. All Office Bearers of NFPE and all General Secretaries of affiliated Unions / Associations have attended the Federal Executive meeting that was presided over by the NFPE President Comrade D.K.Rahate. Comrade C.C.Pillai the Vice President of Confederation of Central Government Employees inaugurated the Executive. Comrade Des Raj Sharma former Deputy Secretary General NFPE greeted the Executive. A written report was presented by the Secretary General NFPE to facilitate discussion by the Members of the Executive and the same is exhibited in the NFPE website. The Federal Executive considered the Corporate Plan document of the Department of Posts and the Second Phase of consolidation of Mails planned by the Department as well as the Approach Paper on Merger of SROs with Post Offices and decided to deeply study and formulate our approach towards these issues. The staff shortage, the acute problems faced by the employees in Project Arrow areas, the unilateral approach of the Postal Administration on several issues undermining discussions with the Staff Side etc have been considered with serious concern. The inordinate delay in implementation of GDS Committee and all other problems of different cadres of Postal Department also received deep attention of the Executive.

 

2. DECISIONS OF FEDERAL EXECUTIVE:

 

1. A Programme of Action culminating in an Industrial Action is paramount on the urgent sectional issues of postal employees; Every All India Union shall prepare a Charter of Demands on its own sectional problems and a Memorandum and the NFPE will prepare the Charter on common Sectional issues and a Memorandum for discussion with other unions and Federations;
2. All attempts shall be made to forge unity between the regular and GDS employees Unions and launch the struggle through the platform of Postal JCA;
3. A Committee comprising of Comrades M.Krishnan [Working President NFPE]; K.V.Sridharan [General Secretary P3]; P.Suresh [General Secretary R4]; and R.Seethalakshmi [Secretary NFPE] was constituted to hold talks with Comrade S.S.Mahadevaiah [General Secretary GDS] with the view to ensure joint functioning and Programme of Action;
4. To hold an All India Level Seminar of System Administrators in New Delhi to highlight the issues of emerging new technology in Postal Operations and the cadre creation of System Administrators;
5. The staff of NFPE shall be granted an annual increase of wages @ 5% every year in the month of January; Financial assistance of Rs.10,000/- [Ten thousand only] shall be paid to the dependent of the sweeper of NFPE who died in an accident; and a marginal increase of charges of despatch of Postal Crusader from Rs.850/- to 1200/- shall be allowed from the August issue;
6. The Special Donation of 100/- to NFPE shall be collected at the time of payment of Second Instalment of Pay Commission Arrears from those members who have not donated during the arrears payment of first instalment or for whom the collected amount was not remitted by the Divisional / Branch Unions to strengthen the finances of the Federation.
7. All Circle Unions are called upon to take measures to form a State level union for the Casual labourers, Part time contingent workers and Piece rated workers in Business Post Centres etc as like West Bengal and Andhra as per the decision of the Confederation;
8. All Divisions and Branch Unions are requested to enrol more subscribers to the Federation journal 'Postal Crusader' @ 60/- per year.

3.REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE SECRETARY GENERAL TO THE FEDERAL EXECUTIVE OF NFPE 

 

Dear Comrade President, Office Bearers of the Federation and the General Secretaries of all affiliated Unions / Associations!

 

We are meeting in our Federal Executive after a gap of more than 9 months. Many events have taken place during this period that have a direct bearing on our movement. This is an attempt to place them in brief for facilitating provocation of a lively discussion to reach objective conclusions that should guide us for our future functioning.

 

International & National Situation: The financial melt down that started in USA and spread across the world including several advanced economies of Europe and Asia has been the major international event of recent times. Greater economies have been tottering under the impact of the financial crisis. The camp of Imperialism that has no worth while rival since the collapse of the camp of Socialism has been unable to provide stability to the world economy after its less than two decades of foisted globalisation and neo-liberal reforms on the entire world. The free market economy theory has thus proved to be a total failure. The protagonists of privatisation mantra are pleading for bail out and huge subsidies and aids from the States for saving the collapse of giant private sector industries and banks and insurance companies. In effect there has been an undeclared nationalisation through purchase of majority shares by the Government! We should not fail to point out to our members that under crisis the ideologues of privatisation have no compunction of begging for bail out forgetting that such bail outs of public sector was cited by the same persons in support of dismantlement of public sector institutions in the past! At the same time let us not fail to see that even the economy of India was not beyond the reach of this international crisis even though the speed of the neo-liberal policies was reduced due to stiff opposition by the left parties in Parliament and the struggles launched by the Indian working class. Due to its impact the Central Government had to adopt various bail out measures to protect the economy from collapsing.  

 

However there appears that the Government has not learnt the appropriate lessons and a section of the corporate media is trying to influence the policies of Government for pursuing a more vigorous neo-liberal posture including privatisation of pension, financial and insurance reforms etc. The media is attempting to interpret the UPA victory as an endorsement by the people for speedy implementation of reforms agenda, when in practice the victory is for stability and secularism and also due to pro-poor measures like NREGS etc enacted during the past tenure of UPA. The need for a continued and sustained movement in defence of our social security with a correct tactics of creating a strong public opinion against such retrograde measurers is therefore paramount.

 

NFPE Solidarity Strike for GDS: NFPE Federal Secretariat had to take a decision on our stand towards the Indefinite Strike call by the GDS CHQ. Even though the NFPE All India Convention held at Guntur on the eve of P3 AIC had unanimously resolved to launch an Indefinite Strike in January 2009 on a Postal Charter of Demands that was to be synchronized by a strike call by the Confederation, the Secretariat had to decide for solidarity Indefinite Strike for the GDS strike. The above solidarity strike was successful only in four Circles like West Bengal, Kerala, Andhra and Tamilnadu. In all other circles the participation of regular departmental employees was very dismal except in RMS wing of Assam / NE Circle, where the strike for one day was total. The performance of strike by regular employees, the talks held with the representatives of NFPE by Gopinath Committee and the letter of department to take the opinion of the staff side before finalising and submitting the proposals to Government have forced the Secretariat to call off the agitation after second day. The GDS Union that continued the strike for want of a written agreement before withdrawal for one more day and withdrew on the end of third day strike on a written assurance by the department for a sympathetic consideration.

 

The Indefinite Strike though swift and short and was conducted for only two days and that too conducted only in some circles, the strike had created a situation not favourable to launch another strike in quick succession. There was al element of feel good factor also in the aftermath of implementation of pay commission recommendations. The strike preparations undertaken by us did not rouse any strike tempo amongst the employees. Therefore the intended Indefinite Strike from 20^th January 2009 could not take off and therefore the strike call was withdrawn after discussions in the managing bodies of Confederation and NFPE.

 

Soon after the GDS CHQ issued another call for an Indefinite Strike and requested the NFPE and its affiliated unions for support. The Federal Secretariat met again but decided to extend solidarity in the form of demonstrations only. There was no possibility of organising another solidarity strike by us. However the second Indefinite Strike did not take place.

 

Withdrawal of Strike Call by Confederation and NFPE: As per the decision of the National Executive of Confederation of Central Government Employees, the Confederation served strike notice for launching an Indefinite Strike from 20^th January 2009. According to the decision taken in the all India NFPE Convention held at Guntur and to synchronize the action with the Confederation call, NFPE also served strike notice with an additional Sectional Charter of Demands. Strike Campaign Tour programme was chalked out and undertaken by CHQ level office bearers. The situation was reviewed in the next National Executive of Confederation and the Federal Secretariat of NFPE. The feed back from circles indicated that the preparations undertaken have not reached that extent to successfully organise an Indefinite Strike. Meanwhile attempts were made to meet the Prime Minister through the good offices Senior Parliament Member Comrade Basudev Acharya but at the last minute all appointments were cancelled due to the ill-health of the Prime Minister. The Secretary Department of Posts held discussion on the Sectional Charter of Demands submitted by NFPE and FNPO separately with the federations. Therefore taking into account of all these factors, the Indefinite Strike call was deferred by both the Confederation and NFPE. The Confederation is yet to meet again in its National Executive to review the situation prevailing. This Federal Executive has to take stock of the situation in its entirety and to take appropriate decisions.

 

Reverification and recent court cases: NFPE and All India Unions have taken full efforts to galvanise the rank and file for taking up the challenge of re-verification ordered once again after the direction of Madras High Court. We are yet to receive full information from many circles. Meanwhile the BPEF has filed two court cases against the re-verification process on different grounds in Jodhpur and Patna High Courts. NFPE and FNPO have also been made respondents in the Patna Case. Jodhpur High Court had directed the Department of Posts to not to complete the process of verification. Patna High Court had not issued any stay orders but issued notices only. We took immediate action to engage our advocate to defend our position in Patna Case. The situation is to be discussed by the Federal Executive. The newly formed Postal Civil Wing Association has no problem in staking the claim for recognition as the first status union. The newly formed SBCO Union also recorded improved performance in new circles like Andhra in comparison to last time but full figures are not available to assess the actual position.

 

International Events: The WFTU affiliated Trade Union International for Public and Allied Services held its Congress in Brasilia [Brazil] from 28^th to 30^th June 2009. Confederation was allotted with two delegates and the Confederation leadership decided that it will be represented by the Secretary General Confederation and by the NFPE, the biggest affiliate of Confederation. As decided by the Federal Secretariat, the Secretary General NFPE attended the above Congress. The Congress was attended by about 30 countries from different continents which debated the Report of the General Secretary. The discussions revealed that the attacks of neo-liberal policies are identical in all the countries and that the militant forces are resisting them through struggles. The south American Continent that is undergoing revolutionary upsurge reflected in this Congress also. Largest participation was from countries of that continent only. Indian delegation consisted of nearly 25 comrades. The Policy and Programme resolution adopted unanimously had resolved to forge stronger ties between the trade unions of public services in all countries under the banner of TUI and to launch universal Programme of Action against the neo-liberal global offensive. A new leadership with an enlarged Secretariat was elected unanimously. Comrade K.K.N.Kutty the Secretary General Confederation was elected as the Vice President for Asian Continent and the Pakistani leader was elected as the Director Finance.  The Congress amended the Statute of the TUI to enable the Vice Presidents to run a separate Secretariat of the respective continent.

 

UNI – Apro had organised four day seminars in Bangkok and Ayottaya in Thailand from 8^th to 11^th June 2009 and invited one representative from NFPE. As per the decision of the Federal Secretariat, Comrade KVS GS P3 participated in the above international event in which Indonesia, Korea, Singapore, Nepal, Philipines, Vietnam, Srilanka and Japan participated besides India. The Seminars emphasised the topic of International Economic Crisis and its impact on Postal and Logistics services in different countries. In addition to Seminar presentations, group discussions also were conducted. Comrade KVS made a powerful presentation about our organisation and the situation of postal operations in India. This international event helped to understand the situation of major Postal & Logistic Players in several countries in our Asia Pacific Region and further strengthened the bonds between our Federation and the Union Network International since our decision to join the UNI as a Member Affiliate. In this background the UNI Apro Regional Conference is going to be held in Jakarta in Indonesia from 24^th to 29^th July 2009 and the UNI had already extended its invitation to the Secretary General NFPE for participation.

 

Boycott of German Tour: The Department initially ignored the Federation and selected a team for German Tour ignoring some unions also. Later the name of the SG NFPE was included on mentioning the omission to the DG by the former SG NFPE. The ignored unions protested their omission but the department ignored to reply. The earlier Federal Executive decided to place a comprehensive letter on this issue to the department, which was to be written after that intended tour. However, the whole tour was dropped for some unknown reasons. Recently another tour was constituted with 6 representatives from NFPE including the SG NFPE but without Administrative Union. Then again suddenly the department reduced the number as 3 and excluded the SG NFPE and General Secretaries R4 and Postal Accounts. No consultations were held with the Federation. The Department's stand of excluding the Secretary General NFPE from the announced German Study Tour after including earlier has caused a serious reaction and P3, P4, R3 General Secretaries opted to boycott the tour itself. The Federal Secretariat decided to boycott the entire tour in this background and give protest letters. The attitude of Postal Directorate on this issue was opposed in writing by the above General Secretaries and also by the NFPE in which the failure to maintain 5:2 formula has been raised by us. The Department chose to ignore our protest and went ahead with the truncated tour by maintaining that 5:2 formula cannot be applied to such study tours. We thereupon chose to represent the matter up to the level of Prime Minister of India and Honourable Ministers of Finance and Communications & IT. But the stand taken by our comrades had enhanced the prestige of our organisation.

 

Corporate Plan of Department of Posts: The Department's Corporate Plan is exhibited in the website of the Department. The main goal seems to be to transform the India Post into an organisation of commercial profit. Though some expansion is planned, the emphasis is on outsourcing and franchising of postal operations. Institutional franchisee outlets are the new addition to the existing individual franchisee outlets. The conversion of PLI / RPLI services into a company is under contemplation. The talk about streamlining the postal services for improving the quality of service may result in certain anti-employee postulations. This Executive has to discuss this important issue.

 

Second Phase of Mail Consolidation: The attack on RMS is coming up in a new form and in the name of second phase of mail consolidation, the Department is embarking upon closure of RMS with more than 10,000 mails also. The earlier understanding reached with the staff side is thus going to be breached. The surface foreign mails handled so far by the Foreign Post offices have been handed over to AMPCs on one hand and RMS Offices are being closed and merged with other offices on the other hand. The staffs of foreign post were restless and the Kolkata Office went on continuous demonstrations. The Department did not feel it necessary to consult with the Staff Side on such vital issues and refused to maintain status quo when protested by the Federation with regard to restoration of foreign surface mails to foreign post offices.

 

National Anomaly Committee: The Government had constituted a National Anomaly Committee at the level of National Council JCM. We have submitted some items to the Confederation for taking up in the Committee. The Confederation has submitted more than 20 anomalies of pay and pension to the National Anomaly Committee. Some more items have been suggested by us for inclusion. The Committee is yet to meet.

 

Departmental Anomaly Committee: The Department of Posts had constituted a Postal Departmental Anomaly Committee with 5 NFPE staff side members. Items like TBOP Anomaly; PO&RMS Accountants issue; Supervisory Allowances; Charge Hand issue; Artisan Grade I issue; Technical Postal Assistant issue; System Administrators issue; Marketing Executives issue; Stenographers issue; Data Entry Operator issue; Higher Pay to Supervisors; OSA; Head Mail Peon anomaly; BCR Group D issue; Cash Handling Allowance to Treasurers; Issues of Laboratory Technicians, Medical Store Keepers and Nurses in Postal Dispensaries; Anomaly of Sorters in DAP are some of the  issues taken up with the Departmental Anomaly Committee by the Staff Side of Departmental Council JCM.

 

Filling up of vacant posts:  The Screening Committee had been wound up with effect from 1.4.2009.  However the positive effect of this action would be felt only from next year. The efforts of Postal Administration on our pressure to get exemption for filling up all the 24000 vacant posts were not agreed to by the Committee headed by the DOPT Secretary. Around 2300 vacancies of 2007-08 ADR only are released and even the assured 1 /3rd vacancy of ADR 2005-06 & 2006-07 is not yet sanctioned. The shortage of staff continues to be the single largest burning issue for the employees in the background of the fact that even the allotted vacancies of 2007-08 ADR are blocked in the name of pending amendment to Recruitment Rules. No vacancy in Group D is allowed for filling up in the ADR. The adverse impact on GDS and Temporary Status is too harsh. This item was therefore focussed in the recent Demonstrative Programme of Postal JCA.

 

RRR / Casual labourers / Part Time Contingent non-revision of wages: There appears to be some serious problem in revising the wages of these sections as per 6^th CPC wages. The reason is that the DOPT / MOF questioning the need for utilising such workers instead of resorting to outsourcing. The issue was taken up repeatedly by us with the Directorate but due to the above stumbling bloc no improvement so far and therefore we have included in the Burning Charter of Demands for June – July Programme by the Postal JCA.

 

Productivity Linked Bonus for 2008-09: Calculations have started by the Department for measuring the productivity but no attempt seems to have been made to compute a new PLB Formula as per the old directive of the MOF. The direction by the MOF is used as a ruse to arbitrarily apply a cap of 60 days by the MOF but despite our opposition the Department of Posts is not showing any eagerness to formulate a new formula. It was in this background that this issue has been included in the Burning Charter of Demands for June- July 2009 Postal JCA Demonstrative Programme.

 

Modified ACP: The eagerness exhibited by the Department of Posts earlier in implementing the Modified ACP in lieu of TBOP/BCR is not seen in action. There has been considerable delay. Now we are told that before the end of this month the ACP orders might be issued. As we were led to believe that ACP orders are likely to be issued, we did not include it as an item in the Burning Charter of Demands.

 

Postal Crusader: Due to our efforts the danger of losing the title of Postal Crusader has been overcome and further efforts to make necessary corrections in the records of the Registrar of Newspapers in India would also be taken. The circulation of the monthly organ of the Federation is static around 4000.

 

Financial Review: For the first time the Federal Executive is reported that there has been some improvement in the financial position of the NFPE. Due to measures taken by us and by the action of certain Circle / Divisional / Branch organisations, Federation got the pay commission special donation around 10 lakhs. We could clear all dues to Printer, News Print supplier etc. Pay Commission first instalment for the former and the present Secretary General also stands cleared. However it is to be understood that total quantum of special donation received represents only a fraction of our total membership. There are many organisations with less than our membership but with a very solid finance. It would be essential to urge our rank and file leadership to concentrate those members who did not donate during first instalment payment of arrears at the time of disbursement of second instalment of arrears shortly.

 

Postal JCA Programme: The Directorate issued an order for compulsory pay disbursement through cheques / direct credit through banks. This provoked the employees in several parts and in that background the Postal JCA of NFPE and FNPO coined some burning issues for a demonstrative programme on 29^th June and 3^rd July 2009. The response was better including in Delhi Circle. However, the Secretary was adamant to relent even on non-policy issues like pay disbursement through banks.

 

Immediate Future: The resentment is there amongst the staff due to staff shortage and also due to extreme pressure in Project Arrow areas. There is no action on cadre review despite our submission of proposals, while cadre review is under way in different other departments. We may consider organising the employees under a joint Programme of Action culminating in industrial action by the Postal JCA after holding discussions with the FNPO. 

Comradely Yours,

                    

[K.Ragavendran]

Secretary General

--
K.Ragavendran
Secretary General NFPE