Friday, July 30, 2010

THE DEFERRED STRIKE AND THEREAFTER

The proposed indefinite strike from 13th July 2010 by the Joint Council of Action of Postal & RMS Employees comprising National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE), Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) and Gramin Dak Sevaks Unions has been deferred following prolonged discussion on 12th July 2010 between Secretary, Department of Posts and the JCA Leaders. The positive approach of the Secretary (P) throughout the discussion and the time bound assurances given by the Administration are well appreciated and hence the staff side decided to reciprocate in the same sprit which resulted in averting the strike.

In the last meeting of the National Council (JCM) the Cabinet Secretary who is the Chairman of the JCM has stated that “it has been the endeavour of the Government to address the problem of the employees as effectively as possible” and resolved that “the Govt. is to maintain a sustained level of contact with the staff side to take forward the process of consensus building and collaborative endeavour in achieve goal of higher productivity, efficiency and staff welfare”. Unfortunately this sprit of mutual trust and understanding has not been there in the Department of Posts of the last more than two years and all the forums of negotiations have been either defunct or shutdown. The main reason which compelled the staff side to resort to indefinite strike action was non functioning of the negotiating forums and complete cut-off of channel of communication on issues affecting the staff. Now that the Secretary (P) has made it clear that the channel of communication will be opened and all the negotiating forums will be revived. We hope that time bound settlement of issues will take place and the assurances given by Secretary (P) will be translated in to action.

The positive assurances given by Secretary (P) such as time bound filling up of vacant posts upto 2009 , no privatization, no closure of Post Offices , no violation of RMS agreement , review of outsourcing orders , holding of departmental council meetings and GDS Committee meetings , completion of cadre restructuring before December, 2010, settlement of GDS issues such as pension (Annuity Scheme), Medical Insurance, separate meetings to redress the grievances of Postmen, Group ’D’ staff , settlement of MMS , Casual Labourers and System Administrators issues, MACP related issues, are to be implemented without much delay. We understand that the Postal Board has initiated positive action on the above assurances and things have started moving.

We on our part are always ready to extend our whole and constructive co-operation for improving the productivity and efficiency of the India Post and also for improving the welfare of the employees. We fully aware that in this era of globalization India Post is facing stiffest challenges and competitions’ from other stakeholders , especially in mails sector , and a joint move by both the administration and the staff side is the need of the hour. Implementing the above assurances in its true spirit will definitely go a long way in further strengthening the relation between both sides which may ultimately lead to increase productivity and efficiency of India Post. Any violation of the assurances may result in large scale resentment among the staff which may eventually result in break down the peace and tranquility in Postal Services.

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