EDITORIAL - BHARTIYA POST JULY 2010

SAVE POSTAL & ITS WORKERS

The Clarian Call has given to go for indefinite strike from 13.07.2010 to resist the policy offensives, anti worker policies, total unilateralism and non consultation of Staff Side even on staff matters, non filling up of vacant posts, non consideration of cadre reviews etc. Our sincere, continuous persuasions through dialogue to mitigate the issues confronting the Postal workers are taken as no relevance and construed as our weakness. We have been forced to launch this indefinite strike programme to save Postal, RMS and also the staff from the exploitation and policy offensives of the Govt.

History and events have proved in the past that the desire of neglecting the union and collective bargaining and exert total authority and unilateralism do not succeed. Trade Unions have a hoary history ever before the May Day and the martyrs of Chicago. It came into existence against all odds, have sustained all offensives and have succeeded in ensuring that workers never relent or retreat in spite of ruthless repression.

In the name of Project Arrow, the employees at grass root level are being tortured, exploited even beyond imagination. The efficiency in service can be arrived only by providing adequate man power and simplifying the procedures. Many new business and tie ups are introduced but withdrawn subsequently. The withdrawal of Flight services for carrying mails is the testimony about the faulty decision resulting loss to the department for which no contributory negligence provisions are available against the decision taken authorities. It is only to the employees working at the base. Even for bonus drawal to GDS, the same higher ups are causing orders to recover from the DDOs & SPOs in case of over drawal.

The buildings already renovated under earlier schemes are now brought under the Project Arrow. Lakhs of rupees are being spent and swindled. The funds allotted for staff quarters are being utilized by the circle heads to beautify their quarters. Many Chief PMGs are misusing the funds allotments resulting with no maintenance work to the staff quarters. Many of them have never seen colour washing over years.

It is evident that the huge costs of the services are primarily due to the faults of the management. However the blame is conveniently shifted to the shoulders of the employees and they are squeezed to enforce economy by orders of banning creation of posts, justified denial of overtime, incentive, denial of due promotions and officiating pay, abolition of section, sorting offices in RMS, curtailment of delivery, closure of post offices etc. Savings at the cost of the employees and squandering colossal amount by the faulty management is the order of the day. As responsible trade union, we must resist this kind of policy offensives unleashed by the authorities.

The 13th July 2010 strike is aiming not only to wrest our demands like filling up of posts, cadre review etc but also against the policy offensives like closure of Pos, privatization of Postal Services, closure of RMS offices etc.

The Nail must be hit on the head not at the bottom end. By showing our full strength with full mobilization, we can resist such moves of the department and save the Postal Service as Public service. The pertinent question before us is nothing other than the following.

Are we being driven to the brink or to the wall?
Have we not reached the end of the Tether?
Has the last straw been loaded on the camel?
Shall we not rise like a Tempest, Tidal wave or Tornado?

To wrest our just demands and fundamental rights and honorable too.
Let us organize the 13th July Strike with full vigor, determination and make it a grant success to save the Postal and its workers.