Despite our desire to maintain peace and tranquillity for the
advancement of service and the workers, we have been pushing again and again
towards the wall and forced us to take confronting position just in order to
save the service and its workers.
During the July settlement, we were optimistic that the Postal Board would
honour its commitments which were given in writing and led a peaceful passage
for better improvement of service. Perhaps it is our apprehension, that it may be
due to the clear mandate of some sitting at the decision taking level with the
collusion of some courier agencies or with foreign forces which have taken
pledge to pull to pieces the postal from Govt. Services.
When the department introduced
freight carrier through Air India, we record our observation that it would not
improve service but deteriorate. But nobody hears. What happened? The freightcarrier
has been dropped after one year resulting in the known minimum loss of 300
crores! Just to justify the weight of the freighter carrier, speed post and
other articles were back routed and inordinate delay was noticed resulting hue
& cry from the circle heads too.
The very same coteries which were responsible for the freighter
carrier,is now annoying to introduce L1 & L2 in sorting despite the fact
that they know very well that it will lead to delay in delivery and cause
inconveniences to the staff. The inordinate delay in delivery of speed post
articles within intra circle resulted in growth of couriers in towns. If there
is a loss of even one rupee, the contributory factors are misused against the
innocent officials. Whereas for the known Rs 300 crore loss, who was held
responsible? What action was taken against them? Whether the same persons’
harpingon L1& L2 will be taken
forward as a reward for the loss caused by them in freighter carrier? We are suspecting
that as such in the past many senior postal board members and senior officers
became the consultants of couriers and licence holders of franking machines to
loot the postal revenue.Is there any lobby or a conspiracyin existence in the
Directorate for deterioration of the postal services leaving behind the
brighter chance for the growth and development of postal service?.
Can the department come out with the real picture about the
realisation of BNPL dues to be cleared by the firms? One institution inChennai
has not paid BNPL amounting to the tune of 14 lakhs over nine months despite
the fact that it should have been cleared within a month.Crores of rupees are being
kept unrecovered amount under BNPL. Is it real business, the department is
entertaining now? Without settling the existing loopholes in the service and
revamping the service by motivating the staff, the department proposes to
introduce L1 & L2 with the definite intention to cause delay in delivery of
letters.Can we remain mute spectators allowing the things or will it not be our
responsibility to resist such move from the point of a constructive and
disciplined organisation? This is the million dollar question before us.
The Secretary, Department agreed
to revise the cash handling points for GDS and also to give protection of TRCA.
It was agreed to consider revision of bonus ceiling to GDS as Rs 3500/-. The
proposals for the above were simply turned down by the internal finance (not Finance
Ministry). Shall the postal Board not be vested with powers to set aside the
unwarranted objections raised by IFW and honour its commitments in writing with
unions during July agreement? Payment of minimum wage to casual labourers as
per 6th CPC wages is the right as per Supreme Court and earlier
orders of DOPT. But this has been denied repeatedly by internal finance by
raising unwarranted queries and calling for details? What the Postal Board is
doing?
The IPS officers started their
lobbies for the seventh cadre review! Even some minutes were issued for the
discussions had with IPO/ASPOs! Whereas more than seven meetings were held so
far but there is no minutes; no process. Still we are remaining in the in the
initial stage only. The delay over three years in deciding cadre review
exhibits the unfairness being extended towards the lowest cadres of the
department. The cry of the system administrators could not reach the deaf ears.
The acceptance to allow for IPO/Group B exam of Postmaster Grade I officials
has not been honoured.
There is no
periodical meeting with unions over eight years. There was only one Departmental
Council meeting held over six years. The Department is bluffing in the JCM
National Council that the meeting are being held regularly in the Postal Department!
It appears in the JCM National Council minutes also. Is it not shameful to give
such false reply to the JCM National Council, the biggest body constituted by
the Govt of India to redress staff grievances? There is no action yet by the
department for acceptance of nomination from postal side to represent the
national council.
The postal workers’ distress has
reached the climax and they are not in a mood to await further with hopes any
longer as they are totally ignored and neglected by the authorities.There is a
sign of desperation and frustration everywhere and in every one’s mind due to
protraction in finding the first cadre review proposals where the powers
started silently to pursue their seventh cadre review.
Inspite of the best efforts made
by the Federations and unions to proceed cautiously, the mounting
discontentment and dissatisfaction prevailing among themasses of postal workers
due to the firm determination of the Govtand Postal Board in deterioration of
mail services by the proposed L1 & L2 introduction arbitrarily against the
wishes of the postal workers, are now finding exposition through sporadic
actions here and there like Karnataka, Kerala & Maharashtra Circles.
All these incidents are but writing
on the wall and should serve as a pointer to the authorities responsible for
running the administration in the country. They should take a note of it before
it is too late.This is our last word and in a sense and a warning to the
authorities. Let us hope that good sense will prevail and everything will be
considered with a changed outlook so that the postal workers are enabled to
serve the postal department with contentment and zeal and render every possible
for cause of service in the current days of competition.
Let us therefore
organise the workers for a massive strike from 17.01.2012 and record our
protest and discontent demanding a fair settlement on all the charter of
demands.
Rise like lions after slumber
In
unvanquishable number,
Shake your
chains to each like dew,
Which in sleep has fallen on you –
You are many – they are few. Shelly.
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