Indefinite Strike from 24-04-2007 – Demands & its Justification
The demands putforth by the JCA (Postal) in the indefinite strike commencing from 24-04-2007 are not having much financial implications but need for the survival of the department besides arranging relief from the unbearable work brunt shouldered by the Group C comrades in particular and justice to the exploited category of GDS employees. All demands are genuine and there should be no compromise in demands and also in mitigating the sufferings of the postal employees this time. Let us have an outlook about the genuine and justification of our demands.
Demand 1: Appointment of Judicial Committee / Commission for GDS and grant status and pension to GDS employees
According to the agreement made between the union and the Government after having assured in the Parliament by the Government during the four days strike held from 07-12-2003 to 10-12-2003, a Judicial Committee was constituted under the Chairmanship of Justice Charanjit Singh Talwar to consider the demands of the ED employees. Out of 42 positive recommendations made by the Justice Talwar Committee, only three were taken for consideration and remaining 39 were summarily rejected.
Even these three recommendations were diluted at the time of implementation. Instead of pension, 'Severance amount' was granted (Severe means break the ties – For breaking the relations, it is called as severance amount). Similarly no pay was granted. It was called as Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA). Due to this the 50% DA merger was denied to GDS. They are now not fully compensated in the shape of DA. There is erosion of wages. The GDS are not declared as Rural Postal Employees (Gramin Dak Karamcharis). Now they have been called as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) by amending the Service Rules with the special proviso that they cannot claim anything at par with regular employees.
Thus all the positive recommendations of the earlier Judicial Committee granting all service benefits, pension, welfare facilities etc. were denied, diluted and they are totally deprived of their dues. If another officer's committee is appointed, that will bury the Report once for all. If another Judicial Committee is constituted for consideration of GDS demands, we could plead before them to revive the recommendations and render justice to the GDS. Hence we are demanding the formation of another Judicial Committee for GDS and not accepting the departmental officer's committee.
Demand 2: Exempt Department of Posts from the purview of reduction of staff strength and fill up all vacant posts in all cadres in Postal / RMS / MMS / Circle / Regional offices / Postal Accounts and GDS including residual vacancies
As on 31-03-99, the total number of Group C & D work force in the Department of Posts was 2,92,672. It has been reduced to the extent of 2,43,958 in 2004-05. There was a reduction of Group C & D to the extent of 48714 Already, there was an axing of posts to the extent of 20% supervisory & 6% in operative for the grant of TBOP / BCR promotion. For the upgradation of 1622 HSG.I posts, 680 Postal Assistant posts were also axed.
On the other side, the Department of Posts is venturing with various business activities, tie up with several private players, resulting unbearable work at the level of Group C and in particular at post offices. Many posts were redeployed as Marketing Executives and System Administrators. Virtually all the B class offices become 'C' class and 'A' class become either 'B' or 'C' and in almost all the Head Post Offices, there is a shortage of more than 30 to 40 percent in clerical cadre. Without naming the combination of duties, the Postal Assistants are suffering with the exploitation of combination of duties with untold miseries. The suicide committed by Com. Narain, Sub Postmaster Gopalpur is the beginning which brought the miseries into light.
The DG (Posts) in his letter dated 04-04-05 written to Department of Personnel pleaded to exempt the Postal Department from the purview of Screening Committee and requested to permit to fill up all the vacant posts. The DG's letter itself clearly exhibits the sufferings of the postal staff which has been summarily rejected. The Screening Committee was further extended by Finance Ministry for another three years.
Hence we have no other alternate except to struggle demanding the vacation of ban on creation and exempt the postal department from the purview of Screening Committee.
The worst part of the department that in almost all the circles, the Postal Assistant vacancies earmarked for Postman & Group D which had not been filled up are being kept unfilled up under residual vacancies. Each circle is having more than 500 posts under this category. No action is being taken by the Directorate so far even though it was brought to their notice several time. This has caused an artificial shortage of Postal Assistant cadre which could have been averted by shedding down the lethargy and protracted delay in taking decision in such sensitive issues.
Demand 3: Drop franchising of postal scheme, stop closure of post offices / RMS offices, Tranist Sections / Relocation and merger of offices and divisions, Stop combination of beats of Postmen / Stop curtailment of Postal deliveries, outsourcing of PAO functions etc.
When we are looking for the work of private institutions and having tie up with their work, there is no need to privatise our functions. The move of franchise is nothing but close the number of post offices in future. We are opposing the privatisation of our service. Similarly in many circles, the Circle Heads are unleashing to closure / merger of post offices / divisions with the intention to reduce the manpower at those offices in order to meet the shortage. Instead of providing correct size shoe to the legs, the department desires to cut the legs to suit the shoes.
When the department desires and decides to compete with the couriers, the curtailment of delivery in major cities like Poona, Chennai etc. (i.e.) single delivery only will result adverse impact in the service. The move of the department in closing down post offices, curtailing delivery, merger of divisions etc. will have negative impact on the service which the department did not realise so far. Franchise schemes should also be dropped since the service could be extended with our staff available in abundant in the name of GDS. GDS officials may be entrusted with more work which would pave way for their regularisation.
Demand 4: Ensure monopoly of collection, conveyance and delivery of letter mail by the Department of Posts as recommended by the Parliamentary Standing Committee
The Department of Posts, knowing well that the misinterpretation of the Post Office Act 1898 (Section 4) and the mushroom growth of couriers over two decades has failed to arrest the menace which cornered high revenue and we remain as a part of Universal service obligation with low revenue.
The countries like USA, France, China, Brazil, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka are having complete monopoly of letter mails. Even countries like Australia, Canada, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Switzerland etc. are having complete monopoly of letter mail upto 2000 grams.
Now the amendment to the Post Office Act has been totally diluted and the department is incorporating some of the charges in the revised version of the bill which is expected to be tabled in the Parliament. Any how the move is nothing but to drop the monopoly and authorise couriers even to the letters weighing upto 300 grams in the market.
In order to ensure the monopoly of transmission handling and delivery of letters and save the department from the couriers and also to save the department which should not shrink to the rural villages alone, this item is placed as one of the demands in the ensuing strike.
Demand 5: Regularise Casual labourers / Full Time & Part Time contingency paid
The demand is very simple but carry the sufferings of many comrades expecting their regularisation since 1991 onwards. Due to the retrograde orders and various court judgments, the future of these casual labourers / part time contingent employees is blinking. They should be given preference in the appointment of GDS in the case of postal and the services of full time casual labourers be regularised in the RMS sections where no GDS employees available.
Demand 6: Filling up of all Norm based LSG / HSG.II/ HSG.I posts & Restore periodicity of Junior Accountant Promotion to Senior Accountant as 3 years
Even though the department has caused instructions with check list in November 2006, in almost all the circles, the vacant posts of HSG.I, HSG.II & LSG have not been filled up so far. The protracted delay and lethargic disposal to various references we made on this subject for each circles separately is causing concern.
(i) HSG.I promotion was denied in Tamilnadu by application of Bench mark.
(ii) The benchmark was applied even for LSG promotion in Maharashtra and Karnataka Circle
(iii) The Posts of APM Accounts have not been filled up notionally since 1986. The General line HSG.II officials are being compelled to work as APM Accounts like UP, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Maharashtra etc.
(iv) The notional promotion to LSG was accorded only to retired officials from 1992 in Orissa. All norm based posts are being kept vacant.
(v) In Uttarakhand, the regularly promoted APM Accounts had been reverted as Accountant and General Line official had been posted as APM Accounts in his place.
There are many more confusions in different types at circle levels. In short all norm based posts are still being kept vacant.
Further the following problems which have arisen due to notional LSG promotion at divisional level have not been redressed so far.
(i) The Rule 38 transferees are worst affected.
(ii) Due to variation in the number of LSG posts from divisions to divisions, the seniors could not get promotions, whereas the juniors were promoted.
Modifications of the LSG promotion has not been ordered so far.
The another problem is that the officiating pay to HSG.I has not been drawn to many BCR / LSG comrades. Several references are being made to Directorate.
All these items are very simple and could be settled by appropriate instructions and orders. However the department is reluctant in resolving these issues so far despite various references.
Demand 7: Encashment of all pending bills OTA /TA / Medical /RPLI Commission etc.
Due to paucity in allotment of funds, the personal claims are pending years/ months together. We placed this demand to clear all the bills forthwith.
NB: Long pending bills if any pending, the details may be furnished to CHQ / NFPE immediately so that we could place them during any discussions.
Demand 8: Grant compassionate appointments to eligible candidates and absorb all approved candidates
Due to the imposition of 5% limit, the approved candidates, prior to 1999 under the relaxation of Recruitment Rules have not been regularly appointed so far. There are more than 1000 candidates approved and awaiting for their regularisation in all the circles. There are several vacancies and they can be accommodated. The department by citing a court case, is protracting the issue and the plight of the approved candidates is at stake. In order to regularise them by offering appointment and also to approve fresh cases, we put forth this demand.
Demand 9: Complete take over of POSB & PLI by the Postal Department & accord full Autonomy to the Postal Board as in the case of Railway Board
The Social Audit Panel headed by the former Chief Justice Sri P.N. Bhagawati appealed to the Government to allow freedom and flexibility to the postal department so that it could restructure itself and operate competently.
There is a need to give functional autonomy and financial independence to the postal department and in turn the postal board should function in a lot more cohesion and better coordination than at present.
With the proposal of vast expansion of activities and services, a separate budget and control by the Department of Posts become a must. As in the long run, the department will run on its own legs with own resources, there may not be necessary to have approval from the nodal ministries for each and every decision. The Postal Services Board should be renamed as Postal Operation Board and be accorded the same status as the Railway Board or Telecom Commission.
Demand 10: Recognition of Federations & Setting up of councils at all levels
Due to non recognition of Federations under NRR 1993, the recognised postal unions have no say in the JCM National Council. Similarly there was a delay in formation of anomaly committee in the Department of Posts after the implementation of Fifth CPC. Due to non grant of regular recognition, the RJCM become defunct in many circles and no new Member could be nominated. The demand of the Federation to accord recognitions duly constituting the ED union as a part of the same has not been accepted so far. Hence we included this item as one of the demands in the ensuing strike.
Look Comrades! All the problems are very vital and require immediate settlement. We did not place items which warrants severe financial implications.
Please popularise the demands. On behalf of Circle Union / Divisional Union, please translate the contents and circulate to all comrades and organise them for the total strike commencing from 24-04-2007.
Let us pull down the walls that divide and unite to agitate, act, advance and achieve.
With struggle greetings,
Yours faithfully,
K.V. Sridharan
General Secretary
