Gigantic Success in Two Days All India Strike in Koraput Postal Division

Dear Comrades,

Thank you all members of Koraput Postal Division for making this two days strike a biggest success which made entire Koraput Postal Division including RMS a standstill. Greatest Strike ever made by our members in support of all central trade unions and City Co-ordination Committee and of course public too.

We once again extend our warm greetings and congratulations to all Postal and RMS employees who made the two days nationwide strike a thundering success. All the Postal and RMS offices including Branch Post offices remained closed for two days. All the employees including GDS struck work. Once again we have proved our unity and strength to face any challenges being thrown on us by the Government. 

Let us keep this unity and fighting spirit intact. Unity for Struggle and struggle for unity.

Thank you all comrades.

20 AND 21ST FEBRUARY, 2013 GENERAL STRIKE

Dear Comrades,

FORWARD TO ALL INDIA GENERAL STRIKE

20 AND 21^ST FEBRUARY, 2013

For the first time in the history of India all the eleven (11) Central Trade Unions and thousands of Independent Federations have given a call to the workers to observe 2 days All India General Strike on 20 and 21^st February, 2013 protesting against the policies of the Government. Millions of workers across the country in private sector, public sector, Central & State Govt. employee sector etc. will join the strike to make protest louder and stronger as never before keeping in view the total unity of the trade unions.

Today is the right moment to rise in protest against intolerable price rise, mounting unemployment, mass contractualisation of permanent posts, accentuating poverty, violation of labour laws, failure to provide social security to the workers like Gramin Dak Sevaks demanding Rs.10,000 p.m. as minimum wage, maternity benefit, old age pension and food at cheap price through Public Distribution System. The AIPEDE appeals to all Gramin Dak Sevaks and postal workers to join this massive historic protest breaking all barriers to mount the counter offensive against the non-performing govt. who have brought the country to the brink of a disaster. Let all of us stand up and fight. This is perhaps one of the rarest moments. People are boiling in anger against poverty, corruption, mis-governance etc.

A dreadful spell of slow down of the economy has set in, the recession is causing loss of wages and erosion of income. Inflation is hitting the sky, rise in the price of atta, dal, oil, all that is essential for daily life are sky-rocketing.

 

Disparity of income is becoming intolerable. The rich and super rich alone  benefit from the so called economic development. In contrast, nearly 70 per cent of the people live in poverty. Even safe drinking water is not provided let alone the question of supply of power to the mute millions. The vast sections of the population have been bypassed by the course of economic development.

The workers in the organized sector also face grim violation of the labour laws. There is a massive inflow of contractual labour who are forced to work at  very low wages almost ten hours a day. It is only the contractual job that is being provided by the private corporate and by the govt. In Postal, Gramin Dak Sevaks workers are facing discrimination in all respects. Repeated requests are yielding but no positive result.

Let us all rise in protest and ensure total participation of the Gramin Dak Sevaks workers in 2 days All India General Strike on 20-21 February 2013. It is the right time to go into the action because of the total unity of the trade unions. The Postal workers including Gramin Dak Sevaks must join this national programme of militant action on 20 and 21^st February, 2013.

Meeting with Hon’ble Finance Minister on Bonus issue

Dear Comrades,

Meeting with Hon’ble Finance Minister on Bonus issue

On 14^th Feb, 2013 General Secretary, Com. S.S. Mahadevaiah and Com. Lakhwinder Pal Singh, Circle Secretary Punjab Circle  meeting with Hon’ble Finance Minister Shri P. Chidambram and Shri Oscar Fernandes, Hon’ble (M.P), and requested to early settlement of Bonus issue.  Memorandum also submitted. The M.P. and Finance Minister given assurances to AIPEDEU leaders.

(S.S. Mahadevaiah) General Secretary

DOP Appeal to AIPEDEU -All India General Strike on 20 and 21st February, 2013

Dear Comrades,

DOP Appeal to AIPEDEU -All India General Strike on 20 and 21st February, 2013

All India General Strike on 20 and 21^st February, 2013  Government Appeal.

Most urgent and pressing problems of the Gramin Dak Sevak employees

Dear Comrades,

Tele-Fax: 23697701

ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION

(Central Head Quarter)

First Floor, Post Office Building, Padamnagar, Delhi 110007

 

President:                     D.N. Giri

General Secretary         S.S. Mahadevaiah

GDS/CHQ/43/1/2013                                                 Dated. 06-02-2013

To

Ms. P. Gopinath,                                     

Secretary,

Department of Posts,                                                      

Dak Bhavan,

New Delhi – 1.

Madam

Sub:-    Most urgent and pressing problems of the Gramin Dak Sevak employees.

We are submitting herewith a short note on most urgent and pressing problems of the Gramin Dak Sevaks for your kind perusal and favourable action.

1.                      Gross injustice and discrimination has been done to Gramin Dak Sevak employees by denying Bonus Ceiling of Rs. 3500/- at par with Departmental Staff. Bonus Ceiling of Rs. 2500/- to GDS is nothing but discrimination. Bonus is granted on the basis of profits earned by the department of posts. The major source of the department’s income is from rural postal life insurance. Gramin Dak Sevaks Procured 1,22,03,345 active policies and 661,322,3 million rupees deposit were collected. Besides this NREGS is being implemented effectively in branch post offices. GDS officials got equal bonus at par with departmental employees till 2008. In 2008 the bonus ceiling was enhanced from Rs. 2500/- to Rs. 3500/- unfortunately enhanced bonus was denied to GDS officials. The discrimination still continues despite court verdict in several states. It is high time to remove this discrimination and grant Rs. 3500/- bonus to GDS employees.

2.                      Removal of tightening of norms for GDSBPMs, Rs.20,000/- Cash handling per point is unreasonable and unscientific.  Hither to Rs.1000/- per point for Cash handling was in force which was the basis for computation of their TRCA.  Similarly no norm is fixed for transactions done under MNREGS up to 20 transactions, Stamps sales norms Rs.900/- is unreasonable against the former norms of Rs.45/- per point.  We request immediate review as the officials undergo REDUCTION IN THEIR MONTHLY EMOLUMENTS/TRCA.  No pay committee has suggested downward revision of pay/TRCA and such peculiarity/discrimination is only towards this section! In reality their pay should have been on the basis of minimum hours of attendance like Departmental staff, not on the basis of workload assessed unscientifically and irrationally.  ANOTHER PERTINENT POINT IS THAT THEIR SERVICES ARE UTILISED OUTSIDE THE DUTY HOURS TO MOBILISE R.P.L.I, MGNREGS AND OTHER SMALL SAVINGS WORK.

3.                      Hither to Compassionate appointment to the wards of GDS have been given as    a welfare measure, without any condition or restrictions.  Imposing unethical and unreasonable conditions and norms prescribed recently is against the principles of natural justice and law of the land.  Introduction of irrational and unscientific methods to assess indigent circumstances of the family are quite unreasonable and unjust.  Earning MINIMUM POINTS OF 50 is highly impracticable and unjust, live examples have been furnished already for urgent review.  Please look into this issue objectively, compassionately and ON PRIORITY.

4.                      Scrap the new recruitment rules for appointment of postman/MTS. Stop 25% recruitment from open market. Restore the previous Recruitment Rules. Senior GDS officials have been denied to promote as postman/MTS. The avenue of series be convey departmental is blocked the most enhman action.

5.                      Most of the GDS posts have been abolishing stating that there is not justified workload for the post. Stop abolition of GDS Posts and filling up of all vacant post in all cadres of GDS. To fill up the GDS posts (other than GDS BPM), powers may be vested to Divisional Heads to save delay. As per the Annual report of Department of post and the information obtained by RTI Act, there are above 40 thousand GDS post vacant left unfilled in the Branch post offices Necessary action may be taken in this regard as GDS are traced to undergo combination of 2 to 3 duties, working beyond 5 hours without any compaction. 

6.                      Casual labour, contingent, part time workers are working in the post offices along with postal staff years together. They are getting the wages along with D.A they are also low paid employees under finitely payment of D.A. has been stopped to them for four years. Reasons are not know. Hence you are requested to restore D.A and grant pro-rate revised scales.  

        We, therefore, most respectfully solicit your kind intervention and early settlement of the issues for which we shall be highly grateful.           

With regards,

        Yours faithfully                                         
                Sd/-
      (S.S. Mahadevaiah)
       General Secretary

Organisational matters and struggles of Gramin Dak Sevak employees.

Dear Comrades,

Organisational matters and struggles of Gramin Dak Sevak employees.

www.rpehq.com                                                              Tele-Fax: 23697701

ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION(CHQ)

First Floor, Post Office Building, Padamnagar, Delhi 110007

No.GDS/CHQ/1/5/2013                                         Dated 30-01-2013

To

All the Circle / Divisional/ Branch Secretaries of All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union. All India Office Bearers

Sub:- Organisational matters and struggles of Gramin Dak Sevak employees.

Dear Comrades,

      At the outset the CHQ offers sweetest and warmest greetings to all our members, and wishes a very happy and prosperous new year. Before we go on to discuss critically the orgnisational situation with regards to the GDS employees and the situation prevailing with regard to postal employees we would rather have a glimpse of the national level scenario. This will show the atmosphere in which we have to march forward inch by inch.

Comrades, what we see in day to day developments does not present an encouraging scene. While every attempt in being made to afford all sorts of encouragement and concession to big business houses and corporations foreign or domestic, nothing at all is being done towards the well being of the employees. Privatisation is opening its urgly face and this is only to offer an occasion to some big business house to have a hefty harvest at the cost of the national exchequer. To bridge the deficit by selling the family silver is thought to be the worst type of economy. Opening the doors for FDI in multi brand retail sector and enhancing the ceiling on FDI in Insurance and Banking sector will have its consequences. We have to work against these heavy odds and political economy and have to strain all our energy in trying to march ahead. We have to fight for every inch. But March forward we must and so we do. Hats off!

We salute our members

We salute our members for the iron resolve and steel unity they have demonstrated in spite of very vile attempt by a section of leadership to fragment our unity. What a fall! Those who had been preaching unity all through are practicing disunity and fragmentation. But the GDS employees have dealt suitable blow to their misadventure by remaining united and organized and those who were running after some mirage are coming back.

We are trying to march forward with the cause of the GDS employees and there are they who are pulling our legs. When we are on struggle, they work as strike breakers. When we demand something which is Justified and due, they try to defeat our cause. When we succeed, they work as morale-killers. When difficulties are faced by us, they rejoice. Probably no true trade union leader can descend so low.

But there is very encouraging side of the coin also. The Central unions are striving to forge workable unity of workers to arrest the unbridled economics of privatization and libralisation to push forward cause of the common man and working class in particular. The General Strike on February, 20 and 21 is a mile stone in history of workers struggle. This is true unionism. Not that they work for their supremacy and one up-manship over others but with a sense of fraternity and unity. Will those who

are trying to wreck our organization, though in vain, take some lesson from it and accept their blunder?

Comrades, our problems are many and the mode of solution sustained is one suctioned struggle tempered with solid organization and unbreakable unity. We have covered a good distance in the way of our emancipation from nacked discrimination and subdued rights only on the strength of our unity. But still much, much longer distance is to be covered and we must once again salute our rank and file for coming with flying clours on this score.

We are getting curious queries asto the fate of our demands, especially in respect of bonus ceiling and health insurance. Though some people were rejoicing and spreading remours that our case on bonus-ceiling was rejected, the fact, as we have already reported is otherwise. A departmental committee was constituted to examine in depth the justification because the Nataraja Murti Committee had ditched us by reversing the practice. The committee has finalized its report and the case is reported to be submitted to the Secretary, Deptt of Posts. The Secretary will submit the case again to the Finance Ministry. Which may take some time in deciding the issue. We are looking to the issue of health insurance for an early solution.

Comrades, here is the time that we must critically examine the gains and losses of our strike. We concede that we had to lose some days wages. But, is not this like the seeds that one had to sow to have a fine harvest? But this is not all. Our achievement is that the GDS employees have been recognized as a fighting force for the cause of the Common well being of the G.D.S. Gone are the days when we were treated as followers and subjects. Now we have an organization of our own which we run not at the mercy of some other people. Secondly had we not waged this struggle the bonus issue could have been treated as a closed issue never to be opened again. The issue still remains a live issue and seeks solution. Our struggle shook the conscience of a large part of the political leadership. Everybody recognized the genuineness of our cause. Might be some technicality stood in the way or we would have already clenched the issue. But we take collectively a vow that we shall not rest till we get what is due to us.

TWO DAYS GENERAL STRIKE FROM 20 AND 21 FEBRUARY 2013

All Central Trade Unions, Independent Federations and All India Unions have taken decision to go on two days strike i.e. 20 and 21^st February 2013 against anti workers policies of the central Government. This is the first strike conducting two days against the policies of the central Government after independence. We appeal all our members to participate and conduct two days strike effectively. Charter of demands and strike notice enclosed, All Circle/Divisional and Branch Secretaries requested make success two days general strike.     

Comrades, struggle never goes fruitless. We shall run, maybe we fall some time but ultimately we shall win the race.

                 

        With warm and new year greetings again.

                                                                                

 Yours fraternally,                       

                                       
                                 (S.S. Mahadevaiah)
                                  General Secretary

Editorial Rural Postal Employees Feb,2013

Dear Comrades,

2013 FEBRUARY 20-21 NATION WIDE STRIKE IS A PEOPLE REVOLT AGAINST ANTI PEOPLE, ANTI EMPLOYEES POLICIES OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

 

The fate of the Common   people of the contrary has been becoming worse and worse day to day of the implementation of Liberalization Globalization and Privatization in the year 1991. The central Govt. moved  fastly  against the wishes and will of common people supporting multinationalists and capitalists there is huge depth between have and have-nots un controlled hike of commodities has great blow on common people.         

FDI in Retail Bussiness and reforms in insurance and banking sectors disinvestments from 15 public sector units which are still running in profits withdrawal of subsidy to commodities and cooking gas changes in the labour laws in favour of employers resulted the lives of common people thrown in to gutters

 

After implementation of the liberalization policies  the justified rights of all the central Govt. employees including 5 lakh fifty thousand Postal employees have been snatched, due to these policies there is abnormal  delay in appointing 7^th CPC, Denial of 50% DA Merger in basic, denial of civil servant Status to GDS Employees, Discrimination in bonus ceiling, denial  cent percent Compassionate appointments to the wards  of deceased GDS employees, deneal of prorate wages to causal, part time and contingent employees  abolition of posts have been taken place.

 

Recently Department of posts abolished 17093 Group ‘B’ Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ Posts pertaining 2005-2008 Under optimization scheme.

 

In this scenario Joint forum of Central Trade Unions called two days nationwide strike from 20^th to 21^st feb, 2013, all the central trade unions Like  BMS,INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC,  CUCI, LPF, SWA Extended solidarity and support to the ensuing  strike.

 

We request all our Branch, Divisional and Circle Secretaries to take all efforts to make this Historic strike Success. We are going to issue strike notice soon.  

Letter to Department of Posts: Revision of cash handling of Rs.20000/- per month earning one point of work load of Branch Postmasters

Dear Comrades,
GDS/CHQ/56/2/2013                                                          Dated: 03.01.2013

To                                                                                                             

The Secretary,

Department of Posts,

Dak Bhawan,

New Delhi-110001 

Sub:   Revision of cash handling of Rs.20000/- per month earning one point of work load of Branch Postmasters-reg.

Madam,

         

After implementations of recommendations of Nataraja Murthy Committee particularly cash handling of Rs.20000/- per month earning one point of work load of Branch postmasters, more than 80% Branch post masters put into minimum TRCA causing heavy reduction in TRCA 10% Branch postmasters got 2^nd and 3^rd TRCA only 10% Branch post masters got maximum TRCA.

Before implementing the revised cash handling norms 78% Branch postmasters were granted maximum TRCA the analysis of the Nataraja Murthy Committee. The suryes conducted regarding in the circles to examine the workload position in points system as per existing and revised norms are enclosed along with this letter for your ready reference.

Keeping in view the above points you are requested to issue order for revision of cash handling of Rs. 5000/- per month earning one point of work load of Branch postmasters.

With regards

  Yours faithfully,

          Sd/-

(S.S.Mahadevaiah)
General Secretary

Memorandum on bonus-payment to G.D.S employees - Ceiling of Rs.3500/-

Dear Comrades,

Tele-Fax: 23697701

ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES UNION

(Central Head Quarter)

First Floor, Post Office Building, Padamnagar, Delhi 110007

President:                       D.N. Giri

General Secretary           S.S. Mahadevaiah

GDS/CHQ/10/4/2008                                                                 Dated: 11.01.2013

To

 Shri Alok Saxena Ji,

Chairman,

Committee on Ceiling for payment of Bonus to GDS

Dak Bhawan,

New Delhi-110001

Sub:-  Memorandum on the Ceiling on emoluments for payment of bonus to GDS.

Sir,

            We are submitting a short memorandum on the subject for applying the same Ceiling on emoluments of GDS employees also as to other employees.

The committee may kindly taken in consideration our views on  the subject.

            With regards.

                                                                                                                        Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                        Sd/-

                                                                                                                        (S.S. Mahadevaiah)

General Secretary

Memorandum on bonus-payment to G.D.S employees - Ceiling of Rs.3500/-

1.    The concept of bonus is based on the theme of deferred payment. The amount of bonus to be paid is quantified in terms of emoluments for the Justified days-in the department of Posts-on the basis of productivity for the particular year.

2.    The Government, however, have put a ceiling on the amount of  emoluments without any discrimination between the lower pay or the higher pay drawn by different class of employees, who are engaged in the productivity. The same ceiling applies to the employees drawing the lowest wages as to the employees who draws the hightest wage among the eligible employees.

3.    The concept of G.D.S service, especially after the Supreme Court Judgement in Rajamma’s case, has undergone basic appreciative change and improvement. The concept of consolidated allowance has yielded place to the concept of Pay-Scales and increments. This is a rights step in the right direction. Similarly the ceiling on wages for payment of bonus has seen marked improvement to correctly correspond to the payment of Bonus theory.

4.    The Ceiling on emoluments for Computation of bonus is a different matter from the formula for measuring productivity. The ceiling on emoluments for payment of bonus is neither based on the thesis of amount of  emoluments drawn by any employee nor on the thesis of productivity element. This is altogether a different factor from formula for bonus for measuring productivity and emoluments of the employee.

5.    Based, correctly, on this theme the same ceiling applied to all shades of employees till 2007 when the ceiling was Rs.2500/- Even when the ceiling was raised to Rs. 3500/-. in 2008t he same ceiling was applied for all including G.D.S for one year. Thereafter, for reasons not very apparent the ceiling for the G.D.S employee was reduced from Rs. 3500/- to Rs.2500/- unilaterally and without any opportunity to this union place its point of view in the matter.

6.    The Nataraja Murti Committee has tried to confuse the matter, relating it to, sometime casual labourers and sometime, to bonus formula which is out of Context. The Supreme Court, in the Rajamma case, have categorical ruled that the E.D. employees as he was then called is neither a casual worker nor an agent and is a holder of Civil Post under the state. Hence relating the G.D.S employees to casual workers is neither proper nor Justified. It is further improper and unjustified as also irrelevant to relate the issue of Ceiling to the productivity formula as the two are different elements.

7.    Several Benches of Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) as Patna, Chandigarh, Madras and Ernakulum have recognized the Justification of the same Ceiling on emoluments being applied to all classes of employees including the GDS employees and have handed down Judgements to that effect.

 

Conclusion

It thus follows that there is every Justification for the same ceiling on emoluments for the sake of payment of bonus being applied to the GDS employees as to other employees. This is because the emoluments of the GDS employees are higher than the ceiling of Rs.3500/-. Hence there is every Justification for applying the ceiling of Rs.3500/- to the emoluments of G.D.S employees also at present as is applied to other employees.

  Sd/

(S.S. Mahadevaiah)

General Secretary

Odisha Circle AIPEDEU Convention at Balasore

Dear Comrades,

Odisha Circle AIPEDEU Convention at Balasore

The Bubneshwar region Convention was held at Balasore on 25^th January 2013, under president ship of Com. P.R.Das, Convention was innugrated  by Com. Niranjan Raut ex CS P3, Com. S.S.Mahadevaiah GS AIPEDEU, along with Com. Arjun Mahata, CHQ Special Invitee & DS Mayur Bhaaj, Com. Lingaraj Sahoo, DS Bubneshwar, Com. R.N. Panda, Circle Tr, Com. Sukumar Kar, DS phoolabani, Com. Dhila President Sambalpur, Com. Naryana Prasad ,DS Balasore, Com Pitambar das, ex DS Balasore, Com. Bahaskar Behara Divisional President, Bubneshawar, Com.Jayanth das, District Secretary AITUC, Balasore, and Local Leaders attended and addressed the Convention. More than 300 GDS attended the Convention.

Com. Devashi  dey, Com. Naryana das and their team made excellent arrangements for Convention.