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.

Notice for two Days General strike on 20-02-2013 and 21-02-2013

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/2013                                              Dated 30^th January, 2013

To

The Director General

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

NOTICE

Sir / Madam,

 

In accordance with the provisions of Sub Section (1) of Section 22 of the Industrial Disputes Act, 1947, we hereby notify that all the Gramin Dak Sevaks will go on Two Days General strike on 20-02-2013 and 21-02-2013 The demands for acceptance on which the employees embark upon this Two Days Strike are detailed in the Charter of Demands enclosed.

 

                          Yours faithfully,                                                                                         

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

 

Appeal

The CHQ call upon the All CWC Member's/Circle/Divisional/Branch Secretaries and active member's call upon is to make the two days General strike on 20.02.2013 and 21.02.2013 programme a resounding success. It is requested you made press conference and other publicity to poplies our demand. A report may also be sent to the CHQ.

                                                                                 

We request you kindly to translate this circular letter in local language and circulate among the staff. This fact may be explained to the membership through group meetings are meetings and general body meetings.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

PART-A

1.        Take concrete measures to contain Price rise.

2.        Take concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the

        concession / incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs.

3.        Ensure strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws.

4.        Universal social security cover for the unorganised sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendation of NCEUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour.

5.        Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs.

6.        No Contractorisation of work permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry / establishment.

7.        Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wage at not less than Rs.10,000/-.

8.        Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund; Increase the quantum of gratuity.

9.        Assured statutory Pension for all.

10.     Ensure Compulsory registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate ratification of the ILO Conventions Nos.87 and 98.

PART-B

11.     Include Gramin  Dak Sevaks in 7th CPC and Grant Status/Regularisation as government servant to GDS employees as recommended by Justic Talwar Committee. The Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in its land mark judgement date 22-04-1977 held that the Extra Departmental agents (now Gramin Dak Sevaks) are holders of civil posts. He is doing multifarious activities viz.,RPLI,Savings/NREG,Business etc. and most of the GDS are working more than 5 hours and it is high time to consider the demand.

12.     Grant Bonus ceiling of Rs. 3500/- at par with Departmental staff. It is grass injustice and discrimination done to Gramin Dak Sevaks by denying Bonus ceiling of Rs. 3500/-.

13.     Grant compassionate appointments in all cases by removing irrational conditions and restrictions/norms prescribed recently.

14.     Scrap new recruitment rules of Postman/Mailguard and MTS. Restore the previous recruitment rules.  The promotion from GDS to postmen and MTS is direct recruitment in the version of the department.  Promotion under seniority quota should be restored.

15.     Grant immediate pro-rata revised scales to Casual labourers including part time and full time and MMC workers and restore DA which has been stopped for the last four years.

                                                                     Sd/-

   (S.S. Mahadevaiah) 

                                                                                                                  General Secretary