Why our 9th Biennial Conference is so
important?
Dear Comrades,
As you
know, we are going to conduct our 9th Biennial Conference from 28th
to 29th May, 2016. The Open Session will be held sharp at 10 AM on
29.05.2016 in the premises of Odisha Association for the Blind, Kharvelnagar
(Near big Bazar), Bhubaneswar – 751 001.
In this
context, we would like to sincerely appeal you to attend the Open Session
before 9 AM so that we can commence the Open Session sharp at 10 AM with nice
breakfast arranged by the Reception Committee.
Due to
our past bitter experience on irregular attendance, delayed attendance and at
times no attendance by some members, we would like to explain the importance of
this Biennial Conference which will be addressed by two veteran leaders namely
Com. M Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of Central Govt. employees
and Workers and Com. R N Parashar, Secretary General, National Federation of
Postal Employees and our beloved General Secretary.
Comrades!
We are holding this Biennial Conference in such a critical juncture when all
our demands exclusively that of the Group-C postal employees have been grossly
ignored and rejected with a derogatory remark “ not found justified” by the 7
the CPC on one hand and the National Joint Council of Action comprising the
Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers, Railway Federations and
Defence Federations has decided to go for a nation-wide Indefinite Strike from 11thJuly,
2016 demanding necessary modifications of all the retrograde measurers
recommended by the 7th CPC on the other. In addition, the Postal
Joint Council of Action comprising National Federation of Postal Employees and
Federation of National Postal Organizations is proceeding ahead simultaneously
with the NJCA on agitational path with its own sectional demands.
The 7th CPC submitted its report
with most disappointing, retrograde and worst ever recommendations to the Govt.
on 19th November, 2015 restricting the pay hike to 14.29% without
any change in the annual increment and promotional avenues even after a gap of
10 years and more importantly withdrawing all the 12 interest-free advances and
52 allowances and thus deceiving as many as 47 lakh Central Govt. employees and
52 lakh pensioners. The demands of the JCM Staff Side to implement the
recommendations from 01.01.2014, to fix the minimum wage at Rs.26000/- with
multiplying factor of 3.27, annual increment to 5%, 5 promotion during the
entire service career, abolition of Grade Pay etc have been squarely rejected
by the Commission. No change has been recommended for Casual Leave, Maternity
Leave and Leave encashment. Rather, the Commission has recommended to reduce
the HRA from 30/20/10% to 24/16/8% and 20% less pay in the 2nd year
of Child Care Leave. Relating to our specific issues, the commission finds no
justification for enhancement of minimum educational qualifications for Direct
Recruits for Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants from Class XII to Graduation
and the entry grade pay from GP 2400 to GP 2800 and also no justification for
upgrading LSG, HSG-II & HSG-I. Similar is the case of Postman, Mail Guard
and MTS. The demand for separate cadre for S As / B Es has been denied
straightway. The issues relating to GDS remained untouched.
We are
also holding this Biennial Conference in such a time when the Department of
Posts, in order to face the twin challenges of increasing
competition and continuing advances in communication technology on one hand and
to provide better customer services with wider reach to the Indian
populace through more customer
interaction channels, growth through new lines of business and IT enablement of
business processes and support functions on the other, is rapidly proceeding ahead
through implementation of I T Modernization Project, 2012. Out of 8 components
of the Project, the Financial Services System Integrator (FSI) has almost completed in the country with CBS and CIS rollout. In
the mean time we have travelled a long way. Out of 25493 Departmental Post
Offices all over India, 21737 Post Offices (807 HOs and 20930 S Os) have already been migrated to CBS with
opening of 913 India Post ATMs and 25406 Post Offices to CIS.
Odisha Circle got its first CBS Post Office
on 01.12.2014 and CIS on 07.09.2015 in the name of Bhubaneswar GPO and till date, Odisha Circle has migrated all its 35
HOs and 907 S O ( Total 942 Post
Offices) to CBS platform with 44 India Post ATMs and 1199 post offices to CIS platform.In
Bhubaneswar Division, we have migrated
65 Post Offices including Bhubaneswar GPO so far to CBS platform and all S Os
to CIS except Mahalaxmivihar, Bhubaneswar – 751 029. The remaining offices will
be migrated shortly.
The
remaining components of the Project like the Core System Integrator (CSI),
Rural Hardware, Rural System Integrator (RSI) and Rural ICT etc. will be
completed soon.
We
have severally witnessed the bitter experience of CBS and CIS roll out. In
the name of transformation of India Post, the problems of the postal employees are
being multiplied day by day. With
formulation of National Postal Policy, Strategic Plan, Corporate Plan and
introduction of Project Arrow and I T Modernization Project, the employees are
now treated in similar nature prevailed during pre-independence era. With acute
shortage of staff due to arbitrary abolition of posts, increased working hours
due to down-sizing, additional pressure due to unachievable targets for POSB,
PLI/RPLI and business products, frequent system problems due to improper
software, inadequate professionals and outdated accessories, compulsion of cent
percent delivery in the absence of adequate staff and support system,
introduction of new products and services without proper education and training
to the employees and such other problems arising out of computerization and
modernization, the employees are suffering like anything. Being very specific, we can say that our Comrades
working as SPMs in single / double-handed delivery post offices and the women
employees who are unnecessarily detained regularly
till late night inviting serious social-life disorders are the worst sufferers. Now the situation is
such that the Postal Assistants falling prey to the anger of the public from
dawn to dusk due to continuous arguments/counter-arguments, are being
demoralized. In addition, they are receiving irregular orders always
not to leave office without permission of the CPC/CEPT. The employees are
regularly struggling for smooth connectivity, proper hardware and adequate
manpower to render proper services to the customers. But all their efforts have
fallen to the deaf ears of the administration. Responsibility is seen to
be shifted from Department to Infosys,
from Infosys to Sify or sometimes from both to the Central Server / Data Centre
etc.
Odisha Circle
has already fixed a deadline to adopt agitational path during the 1st
week of June, 2016 for bringing tangible solutions to the long pending issues
of the staff members including CBS and CIS. We will formulate a concrete plan
in the 9th Biennial Conference
for successful conductance of the forthcoming local agitational
programmes.
Comrades! We are
also holding this conference in such a critical moment when we are fighting
heart and soul to save our Department from corporatization. A
process is going on now by the first to corporatize not only Department of
Posts but several other Govt organizations and PSUs and then to gradually
weaken those organizations through disinvestment and eventually either to
privatize or to close such organizations. But Comrades, we cannot ignore the
overwhelming majority of toiling masses. We have to raise voice against the
arbitrary amendment of Labour laws. We can’t sit silent when the basic rights
of the workers are being snatched away. We have to register our strong protest
against the arbitrary land acquisition bill intended to snatch away the rights
of the farmers. We have to move a massive organizational campaign against the
anti-employees’ policies of the Govt. We cannot repeat the same mistake and
allow the Companies to rule us.
For the purpose, we have already
gathered under one umbrella in the name of National JCA comprising
Confederation, Railway and Defence Federations for common problems of the
Central Govt. Employees and in the name of Postal JCA comprising NFPE and FNPO
for postal related issues. We have already
proved it in the last march to Parliament on 28th April, 2015
declaring indefinite strike from 23rd November, 2015 for all common
issues of Central Govt. employees which was subsequently postponed. The
Indefinite Strike call given by the Postal JCA from 6th May 2015 was
also deferred basing on the assurances of the Hon’ble Minister, Communications
and IT. But Comrades! Assurances are assurances. We can’t believe on mere
assurances. Under no circumstances, we will allow the Govt. to corporatize the
postal services. As per the decision made in the meeting with Official Side on
25th February, 2015, the Staff Side was advised to meet and discuss
the issue with the concerned departments on our demand “No privatization, PPP or FDI in Railways and Defence Establishments and
no corporatization of postal services”. Accordingly the Postal JCA leaders met
the Secretary (Posts) on 30th April, 2015 and Hon’ble Minister,
Communications on 05th May, 2015 and discussed on all our sectional
demands including “ No Corporatization of Postal Services” and you all know
better the results of such meetings already published in our websites. The
replies are not at all convincing. While the GDS issues were just noted by the
Chairman, National Council, JCM, the Hon’ble Minister, Communications assured
to reconsider with an open mind. With respect to ban on creation of posts, it
was replied that expectations are made for operational needs. For scrapping of
PFRDA Act, we were suggested to discuss the issue with Department of Financial
services. For removal of arbitrary ceiling on compassionate appointment, it was
agreed that DoPT would revisit the issue. And most importantly, no assurance
was given by the Hon’ble Minister on corporatization of Postal services.
Accordingly we are now
heading towards an Indefinite Strike under the banner of National JCA from 11th
July, 2016. We have to give our strategies a constructive shape in the 9th
Biennial Conference for brining a thundering success to the said nation-wide
Indefinite Strike .
Thus, corporatization / privatization of
India Post through implementation of Task Force report is still a peril like
the sword of Damocles. Over Time duty has already lost its concept due to
non-revision of the allowance for more than two decades. Contradictorily, the
promotional avenues in postal department have been twisted to be confused. The
cadre restructuring proposal has been unnecessarily delayed for last five
years. The fates of 3 lakh Gramin Dak Sewaks have remained unpredictable for
decades together. We are still demanding to fill up all vacant posts, creation
of new posts, to stop corporatization / privatization / down-sizing, to give
five promotions, to give status and pension to GDS etc. The struggles have not
yet ended.
As the
responsible employees of India Post, we have to certainly play a definite role
in this regard to save our Department first and this Conference is the right
platform to debate, discuss and decide if India Post is moving ahead by right persons in right direction adopting right
policies. With due apology, I should be very specific to say that while
due to the combined efforts of all our Group-C staff members in particular and
the Postmen, MTS and GDS employees in general, the Department has been able to
implement all such plans, policies and programmes successfully and achieved
many certificates and medals to its
credit, regretfully, it has not paid due attention for the welfare of such staff members.
Similarly, in the name of Business
Development unachievable targets are being given. Not only the Group-C staff
members, the GDS and postmen staff have been exploited to the extent possible
by the arrogant authorities in the name of business development through
collection of PLI / RPLI proposals, opening of POSB Accounts etc. They are being forced with threatening for
prosecution to collect such business which compelled them to work even beyond
office hours and thus they are highly neglected, grossly exploited and
seriously depressed by the anti welfare policies of the Government which is
trying to get them as cheaper as possible. Though India Post has registered
nearly a seven fold growth during the period of last seven decades from 23,344
post offices during the time of Independence to 154882 ( 25493 Deptl. PO and
129389 GDS BO) post offices as on 31.03.2014, it has not been able to retain
its monopoly in mail, finance/banking and insurance sector. While emergence of
electronic alternatives due to continuing advances in Information and
Communication Technology and presence of
organized / unorganized couriers for mail conveyance, increasing competition
from the financial players like banks and insurance companies and above all the
challenges of globalization, corporatization and liberalization are some of the
important reasons, avoidance by the policy makers of the Department to examine
the ground reality inviting poor and sub-standard after sale services by India Post is a vital cause for which customers
are searching for alternative services rather than availing postal services. To
add more, we have also noticed several biased decisions, lapses and hurriedness
in implementing various policies/programmes and unpreparedness in introducing a
new product/service by the Department have remained responsible for putting
both the Department and its employees frequently in troubles. In such a moment,
the postal employees have to shoulder dual responsibilities. Earlier, we had to
fight for our own cause only. But now situation has changed. We have to fight
for both to save the Department first and to save ourselves thereafter.
At this
critical juncture, we have every pride and opportunity to debate discuss and
decide on all issues and to advance for achievement of all our demands through
powerful struggles and the forthcoming Biennial Conference is the right
platform to act as such.
The revolution has just begun which needs the
effort of every single individual for retaining the hard-earned benefits we
have achieved through our struggle movements. Human revolution, in just a
single individual can help achieve a change in the destiny of a nation and
further in the destiny of all human kind. So unfettered by narrow nationalist
or sectarian concerns, it should be considered that every individual is equally
empowered with inner brilliance of life and however small the effort, every
individual effort certainly makes a definite difference. The thing is that
everyone should be loyal to the voice of conscience that issues forth from deep
within.
Workers
are not beggars. So, to make ourselves free from all worries and anxieties, to
live with a status and to serve our nation whole heartedly on one hand and to
retain the hard-earned benefits already achieved through rigorous struggles and
sacrifices on the other, we have to go for united struggle only under one
umbrella which needs just a promise by every individual. To
be more active and more progressive, let’s promise to be more militant and
aggressive on our issues. Together we can move the world. One, who can’t be
taught by reason, shall be taught by force. And our force is our togetherness
and unity. We have already proved it through our several rigorous struggle
programmes from pre-independence era till date. We have fought and achieved.
The glorious history of P & T Trade Union Movement tells us that nothing
can stop us. We can achieve all our
demands through our unity and agitation, through one platform and one voice. We
have just to carry forward our glorious traditions with additions of new ideas
that will suit our future needs with an eye to the current transformation. And
it is quite possible in the era of digital world. Just a commitment is
required. A recall to our
historic struggles in the past will definitely add to our future success.
Comrades! The
world is changing. So also our activities Undoubtedly,
we have also experienced a big change in the functioning of our union
activities since 2006 after Com. M Krishnan and Com. K V Sridharan were elected
as All India President and General Secretary respectively in Jwalaji AIC. Now
the gap existed earlier in between the CHQ and the Divisions has been
minimized. Contributions of the duo are par excellence. This vast service union
during its initial constitution in the name of Postal Club of Calcutta GPO and
subsequently recognized as NFPTE was leaded by the leaders like Babu Tarapada
Mukherjee and Dada Ghosh who were Group-C postal employees. Even now, after 60
years, when we have already celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, there is every
reason for us to feel proud that NFPE is being leaded by a Group-C postal employee in
the name of Com. R N Parashar. You know better that the NFPE is the father of
Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers and Dada Ghosh was its
first Secretary General. We feel extremely proud to say that the Confederation
which was initially leaded by a Group-C postal employee is now also being leaded by a
Group-C postal employee in the name of Com. M Krishnan. So, Group-C postal employees have the capability to
lead the entirety of postal workers, to lead the entirety of Central Govt.
employees and to lead the entirety of working class as well. When Com. R N Parashar and Com. M Krishnan
are with us, there should be no doubt about it.
We are fortunate to have the above two
towering leaders of P & T Trade Union Movement in our 9th
Biennial Conference who will enlighten us on all issues narrated above.
Therefore, we have the
opportunity to sincerely appeal you to actively participate in our 9th
Biennial Conference reaching in the venue (Odisha Association for the Blind,
Kharvelnagar, Bhubaneswar – 751 001) before 9 A M to listen to the above leaders
and educate yourself. This opportunity may not come time and again. Be aware to
save India Post and its employees.
With Conference
Greetings.
Comradely
yours,
Bruhaspati
Samal
Divisional
Secretary
Dated 18th May, 2016
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