Tuesday, September 1, 2015
EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER:
SEPTEMBER-2015
GET READY FOR ANOTHER STRUGGLE
NEED TO REVIEW 6th MAY
INDEFINITE STRIKE
7th Central Pay Commission has completed its work and
preparing report. As per information given by Justice Shri Ashok Kumar Mathur, Chairman,
Pay Commission to National Council J.C.M.
Staff Side Secretary Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra that Pay Commission will
submit its report to the Government of India by the end of September; 2015.It
has also come to notice that Pay Commission has submitted application to
Government of India to retain the office upto 31st October, 2015. But
Government of India has granted extension for 4 months i.e. upto 31st
December, 2015, so now it will be delayed upto the end of December, 2015.
With the setting up of Pay Commission
Postal JCA consisting NFPE, FNPO, AIPEUGDS (NFPE) and NUGDS put the demand to
include GDS under purview of 7th CPC. Government rejected the
demand. Postal JCA submitted Charter of Demands for Indefinite Strike from 6th
May, 2015 during the Parliament March on 4th December 2014.
Meetings were held with Postal
Department and on Strike Charter
of Demands and finally the issue of inclusion of GDS was again referred to
Finance Ministry and Secretary Post and
Minister of Communications and IT also
assured to make maximum efforts to include GDS
in the purview of 7th CPC during the meeting held with Minister on 5th
May,
2015 and finally the strike was deferred. One important issue i.e. Cadre
restructuring was also on priority of our agenda for which Minister told
that
he has accorded his approval and after that the file was sent to
DOP&T. We
pursued vigorously both the issues. Finally the case of inclusion of GDS
has
been rejected by Finance Ministry and Department of Post has started
working on
formation of bureaucratic Committee for revision of wages and other
service
conditions of GDS under Chairmanship of any retired Member of Postal
Board.
Regarding Cadre Restructuring it has been told by the officers of Postal
Directorate that the file of Cadre restructuring has been
returned by the Department of Personal
and Training stating that it has to do nothing in this and it is the
internal matter of Department
of Posts so there is no need of any kind of intervention by DOP&T
and has
advised to take clearance from Department of Expenditure , Minister of
Finance.
So the case has been sent to Finance Ministry for seeking approval.
Though
earlier it was told by J.S.F.A. that
there is no more financial implications in it.
But as we are observing the policies
of Government of India it seems that Finance Ministry may create hurdles in
approving the cadre restructuring proposals
If once the report of Pay Commission
is submitted, it will be very difficult to get the Cadre restructuring
proposals implemented.
So our both main demands are not
being met neither by Department of Post nor by Government of India.
PJCA has again addressed Secretary
Department of Post to fulfill the promises given during the meetings on Strike
Charter of Demands but still we have not received any positive response from
the Department. One important demand has also been submitted to Department for filling up all vacant posts in
all Cadres i.e. P.A., S.A. , Mail Guard, Mail Man, Postmen, GDS Mail Man,
Driver and other staff in MMS, PA CO , PA SBCO, Postal Accounts Staff , Civil
Wing Staff and GDS all categories.
In the above circumstances it is the
need of hour that we should revive our deferred strike from 6th
May-2015. PJCA will soon meet and take decision.
NFPE appeals to entire rank and file
to get ready for another struggle to achieve our demands.
************
DATE AND TIME OF 27th MEETING OF THE STANDING COMMITTEE
OF VOLUNTARY AGENCIES(SCOVA) UNDER THE CHAIRMANSHIP OF HONARABLE MOS(PP) TO BE
HELD IN NEW DELHI(Click the link below for details) http://ccis.nic.in/WriteReadData/CircularPortal/D3/D03ppw/SCOVA_280815.pdf
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Monday, August 31, 2015
MAKE
THE 2ND SEPTEMBER 2015 ALL INDIA STRIKE
A
HISTORIC SUCCESS.
Dear Comrades,
We have
placed on our website the synopsis of the discussion the leaders of the
Central Trade Unions had with the Group of Ministers on the 12 point
charter of demands. The Central Trade Unions evaluated the Government’s
response to the strike call and have come to the conclusion that in the
absence of any tangible result, the strike action must take place. The
only issue on which there had been a concrete proposal from the
Government was on the question of raising the bonus ceiling. In fact
such an assurance has been given by the earlier Government also. Due to
the pressure exerted by the employing class, the said assurance could
not be translated into reality. To have the assurance to be put into
practice, the Bonus Act has to be amended and that is possible only in
the next session of the parliament. In other words, if one is to
believe the assurance held out by the Government on the question of
raising the ceiling for bonus computation, it can only have prospective
effect i.e. for the next year 2016. We firmly believe that the
corporate would not allow the present government to give effect to this
assurance. The acrimonious ceiling on bonus while allowing unlimited
extraction of profit for the companies is to be fought out through
bitter struggles.
There
had been no word from the Government on the question of rolling back its
proposals on the labour reforms. The proposed labour reforms will hurt
the working class most. The regularization of contract workers, payment
of minimum wage, ensuring statutory Pension benefit, the registration
or recognition of trade unions within a stipulated time limit to enable
the workers to have the right to collective bargaining, the non
implementation of the agreements reached at the various tripartite
Labour conferences were some of the significant issues on which the
working class sought settlement. Introduction of 100% FDI in Railways, 49% in Defence, corporatisation & privatisation of government entities, end for contract/casual temporary employment also met with stoic silence or rejection.
The Group of Ministers has successfully eluded the issues. The BMS
unions have declared that they would withdraw from the strike action.
Their decision being political based is understandable, but is difficult
to appreciate. We can only hope against hope that they would realize
the reality of the situation in the days to come and become part of the
joint struggles very soon.
The 7th CPC has sought further time to submit its report. They are now likely to submit their report by 31st December,
2015. Given the way the commission had acted on this vital issue, we
are not certain of it. It is on the specious plea that they would be
submitting their report within the stipulated time, they had rejected
our demand for interim relief. They ought to have submitted an interim
report to the Government before seeking further time on the memorandum
submitted by the Staff Side on merger of DA and Interim relief. Even if
the report is submitted say by 31st December, 2015, which
we feel is unlikely, the Government is bound to take another six months
to take a view on the Commission’s recommendations. It is incumbent
upon the National JCA to meet immediately and take appropriate decision
in the light of the unexpected step taken by the Commission in seeking
further time to submit its report. They must go ahead with the decision
to go on strike from 23rd November, 2015 demanding the Commission to submit urgently an interim report on merger of DA and Interim relief.
There
had been no positive steps taken by the government to revive the
functioning of the JCM at National or Departmental levels. There
appears to be no intention on their part to cause discussion on our
charter of demands. In this background we must revitalize and
rejuvenate the functioning of our Organizations at all levels. We
have received excellent reports of the strike preparation from all over
the country.
DO EVERYTHING NEEDED TO MAKE THE 2ND SEPTEMBER, STRIKE A STUPENDOUS SUCCESS.
With greetings,
Yours fraternally,
M.Krishnan
Secretary General
Saturday, August 29, 2015
FLASH NEWS
28t h August 2015
COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2ND SEPTEMBER STANDS
CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS REASSERT THE CALL FOR UNITED ACTION
MARCH AHEAD UNITEDLY, MAKE THE COUNTRYWIDE GENERAL STRIKE ON 2ND
SEPTEMBER A MASSIVE SUCCESS
After two rounds of
discussion between the Group of Ministers and the central trade unions on the
12-point charter of demands of the trade unions held on 26th and 27th
August 2015, the GoM headed by Finance Minister, Shri Arun Jaitley sent an
appeal through the press release dated 27-08-2015 (Press Information Bureau)
after 10 pm urging upon the trade unions to reconsider the call for countrywide
general strike on 2nd September 2015 claiming that the Govt has
given concrete assurance to consider most of the demands of the trade unions and that the trade unions
agreed to consider the Govt’s proposals. Similar appeal was also made in the
meeting of 27th August. Both
the claims of the Govt are totally incorrect.
To put the facts
straight, the joint platform of central trade unions have been pursuing with
successive governments at the centre with their basic demands since 2009 and
observed three rounds of countrywide general strike since 2010, the last being
for two days in February 2013. In the two rounds of meeting between the CTUOs
and the Group of Minister, nothing transpired in concrete terms except vague
statements by the ministers on steps to be taken or being taken on some of the
issues, that too not in the right direction.
The Govt’s press release
mentioned, inter alia, certain issues in support of their unfounded claim.
1.
The Govt stated about “appropriate
legislation for making formula based minimum wages mandatory and applicable”
for all. But despite concrete pointers made by the trade unions that such
formula should be what has already been unanimously recommended by the 44th Indian
Labour Conference in 2012 and again reiterated by 46th Indian Labour
Conference in July 2015 in which the Govt of India is also a party, the Ministers did not give any concrete
commitment on the same. In fact said formulae recommended by 44th
ILC in 2012 and reiterated by 46th ILC in July 2015, makes minimum
wage around Rs 20000/- at 2014 price level and the Trade Unions demanded only
Rs 15,000/. The Ministers’ vague formulation does not ensure even half of that.
Is such a position worth consideration?
2.
On contract workers, the Govt assured
that they will be guaranteed minimum wages. What is there to assure except
spreading deliberate confusion? Existing
laws of the land lawfully ensures payment of minimum wages to contract workers.
The Govt’s statement regarding “sector specific minimum wages for the contract
workers” also does not make any sense. The trade unions demanded “same wages
and other benefits as regular workers in the concerned industry/establishment
to be paid to contract workers.” The 43rd Indian Labour Conference
held in 2011 recommended the same and 46th ILC unanimously
reiterated the same in 2015, in which, again, the present Govt is a party. How
could they deny the unanimous recommendation of the highest tripartite forum in
the country like Indian Labour Conference?
3.
The steps taken by the Govt on Labour
Law amendments, are meticulously designed to throw out more than 70% of the
workers on industries and other establishments from the purview and coverage of
almost all basic labour laws and also to eliminate almost all
components/provisions of rights and protections of the workers. This was
supplemented by more aggressive steps already taken by a good number of state
governments to already amend the labour laws in the similar lines. On this
issue, the Govt stated only that they will hold tripartite consultation before
taking such steps. The trade unions
demanded scrapping of such proposals by the central govt and also not to give
assents (through President) to the unilateral amendments made by the state
governments. Even in all the tripartite consultations held on some of the
proposals of the Govt, the trade unions’ unanimous suggestions has been ignored
by the Govt in favour of loud supportive applauds of the employers. Once these
retrograde changes in labour laws totally dismantling the rights and protection
measures for the workers and also throwing more that 70% of the workers out of
the purview of labour laws are enacted, thereby rendering the almost entire
working people a right-less entity in their workplace, what would ensure even
payment of minimum wage and other social security benefits for them, even if
those provisions are improved ? Can any
trade union, worth its name accept such a machination designed to impose
conditions of virtual slavery on the working people ?
4.
Despite repeated insistence by all the
trade unions, the Govt refused to concede to the demand for recognizing the Scheme workers, viz., Anganwadi, Mid-day
meal, ASHA, Para-teachers and others as “worker” with attendant rights of
statutory minimum wages and other benefits in gross violation of the unanimous
recommendation of the 45th Indian Labour Conference in 2013,
reiterated again by the 46th ILC
in 2015. These workers and all the schemes have been put to further
crisis threatening their existance owing to drastic cut in budgetary
allocations for those schemes. In such a situation, does the assurance of the
Govt to “extend social security measures” and “working out ways” for the same
carry any meaning?
5.
On bonus issue, the Govt has assured
to revise the eligibility and calculation ceiling to Rs 21000/- and Rs 7000/-
respectively from existing Rs 10000/- and Rs 3500/-. Trade Unions’ demand has
been that since there is no ceiling on profit, all ceilings in the Payment of
Bonus Act should be removed altogether. Trade unions also demanded substantial
upward revision of the formula for gratuity calculation and remove the ceiling
on gratuity payment. The Govt has negated the demands.
6.
On price rise situation, claim of the
Govt that it has gone down does not match with ground reality in respect of
commodities for daily necessities of the common people. The demands of the
trade unions for putting a ban on speculation/forward trading in essential
commodities and services along with universalisation of public distribution
system throughout the country have been totally ignored.
7.
Trade Unions demanded stoppage of
disinvestment in public sector undertakings playing crucial and supportive role
in advancement of the national economy. Govt totally ignored the same, rather
has been going on aggressively in disinvestment route in all the major PSUs much to the detriment of
the interest of the country’s economy.
On the demands for stoppage of further FDI in defence, railways and
financial sector, the stance of the Govt is continuing to be a total denial. Rather,
the Govt has been aggressively pursuing deregulation and privatization in
strategic sectors like electricity, Port & Docks, Airports etc in a big
way.
There are other issues
as well, statement of Govt continued to be totally vague and their claim is
unfounded. How can anybody, rather any trade union worth its name can consider
above stands taken by the Govt on vital demands of the workers as a positive
development and move out from the programme of united strike action ?
Therefore, there is
absolutely no reason for reconsidering the decisions of the Central Trade
Unions for countrywide general strike on 2nd September 2015. Rather,
the situation demands that there should be no vascillation in carrying forward
the call for general strike on 2nd September 2015 throughout the
country in all sectors of the economy with firm determination.
The Central Trade Unions
appeal to all working people irrespective of affiliations to make the call for
countrywide general strike against the anti-worker, anti-people policies of
Govt a massive success.
Tapan
Sen
General Secretary CITU
Friday, August 28, 2015
PHOTOS OF ONE DAY DHARNA ORGANIZED
BY POSTAL JCA IN FRONT OF DIVISIONAL, REGIONAL & CIRCLE OFFICES ON 26-08-2015.
BANGALORE
BHIMAVARAM
KAKINADA
ONGOLE
PALAMU
RAJASTHAN
VIZIANAGARAM
AMBALA
LUCKNOW
