ORGANISATION WITH FIRST RECOGNISED UNION STATUS FIGHTING FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF RMS & MMS EMPLOYEES

HAPPY NEW YEAR-2024





HAPPY NEW YEAR 2024 TO ALL MEMBERS,Viewers & Readers








Thursday, June 30, 2011

Attention of All Divisional/Branch Secretaries

Please take a copy of the following and hand it over to all the public personalities, people representatives and Trade Union Centers Seeking their support for the ensuing strike.

Please ensure immediate Action

DRAFT LETTER

No. JCA/Postal/2011 Dated: 28.06.2011

To,

___________________

____________________

____________________

Sir,

Sub: - Indefinite Postal Strike from 05th July-2011.

The Postal Services in India is the biggest in the world, with a tradition of serving the people of this country for the last 150 years. There are about 1,55,000 Post Offices , 392 Railway Mail Service Sorting Offices. Collection, Processing, Conveyance and delivery of Postal articles including Speed Post , Registered Post, Parcels, Periodicals, Ordinary letters etc. is the main function of the Postal Department. In addition to this the INDIA POST is running the largest Bank called Post offices Savings Bank and also Postal Life Insurance including Rural Postal Life Insurance, as the agency functions of the Finance Ministry, Govt. of India. There are about 5,50,000 employees working in the Postal Department out of which 3,00000 are Gramin Dak Sevaks mostly in the rural Post Offices.

The Postal Joint Council of Action comprising National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) , Federation of National Postal Organizations (FNPO), All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union (AIPEDEU) and National Union of Gramin Dak Sevaks(NUGDS)' representing 95% of the employees, has decided to go on Indefinite All India Strike from 5th July 2011. The Bhartiya Postal Employees Federation (BPEF) affiliated to BMS has also given separate notice for indefinite strike from 6th July, 2011. The memorandum regarding the decision for indefinite strike was given to the Secretary, Department of Posts, on 20th April, 2011 itself and the formal Strike Notice was served on 14.06.2011.Three rounds of discussions with Secretary, Department of Posts, took place on 06.06.2011, 07.06.2011 and 27.06.2011, but failed due to the adamant position taken by the Postal authorities.

The Postal Board has appointed the Chicago-based multi-national Consultancy called Mckinsey for optimizing the mail network of INDIA POST. The Department has now started implementing the Mail Network Optimization Project (MNOP) recommended by the Mckinsey. As a first step speed Post hubs are introduced. As per this scheme the existing 315 National Speed Post Centres (NSPC) has been reduced to 89 speed post hubs. Speed post articles booked for delivery in the same district or nearby districts are unnecessarily

Dispatched to hubs situated hundreds of miles away for processing. From there articles are again back-routed to the delivery post offices. This has resulted in heavy delay in transmission and delivery of speed post articles. Articles which are delivered on the next day earlier are now delayed for 2 to 5 days. Time bound and speedy delivery could not be ensured and this has resulted in erosion of the customer faith in the Postal services which in turn has resulted downfall in the number of speed post articles booked and also in the revenue realized through speed post.

In-spite of the failure of the Speed Post hub experiment, the department is not ready to revert back to the old system. Instead the Postal Board now proposes to introduce hub system for first class mails including registered articles and also for delivery. The existing 366 mail sorting offices are to be closed and 89 first class mail hubs are to be introduced, just like speed post articles first class mails including registered articles of 5 or 6 revenue districts are to be pooled in hubs situated hundreds of miles away and from there they are processed and back-routed for delivery. Similarly the delivery of letters in urban areas at present done from town sub post offices are to be withdrawn and it will be concentrated in delivery hubs. The department also issued instruction to all Chief Postmaster Generals for closure and merger of 9797 urban post offices in the name of optimization. The introduction of first class mail hubs, delivery hubs and closure of offices will further aggravate the delay in transmission and delivery of postal articles and curtailment of postal facilities to the public. Naturally public will loos their faith in the postal services and will be compelled to depend upon courier services.

The JCA has demanded the Postal Board to roll back the speed post hubs and also to reject the proposal to introduce first class mail hubs and delivery hubs and stop closure of offices. But the Postal Board has taken an adamant stand and is unilaterally going ahead with the implementation of Mckinsey recommendations.

The JCA has also demanded the Postal Board to concede the legitimate sectional demands of the Gramin Dak Sevaks, Casual Labourers and other cadres of the Postal department such as Postal Assistants, Sorting Assistants, Postmen, Mail guard, Multi-tasking Staff, System Administrators, PO & RMS Accountants, Postal Accounts Employees, Administrative Staff, SBCO Staff, MMS and Civil Wing employees. The 25 point Charter of demands submitted to the Secretary, Department of Posts, is enclosed herewith

As employees of all the Federations and Unions irrespective of their union affiliations are participating in the strike, the entire postal services will be paralyzed from 5thJuly, 2011.

We earnestly solicit your support for the justified demands of the Postal employees and intervention at Government level for settlement of the demands raised in the Charter of Demands.

Yours Sincerely


Revision of Allowances consequent on increase in DA by 50%

Since the Dearness Allowance raised to 51% w.e.f. 01/01/11, vide Min of Fin, Deptt of Exp. Letter No. 1(2)/2011-E-II (B) dated 24th March, 2011, the under mentioned Rates on account of TA/DA will be revised as given below w.e.f. 01 Jan 2011.

The revised rates are as under

1. Mileage allowance for Road journey shall be regulated at the fallowing rates in places where no specific rates have been prescribed either by Director of Transport of the concerned States or of the neighboring States.

Sr No

Particulars

Existing Rate

Revised Rates

Remarks

i

Own Car/ Taxi

Rs 16/- Per km

Rs.20/-

Rs 16 + 25%

ii

Auto Rickshow/Own Scotter

Rs.8/-

Rs10/-

Rs 8 +25%

2 The rates of mileage Allowance for journeys on bicycle

Particulars

Existing Rate

Revised Rates

Remarks

Journey by bicycle

Rs.1.20

Rs1.50

1.20 + 25%

3. DA on Tour

Sr. No

Grade Pay

Particulars

Existing Rate

Revised Rates

Remarks

I

Rs 10,000 & above

Accommodation Charges

Rs.5000/-

Rs.6250/-

Rs.5000 + 25%

Food Bill

Rs500/-

Rs.625/-

Rs.500+ 25%

Taxi Charges

For 50 Kms by A/C Taxi

--

--

ii

Rs.7600 to 8900

Accommodation Charges

Rs.3000/-

Rs.3750/-

Rs.3000 + 25%

Food Bill

Rs300/-

Rs375/-

Rs.300 + 25%

Taxi Charges

For 50 Kms by non A/C Taxi

---

---

iii

5400 to 6600

Accommodation Charges

Rs1500/-

Rs.1875/-

Rs.1500 + 25%

Food Bill

Rs200/-

Rs.250/-

Rs.200 + 25%

Taxi Charges

Rs.150/-

187.50

Rs.150 + 25%

4. Allowance for Journey on foot :-

Sr. No.

Particulars

Existing Rate

Revised Rate

Remarks

i

Allowance for Journey on foot.

Rs.5.00 Per km

Rs.6.25 Per km

5.00 + 25%

5. Rates of Transportation of personal effects:-

Class of City

Existing Rate

Revised Rate

Remarks

X & Y Cities

0.005 per kg per km

(For 60 Qtls Rs 30/- per Km)

0.00625 per kg per km

(For 60 Qtls Rs 37.50 Per km

Rs0.005 + 25%

(For 60 Qtls Rs.30 +25%)

Z Class Cities

0.003 per kg per km

(For 60 Qtls Rs 18/- per Km)

0.00375 per kg per km

(For 60 Qtls Rs 22.50 Per km

Rs0.003 + 25%

(For 60 Qtls Rs.18+25%)

Clarification on Children Education Allowance

No.21011/16/2009-Estt.(AL)
Government of India
Ministry of Personnel, P.G. & Pensions
Department of Personnel & Training
***

New Delhi, Dated 17th June, 2011

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: - Clarification on Children Education Allowance.

The undersigned is directed to refer to DOP&T O.M. No.12011/03/2008-Estt(Allowance) dated 02-09-2008 and clarificatory OM No.12011/16/2009-Estt.(AL) dated 13.11.2009 on the Children Education Allowance(CEA) Scheme, this Department has been receiving references from various Departments seeking further clarifications. The doubts raised are clarified as under:

(i) whether Children Education Allowance would be admissible beyond two children due to failure of sterilization operation.

The reimbursement of Children Education Allowance is admissible only for the first child born after failure of sterilization operation

(ii) whether the admissible amount per annum per child (annual ceiling of Rs.15000/-) on account of CEA can be reimbursed in full in the first quarter of the financial/academic year itself

It is clarified that a Government servant is allowed to get 50% of the total amount subject to the overall annual ceiling in the first quarter and the remaining amount in third and or fourth quarter. Frontloading of the entire amount in the first and second quarters is not allowed.

(ii) A Government servant claim full amount subject to annual ceiling of Rs.15000/- in last quarter.

sd/-
(Vibha Govil Mishra)

Deputy Secretary (P&A)

Tuesday, June 28, 2011


FLASH NEWS

POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES

FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANISATIONS

ALL INDIA POSTAL EXTRA DEPARTMENTAL EMPLOYEES

NATIONAL UNION OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS

NEW DELHI – 110001

DISCUSSION WITH POSTAL BOARD AGAIN FAILED

DEPARTMENT ADAMANT ON IMPLEMENTING McKINSEY RECOMMENDATIONS

CENTRAL JCA DECIDES TO GO AHEAD WITH THE STRIKE

The third round of discussion held with the Postal Board today (27.06.2011) at 3 PM also failed due to the adamant position taken by the Department. Ms. Radhika Doraiswamy, Secretary, Department of Posts, Sri. P. K. Giopinath, Member (Personnel), Mrs. Manjula Parashar, Member (Operations), Sri. Kamaleshwar Prasad, Member (HR) and other Senior Officers were present. Staff side was represented by Secretary Generals, NFPE, FNPO and other General Secretaries.

Immediately on commencement of the meeting the Staff Side expressed its strong resentment and protest against the decision of the Department to go ahead with the Mckinsey recommendations regarding Mail Network Optimisation Project. The Staff side demanded that the aleady failed experiment of speed post hubs should be withdrawn immediately and the decision to implement first class mails hubs and delivery hubs and closure/merger of offices should be dropped. After heated discussion for about two hours no consensus could be arrived on this important agenda of the Charter of Demands. Hence meeting ended with disagreement.

The Central JCA met after the discussion with Postal Board and took the following decisions: -

1. The JCA unanimously decided to go ahead with the strike decision.

2. Campaign and preparations at grass root level for the strike should be further intensified.

3. The indefinite strike shall commence at 6 AM on 05.07.2011

4. 100% strike should be ensured in all Branches/Divisions and Circles.

5. Strike shall not be withdrawn unless and until result – oriented settlement is reached on important items of Charter of Demands.

Monday, June 27, 2011


CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES &

WORKERS.

24th June: 2011 N O T I C E

Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the Secretariat of the Confederation to be held at Chennai on 30th July, 2011. The meeting will begin at 11-30 A.M. The exact venue of the meeting will be communicated by the Tamil Nadu State Committee. The meeting will deliberate upon the following agenda:

(a) Review of the campaign programme if any undertaken to popularize the charter of demands.

(b) To finalise the date for the next phase of programme of action.

(c) The implication of deems taken at the Joint Covention on PFRDA Bill at Delhi on 22-7-2011.

(d) Any other matter with the permission of the Chair.

The first meeting of the women committee formed by the National women's convention at Kolkata will also be held at Chennai at the same venue. The meeting of the women committee will begin at 3-00 P.M. The convenor of the Committee will circulate the agenda for discussion in due course:




OPTIMIZATION OR LIQUIDATION?

OPTIMIZATION OR LIQUIDATION?

The Mail Network Optimization Project (MNOP) has become Mail Network Liquidation Project (MNLP). Implementation of the "Speed Post hub" experiment has resulted in reducing 315 National Speed Post Centres to 89 speed post hubs

. Introduction of the "First Class Mail hubs" will result in gradual extinction of 366 RMS Mail Sorting Offices. Delivery hubs will further result in withdrawal of delivery from hundreds of Urban Post Offices. The proposed closure


or merger of 9797 urban Post offices will sound the death-knell of Post services. Is it optimization or liquidation?

Department of Posts is paying Consultancy fees to Mckinsey and Mckinsey is not paying any money to the INDIA POST. But the Mckinsey is behaving as if they have purchased the INDIA POST and are the real owner of it. They are passing orders to the employees above the head of departmental officers. Even Heads of Circles are bound to obey Mckinsey. Voice of the right-thinking employees and officers are suppressed and only those support Mckinsey are allowed to run the show.

Creation of hubs has resulted in abnormal delay in conveyance and delivery of speed post articles and everywhere back-routing is taking place. Even articles meant for local delivery are unnecessarily despatched to the hubs situated hundreds of miles away and from there again back-routed to the delivery Post offices causing avoidable delay. Speed post has lost its speed and the faith of public in this premium services has been shaken. Number of articles and revenue has come down. Still the authorities blindly go on repeating that it is a great success. It is just like "operation is successful, but the patient died". The introduction of the first class mails hubs and delivery hubs will be the "beginning of the demise of the Postal Services in India".


An Individual having income not exceeding Rs. 5 lacs from salaries/other sources is not required to file return u/s 139(1)

The Central Board of Direct Taxes has notified the scheme exempting salaried taxpayers with total income up to Rs.5 lakh from filing income tax return for assessment year 2011-12, which will be due on July 31, 2011. Individuals having total income up to Rs.5,00,000 for FY 2010-11, after allowable deductions, consisting of salary from a single employer and interest income from deposits in a saving bank account up to Rs.10,000 are not required to file their income tax return. Such individuals must report their Permanent Account Number (PAN) and the entire income from bank interest to their employer, pay the entire tax by way of deduction of tax at source, and obtain a certificate of tax deduction in Form No.16. Persons receiving salary from more than one employer, having income from sources other than salary and interest income from a savings bank account, or having refund claims shall not be covered under the scheme. The scheme shall also not be applicable in cases wherein notices are issued for filing the income tax return under section 142(1) or section 148 or section 153A or section 153C of the Income Tax Act 1961.

NOTIFICATION NO. 36/2011 F. NO. 142/09/2011 (TPL), DATED 23-6-2011

In exercise of the powers conferred by sub-section (1C) of section 139 of the Income-tax Act, 1961 (43 of 1961), the Central Government hereby exempts the following class of persons, subject to the conditions specified hereinafter, from the requirement of furnishing a return of income under sub-section (1) of section 139 for the assessment year 2011-12, namely :—


Class of Persons

1. An Individual whose total income for the relevant assessment year does not exceed five lakh rupees and consists of only income chargeable to income-tax under the following head,—


(A) "Salaries";

(B) "Income from other sources", by way of interest from a savings account in a bank, not exceeding ten thousand rupees.

Conditions

2. The individual referred to in para 1,—

(i) has reported to his employer his Permanent Account Number (PAN);

(ii) has reported to his employer, the incomes mentioned in sub-para (B) of para 1 and the employer has deducted the tax thereon;

(iii) has received a certificate of tax deduction in Form 16 from his employer which mentions the PAN, details of income and the tax deducted at source and deposited to the credit of the Central Government;

(iv) has discharged his total tax liability for the assessment year through tax deduction at source and its deposit by the employer to the Central Government;

(v) has no claim of refund of taxes due to him for the income of the assessment year; and

(vi) has received salary from only one employer for the assessment year.

3. The exemption from the requirement of furnishing a return of income-tax shall not be available where a notice under section 142(1) or section 148 or section 153A or section 153C of the Income-tax Act has been issued for filing a return of income for the relevant assessment year.

4. This notification shall come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Confederation Circular Dated: 23rd June 2011

POSTAL STRIKE

Dear Comrade,

We write this to solicit your support and solidarity for the postal workers of the country who are preparing to go on indefinite strike action from 5th July 2011 onwards. The National Federation of Postal employees (NFPE), All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union (AIPEDEU), the two affiliates of the confederation has under the banner of the Joint Council of Action with the Federation of National Postal Organizations (affiliated to INTUC) and the National Union of Gramin Dak Sewak(affiliated to INTUC) have served the Strike notice on 14th June 2011 on the Postal Board. The Strike action will commence on 5th July, 2011.

The Issues

1. Some time back, the Department of Post, appointed the World (in) famous Transnational Corporation, Mckinzey Consultancy to make recommendations to it as to the manner and methodology to be adopted to restructure the century old postal system of the country. While the avowed objective was to modernize the system and make it a profit making venture, the real intent was to reorganize the department in such a manner so as to equip itself viable for privatization/corporatization. Earlier the Postal Department had made several attempts to privatize its functions and in the process large scale outsourcing was also resorted to. With the prime objective of eroding the efficacy of the Postal department, various steps were undertaken like, closure of sorting units, cutting down the staff strength despite widening business ventures, pegging down the overtime rates by linking it to pre-1986 pay scales etc. Thrice the Government made attempts to introduce legislation in the parliament to grant license to courier service providers. The stubborn resistance of the M.Ps especially of the left parties and a few others in the parliament and the struggles organized by the employees at the work spot thwarted it successfully till date. However, systematically and meticulously the Department had been creating conditions whereby the customers moved away to patronize the private courier services, run illegally without any licence whatsoever. Surprisingly even Government Departments, which are to communicate with large number of people often became customers of such illegally run private courier service providers The Mckinzey consultancy who is yet to make its final report, has however, suggested certain measures in the name of Mail Network optimization project which the postal department has now decided to implement without causing any discussions whatsoever with any of the stake holders, especially the unions. Their suggestions include:

(a) Closure/merger of about 9797 post offices in the urban area

(b) Reduce the number of Speed Post Centre from 315 to 89.

(c) Reduce the RMS sorting centres from 412 to 84

(d) To redeploy the postman staff in the newly created "Delivery hubs"

2. The major chunks of the postal workers are Gramin Dak Sewaks or Extra-departmental Agents. The EDA was the system developed by the British Government to spread the postal communication system to far flung rural areas of the country. They were simply agents or franchisees and were appointed so for pittance of a remuneration. Their cause was taken up by the unions of regular employees, the NFPE and its constituents and the FNPO, in the post-independent era and through sustained struggles fetched them very many concessions, benefits and privileges and brought them nearly on par with the regular employees. When the 5th CPC was set up in 1993, the Postal department was forced to appoint a Judicial Commission (The Talwar Commission) to go into the wage-structure and other service conditions of the Extra Departmental Agents, presently called the Gramin Dak Sewaks. The committee made far reaching recommendations, a good number of which the Government had to accept and implement, (except civil servant status and pension) thereby improving the lot of these employees considerably. However, the committee set up in the wake of the 6th CPC, the Natarajamurthy committee headed by a retired Postal bureaucrat, ensured that the EDAs were reduced to casual part time workers reversing in the process, decisions taken on the basis of Talwar Commission suggestions. Most of the committee's recommendations were in sync with the neo-liberal economic policies. The rules governing their service conditions have now been unilaterally amended whereby they may not be even termed as "employees" hereafter. The very caption of the regulatory rules which was GDS-Conduct and Employment rules have now been changed to GDS- Conduct and engagement rules, reducing them to the status of a Contract Worker.

In the negotiations which took place on 6th and 7th June, 2011 the Postal authorities have stuck to their stand of implementing the decision to create Speed Post and First Class mail hubs, despite their inability to contradict the fact presented by the staff side that the creation of such hubs has resulted in abnormal delay in the delivery of articles benefiting the private operators. It has, therefore, become unambiguously clear that without organizing sustained struggles and eliciting the support of the entire section of the working people and garnering public opinion, the reversal of the decision would not come about. The undeniable fact that Government and the Postal department armed with the recommendation of the Mckency consultancy are determined to demolish the existing postal system in the country to pave way for the unhindered entry of private operators has to be defeated.

We therefore once again request you to extend your co-operation, support and solidarity to make the proposed indefinite strike successful to compel the Government to rescind their decision to act upon McKenzie recommendations in the Postal Department.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

K K N Kutty.

Secretary General

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

JCA, NATIONAL CONVENTION – CHENNAI:


National Convention of Postal Joint Council of Action (JCA) comprising NFPE,FNPO and GDS Unions was held at Chennai on 19.06.2011.The Convention was presided over by Joint Presidium of Presidents NFPE,FNPO, AIPEDEU and NUGDS i.e. Com.D.K. Rahate, Com.T.N. Rahate, Com.D.N.Giri and Com.G. Satyanarayana Reddy respectively.
Hundreds of All India Office Bearers and Circle Secretaries of all unions of NFPE, FNPO, AIPEDEU and NUGDS participated in the convention from all corners of country. The convention was inaugurated by Com. D.Theagarajan Secretary General FNPO who described the need of calling National Convention of JCA to form a broader unity among the postal workers to fight against policies of Department of Posts and to resist Mckinsey dictated reforms. He appealed to entire rank and file to sink the differences if any between the workers and make the 5thJuly strike grand success.
Com.M.Krishnan Secretary General NFPE elaborately described all the issues confronting to all Postal, RMS and GDS employees. He informed that how the Postal Board is going ahead to implement the Corporate plan in the name of Mail Optimization and as per directions of Mckinsey Company going to minimize the number of RMS Offices in the name of Mail Hubs and reduction of number of Post Offices in the urban areas by way of closure/merger or relocation .He also stated that every cadre is being attacked by different ways. Formation of delivery hubs and abolition of post of Sorting Postman and non-fixation of any norms for the distance of beat to be travelled by Postman and arbitrary implementation of single batch system are the causes of trouble to Postman. Like wise the GDS is worst effected, 25% posts of Postman vacancies have been declared for open market. Cash handling point has been increased. Compassionate appointment ceiling has been fixed as 10% and now GDS conduct and employment rules have been modified as GDS Conduct and Engagement Rules.
The wages of contingent employees and Casual Labourers have not been revised till date. Like wise all cadres i.e. P.O. & RMS Accountants, System Administrators, Postal Accounts Staff, MMS Drivers and Artisan staff and other are the worst sufferers. He called upon the entirety of Postal, RMS and GDS employees to make every efforts to make the strike a grand success so that the existence of our Department can be saved. Now this is the time to "Do or Die" and "Now or Never". If we fight unitedly we can resist the attacks and dangers being posed by the Government and Department.
The Convention was also addressed by Com. K. Ragavendran Ex. Secretary General of NFPE. The General Secretaries of NFPE Coms. K.V. Sridharan P-III, Giri Raj Singh R-III, I.S. Dabas P-IV , P. Suresh R-IV , Pranab Bhattacharya Admn, T. Satyanarayana Postal Accounts, S.A Raheem Civil Wing and Appan Raj SBCO. The General Secretaries of FNPO Coms. G.P.Muthukrishnan (A.G.S.P-III) T.N. Rahate P-IV, A.H. Siddique R-IV, H.L.Ramtake Postal Accounts, M. Shivkumar SBCO and Antony –Dy. G/S Civil Wing also addressed the convention .
Com. S.S. Mahadeviah G/S AIPEDEU and Com. Gautam A.G.S., NU GDS also addressed the convention.
All the leaders appealed to all to make the strike grand success.
42 delegates who were the All India Office Bearers and Circle Secretaries of NFPE and FNPO and GDS Unions also expressed their views and assured to make the strike grand success.
A declaration in this regard was presented by Com. R.N.Parashar Asstt. Secretary General NFPE which was adopted by the convention unanimously.
Vote of thanks was given by Com. P.Kumar Circle Secretary R-III FNPO Tamil Nadu Circle.

The convention was concluded after the speech of President.

The convention was grand success.