No. 08-12/2017-SR
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
(SR Section)

Dak Bhawan, New Delhi
Dated: 01st August, 2017

To,
The Secretary General,
National Federation of Postal Employees,
1st Floor, North Avenue P.O. Building,
New Delhi – 110001.

Subject : Trade Union action including one day strike on 23.08.2017 call given by National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) in support of their demands.

Sir,
I am directed to refer to your letter No. PF-12-C/2017 dated Nil on the above mentioned subject. The charter of demands has been examined by the concerned Divisions and replies to each item of demands showing the present status are enclosed herewith.

2.As many of your demands have been settled and few are under active consideration of the Department, it is requested that the proposed agitation including the one day strike called by you on 23.08.2017 may be called off.

Yours faithfully,

sd/-
(P. S. Verma)
Director (SR & Legal)

Charter of demands submitted by NFPE vide letter dated 05.06.2017:

Demand / Reply

1. Filling up of all vacant posts in all cadres of Department of Posts i.e. PA, SA, Postmen, Mailguard, Mailmen, MTS, PACO, PASBCO, Postal Accounts and GDS.

REPLY

GDS: Process of online engagement of GDS has already been started to fill up vacant post of GDS in 17 Circles. Due to technical snags in the online engagement software, process in remaining Circles will be started only after process in 17 Circles will finalize.

PA/SA: Result of PA/SA for the year 2015 is kept in abeyance as the matter is sub judice. Vacancies of PA/SA for the year 2016 have already been intimated to SSC.

LGO exam for promotion to the cadre of PA/SA for deputation to APS has been conducted on 04.06.2017.

LGOs exam for promotion to Assistants in MMS, Foreign Post, RLO, Stores Depot and CO/RO has been held on 16.07.2017.

In r/o other exams, viz. IP Exam 2016-17, PM Grade I and PS Group B 2017-18, LGOs to PAs/SAs 2016-17 and 2017-18, engagement of new approved Agency is in the pipeline. MoU between Department and Agency is to be signed.

For the Postman/Mail Guard and MTS cadre exams, instructions have been issued to all the Circles to fill up the vacancies by giving top priority.

Calendar of departmental Examinations scheduled to be held in the year 2017-18 has already been issued to all the Circles by giving tentative schedule for filling up the vacancies of decentralized examination i.e. PO & RMS Accountant Examination, LDCs to Junior Accountants in PAOs (Exam has been conducted by respective Circles), LGOs examination for promotion to Assistants of other wings i.e. MMS, Foreign Post, RLO, Stores Depot and CO/RO and other exams

2. Implementation of positive recommendations of GDS Committee Report. Grant of civil servant status to GDS.

REPLY

The recommendations of the Kamlesh Chandra Committee have been considered by the Department of Posts and mandatory approvals are being obtained in this regard.

As far as grant of civil servant status to GDS is concerned, it is stated that according to Rule 3-A (v) of GDS Conduct Rules 2011, a Sevak shall be outside the Civil Service of the Union. Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in the matter of Superintendent of Post Offices vs PK Rajamma (1977) (3) SCC held that the Extra Departmental Agents {now called Gramin Dak Sevaks} are holders of the civil post outside the regular civil services. Moreover, they are part time employees being engaged for maximum of 5 hrs a day. In the light of above legal position demand of the Federation cannot be acceded to

3. Membership verification of GDS and declaration of result of regular employees’ membership verification.

REPLY

GDS Verification:

The instructions have already been issued to all Circles to conduct the re-verification of membership of GDS employees vide this office letter No. 13-01/2016-SR dated 20.06.2017.

Declaration of result of regular employees’ membership verification:
The concerned file is being processed and the result is likely to be declared shortly

4. Stop all types of harassment and victimization in the name of new schemes and technology induction and under contributory negligence factor and Trade Union victimization.

REPLY

FS Division has informed that no new schemes are launched by that Division on behalf of DoP. The DoP is operating Small Savings Schemes on behalf of MoF.

PLI Directorate has informed that they have completed roll out of Core Insurance Solution (CIS) as on 25.01.2016 to 808 HOs and 24598 Sub Post Offices as per the information provided by Circles. Roll out of RICT has not been initiated so far. They have also informed that at no point of time any case of harassment & victimization of staff has come to their notice

5. Payment of revised wages and arrears to the casual, part-time, contingent employees and daily rated mazdoors as per 6th & 7th CPC .

REPLY

The order in respect of minimum pay for calculation of pay of casual labourers (without temporary status) has already been issued vide this office letter no. 7-10/2016-PCC dated 31.03.2017

6. Stop Privatization, Contractorization and outsourcing.

REPLY

There is no proposal of corporatization/privatization at this juncture. The Department is making efforts to give better and competitive services to the customers specifically in the areas of insurance, banking and parcels.

7. Implement cadre restructuring for left out categories i.e. RMS, MMS, PACO, PASBCO, Postmaster Cadre Postal Accounts etc. and accept the modifications suggested by Federation before implementation of cadre restructuring in Postal Group ‘C’.

REPLY

The cadre restructuring of left out cadres, i.e. RMS, PACO and PASBCO is currently under examination in consultation with the Department of Expenditure. The matter of cadre restructuring of Postmaster Cadre will be examined thereafter.

A Committee has been constituted, vide this office letter no. 25-04/2012-PE-I dated 09.06.2017, under the Chairmanship of Shri Charles Lobo, CPMG Karnataka Circle, to examine the issues arising out of implementation of Cadre Restructuring of Group C employees.

Cadre review of MMS is under active consultation with Ministry of Finance, DoE.

Source: http://nfpe.blogspot.in/

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A plea was today filed in the Delhi High Court by Indian National Trade Union Congress (INTUC) seeking directions to the AAP government and EDMC to release arrears of the corporation’s employees.

A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath tagged the matter with the other pleas seeking payment of salary of the sanitation workers of the three corporations as well on the issue of their strike.

All the matters are listed for hearing on February 15.

The petition filed by D P Chandel, President of INTUC, has sought directions to the Delhi government and East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) to release arrears as per the sixth pay commission to employees of the civic body.

The plea, also by Rakesh Vaid, General Secretary of INTUC, has prayed for release of salaries within the first week of each month.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government told the court that the plea has been filed by a trade union having affiliation to a certain political party.

PTI

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A meeting of Confederation of Central Government Gazetted Officers Organisations (CCGGOO) delegation with DOP&T Secretary is scheduled to be held on 13th October 2015 (Tuesday) at 10.30Hrs in North Block, New Delhi.

A meeting of the National Council (JCM) Staff side with Joint Secretary, DOP&T, Joint Secretary (Pers.) Department of Expenditure and Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour is scheduled to be held on Friday, the 9th October 2015 at 1500 hours in Room No.190, Conference Room, North Block, New Delhi, to discuss the issues raised in the Charter of Demands of 02/09/15 All India Strike which includes

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

• Effect wage revision of the Central Government Employees from 01.01.2014 accepting memorandum of the staff side JCM; ensure 5-year wage revision in future; grant interim relief and merger of 100% of DA; Include Gramin Dak Sevaks within the ambit of 7th CPC. Settle all anomalies of 6th CPC.
• Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity.
• Remove the ceiling on payment on bonus
• Urgent measures for containing price-rise through universalisation of public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity market.
• Containing unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation. No ban on creation of new posts. Fill up all vacant posts.
• Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measure for violation for labour laws. Against Labour Law Amendments
• No labour reforms which are inimical to the interest of the workers.
• Universal social security cover for all
• Scrap PFRDA Act and re-introduce the defined benefit statutory pension scheme. Assured enhanced pension not less than Rs. 3000/- P.M. for the entire working population.
• Fix minimum wage with provisions of indexation.
• Stoppage of disinvestment in Central/State PSUs. Stoppage of contractorisation in permanent perennial work and payment of same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work.
• No outsourcing, contractorisation, privatization of governmental functions; withdraw the proposed move to close down the printing presses, the publications, form stores and stationery departments and medical stores Depots; regularize the existing daily-rated/casual and contract workers and absorption of trained apprentices.
• Compulsory registration of Trade unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting applications; and immediate ratification of ILO Convention C 87 and C 98.
• Revive the JCM functioning at all level as an effective negotiating forum for settlement of the demands of the Central Government Employees.
• Against FDI in Railways, Insurance and Defence.
• No Privatisation, PPP or FDI in Railways, Defence Establishment and no corporatization of Postal services.
• Remove arbitrary ceiling on compassionate appointment.

Source: CCGGOO

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Press Release

2nd September 2015

CITU Salutes the Working Class of India for the Historic Strike On 2nd September 2015

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions congratulates and salutes the working class of India for the unprecedented and historic strike today against the anti worker, anti people and anti national policies of the BJP led NDA government.

Over 15 crores workers employed in almost all the sectors of the country’s economy covering the organised and unorganised sectors, public and private sectors, the central and state government sectors and the scheme workers participated in this strike. Protest demonstrations, rasta roko and rail roko were held across the country in which thousands of workers participated.

Police was used on the workers in several states. The Trinamool government in West Bengal used the brutal force of its police as well as its goons to physically attack the workers on strike. In fact attack by Trinamool goons to foil the strike started at least three days before the strike date and during this period several processions and meetings for strike campaign in different places in the state were attacked, offices were ransacked and many activists were injured. On the day of the strike, police along with Trinamool goons carried on brutal attacks on the strikers and TU activists throughout the state severely injuring many of the activists including senior leaders. Workers and their leaders were arrested in several places in the state. Police resorted to severe lathi charge and arrests in many other states including Assam, Jammu and Kashmir etc. CITU congratulates the workers, particularly in West Bengal for heroically resisting these attacks and participating in the strike in a massive manner.

In many states, including West Bengal, Kerala, Tripura, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Telangana, Himachal Pradesh, many districts of Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh etc the strike turned into a virtual bandh with road transport and normal activities coming to a grinding halt. The manufacturing activities in several industrial clusters across the country totally stopped due to the strike.

The unprecedented response to the strike reflects the anger and resentment of the workers against the attacks on their working and living conditions and the attempts to deny their basic justifys by amending the labour laws to benefit the national and multinational corporations. It reflects the anger at ignoring their basic demands that were being raised since the last several years. It also reflects the determination of the working class to fight back the nefarious design of the corporate-serving Govt at the centre to impose slavery on them through draconian changes in all labour laws. Through this strike the working class of India has warned the government that it was not going to take lying down the attacks on its basic justifys. It also warned the government that policies that mortgage the country to corporate interests, both foreign and domestic will not be tolerated.

The CITU extends its gratitude to the massive support and solidarity extended to the strike by various sections of the people including kisans, agricultural workers, adivasis etc.

CITU demands the government to scrap all the anti worker amendments to the labour laws and take immediate concrete action on all the demands raised by the joint trade union movement.

It calls upon the working class to further strengthen the unity at the grass root level and be prepared for more intense struggles if the government chooses to continue with its policies.

Issued by,

(TAPAN SEN)
General Secretary

Source: Confederation

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Inter Ministerial Committee Holds Wider Consultations with Trade Unions on Charter of Demands Appeals to Reconsider Proposed Call for Strike in View of Discussions

The Second meeting of Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) continued discussion on 12 Demands Charter of Trade Unions for the second day here today in continuation of discussions held yesterday. The Committee comprises Shri Arun Jaitley, Finance Minister, Shri Bandaru Dattatreya, MoS(IC) Labour and Employment, Shri Dharmendra Pradhan, MOS(IC) Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Jitendra Singh, MoS DOPT, and Shri Piyush Goel, MoS (IC),Power. During the discussions Trade Unions expressed concern and asked for clarifications on their demands. Addressing their concerns and expectations, the Finance Minister explained policies on which the Government is working and assured that the Government is committed to welfare of labour. Underlining the importance of role of Trade Unions, Shri Jaitely assured the Central Trade Unions that all labour laws reforms will be done with due discussions and tripartite consultations.

In view of the discussions held in conducive and cordial atmosphere, the IMC appealed to Trade Unions to reconsider the proposed call for strike on 2nd September, 2015.The Trade Unions have agreed to consider the appeal.

In view of the suggestions given by Central Trade Unions in the meetings held on 19th July, 26th August and 27th August, 2015, the Government assured the following :

1. Appropriate legislation for making formula based minimum wages mandatory and applicable to all employees across the country.

2. For the purposes of bonus the wage eligibility limit and calculation ceiling would be appropriately revised. Earlier in 2006-07 the calculation ceiling was decided at Rs.3500/- and eligibility limit was wage of Rs.10,000/- per month which is proposed to be revised to Rs.7,000 and Rs.21,000 respectively.

3. The Government is expanding the coverage of social security and working out ways to include construction workers, Aanganwari workers ,ASHA workers and Mid Day Meal workers..

4. Regarding contract workers the Government assured that they will be guaranteed minimum wages. Moreover, the Government is working out ways so that workers of industries will get sector specific minimum wages.

5. Government has already enhanced minimum pension for EPFO members and every pensioner gets minimum pension of Rs.1000/- per month perpetually.

6. Labour laws reforms will be based on tripartite consultations as already stated by the Prime Minister. The States are also being advised to follow the tripartite process.

7. For strict adherence to labour law enforcement, advisory has been issued to the State/UT Governments and strict monitoring has been initiated by Central Government.

8. For employment generation Mudra Yojana, Make in India, Skill India and National Career Service Portal initiatives have been taken.

9. Abolition of interviews for all primary jobs which do not require any special knowledge/expertise, is being done for transparency and expediting the process of recruitment.

10. Inflation is lowest in the last many years excepting two items onion and pulses. Government is taking necessary steps to contain the higher prices of these two commodities also.

It was further clarified that there is no ban on filling up of vacancies in Government jobs and all concerned Departments are taking necessary action to fill-up these vacancies. It was further assured that the Government is committed to job security, wages security and social security to the workers. The issue of equal wages for equal work for contract workers is an issue requiring wider consultations and a committee will be constituted, if required.

Source: PIB News

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The General Secretary of Karnataka COC Shri P.S.Prasad said in the article published in his official blog on 14.8.2015 that the real wage hike the Central Government employee is expecting is more than 80% wage hike. We reproduced full content of the article and given below for your ready reference.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Comrades,

There are various reports of wage hike from 15.79 % to 40% in news papers/social media / web sites. It is once again clarified that none of these are correct. If we go through the statement of the Finance Minister in Parliament which says the salary outgo of central government employees will go up by 9.56 per cent to Rs 1,00,619 crore in current fiscal. The pace will increase further in 2016-17 at 15.79 per cent to Rs 1.16 lakh crore with the likely implementation of the 7th Pay Commission award, the outgo towards salary will further rise in 2017-18 to over Rs 1.28 lakh crore.

The budget 2015-2016 : if go through the budget of 2015 -16 http://indiabudget.nic.in/ub2015-16/rec/tr.pdf expected tax revenue is 14,49,490.56 (In crores of rupees).

The Central Government employees wage bill is around Rs 1,00,000 crore. The actual wage bill is now at just 8.5 % of the revenue collection please see . http://finmin.nic.in/pru/BROCHURE/brochure2012-13.pdf.

The budget allocation at just 9.56 % as projected is not the real wage increase by the 7th CPC the Central Government employee is expecting, may be the 7th CPC may give higher wage increase than the budget allocation. If we go through the budget expenditure of 2008-09 when the 6th CPC was implemented the 16% of the total revenue was spent as wages.

The Government being model employer should pay its employees the real wages. The real wage hike the Central Government employee is expecting is more than 80% wage hike. Due to following factors. even the 5th CPC the wage increase was about 40% and 6th CPC recommendations the wage increase was about 40% even after merger of DA in 2004, hence the wage increase during from 2004 & 2006 together was more than 60%. Now we should hope for better wage hike from the 7th CPC.

a) The actual price rise in last decade is more than 250% , DA we got is just 119% as on 1/7/15.

b) The DA merger has not taken place as on 1/1/14 which would have given a wage hike of 25%.

c) All Government agencies such as Banks, Public sector undertakings, LIC, State Governments etc are having wage revision in 5 years, we are having only wage revision of 10 years, the price rise is eroding the wage hike in just a few years.

Let us fight for the real wage hike.

Source: http://karnatakacoc.blogspot.in/

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TRADE UNION STRIKE

6472 .    Shri BHARTRUHARI MAHTAB
SANJAY SHAMRAO DHOTRE

Will the Minister of    HOME AFFAIRS  be pleased to state:-

(a)    Whether the trade unions have organized two days strike/bandh on 20 and 21 February, 2013 in the country;

(b)    If so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;

(c)    Whether the Government has constituted a Committee to examine the reasons behind the protests and violence and if so, the details thereof; and

(d)    The details of the main recommendations of the Committee along with the outcome thereof and the follow-up action taken by the Government thereon?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI R. P. N. SINGH)

(a) & (d): Yes Madam. Trade unions have organized two days strike/bandh on 20 and 21 February, 2013 in the country. The agitation is to press for their 10-point charter of demands including check on price rise, strict enforcement of labour laws, concrete measures for employment generation, universal social security cover for workers and creation of a National Social Security Fund, stoppage of contractorisation of work of permanent/perennial nature and payment of wages and other benefits to contract workers at par with regular workers, amendment to Minimum Wages Act for fixation of statutory minimum wages @ Rs. 10,000 per month and stoppage of disinvestment in PSUs.

(c) & (d): Hon’ble Minister for Labour & Employment had held a meeting on 13.02.2013 with the representatives of All the Major Central Trade Unions and requested them not to resort to strike on 20th & 21st February, 2013. Subsequently, GOM consisting of Senior Cabinet Ministers held round of discussion on 18.02.2013 and conveyed the serious intent of the Government to resolve various issues raised in their charter of demands. Inspite of the meeting, the Major Central Trade Unions have resorted to strike on 20th & 21st February, 2013. The discussions by the GOM with the representatives of the Major Central Trade Unions is a continuous process and is scheduled next on 22.05.2013 to resolve the demands.

No Madam, No committee has been constituted by the Government to examine the reasons behind the protests and violence. However, Hon’ble Minister of Labour & Employment has held a meeting on 13.02.2013 with the representatives of Major Central Trade Union and requested them not to resort to strike on 20th & 21st February, 2013. Subsequently, GOM consisting of Senior Cabinet Ministers held a round of discussion on 18.02.2013 and convey the serious intent of the Government to resolve various issues raised in their demand. Inspite of that all the Major Central Trade Unions resorted to strike on 20th & 21st February, 2013 throughout the country.

SOURCE-http://loksabha.nic.in

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