Tuesday, 25 September 2012

Dear colleagues please go through this Memorandum and send your views


MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY THE POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
(NFPE & FNPO) TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS, NEW DELHI ON MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY THE POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
(NFPE & FNPO) TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS, NEW DELHI ON ………………........
 MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED BY THE POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION
(NFPE & FNPO) TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS, NEW DELHI ON ………………........

 ........

The meeting of the Postal Joint Council of Action (PJCA) comprising Secretary General and General Secretaries of the National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) and the Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) held at ………..........on................ registers with severe concern on the protracted delay and also the lethargic attitude and highly deplorable attitude of the Postal Board in implementing the assurances made repeatedly to the Staff Side on the following issues on numerous occasions thereby causing large scale resentment among the Postal and RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual, Part-time contingent employees. This meeting further resolves to revive the agitational programme of the JCA including Hunger fast and indefinite strike in the event of the Administration fails to implement the assurances before ............................

1.      Holding of Departmental Council (JCM) meeting and periodical meetings
In the meeting held on 12.01.2012 with the Staff Side, it was assured to hold the Departmental Council (JCM) and periodical meetings timely. After the last JCM (DC) meeting held on 10.2.2012, there is no meeting held so far in spite of the fact that the chairman of the National Council JCM has informed the Staff side that strong and clear instructions had been issued to all the Secretaries of all the Departments to ensure prompt holding of Departmental Council meetings.

in the National Anomaly Committee meeting held on 17.7.2012 under the chairmanship of Sri. P. K. Misra, Secretary,, DOP&T, the Staff Side has pointed out the non-functioning of the Departmental Council and the Chairman assured that all the Departments will be appropriately advised to revive the Departmental Council functioning, as per the JCM scheme.

Further, periodical meetings with the unions have also not been held eventhough a letter calling for submission of items for the periodical meeting was received by the Federations in the month of May 2012. (No. 02804/2012-SR dated 30.05.2012) and the unions affiliated to the Federations have already submitted the items for discussion. By this indifferent act, the Department has not only violated the written assurance accorded to the Staff Side but also defeated the spirit of collective bargaining. It seems that the Postal Board wants to avoid meetings with the Staff side on one pretext or the other. For creating compulsions to the administration to hold discussion on staff problem, every time, staff side is perforced to resort to agitational programme.

A list of pending JCM Departmental Council Items will be furnished separately.

2. Immediate finalization of cadre restructuring:
After the marathon discussions on all the problems put forth in the strike charter by the Secretary, Department of Posts to the staff side in the minutes of the discussion held on 10.01.2012& 12.1.2012 it is stated interalia;
“As recorded in the minutes of the meeting held on 27.12.2011, the proposal is under consideration of a committee under the chairpersonship of DDG (P). The Staff side expressed their concern about the undue delay in finalisation of the proposal on which the chairperson desired finalisation of this process by 31st March 2012. It was assured that the timelines would be adhered to. As regards restructuring of Postal Accounts officials, it was informed that the proposal was cleared by JS&FA and stands referred to the Secretary (Posts). It was also decided to have a separate Committee under the chairpersonship of Ms. Sandhya Rani, PMG (BD) Andhra Pradesh to consider Cadre restructuring of MMS Staff. The Committee will submit its report within three months from the date of formation.”

Again in the Minutes of the discussions held by the Staff side on 21.05.2012, it is further assured as follows:

“It was decided to formulate a proposal by 30th June 2012 for further examination in consultations with the nodal ministries” Regarding cadre restructuring of Postal Accounts it was assured that the matter will be perused further with Postal Accounts wing and Establishment division and the PJCA will be kept apprised of the progress in this regard”.

In spite of the above clear-cut assurances made by the Secretary, Department of Posts, nothing has been stimulated and the process of cadre restructuring is kept in the doldrums for the reasons best known to the administration. The undue and unwarranted delay is causing a concern and also strong resentment in the midst of the employees.

3. Revision of wages of Casual Labourers and their absorption
In the Minutes of the discussion held by the Staff side on 10.01.2012& 12.01.2012, the Secretary (Posts) has assured as follows:
“The staff side was appraised that a committee had been constituted under the chairpersonship of CPMG Assam Circle to look into the issues pertaining to casual labourers and it is likely to submit its report shortly….. The Staff side expressed its concern over the delay in the decision regarding the union’s request for revised minimum wages w.e.f. 1.1.2006. The matter will be examined on priority.”

Again in the minutes of the discussions held on 21.05.2012, it was further assured that – “A comprehensive proposal on the matter of casual labourers will be formulated by 30th June 2012.”

In spite of these repeated assurances the payment of pro-rata wages to the low-paid casual labourers w.e.f 1.1.2006 has not taken place causing abundant delay in the payment of minimum wages to those poor employees. In this regard it may be pointed out that in all other departments of Government of India the revised wages was paid in 2009 itself.

4. Issues relating to GraminDakSevaks
The following assurances specified by the Secretary (Posts) are yet to be implemented.

(a)   Enhancement of Bonus ceiling
In the matter of enhancement of the Bonus ceiling of Gramin Dak Sevaks, it was assured that another attempt will be made to send the case for approval of the Finance Ministry.
(b)   Revision of cash handling norms
On the issue of withdrawal of upward change in cash handling norms etc., it was decided to be relooked into. Minister of states for Communication has also assured the staff side that needful will be done in this case. A committee under the chairpersonship of DDG (Estt) was also constituted to re-examine the issue.

(c)    Ensuring no reduction of TRCA under any circumstances
It was assured by Minister of State for Communications that orders for full protection of existing TRCA will be issued. A committee under the chairpersonship of DDG (Estt) was also constituted to submit recommendations in this regard. It is further reported from many circles that huge reduction in the existing TRCA has been ordered by the divisional heads.
(d)   Removal of minimum 50 points condition for GDS Compassionate appointment.
(e)   Redeployment of mailman posts in new areas, eg: employment in IAP areas.
(f)     Review of cash conveyance allowance
(g)   Norms for RPLI.
(h)   Introductions of Health Scheme
(i)     Providing norms for cash remittance from BO to AO vice versa
In the minutes dated 12.07.2010 it was informed that the issue of the Health Scheme has been taken up with the nodal ministries.
Despite many assurances made, not even a single problem has been sorted out resulting growing discontentment among the GDS. The long oppressed cadre is still under the exploitation despite many assurances made by the Secretary and the Minister of State for Communications.

5. Postman, Mailguard and MTS Recruitment Rules
The revised recruitment Rules of Postmen, Mailguard and MTS has become more retrograde than the earlier one, as it denied GDS the following benefits which were earlier availed by them as per the existing recruitment rules.

(a)   As per the existing Postmen Recruitment Rules 50% of the Posts are offered for MTS. 25% by Seniority and 25% by examination. The unfilled vacancy allotted to MTS will be offered to GDS on merit quota. But as per the revised recruitment Rules, 25% Seniority quota promotion has been removed and entire 50% MTS quota will be filled up through examination. Further the unfilled MTS quota vacancy will not be given to GDS on merit quota but will be offered for open quota recruitment. Most of the MTS are not willing to avail promotion as postmen and the majority of the MTS quota vacancies remain unfilled. Those vacancies were earlier offered to GDS. Now they are deprived of their fair chance.
(b)   Over and above the open quota recruitment which was included in the Postmen Recruitment Rules, again 25% quota recruitment was included in the MTS Recruitment Rules also; thereby again reducing the chances of promotion of GDS. Further 25% seniority quota promotion in MTS promotion for GDS is also removed.
The Staff side has repeatedly demanding for earmarking of the entire vacancies (including unfilled MTS Quota vacancy) in the Postmen cadre to GDS and the administration has also agreed for it. But the revised recruitment rules have become more retrograde.



6. Issuing orders on the items finalised by the Postmen committee and also follow up action on certain items to be referred to work study unit
Follow up action on certain recommendation of the Postmen Committee is yet to be completed i.e. maximum beat length, unscientific resorting to single Postman beats, Double duty, correction in the definition of congested area etc.

7. Problem of Postmaster Cadre officials
(a) Allowing the Postmaster Cadre officials to appear for IPO/PSS Group B examination.
(b) Orders permitting the Postmaster Cadre officials to officiate in HSG-I Vacancy.
(c) Permitting Postmasters Cadre officials to decline promotion after issuing the posting order but before joining the post.

In the minutes of the discussion held on 21.05.2012 the Secretary (Posts) has assured as follows on the above items.
“The issue was discussed at length and it was decided to review it after some time keeping in view the merits and demerits of the proposal as well as the response of the officials opting for Postmaster Cadre,”
The minutes did not reflect the real spirit of discussions as it was assured to consider favourably the above items after a long discussion. However, now three months are over; it is high time to review the above cases and settle favourably. The entire Postmaster cadre officials are totally frustrated and disappointed due to the negative attitude of the administration towards them.

8. Problems of System Administrators
In the minutes of the Departmental Council JCM Standing Committee dated 02.02.2012 (communicated in letter dated 06.06.2012)for the 15 items pertaining to SAs including creation of a separate cadre, it is furnished as follows.
“The issue is under the consideration of the cadre restructuring committee constituted under the chairmanship of DDG (P) vide Department’s office memo no. 01/04/2010-SR dated 05.05.2011”
Finalisation of the proposals by the cadre restructuring committee is being delayed abnormally. Further all the remaining items other than creation of separate cadre mentioned in the JCM item need not be delayed till the finalisation of the cadre restructuring. There is large scale resentment among the system Administrators.

9. Implementation of L1, L2 System for first class mails
In the minutes of the meeting held on 21.05.2012, the Secretary (Posts) has assured that –“Further discussions in the regard to be held with Member (Operations) on 29.05.2012 A/N.” But till this day no formal meeting was held with Member (O).

10. MACP related issues
Recently the DOP&T has published FAQ on MACP. To a pointed question it is clarified as follows;
Question No. 2 –From which date MACP is effective?
Reply – MACP is effective w.e.f. 1.9.2008 or on completion of 10, 20, 30 years of continuous regular service. Financial upgradation will also be admissible whenever a person has spent 10 years continuously in the same grade pay. (Para-9 of OM No. dated 19.05.2009).
From the above clarification it is clear that an official who is promoted from the postmen post to PA cadre is eligible for 1st, 2nd and 3rd MACP in the PA cadre on completion of 10, 20 and 30 years’ service in the PA cadre and the official who is promoted from Group ‘D’ to postmen and then from postmen to PA is eligible for 1st, 2nd and 3rd MACP on completion of 10, 20, 30 years of service in the PA cadre. Necessary clarification in this regard may be issued to all concerned.
In this regard the Jodhpur Bench of the CAT has also issued an unambiguous order quoting the Supreme Court Judgments. It is high time that the Department honour the above CAT judgment and DOP&T clarifications.



No comments:

Post a Comment