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.
