Dear Comrades,
THE HISTORY OF P & T TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN INDIA
Postal
Service - An Introduction
The Postal
System in India was first introduced by Lord Clive in 1756 for official
communication only. Bags used to be sent to the District Magistrates and
Collectors. The first Post Office was opened in Calcutta during 1774, for
sending communication by private persons. Postal Committee of 1852 recommended
the introduction of postage stamps and also dropped the practice of charging
the articles according to distance. During October, 1854 the postage stamp was
introduced for use in Post offices, (i.e) quarter anna postcard and half anna
envelope.
The Railway system was first
started in 1853 and thereafter expanded its linkage to all big Cities. Along
with Railways, the Postal system was also expanded. Telegraph system was
introduced in 1853.
Emerging
Trade Unions
T. U.
consciousness in India had first grown during the later half of 19th Century,
amongst the textile workers of Bombay and Nagpur. The total strike observed by
the workers of Empress Mill Nagpur in 1877 over wage rate was the first working
class struggle in the country. Between 1882 and 1890 about 25 strikes took
place in Madras & Bombay Presidencies. During 1905 to 1909 there were
continuous strikes in Bombay textile mills as well as other factories due to
economic distress, ever rising cost of living, without corresponding increase
in wages to the workers and the economic crisis caused due to imports from
Manchester, Sheffield which created the total down fall of textile mills and
also created unemployment. T. U. consciousness was emerging in the country in
the back ground of many workers struggle throughout the world.. The amalgamated
society of Railway workers of India and Burma which was formed in 1897 by Anglo
Indians and domiciled Europeans had also contributed in developing T. U.
consciousness among the Govt. employees and workers.
Beginning of
P & T Movement
The
discontentment was growing amongst the P & T employees over their service
conditions and ill treatment. During 1880, there was a sporadic strike by
Postmen of Poona, over some grievances. The Strikers were helped to a great
extent by Late Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Between 1886 to 1988 discontent was also
simmering amongst the Postal and RMS employees due to the un-hygienic working
conditions, hard work, low wages, oven like RMS Vans, long and inconvenient
hours of work and tyrannical discipline etc. as per the report published in
Amrit Bazar Patrika dated 4th March, 1886.
Postal club
incognito Trade Union
In 1905 the
Postal Club was formed at 18. Ganesh Chandra Avenue, Calcutta 13 incognito to the
Trade Union movement under the Leadership of Late Babu Tarapada Mukherji who
entered the service on 01.02.1895 as a postal employee. After the recognition
of Postal Club, it was organized 150 employees and started sending memorials to
the Government. The Presidency Postmaster called the Secretary Com. Ashwini
Kumar and told him' Look here, Aswini, if you do not give up your
Secretaryship, I will transfer you to Port Blair. He replied "I will carry
my banner of the union there too." One B. L. Advocate Sril Nirmal Sen
Gupta had joined the Postal Club and his oratory and penmanship attracted
everybody. Bombay Postal Club was also
formed in 1905 but it had started its working in 1907, which also carried only
the Trade union activities. Postal League of Dacca was first started in 1909 by Sarat Chandra Sen.
He prepared many memorials and posted to all over India which had the impact of
organizing T.U. activities through out the nation. Resultantly, the PMG had
threatened him to desist his activities or he will arrest him. But he never
cared. Then he was transferred to Imphal and had worked till 1912. At the time
of Bengal Bifurcation, he was again sent back to Dacca.
10 Days
Strike In 1908 - Com. Henry Barton, the Pioneer.
Mr. Henry
Barton, himself a telegraphist, working in Burma, started focussing attention
of the authorities on the grievances of telegraph workers through the columns
of various news papers under a psendonym. In 1906 he started a Magazine called
as Telegraph Recorder in name of a Chinese Gentleman. For the trade Union
activites and for the publication of 'Telegraph Recorder', Com. Henry Barton
was suspended from service. He was proceeded for the publication of the
journal. But the Chineese gentlemen had accepted his authorship and pleaded for
Com. Henry Barton. However the Department had transferred him from Burma to
Berhampur (Orissa). He had availed two years leave and finally established the
Indian Telegraph Association in 1908 with the head quarters at Calcutta and
launched the first strike of telegraphists which lasted for 10 days. This
successful strike had resulted in the revision of salaries to the telegraphists
and defacto recognition ensured by the method of collective bargaining. Postal
signallers who had worked in the place of telegraphists during the strike did
not get the benefits. After the Strike, Com. Henry Barton was dismissed from
the service and he become the full time worker of 'Indian Telegraph
Association'.
Merger of
Postal of Telecom & its first achievement
During 1912,
the Government has consolidated the Postal & Telecom and brought under one
Department and under the control of D. G P&T. Therefore Com. Henry Barton,
Sen Gupta & Babu Tarapada joined together and led the mass of the P&T
Workers. During the first world war (1914 to 1918), their united movement has
brought the Dearness Allowance first to Govt. employees as Rs.3/- &
Rs.5/-in the name of grain allowance.
145 days
Bombay Strike in 1920
The Russion
Revolution in 1917 has created a new atmosphere and the working class movement
had emerged with a new spirit throughout the world. It had its impact in India
also. During post war period since 1918 onwards there were series of working
class strikes in the country and the discontent was due to post war expenditure
made the life miserable and intolerable. The Postal employees are not in
exemption but they were in the forefront of working class struggle.
On 16th March 1918 Bombay City
Postmen Union was formed due to the efforts of Shri. V. G. Dalvi. Bar-at-law
and he was the first Secretary. The Postmen of Bombay City conducted a glorious
strike in September 1920 which lasted for 145 days. The telegraph messengers
had also joined the strike later. Ultimately discussions were held with the
Presidency Postmaster and Chief Supdt. of Central Telegraph office Bombay and
an agreement was reached resulting in redressal of many grievances of the
Postmen. The Postmen Union, thereafter was formed at Poona, Ahemedabad and
other places. Ultimately the Bombay Presidency Postmen and Lower Grade staff
Union had been formed and it carried the T.U. activities.
Bihar Dhoti
Strike
The Postal
Clerk was paid Rs.20/- only as pay in the year 1916. Most of the officials were
retired with the maximum of Rs.30/- or Rs.40/- atmost. Their repeated representations
yielded with no results. The staff of Muzzaffarpur H.O. had decided to come in
Dhoti for duty from 2/2/1919 to record the protest and anger. It spread to
other cities in Bihar. The Viceroy had no other alternative except to announce
an increase of Rs.10/- per head and the Dhoti agitation had ended in 4 or 5
days with successful results.
Formation of
Postal Union & others from 1920 to 1932
The All
India Post office and R.M.S union was formed in the year 1920 under the
Leadership of Babu Tarapada Mukherji. During the post war period on account of
the mounting pressure of the workers, the Government had appointed a Telegraph
Enquiry committee and a separate committee for Postal Employees under the
Chairmanship of Mr. H. H. Haseltine C.I.E. Mr. Barton was nominated as a member
of the Telegraph Enquiry Committee. But in the Postal committee, no union
representative was nominated and particularly, they denied the right to Babu
Tarapada Mukherjee, being nominated as the member of the committee.
Based on the recommendations of
these committees, time scale of pay was introduced in the place of grade system
in the year 1927. As the report was unsatisfactory, there were serious protests
among the Postal employees. Babu Tarapada demanded that pay of the clerk should
be enhanced from Rs.60/- to Rs.200/- and end the discrimination to the staff
working in R.M.S. & D.L.O as the benefit of
pay revision was not extended to them. A separate R. M.S. Union was then
formed at Gorakhpur and one more union named as "The Association of Town
Inspectors and Inspector of Post Offices' also sprang up during 1926-27 to
project their cadre interest. Between 1920 to 1932 some more unions were
formed. The Circle Offices Staff Association was recognized by the Government
in April 1930. Thus from 2 unions in 1920, it mounted to 20 by 1930. But the
degree of unionization increased consistently from 19% in 1920 to 43.75% in
1932. This rise and fall in the P & T Trade Union movement during this
period was due to the fact that the entire movement was in the hands of few leaders & mass of the workers were
not properly trained on Trade Union lines.
Babu
Tarapada demise - A blow to P & T movement
Babu
Tarapada had gone to Simla to discuss about the selection grade problems in
clerical cadre. A bogus telegram was issued in the name of Profulla (his
nephew) that "Biren attacked with small fox. Come immediately," Biren
way his elder son. Tarapada returned only after discussion of the issue. Babu
Tarapada died on 20.09.1929 which gave a blow to the P&T movement. Com. N.
C. Sengupta was elected as General Secretary and thereafter he led the
movement.
In 1931, Government has decided
upon the policy of retrenchment and decided 10% cut in salaries. This could not
be resisted effectively due to splinter groups of unions which had not come
together to launch any struggle. This stalmate was continued upto 1934, In 1934
the Government appointed the Postal Enquiry Committee known as Pasricha
Committee which recommended new scales of pay from July 31, 1934.
1939 to 1946
- 3 week Postmen strike
During 1939
to 1945, no significant movement took place due the Second World War. But the
movement under went a qualitative change. The membership in this year touched a
new height of 51%. The discontentment amongst the employees increased by leaps
and bounds as the Government did not implement the adjudicator's award (Justice
Rajadhakaya). All these resulted in Postmen strike of 1946. This was also
joined by A. I. Postal and R.M.S. Employees Union. This was called off after
three weeks when the agreement was signed. As a result of implementation of the
award, the P & T Employees were paid 15% of pay (i.e) Rs.3.75 as Grain
Compensation Allowance and Good Conduct Pay was raised to Rs.10/-. This strike
also shook the Government completely and to some extent helped the independence
struggle of the country.
1947 to 1954
With the
dawn of Independence the T.U. movement gained further momentum and U P T W
(Union of P & T workers) was formed on 13th August 1947 by merger of All
India Postal & RMS Union, the Indian P&T Union led by Com. M. A. Jabbar
and the Indian Telegraph Association led by Dr. G. Noronha. The major union of
the All India Postmen & L. G. Staff union (lead by com. G. Dalvi) however
kept out. The membership swelled from 61% in 1947 to 67% in 1950. On the eve of
Independence, 1st pay commission was appointed to set down some principles for
wage determination and rationalization of pay scales. The recommendations of
First pay commission acquired national significance as it replaced regional
scales. Within 2 years of the acceptance of recommendation of the 1st pay
commission Report, a dispute arose on the question of Dearness allowance as the
Government refused to implement the recommendations of the Commission. The
threat of strike in 1949 and later in 1951 brought some adhoc relief. The
threatened strike of 1949 had resulted in long term imprisonment of Com. O. P.
Gupta, then General Secretary U P T W and other leading comrades all over the
country. Com. Khushal Singh, Postmen, Com. Janak Gupta T. O. and a few others
were dismissed in the year 1949.
Realignment
and Formation of NFPTE
The question
of the Realignment of all the existing P&T Unions was mooted as early as
1948 and was even discussed in a conference. Again in 1952 the issue came to
the fore but agreement was not arrived at. In 1954 a scheme of Realignment was
circulated to elicit opinion from all those concerned. The Govt. approved
scheme for the realignment of Unions in full was released through a special
circular by the then Director General, Posts and Telegraphs Shri. H. L. Jerath
(No. SPA- 351/20/47 dt. 2nd July, 1954)
The scheme envisaged nine All
India Unions (for the Class - IV and allied cadres - 4 for the class III and
allied cadre-4, one for the Class III and Class IV cadres). The unions will be
formed section wise i.e. Postal, RMS Engineering and Traffic (two in each one
for Class III and another for Class IV) and in the Administrative Offices the
service Association will represent both the Class III and Class IV cadre. The
nine unions will be federated as a body. These are the technical aspects.
The welcome feature was the
right of sole representation of the P&T employees was vested with the
Federation of these nine Unions. The special features are the nine unions will
be compulsorily affiliated to the Federation and the Federation has also no
right to expel its affiliates. The All India Unions will however, be autonomous
so far as the questions relating only to its members are concerned. The All
India Unions will also be separately recognized by the Government. The
membership enrolment be through the respective All India Unions only.
After the coming into being of
the Federation those unions/Associations which do not join the scheme of
Realignment and opt for retaining their distinct recognition as a different
body will not have the right to enroll any new members. They will be permitted
to retain their original membership.
This scheme was accepted by the
Unions of P&T Workers, All India P.M. & L.G. Staff Union, All India
Postal & RMS Union, Telegraph Workmen's Union, Telegraph & Telephone
Engineering Union and Telegraph Line Staff Union,
The Union which accepted the
scheme established the All India Ad-hoc Committee of the respective unions (9)
and issued instructions in September 1954 for implementing the scheme. The time
schedule for holding the All India Conferences in 7-10 November, 1954 at Delhi
was also drawn up. The joint session of the Nine All India unions were held at
Vinaynagar New Delhi at 6 PM on Sunday the 24th November 1954. The nine All
India conferences held their open sessions on the 22nd November, 1954 and
continued up to 24th November 1954. The Federal Councilors of the nine All
Indian Unions (realigned) who met at 4.30 P.M. on 24th November. 1954 adopted a
resolution which stated inter alia that the National Federation of P&T
Employees is established on this day the 24th November, 1954.
The elections were held in the most
democratic manner. Contests did take place for the important posts including
that of the Secretary General. Decision on crucial issues were taken at
different levels and stages by the representatives and in appropriate forums.
Since 1954 the NFPTE has
chequered history and a glorious record of services to the membership and the
Central Government Employees movement.
1957 Strike
Call Led To Setting Up of Second Pay Commission
The economic
conditions drifted from bad to worst and the inflation has hit the employees
worse. The NFPTE therefore demanded for
setting up of a Second Pay Commission and immediate grant of interim Relief and
served strike notice in August 1957. The other organizations of Central
Government employees under the aegis of Confederation of Central Government
Employees and workers also gave the strike notices. This has resulted the
Government in announcement of appointment of 2nd Pay Commission.
July 1960
Strike
The report
of the Second Pay Commission caused deep disappointment and resentment amongst
the employees. The norms of D.A. were slashed. Need based minimum wage as per
the norms of 15th I.L.C. was denied on the plea of flexibility pay scales. The
employees were depressed due to incremental rates which were either not
improved or in some cases reduced. These retrograde recommendations of Second
Pay Commission led to 5 days strike in Central Government Employees from 12th
July 1960 spearheaded by NFPTE. The Government let loose a reign of terror and
adopted severe repressive measures. Thousands of workers all over the country
were arrested, suspended, removed from service and faced trials in the courts
of law. 17780 P&T employees were arrested and put behind the bar. NFPTE was derecognized,
which was subsequently restored in 1962. But in spite of de-recognition, NFPTE
continued to function and all the disabilities of 1960 strike were got
nullified and none amongst the rank of NFPTE remained out of job.
Appointment
of Das Body & Gajendragadkar Commission on D.A. Issue
The
employees were unable to accept the dying wage. The D.A. issue remained the
main focal point of dispute. The Chinese aggression in 1962 and Pakistan
aggression in 1965 delayed the settlement of the genuine issues of Government
employees. However Government has appointed Das Body for consideration of D.A.
in 1964. It had recommended to grant additional D.A. and also to revise the
D.A. formula but the Government rejected its recommendations. The Government
through mass pressure was again compelled to appoint another commission headed
by justice P. B. Gajendragadkar in 1967. This commission as well as National
Commission on labour recommended the appointment of 3rd pay commission. But
this was not done.
Introduction
of the Scheme of Joint Consultative Machinery and compulsory arbitration scheme
The 1960
glorious strike although failed but it forced the Government to concede many
demands bit by bit later on. The Government in its anxiety to avert such
catastrophe conceived the scheme of Joint Consultation and Arbitration Scheme
in 1963. The scheme was finally accepted by the recognized unions in the year
1966 after seeking improvements in the scheme. The important feature got
introduced in the scheme was that no new union in any department would be
recognized where a union representing all the categories of staff broadly and
adequately existed.
1968 Strike
Under the
leadership of NFPTE, the P & T workers acquired lot of gains and settled
many of their long standing demands. The maximum settlement was reached in the
year 1967. In 1968, the Staff side National Council of JCM raised the demand
for need based minimum wage according to 15th I.L.C. norms. The Government
refused to settle it and therefore a disagreement was signed. The Government
thereafter refused to refer the demand to Board of Arbitration under the
Scheme. This compelled the Central Government Employees to go on one day token
strike on 19.09.68. In P & T, the strike was massive and very wide spread.
The Government has adopted the same repressive measures, like mass scale
arrests, termination, suspension and de-recognition of Unions. There was human
loss of strikers who had been shot by the police. Several leaders were arrested
and put behind the bar. There was heavy victimizations throughout the nation.
The NFPTE was derecognized immediately. The NFPTE could be recognized again in
1970 only through court order.
Formation of
Rival Unions
In the wake
of one day token strike and de-recognition of NFPTE w.e.f. 21.09.68, the P
& T Department gave recognition to a rival federation on paper without
membership throwing overboard all the norms of recognition of unions and
unilaterally breaking the realignment scheme. The FNPO was formed and extended
all patronage by the ruling Congress Government then.
Most of the disgruntled elements
joined the rival unions. Lately the Janata Government has given recognition to
a third Federation based on political consideration against the avowed
principle of one union in one Industry as outlined in the manifesto of Janata
Party. Thus the Bhartiya Postal Federation was formed on 17.11.78.
Historic
& Glorious Strike of P4 - 19.09.1984
The P4 Union
under the leadership of Com. Adinarayana had called upon one day token strike
on 19.09.1994 exclusively for the ED demands. Even though the strike was a
great and historic success, the non participation of other wings under NFPTE
and the role of the Federation has raised several debates aftermath of the
strike. However, this strike has revived the strength of the movement and cut
the ice in the long silence of strike action since 1968 in the P&T
movement.
Bifurcation
of P&T and Formation of NFPE
The
bifurcation of the P&T Department took place on 1.1.1985. Resultantly,
there was no alternative except to bifurcate the NFPTE also and accordingly by
in the 18th Federal council of NFPTE held at Kolkata from 17.03.86 to 21.03.86,
the separate federation for Postal
Unions was formed under the name of 'National Federation of Postal
Employees’. Com. N. J. Iyer, Com. K. L. Moza and Com. Des Raj Sharma were duly
elected as the first President. Secretary General, and Treasurer respectively
for the newly formed 'NFPE. Com. Adinarayana was elected as Deputy Secretary
General of the Federation.
Even though an arrangement to
continue the NFPTE as the coordinating body for Postal & Telecom was
decided in the council, it was not implemented whole heartedly after the
bifurcation. NFPE is nothing but the replica of NFPTE.
First Attack
on RMS
During the
period between 1982-85, Sorting work in running trains in Railway Mail Service
in about 285 sections all over India was abolished. This has rendered surplus
of nearly 4500 posts of sorting Assistants and about 3000 van peons (Group D).
Night sets have been abolished at many places.
Jabalpur conference of R3 union
decided to organize one day token strike which took place on 06.06.1985 for the
exclusive demands of R3.
Participation
of mass movement
Dharwar
Federal Council held in 1992 has resolved to join all the workers movement of
the nation whenever the mass platform organization called upon for direct
action. Since then, the NFPE is involving its all cadres for all such
programmes.
Local
Struggles
The NFPTE
& NFPE being the mass movement have already encouraged the local struggles
and extended its support to the local agitations. Few examples of local
struggles are furnished just for information.
1. 5000
Postmen of Bombay city struck work from 01.06.92 to protest against the
combination of beats and curtailment of deliveries. NFPE intervened on
04.06.92. The Chief PMG was forced to sit with the Circle union leaders and
agreement was signed to keep all the orders under abeyance and there was no
victimization for the participation of the strike.
2. The
Postmen of Chandigarh and Ludhiana conducted total strike from 01.06.92 to
07.06.92 to protest against the curtailment of deliveries and combination of
beats. The strike was called off on 07.06.02 after holding a special meeting
with the circle union leaders where all the orders were kept under abeyance and
there was no victimization.
3. Glorious
Strike of Kerala: Against abolition of Mail offices and change in the pattern
of sorting in the shape of outward and inward, the RMS employees of Kerala
Circle started strike from 08.06.92. the Strike started from Changanacherry
which was spread to the entire circle including post offices. The entire state
was paralyzed. The authorities efforts to shift the RMS work to Post offices
was effectively resisted and defeated. The strike was called off on 18.06.92
after an agreement with Circle union leaders was reached.
4. Against
abolition of 56 posts of Postmen & their redeployment, New Delhi GPO &
New Delhi Central Division have served strike notice on 07.11.94 and complained
to Regional Labour Commissioner. Other division had also served strike notice
on 26.11.94.
5. North
East Region: - The officials working in Telecom & 34 others Departments of
C. G. were drawing the special Duty Allowance and only in the postal it was
denied. The Department of Posts appealed against the CAT, Guwahati decision
allowing SDA to all C. G. Employees working in the region and obtained a stay
order. In case of other Departments, either stay was not granted or the
Departments did not appeal. This has resulted a total strike from 02.06.91 to
08.06.91 in the region.
The Federations advised the
Circle unions of North East regions to suspend the agitation in view of the general
elections and make it as one of the demand in the proposed All India Strike to
be held from 15.07.01. Accordingly, the circle unions called off the strike on
09.06.91.
Thereafter, as there was no
improvement in the demand, the Circle unions of Assam & North East Region
went on Strike for 38 days from 15.11.91 to 22.12.91. This was called off on
22.12.91 after reaching the agreement on the following.
(i) No victimization
(ii) Pay advance to all & will be
adjusted in three monthly installments
(iii) Strike period will be adjusted against
EL.
The Government assured that the
issue will be resolved at the earliest. Hon'ble Supreme Court delivered its
judgment on 20.09.94 setting aside the judgment of the Guwahati of Cuttack CAT.
Two sitting judges Hon Kuldeep Singh & V. D. L. H. while setting aside the
judgment however granted no recovery from the officials who have been paid the
SDA. This causes another kind of discrimination between Postal & Telecom in
the same Ministry.
The comrades of Assam & NE
again went on one day token strike again on 19.02.95 and there was heavy
victimization. Several Rule 37 transfers were ordered. Leaders were punished on
flimsy reasons.
However the issue was settled
only after the implementation of Sixth CPC. Our CHQ had a role in demanding SDA
to Postal Employees of the region through our memorandum and also in oral
evidence.
6.
Tamilnadu: - While the Government has caused orders to treat the Bonus strike
period as eligible leave to regular employees, the ED employees were denied and
depressed. The P3 circle union of Tamilnadu Circle in order to register protest
over the arbitrary treatment to EDAS has conducted one day to the strike on
30.04.1995 which was a total success in the circle.
There were many such local
struggles conducted by the circles/divisions. However, the particulars of these
actions are not available on records. If the circle secretaries/divisional
Secretaries consolidate the particulars of local struggles conducted in their
area, its achievements and victimization etc. the CHQ will compile all these
items and publish in the Bhartiya Post or publish a separate book on local
struggles. Opinions/suggestions among the participants of the workshop is also
invited.
December
1993 Strike
On 18.09.83,
the union cabinet has agreed for appointment of 5th CPC as a consequence of
negotiation held in the wake of C. G. Employees from decision for General
Strike which was scheduled to commence from 12.10.93. 5th CPC was appointed on
09.04.94 with Chairman Justice S. R. Pandian, member Prof. Suresh Tendulkar and
Member Secretary, M. K. Khan. NFPTE directed the Staff Side Secretary National
council (JCM) to include the demand of formation of independent ED Committee
& scrapping of New Recognition Rules. Justice Talwar Committee on EDAs was
appointed on 31.03.95 due to the Four days strike the Postal JCA launced from
07.12.93 to 10.12.93.
New
Recognition Rules 1993
The revised
Recognition rules were notified by Government vide Mo 2/10/80-JCA (Vol. IV) dt.
05.11.93. NFPE protested the rules since Federations & GDS are not covered
by this rules. Filed a case in Delhi High Court. The Court dismissed the
petition. During the first verification held in 1995, NFPE boycotted. However
no union could be recognized as no one had secured 35% in that verification.
However, NFPE has made to participate the verification held in 1997 after the
formation of separate set of rules for GDS as 'EDA (RS) Rules 1995 for the
verification of membership.
Achievements
& Gains
The
significant achievement of NFPTE is the agreement reached in 1974 with the
P&T Board on 20% promotional avenue for the P & T workers. It has been
successful in getting 16 holidays plus two restricted holidays for the P &
T operative staff. The Bonus strike has compelled the Government to grant bonus
to postal employees at par with Railway. The Two promotions (TBOP & BCR)
was its achievement where no such provision of automatic promotion was
available in any other Central Government Departments.
Conclusion
NFPE is
still the premier organization of Postal workers even in the midst and
emergence of rival federation and unions. It has today having 70% and more
membership of Postal employees. It is an independent organization and not
affiliated to any Central Trade Union or organization. It comprises of all
shades of opinions.
There has been an unfortunate
period of serious infighting for some years. But despite this and the serious
attack on it by the Government during the black days of emergency, when the
duly elected office bearers were not recognized, journals were burnt, leaders
were arrested and put behind the bars and unleashed all forms of repressive
measures to crush the organization, the NFPTE (NFPE) has survived and emerged
more united and stronger.
Thus, the NFPE with its glorious
history and tradition has committed and determined to serve the Postal Workers
to improve their economic and service conditions and continue to serve as the
vanguard of the Central Government employees movement as a whole.
The innate faith of the P&T
works to the NFPTE/NFPE and their loyalty to the organization cuts across all
kinds of barriers primarily because the links and communion between the rank
and file and the Central Leadership is continuous true and real.
The Postal workers by their own
experience and wisdom thus acquired have identified and accepted the NFPE as
the only organization which can spearhead the struggle body at the Centre. Its
message and mandate are honoured by nearly five lakh employees who constitute
the NFPE.
The NFPE is
a movement and no power can halt this force on its onward March.
Courtesy : aipeup3chq.blogspot.co
m
