Dear Comrades,
EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER FOR
THE MONTH OF APRIL: 2013
FIRST
AIC OF THE GDS AND OUR TASK AHEAD
Nobody can deny the fact that Gramin Dak Sevaks are an
integral part of NFPE. The Government of India and the Postal bureaucracy tried
its best to divide departmental employees and GDS. The leadership of the
so-called recognized union utilized this opportunity and took advantage of the
situation to create a permanent division between GDS and NFPE by raising cadre
sentiments, which NFPE never cultivated. The intention was very clear; nothing
but to keep the control of the biggest union of GDS in their hands forever and
utilize it for their own vested interests. They thought that the down trodden
GDS are all fools and they may not understand the hidden agenda of the
leadership. But the GDS proved that they are more intelligent than the
leadership and refused to become prey for their nefarious game. GDS loved NFPE
like anything. They continued their fight against the anti-NFPE Leadership
within the union for upholding the pride and prestige of NFPE. When their
voices were suppressed and democratic elections to change the leadership were
prevented by undemocratic methods, majority of them walked out and formed a
new-union called AIPEU-GDS (NFPE), to decide their own destiny.
The new GDS (NFPE) union was born in the month of April
2012. Within a short period of ten months, it’s growth is tremendous and
amazing. The 1st AIC held at Chennai from 2013 March 21st
to 22nd was the manifestation of its glittering organisational advancements.
The huge participation of more than 1000 delegates and visitors from all the 22
circles has proved beyond any doubt that the vast majority of the GDS are with
GDS (NFPE) Union and remaining GDS shall also join the GDS (NFPE) union in the
near future itself. Eleven out of the 15 All India office bearers who were in
the so-called recognized union before the Amaravathi AIC, have joined the new
union. All the circles and including the major circles are also with the new
union. As one of the Ex-All India office bearer of Mahadevaiah Group who joined
the GDS (NFPE) union alongwith his followers during the 1st AIC has correctly
stated in his speech “The leader of the so-called recognized union is a liar
and he is deliberately trying to misguide the GDS.”
The deliberations and decisions of the GDS AIC has paved
wary for serious programme of action culminating in indefinite strike. The AIC
categorically declared that the GDS (NFPE) shall implement all the programmes
and decisions of NFPE and Confederation. The main demands of the GDS union and
NFPE is Departmentalization of GDS and grant of civil servant status. This
alone can ensure the total emancipation of GDS. Secondly the AIC demanded that
the GDS should also be included under the purview of Seventh Central Pay
Commission and 50% merger of DA should be granted to GDS also. The leadership
of Confederation, NFPE and GDS (NFPE) Union unanimously declared in the AIC
that if the Government refuse to include GDS under the purview of Seventh CPC,
there will be an indefinite strike of all Central Government Employees
including Postal employees. The Charter of demands was discussed and approved
by the AIC which includes other demands such as pro rata wages, Scraping of
“Engagement “ clause, Statutory minimum pension of Rs. 3500/-, raising of bonus
ceiling to 3500/-, Reduction of cash handling and stamp sale norms, Full
protection of TRCA, Removal of 50 points condition for compassionate
appointments, medical reimbursement scheme, six months maternity leave and
child care leave, grant of full trade union facilities, grant of facility for
request transfer from one post to another, three time bound promotions, grant
of advances, stop combination of duties, liberalise conditions for appearing in
PA examination and ear-mark 20% PA/SA vacancies to GDS, remove ceiling limit of
Rs. 50/- per month for cash allowance, provide norms for all work including
MNREGS, payment of BO rent by department, stop redeployment to far-off places, Children,
Education Allowance, Leave Travel Concession etc.
During
the last thirteen years, since the formation of the so-called recognized union,
the Gramin Dak Devaks lost many of their hard-earned benefits. The new GDS
(NFPE) union has to conduct struggle under the banner of NFPE for restoration of
these benefits including 3500/- Bonus parity and also conduct higher from of
trade union action including indefinite strike for conferment of civil servants
status and grant of all consequential benefits of departmental employees.
Now
that the new GDS (NFPE) Union has become the biggest GDS Union and the real
representative of the GDS, those who have hesitated to support the new union, shall
come forward to extend fullest support to it. The animosity atmosphere between
GDS and departmental employees (GDS & NFPE) has been vanished and a new era
of unity and cooperation has born. Let all our Circle/Divisional Secretaries of
all NFPE affiliated unions shall come forward to strengthen further the GDS
(NFPE) union let us also join all struggles for the cause of Gramin Dak Sevaks.
