EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER: AUGUST-2015 : MAKE THE ONE DAY STRIKE ON 2ND SEPTEMBER-2015 A HISTORIC SUCCESS

Dear Comrades,

DEFEAT ANTI PEOPLE, ANTI WORKING CLASS POLICIES OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

MAKE THE ONE DAY STRIKE ON 2^ND SEPTEMBER-2015 A HISTORIC SUCCESS.

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          During the one year period of BJP Government, it may be clearly felt that this Government has betrayed and cheated the workers and worked against them curtailing  their trade union rights, wages and social security’s which were earned through sustained struggles and sacrifices by them. Every action of Government is pro capitalists, pro employers. Large scale amendments in labour laws are aimed to benefit industrialists/employers to give them free hand to retrench/lay off workers, declare closure/shutdown of establishment and resort to mass scale contractorization.

            The main object of these changes is to do away with whatever minimal protection the workers are having under present labour laws despite their large scale violations in connivance with the state Governments. The present Central  Government  does not  want to implement the consensus recommendations of 43^rd, 44^th and 45^th Indian Labour  Conferences of formulation of minimum wages, same  wage and  benefits as regular workers for the contract  workers and granting  status of workers with attendant benefits to those employed in various Central Government schemes like Anganwadi, Midday Meal, ASHA, Para Teachers etc. On the contrary the Government drastically curtailed budget allocations to all those centrally sponsored schemes meant for poor people’s welfare.

            Beside these labour laws the Central Government is also doing away the workers from social security schemes like, EPF and ESI making them a optional aiming to dismantle the basic social security cover available to organized sector.

            The Government has not taken any concrete measures to curb price rise of essential commodities. On universal public distribution system, the Government is trying to scuttle it through Direct Benefit transfer scheme resulting further squeeze on the common people,

            After coming in Power this Government declared total Ban on recruitment in all Central Government Services causing large scale unemployment. 100% FDI in Railways, the biggest establishment of Central Government has been declared and further projects will be launched on PPP Model. Bigger and important stations will be given to private  parties to develop and take  users charges causing more burden on common man.49% FDI  has also been declared in Defence and 41 Ordnance Factories  will be privatized resulting more contractorization  of labour . Disinvestment has already been started in C.P.S.U.S. like Coal India Ltd., NTPC and NHPC etc. Plan to corporatize Ports is also in pipeline.

            Whatever promises were made by Modiji during election campaign. On all of those this Government has taken U turn. Not a single promise is being fulfilled. Land acquisition act is also being amended which will be against the interests of Farmers. No reasonable minimum support price for the agriculture products and nothing to compensate the loss of crops caused due to natural calamities.

            In Central Services the New Pension Scheme  was introduced  during the previous NDA Government and now this Government  also does not agree to replace it by Defined benefit Pension Scheme causing more miseries to the working people,

            The demands of Central Government Employees for grant of DA Merger, Interim Relief and date of effect of 7^th CPC recommendations from 01.01.2014 has also been rejected.

            In Postal Department, Government is moving ahead to corporatize various services based on the recommendations of Task Force Committee headed by T.S.R Subramanian. The Department of Posts and Government of India has still not taken any decision to include G.D.S. in 7^th CPC. The agreement and assurances made by the Postal Board during the course of negotiations on PJCA Strike Charter of Demands are not being implemented.

            So keeping all the facts in mind and in pursuance of decision taken by All Central Trade Unions to go on ONE DAY STRIKE on 2^nd September-2015 , the National Executive of Confederation and Federal Secretariat of NFPE  have  also endorsed the decision to resist the onslaughts on working class in the wake of neo-liberal Economic Policies by participating in the strike.

            NFPE appeals to all the affiliates and entire rank and file to make maximum efforts for the grand success of ONE DAY 2^nd September-2015 Strike and defeat Anti People, Anti Working Class Policies of Government of India.

RULES GOVERNING THE LIMITED COMPETITIVE DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION OF MTS TO LDC CADR

Dear Comrades,

RULES GOVERNING THE LIMITED COMPETITIVE DEPARTMENTAL EXAMINATION FOR PROMOTION OF MTS TO LDC CADRE-REGARDING

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE ORDER

2ND SEPTEMBER ALL INDIA STRIKE : AN EXPLANATORY NOTES ON CHARTER OF DEMANDS

Dear Comrades,

2ND SEPTEMBER ALL INDIA STRIKE 

AN EXPLANATORY NOTES ON CHARTER OF DEMANDS

CLICK HERE 

HARMONIZATION OF RTI (FEE & COST) RULES AND APPEAL PROCEDURE RULES UNDER RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

Dear Comrades,

HARMONIZATION OF RTI (FEE & COST) RULES AND APPEAL PROCEDURE RULES UNDER RIGHT TO INFORMATION ACT, 2005

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Promotion and posting of a Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) officer of Indian Postal Service

Dear Comrades,

Promotion and posting of a Senior Administrative Grade (SAG) officer of Indian Postal Service, Group 'A' to Higher Administrative Grade (HAG) of the Service - Order date 29.07.2015 (Click the link below for details)

http://www.indiapost.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=1528

Promotion and posting in the Grade of Member, Postal Services Board, Indian Postal Service, Group 'A '- Order date 29.07.2015 2015 (Click the link below for details)

http://www.indiapost.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=1529

Deputation of Ms. Smita Kumar (IPoS-1987), CPMG, North East Circle as Joint Secretary, Department of Administrative Reforms & Public Grievances, Government of India. 2015 (Click the link below for details)

http://www.indiapost.gov.in/dop/pdfbind.ashx?id=1530

AIPEU GROUP-C CIRCLE WORKING COMMITTEE, ODISHA CIRCLE : DAY-II

Dear Comrades,

Divisional Conference of AIPEU Group-C, Postmen & MTS, GDS, Cuttack South Division

Dear Comrades,

The Divisional Conference of AIPEU Group-C, Postmen & MTS, GDS, Cuttack South Division commenced on 26.7.2015.

The Conference was presided by Com. T Parida, Circle President, AIPEU Group-C. Com. Rabi Mallik, veteran leader; Com. Rabi Dhal, General Secretary, C-O-C, Odisha Circle; Com. Dusmant Sethi, Circle Secretary, AIPEU R-3, Odisha Circle, Com. Ashok Ku Mohanty, Circle Secretary, AIPEU R-4, Odisha Circle, Shri P Patra, Supdt. of Cuttack South Division, Com. Ramesh Chandra Mishra, Circle Secretary, AIPEU Group-C, Odisha Circle, Debabrata Mohanty, Circle Secretary,  AIPEU Postmen & MTS, Odisha Circle were on the Dais.

The open session of conference was attended by Divisional union members as well as Circle Working Committee members, Circle Councilors; many Divisional Secretaries including Com. Purna Chandra Maharana, Divisional Secretary, AIPEU Group-C, Koraput Divisional Branch, Com. Bisikeshan Mahalik, Asst. Circle Secretary, Odisha Circle and Com. Rajeeb Tripathy, Org. Circle Secretary, Odisha Circle.

                                            

                                                 

                                      

AIPEU GROUP-C CIRCLE WORKING COMMITTEE MEETING STARTED AT CHOUDWAR ON 25.07.2015

Dear Comrades,

The Circle Working Committee Meeting and Circle Council Meeting of All India Postal employees Union Group-'C', Odisha Circle commenced on 25.07.2015 at Choudwar.

Progress on the items of PJCA Strike Charter of Demands

Dear Comrades,

POSTAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES

FEDERATION OF NATIONAL POSTAL ORGANISATIONS

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION, GDS (NFPE)

NATIONAL UNION GDS

No.PF-PJCA/2015                                    Dated: 22^nd July,2015

To

           

            Ms. Kavery Bajerjee,

            Secretary,

            Department of Posts,

            New Delhi-110 001

Sub:   Progress on the items of PJCA Strike Charter of Demands.

Ref:   Directorate, SR Division No. 08/07/2014-SR dated 5^th May,2015.

Madam.

            Kindly refer to the discussion held in the meeting on 30.04.2015 on PJCA Strike Charter of Demands. There is no remarkable progress on most of the items.

            Though all items are important but two items are most important which are mentioned below and the reply given by the Department is also reproduced below:

            Item -2 Inclusion of Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) in the terms of reference of      7^th Central Pay Commission.  Grant of civil servant status to GDS and grant        of all benefits of departmental employees on pro-rata basis without any       discrimination.

             Reply: It was decided that the proposal will be strongly recommended and           referred to D/o Expenditure for reconsideration. (Action DDG (Estt)

            Item. 9: Implement cadre restructuring in postal, RMS, MMS and Postal            Accounts as per the proposal signed with the JCM (DC) staff side

            Reply:  The proposal for cadre restructuring of Gr. ‘C’ employees, will be sent to DOP&T next week.  The proposal for MMS and DAP will be sent to DOP&T          within a period of two months. (ActionDDG (Estt) / DDG(PAF)  

            But it is very sorry to say that no progress is reported on the both items. It is learnt that 7^th CPC is now preparing report and may submit its report to Finance Ministry  upto 31s August, 2015 and its report will be implemented w.e.f. 01.01.2016. But there is  no response  about inclusion of GDS in 7^th CPC. The poor GDS employees are eagerly waiting the favourable decision but it appears that they are being deprived from their basic rights and natural justice.

            Similar is the position of Cadre Restructuring. After lapse of three months period there is no response from Department. During the meeting it was assured that cadre restructuring will be implemented before 31^st July 2015 though later it was not mentioned in the minutes. If the Cadre restructuring proposal is not implemented before 7^th CPC report, the entire process will go in vain and Postal employees will be deprived from their benefit.

            It is therefore requested to kindly bestow your personal attention on the matters and cause early redressal of the grievances to maintain co-ordial relations between staff and administration failing which the unions will be compelled to launch agitational programmes.

            Hoping for a positive response,

Yours Sincerely

                                                                                                

(D. Theagarajan)                                     (R.N. Parashar)

Secretary General                                  Secretary General

         FNPO                                                        NFPE                       

Concluding Session of 46th ILC

Dear Comrades,

Concluding Session of 46th ILC

The 46^th session of India Labour Conference concluded Yesterday at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi where the recommendations and conclusions were adopted on 5 chosen agenda items after the at length tripartite deliberations which lasted 2 days.

In his concluding remarks, the chairman of the ILC and Labour and Employment Minister of state (Independent Charge) , Shri Bandaru Dattatreya reiterated his Governments commitment to reform process with tripartite consensus to promote the employment generation at a massive scale particularly for the aspiring youth population of this country.

The consensus conclusions/recommendations on each of the agenda items are reproduced here:

Filling up of backlog vacancies

Dear Comrades,

The complaints/references relating to non-filling up backlog reserved vacancies in various Departments of the Government, as and when received, are forwarded to the concerned Department for appropriate action. The respective Departments/Ministries are required to take action for filling up of backlog vacancies identified from time to time.

As per information received from Ministries/Departments, 48,034 backlog reserved vacancies for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes were filled up during the Special Recruitment Drive concluded on 31.3.2012. After the conclusion of the Drive, 19,676 backlog reserved vacancies were filled up.

The Government constituted a Committee in July, 2013 under the Chairmanship of Secretary, Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment to make an in depth analysis of the reasons for backlog of filling up of reserved vacancies and suggest measures to enhance the employability of reserved category candidates. The Committee submitted its report and based on the recommendations of the Committee, deliverables to constitute in-house expert committee to identify backlog reserved vacancies, study the reasons for non-filling up of backlog reserved vacancies, review of educational qualifications and to conduct Special Recruitment Drive were communicated to the Ministries/ Departments to reduce the backlog vacancies for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Classes in posts and services in the Central Government.

Apart from the Special Recruitment Drive to be launched after the identification and review of backlog reserved vacancies as described above, it was also decided that each Ministry/Department should initiate Special Recruitment Drive from the very beginning of the constitution of the Committee till the launch of the Drive from October, 2015 in respect of the backlog reserved vacancies in the Secretariat, attached/subordinate offices, Central Public Sector Enterprises, etc. as a concerted and continuous effort to reduce the gap of backlog reserved vacancies.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Dr. Jitendra Singh in a written reply to a question by Shri Shivkumar Udasi in the Lok Sabha today.

KSD/PK/BK/RS (Release ID :123500)

Labour law recast to add more leave to maternity, gratuity to be made portable

Dear Comrades,

The Narendra Modi-led NDA government is looking to enhance maternity leave for working women from three months to six months, virtually double bonus payments to employees and make gratuity portable between jobs. These proposed changes in employment laws could buttress the Modi government's credentials with the working class while it attempts to push through more ambitious reforms in labour rules that are blamed for hampering investment and job creation in the country.

"The changes in the Payment of Bonus Act would raise the salary limit for getting a bonus from Rs 10,000 per month to Rs 19,000, and are at an advanced stage with a draft Cabinet note being moved earlier this month for comments from ministries," said a senior labour ministry official. Separately, the government is initiating stakeholder consultations to amend the Maternity Benefits Act of 1961 and the Payment of Gratuity Act of 1972, the official added.

Currently, companies are legally required to grant 12 weeks of maternity leave to employees though several leading employers offer additional time off and other benefits. For instance,Accenture offers five months off to new mothers while Flipkart offers 24 weeks paid leave.Citibank also offers a creche allowance to new mothers, as do some other multinational firms and investment banks.

"The ministry of women and child development has been pursuing this with us extensively as it is primarily responsible for women's welfare, so we are framing a proposal to kick off talks with employers and trade unions on enhancing the maternity leave to 24 weeks," the official said. One option being considered is to limit the enhanced maternity leave to two children and an employee having a third child would be granted 12 weeks off, in line with the present norm.

REDUCTION IN 5-YEAR ELIGIBILITY

Similar tripartite discussions are also being launched on amending the gratuity law to do away with the requirement that employees serve at least five years in a single workplace to be eligible for the benefit.

Employee representatives have been seeking a reduction in the five-year continuous service clause to qualify for gratuity and the social security committee of the Indian Labour Conference had endorsed the idea in May 2013.

"While we are examining the possibility of reducing the five-year eligibility for gratuity benefits, this requirement would be redundant if we allow gratuity to be transferred from one job to another. So we are looking at both the options," the official said.

The Payment of Bonus Act of 1965, expected to be the first of the three laws for which amendments will come up for the Cabinet's consideration, sets two numerical ceilings for limiting bonus payouts to workers.

All employees earning up to Rs 10,000 a month are eligible for a minimum bonus of 8.33% of their annual salary and a maximum of 20%. This ceiling takes into account any productivity-linked bonus that employers may offer.

The Rs 10,000 salary cut-off is only used for eligibility purposes and actual bonus payments are linked to a separate 'calculation ceiling'. Bonus payments for anyone earning more than Rs 3,500 a month are made assuming his or her salary is Rs 3,500 per month. Both these thresholds were last revised in 2006. After tripartite consultations with employers and employees yielded no consensus late last year, the government had referred the Bonus Act amendments to an inter-ministerial group that has now recommended both thresholds be raised in line with changes in the consumer price index since 2006.

The new ceilings under the Bonus Act are likely to be Rs 19,000 per month (salary limit for eligibility) and Rs 6,600 (salary limit for bonus calculation purposes).

Source:-The Economic Times

CENTRAL EMPLOYEES TO GET 3 MONTHS PAID LEAVE IN SEXUAL HARASSMENT CASE

Dear Comrades,

            New Delhi: A complainant in sexual harassment case will be allowed three months paid leave and she or the charged central government employee can be transferred to other department during the inquiry, according to Office Memorandum F.No.11013/2/2014-Estt (A-II1) dated July 16, issued by the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) in such cases.

            The disciplinary authority has been directed not to dispense with the inquiry in complaints of sexual harassment lightly, arbitrarily or with ulterior motive or merely because the case against the government servant is weak.

            The committees for checking sexual harassment at work place will have the powers to recommend transfer of the aggrieved woman or the charged officer to any other workplace, and to grant leave to the aggrieved woman up to a period of three months. “The leave will not be deducted from her leave account,” it said.

Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013

Dear Comrades,

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQs)

 *Courtesy: International Labour Organisation,2014

     What is Sexual Harassment?

Sexual harassment is any unwelcome sexually defined behaviour which can range from misbehaviour of an irritating nature to the most serious forms such as sexual abuse and assault, including rape.  

The Sexual Harassment of Women (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act 2013 defines sexual harassment to include any one or more of the following unwelcome acts or behaviour (whether directly or by implication) namely:

                  i.            physical contact and advances

                  ii.            a demand or request for sexual favours

                 iii.            making sexually coloured remarks

                iv.            showing pornography

                  v.            any other unwelcome physical, verbal or non-verbal conduct of sexual nature.

·        What is sexual harassment at workplace?

Sexual harassment at the workplace is any unwelcome sexually defined behaviour which has the purpose or effect of unreasonably interfering with the individual’s work performance or creating an intimidating, hostile, abusive or offensive working environment.

Sexual Harassment at Central Government Offices / work place – Steps for conducting inquiry provided by DOP

Dear Comrades,

Sexual Harassment at Central Government Offices / work place – Steps for conducting inquiry provided by DOPT

 

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

SC CHSL PA/SA RECRUITMENT- 2015 : ONLINE APPLICATIONS LAST DATE EXTENDED

Dear Comrades,

SSC CHSL PA/SA RECRUITMENT- 2015 

ONLINE APPLICATIONS LAST DATE EXTENDED 

AGAIN 

Date Extension Notification : Click Here

2015 SEPTEMBER 2nd ONE DAY STRIKE INDIA WORKING CLASS UNITEDLY DEMANDS CHANGE OF POLICY

Dear Comrades,

2015 SEPTEMBER 2^nd ONE DAY STRIKE

INDIA WORKING CLASS UNITEDLY DEMANDS CHANGE OF POLICY

            On 26^th May, The day Modi Government at the Centre completed one year in office, Workers National Assembly at the Mavlankar Auditorium in the National Capital, New Delhi, in one voice condemned BJP-led NDA Government’s anti worker, anti-peasants, anti-people and pro-corporate, pro-MNC one year’s rule and declared country wide united protests and resistance through General Strike on 2^nd September 2015 against these policies and to pursue 12 points charter of demands.

            The unanimous declaration of the National Convention, organized by All the eleven Central Trade Unions and National Federations of Employees of all sectors and services condemned the Modi Government for bringing sweeping changes in the Land Acquisition Act permitting forcible acquisition of land from the farmers and drastically curbing farmer’s right to land and agricultural worker’s right to livelihood, bringing sweeping changes in the labour laws in favour of the employers, attack on the existing social securities like EPF, ESI benefits, cutting budgetary allocations to scheme which benefit the poor like MNREGA, dismantling of the Public Distribution System, disinvesting profit making public sector undertakings, Not implementing tripartite decisions of the successive Indian Labour Conferences (ILCs), Ignoring the 10 point demands submitted earlier by the Central Trade Union pending since UPA Government etc.

            The Central Government Employees are the worst sufferers due to the policy offensives of the Government. No DA Merger, No Interim Relief, No retrospective date of effect to 7^th CPC from 01.01.2014 as demanded by JCM Staff Side, refusal to include Gramin Dak Sewaks under 7^thCPC, denial of revision of wages and regularization of casual labourers, non implementation of Cadre Restructuring agreement signed by Postal department and Postal federations, 5% condition on Compassionate appointment, non revision of bonus ceiling, non implementation of arbitration awards, non convening of JCM National Council are the one year balance sheet of the Modi Government in the Central Government employees sector. Over and above this, policy offensives like Task Force Committee Report on Postal Corporatisation, Bibek Debroy Committee Report on Railway privatisation, corporatisation of the 41 Ordinance factories in the defence sector, move to close down printing, stationery and publication department and Medical store depots, non filling up of vacancies, downsizing, outsourcing, contractrisation, privatisation, are also being implemented in an aggressive manner.

            The atrocious attack on the working people of the country including Central Government employees should be combated resolutely. The anti worker character of the neo liberal policies and the capitalist class interest behind these policies must be thoroughly exposed. It is to resist and repulse these attacks on the working class that the united trade union movement gave a call for a country wide general strike on 2^nd September 2015.

From 1991 onwards, when the Congress government started implementing these policies, Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers has been opposing it and had joined the main stream of the working class in resisting the onslaught of imperialist globalization policies. Confederation National Executive had decided to join the one day strike on 2^ndSeptember 2015.

            This strike must act as a strong warning to the BJP-led Government that the working class of the country, which has a great history of struggles and sacrifices, is not going to let these attacks pass. We call upon the entire Central Government employees to join the strike en-masse and make it a grand success.