Postal and RMS employees to go on an indefinite strike from June 5

Dear Comrades,

Shornur: In protest against the postal department’s decision to shut down several post offices in the country, postal and RMS employees will go on an indefinite strike from June 5, P.V Rajendhran, the national vice president of All India RMS and MMS Employees Union said.

Rajendhran inaugurated the RMS annual conference in Shornur. The authorities have decided to shut down 400 RMS centers and to launch only 77 Mail Business centers, instead, Rajendhran said. The proposal for the shutdown of another 9797 post offices is also in progress, he said.

Kerala, which has 40 RMS centers right now, will have only four RMS centers after the shutdowns. The employees, who will massively become jobless, do have no option other than the indefinite strike, he added. C Mohanachandrhan presided over the conference. Shashindran presented the annual report.

The postal department in India has taken a decision to shut down several post offices due to the huge loss the department is enduring. Instead of the traditional post offices, the postal department plans to introduce a number of Mail Business centers with more advanced facilities for users.

1 June, 2011 By J Kutty (TimesWireService.Com)

India Post launches mobile money transfer service

Dear Comrades,

The Department of Posts (DoP) has launched the mobile-based money transfer service by Post Offices for quicker transfer of money from one city to another.

The service will be operated by DoP with technological support from BSNL.

The service has been launched between Punjab and Bihar Postal Circles for transfer of money up to Rs50,000. The complete roll-out throughout the country would be completed in eight weeks.

People intending to use the service would have to go to the Post Office which will provide them a unique PIN code after the transfer of money. The sender would have to send the PIN to the recipient through a text message who would be home delivered the money after verification of the PIN on his mobile. The recipient could also go to the Post Office and collect the money.

To speed up the money transfer service, the DoP had introduced Electronic MO and Internet MO and that the mobile MO is the third such service.

The DoP also proposes to interconnect all the 1,55,000 Post Offices in the country to subsequently introduce Core Postal Service. The department would also introduce the PO Savings Bank for which the mandatory clearances are being sought.

The charges for mobile money transfer will be the same as it is on the traditional money order-5% of the remitted amount.

June 01, 2011 04:16 PM  Moneylife Digital Team

Strike notice will be served on 14.6.2011

FLASH NEWS

CENTRAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION DECIDES

TO SERVE STRIKE NOTICE ON 14TH JUNE 2011

INDEFINITE STRIKE WILL COMMENCE FROM 5TH JULY 2011

The Central JCA comprising NFPE, FNPO and GDS Unions has decided to serve the notice for the Indefinite strike to Secretary, Department of Posts, on 14th June 2011. The Indefinite Strike will commence on 5th July 2011. Copy of the strike notice will served to all Chief PMGs, PMGs and Divisional Superintendents after conducting massive demonstrations. All are requested to make the programme a grand success. Copy of the strike notice will be exhibited on 6th June in all the Websites. Central JCA leaders are meeting at Delhi on 06.06.2011 at 11:00 AM.

NFPE CHQ New Delhi

Retirement of some comrades

Dear Comrades,

Senior Com. Jaganath Rout, SPM, Balimela SO has been retired from service on 31.5.2011 on Superannuation.

Com. Shyam Naik, Senior Group-D, Jeypore(K) HO has been retired from service on 31.5.2011 on Superannuation. 

AIPEU Koraput Divisional Branch wishes them a healthy and peaceful retirement life.

Postmaster Cadre Grade-I Examination

Dear Comrades,

DoP vide the following order has clarified regarding the crucial date of of the qualifying service for writing Postmaster Grade-I Examination.

No: 4-08/ 2011-SPB-II

Government of India

Ministry of Communications and IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhavan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi – 16, Dated 25.05.2011

To,

All Chief Postmasters General

Sub: Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for Postmaster Grade – I – Crucial date for deciding the qualifying service for the Examination – regarding

Sir/ Madam,

I am directed to refer to Directorate’s letter No: A-34012/ 3/ 2011-DE, dated 13.04.2011 regarding conduct of Postmaster Grade I Examination, 2011 to be held on 12.06.2011 for the existing vacancies in Postmaster Grade-I.

2. Clarification has been sought by certain Circles regarding the crucial date for assessing the eligibility of Postal Assistants for appearing in the Postmaster Grade-I Examination, 2011 to be held on 12.06.2011.

3. The matter has been examined in the Directorate. As per the Directorate’s order No. 13-2/2010-PE.1 dated 25.11.2010, the General line posts would be deemed to have been designated as Postmaster Grade-I, Postmaster Grade-II and Postmaster Grade-III with effect from the dates those are filled up. Therefore it has been decided by the competent authority that the crucial date for assessing the eligibility of the candidates for the purpose of Postmaster Grade-1 Examination 2011, to be filled up on the basis of Limited Departmental Competitive Examination would be the closing date for dispatch of the applications by nodal officers to CMC, ie.18.05.2011. Such Circles, who have prescribed the crucial date other than 18.05.2011, are advised to issue another circular calling for the applications from only such officials, who have become eligible during the period 01.01.2011 to 18.05.2011, by asking them to apply by 2nd June, 2011. Due to paucity of time, the Circles on receipt of applications shall issue hall tickets to the eligible candidates to appear in the examination after consulting the CMC telephonically regarding the Roll Number(s) to be assigned and the venue for examination. It should be immediately followed by a written communication to CMC indicating the names, Roll Numbers so assigned along with a copy of the application submitted by the candidates. In case of any contingency, the Circles may contact DDG(RP) [Tel. No: 23096101]

4. Further, according to the Dept of Personnel & Training OM No: 22011/3/98-98-Estt. (I) dated 17.09.1998, the crucial date for determining eligibility of officers for promotion in case of financial year-based vacancy year would fall on January 1st immediately preceding such vacancy year, the first of the vacancy year, ie. January 1st itself would be taken as the crucial date irrespective of whether the ACRs are written financial year wise or calendar year wise. As such, the crucial date for determining eligibility of Postal Assistants for appearing in the Postmaster Grade-1 Examination to be conducted in the subsequent years ie during the year 2012 and thereafter would be 1st January of the year, to which the vacancies pertain to.

Yours faithfully,

Sd. B P Sridevi Director (Staff)

Postal workers agree to keep bargaining, not striking - Canada Post

Dear Comrades,

Postal workers across the nation have agreed not to go on strike Wednesday. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers said negotiations will continue. Talks have been ongoing between CUPW and Canada Post since last fall.

"Canada Post has been very focused on its demands, not ours," said CUPW president Denis Lemelin in a media release. "The corporation wants to pay new employees 30% less."  The proposed pay cuts would have given new employees wages of $17.50 an hour instead of the previous $24 starting rate.

"(Canada Post) wants to reduce their benefits, weaken their job security and provide an inferior pension," continued Lemelin. "It also wants to attack retiree benefits, sick leave and turn back the clock on many other contract provisions."

In Canada Post's recent proposal, pay starts at $18 an hour. Canada Post's offer currently on the table has employees getting a 1.75% raise for the first 12 months of the four-year proposal, another 1.75% in the second year, 1.9% in the third year and 2% in the final year.

Short-term disability would be 70% of pay for up to 30 weeks. Pensions come in effect after 30 years of work, with a minimum retirement age at 60.  "The proposals in the document are fair and reasonable and represent our best offer to the union," stated Canada Post on its website.

The corporation had previously proposed eliminating a paid half-hour lunch period for future employees, but removed this from the offer sent to CUPW May 17.  "A strike in the current environment would hurt the company and employees," said Jacques Cote, chief operating officer of Canada Post in a letter sent to employees.

"The company will lose customers and revenue, employees will lose their pay, and we will not be any closer to reaching a new collective agreement. At the same time, our competitors will take business away from us that we may not get back.

"This has already started occurring due to the uncertainty surrounding a potential work stoppage at Canada Post." Another concern for CUPW has been Canada Post's recent introduction of $2 billion worth of technology to restructure the postal system, making some positions obsolete.

"The union is urging Canada Post to consider service expansion, including postal banking, as a way for the postal sector to stay relevant and maintain good jobs in the digital age," Lemelin said.

"Many countries, including Brazil, New Zealand, France, Italy, India, Australia, Switzerland and the UK, are rising to the challenge by making enhanced services available through their comprehensive postal networks."

Canada's last national postal strike occurred in 1997.

By Eric Plummer QMI Agency

Record-Gazette

India Post Commemorates India-Africa Forum-Summit

Dear Comrades,

India Post is issuing a commemorative postage stamp on India-Africa Forum-Summit. The stamp is being released by the Prime Minister of India today in the capital city of Addis Ababa in Ethopia in the presence of several African Heads of States / Government.

On the sidelines of the Summit several concurrent events are also being organized including academic symposia, editors’ conference; trade fair, cultural events showcasing Indian and African culture; a film festival; and release of a commemorative stamp.

India’s historical relationship with Africa has been revitalized keeping in view functional co-operation in the 21st century. India’s political support for Africa has been augmented by closer economic co-operation including economic assistance, functional co-operation, soft loans and private sector investment.

In April 2008, India hosted the First India-Africa Forum Summit in Delhi. This summit built upon the foundations of the historical relationship that existed between India and Africa, and designed a new architecture for a structured engagement, interaction and co-operation between India and Africa in the 21st century. The summit celebrated friendship and renewed our commitment to Africa. The historic documents, the Delhi Declaration and the India-Africa Framework for co-operation adopted at the end of the summit now serve as the contours for one systematic engagement with Africa in the coming years.

In order to continue and enhance the systematic engagement with Africa in the coming years, second India-Africa Forum Summit is being organized in Addis-Ababa during 24-25 May 2011. This is for the first time that a meeting between India and its African partners at the level of Heads of State/Government is being organized in Africa.

Credits:-

Text : Provided by Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India

Stamp : Sh Kamleshwar Singh

Cancellation : Alka Sharma
***

AT  (Release ID :72317) PIB

Ministry of Communications & Information Technology25-May, 2011 20:58 IST

Don’t bank on post office

Dear Comrades,

With the Reserve Bank of India increasing its policy rates aggressively in the last one-and-half years, banks have increased their deposit rates over all maturities by over 150-200 basis points. Banks are now aggressively marketing their shorter time deposits and even savings bank account deposits will now earn 50 basis points more in interest.

For small savings, the various instruments offered by India Post have been a preferred investment avenue. The Department of Posts operates the post office savings schemes and is one of the largest and oldest banking service institution in the country. It offers schemes like savings account, recurring deposits, time deposits, provident fund schemes, monthly income schemes (MIS), National Savings Certificates (NSCs)and Kisan Vikas Patras (KVPs). However, the rates they offer have remained stagnant for some time and have not been revised with the increase in policy rates by the central bank and no longer provide safeguards against a rising inflation rate.

The post office savings bank account offers an interest rate of 3.5% per annum on individual and joint account, and there is no fixed tenure. However, unlike banks, the maximum amount an individual can put in a post office savings bank account is R1 lakh, and R2 lakh in a joint account.

The interest earned from the deposit is tax free under section 80 L of the Income Tax Act. For senior citizens' savings schemes, the post office offers 9% interest rate paid every quarter. The minimum age of opening the account is 60 years or 55 years in case the person has retired under the superannuation scheme. The account holder will have to pay a penalty of 1.5% if it is closed after one year and 1% if the account is closed after two years. The account holder will have to pay tax deducted at source (TDS) if the annual interest earned is over R10,000.

NSCs offered by the post office are government guaranteed and is a tax savings option for the investor. The interest is compounded and is returned along with the principal amount on maturity after six years. The minimum amount that can be invested in NSCs is R100 and one can buy certificates in denominations of R500, R1,000, R5,000 and R10,000. Moreover, there is no limit for investment in this instrument. So if an investor puts in R10,000, he will receive R16,010 after six years.

An investor can avail tax deduction under Section 80 C of up to R1 lakh and the annual interest earned is deemed to be reinvested and thus qualifies for deduction under Section 80 C. However, premature encashment is not allowed, though loans can be availed against the security of the certificate. An investor can transfer the certificates from one post office to another and duplicate certificates are issued in case they are lost or stolen. For security, post offices now paste the photograph of the investor on every certificate.

KVPs, which double the money invested in eight years and seven months, give an effective interest rate of 8.41%. An investor can buy KVPs in denominations of R100 and multiples of R100. Here too, there is no limit, but there is no tax benefit to the investor either. In case of premature encashment within a year of purchase of the certificates, the investor gets only the face value of the certificate, and no interest is paid. In case of premature withdrawal before two years and six months, the the face value and simple interest is paid.

The MIS is one of the popular investment instruments for those seeking a regular income flow every month. On a single account, one an invest up to R4.5 lakh and up to R9 lakh in the case of a joint account and it gives a return of of 8% plus a bonus of 5% on maturity. However, the bonus is not paid where the amount is withdrawn before maturity.

For those who want to invest the monthly interest income, one can open a recurring deposit account for five years, which will give an interest of 7.5% compounded quarterly. One can give instructions to the post office to automatically transfer the interest income of the MIS to the post office savings bank account and then to recurring deposit, which will get an effective interest of around 10.5%.

The Financial Express

Saikat Neogi, Posted: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 at 0241 hrs IST

Increase in children education allowance

Dear Comrades,

DoP vide the following Order has issued clarifications regarding increase in certain allowances .

Source: NFPE

Holding of Confirmation Examination

Dear Comrades,

The confirmation examination for the year 2011 was held to day in the Divisional Office supervised by Shri Hadu Sethy, Sr.Postmaster, Berhampur HO in presence of Shri Ramdas Soren, ASPOs (Hqr), Koraput Division.