Monday 29 February 2016


EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER –MARCH: 2016

GET READY FOR INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 11th APRIL-2016

            The 7th Central Pay Commission has submitted its report to Government of India. The recommendations given by the Pay Commission are most retrograde. The Chairman, Pay Commission did not consider even a single demand of unions. The demand of minimum wage as per Dr. Aykhroyid formula has been negated totally. The National Council JCM demanded minimum wage as Rs. 26000/- but the Pay Commission has recommended only Rs. 18000/-. Other demands  like rate of increment  as 5% , upgraded  pay  scales to the various cadres of Postal Department , 5 promotions , Deletion of Bench Mark  in MACP, Revision of wages  and other service conditions  of GDS ,wage revision of Casual part time  and contingent employees, cashless   hassle free Medical   facility , One time LTC to visit abroad, Removal of ceiling of 5% on compassionate  appointments, Scrapping of New Pension Scheme , 67% of pay as pension  on superannuation  along with other  demands have not been considered .Beside this the Pay Commission has  recommended to abolish  52 existing  allowances and advances like HBA, Festival Advance , TA Advance and Medical Advance. The percentage of HRA has been reduced as 24%, 16%, 8% instead of 30%, 20% & 10%.

            This Pay Commission is one of the worst Pay Commission ever seen. It has recommended only 14.29% increase like 2nd Pay Commission.

            The NJCA after  detailed  discussions in  several Meetings with all constituents organizations  of National Council  JCM  has submitted  memorandum and Charter of demands to the Government  of India with the warning  that if the same  is not settled , NJCA (Railway, Defence, Confederation) will  be  forced  to go on indefinite strike  from 11th April -2016 for which the notice will be served  to Cabinet  Secretary  along with all heads of departments and at all levels on 11th March, 2016.

            The Government has set up implementation Cell in Finance Ministry which will work as Secretariat to Empowered Committee headed by Cabinet Secretary for processing and implementation of recommendations of 7th Pay Commission. First meeting has been taken by the Chairman implementation Cell with NJCA leaders on 19th February, 2016. NJCA leaders have very clearly told that Employees will go on indefinite strike from 11th Apeil, 2016.

            The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers and national Federation of Postal Employees along with Postal JCA have endorsed the decision of NJCA.
            All Central leaders will address rallies in the Capital Cities to popularize the strike demands and to mobilize the employees for which campaign programme has been chalked out and circulated among all.

            29th March -2016 will be observed as Solidarity day throughout the country by all constituents of NJCA.

            We as NFPE being on the forefront of all struggles have more responsibility to carry on all agitational programmes more successfully.

            Keeping in view all the above mentioned facts NFPE appeals to the entirety of Postal, RMS and GDS employees to make all the agitational programmes  cent per cent success and make all efforts to make the indefinite strike  from 11th April-2016 a historic success to achieve the genuine  and justified demands.

We have won on so many occasions and this time also we will win.

Unity for struggle and struggle for unity.
Inquilab Zindabad
Workers unity Zindabad.


CASUAL LABOURERS WITH TEMPORARY STATUS-CLARIFICATION REGARDING CONTRIBUTION TO GPF AND PENSION UNDER THE OLD PENSION SCHEME

TS CASUAL LABOURERS OLD PENSION IMPORTANT JUDGEMENT AND DEPARTMENT ISSUED ORDERS TO CPMG KARNATAKA CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Friday 26 February 2016

ORGANISE,PARTICIPATE AND MAKE THE MASS DHARNA BEFORE ALL CPMG OFFICES ON 22-3-2016.

AS PER THE DECISION OF OUR AIC, IT WAS DECIDED TO CONDUCT MASS DHARNA IN ALL CIRCLES BEFORE CPMG OFFICES ON 22-3-2016.
ORGANISE, PARTICIPATE AND MAKE THE PROGRAMME A GRAND SUCESS.

M.KRISNAN                                       P. MOHAN
               PRESIDENT                          GENERAL SECRETARY
NFPE                                                                                                 NFPE

ALL INDIA POSTAL CASUAL, PART TIME CONTINGENT AND CONTRACT WORKERS FEDERATION
Central Head Quarters, NEW DELHI
PRESIDENT:  COM. M. KRISNAN.                                ADVISOR : COM. C.C. PILLAI
 WORKING PRESIDENT: Com. Y.NAGABHUSHANAM                                                 GENERAL SECRETARY: COM. P. MOHAN                       email: yn.krishna@yahoo.in

No.  Website:aipcpccwf.blogspot.in
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                                                                                                                                         Dt. 27-2-2016

CIRCULAR
To
All office bearers CHQ/CIRCLE SECRETARIES

Dear comrades,

As per the decision in our AIC MASS DHARNA was conducted successfully at JANTAR MANTAR, DELHI on 9th feb 2016 with the solidarity and support of NFPE & NFPE affiliated unions. Nearly 100 members from all over India attended the DHARNS particularly large number from MAHARASTRA CIRCLE. DHARNA was addressed by all general secretaries and secretary general, NFPE. Com. M. KRISNAN, GS CONFEDERATION AND OUR PRESIDENT participated in the DHARNA.
After the DHARNA a delegation with com. R.N. PARASAR, SG NFPE met member [p] and submitted memorandum. He assured to examine the issues positively.

As per our AIC decision it was decided to hold MASS DHARNA IN FRONT OF ALL CPMG OFFICES ON 22-3-2016. As such we appeal to all circle secretaries of NFPE unions to organize the programme by taking initiative to mobilize casual labour in large number by issuing notice by circle co-ordination committee.
Without the support and solidarity it will not be possible to organize the programme on their own by casual labour.
As such we request all the circle secretaries of NFPE to organize the programme. All general secretaries are requested to advise circle unions to make the programme success.
                                                                                                           Yours comradely,


                                                                                                                       [P. MOHAN]
Minutes of the Meeting of Joint Secretary (IC) with the Members of the Staff-Side of the Standing Committee (National Council-JCM) held on 19.02.2016
1.A Meeting was held under the chairmanship of Joint Secretary (Implementation Cell), Department of Expenditure, Ministry of Finance, with the Members of the StaffSide of the Standing Committee (National Council-JCM) on 19.2.2016 to discuss the issues raised by the National Joint Council of Action (NJCA) {Joint Consultative Machinery (JCM)} in their letter No. NJC/2015/7th CPC dt. 10.12.2015, addressed to the Cabinet Secretary, regarding their Charter of Demands on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.
The Secretary, Staff-Side of the Standing Committee (National Council- JCM), who is the convener of the NJCA, along with other office bearers attended the meeting. The list of the participants from the Staff-Side is attached at Annexure. 2.
Welcoming the members of the Staff-Side, JS(IC) mentioned that the meeting has been convened to enable the Staff-Side to bring out their concerns on the recommendations of the 7th CPC in the light of the Charter of Demands made by them in the aforesaid letter of NJCA so that same could be examined in the Implementation Cell and submitted for consideration of the Empowered Committee of Secretaries. He informed the office bearers that before arriving at a decision, the ECoS would also hold separate discussions with the Staff Side.
2. Commencing the discussions from the Side of the Members of the Staff-Side, Secretary, Staff-Side, Standing Committee (National Council-JCM), explained that they have already placed their Charter of Demands as per the letter of NJCA dated 10.12.2015. He mentioned that the reasons based on which these demands have been made have also been explained therein. He, however, highlighted that the Staff-Side is not at all happy with the recommendations of the 7th CPC and, in fact, no section of the employees is satisfied, as the Commission has recommended a minimal pay increase as compared to the previous Pay Commissions. He mentioned that the Staff-Side does not agree with the minimum pay of Rs. 18000 and the reason as to why the methodology adopted by the 7th CPC to arrive at this figure is not correct has been explained in their letter dated 10.12.2015. He stated that Staff-Side demands enhancement of the minimum pay to Rs. 26000 and the reasons in support of this have been given in their aforesaid letter. He further stated that an amicable and mutually negotiated settlement of these demands is necessary as non-acceptance would further cause resentment in the employees. He informed that Staff-Side has already made their stand clear to go on strike from 11th April, 2016 if their demands are not considered and no amicable settlement happens.
3. Thereafter, the other members of the Staff-Side also expressed their arguments for acceptance of these demands and all of them emphasised that the minimum pay needs to be revised. Consequently, the fitment multiple of 2.57 would also need commensurate change. The leader of the Staff-Side explained that the office bearers who were present in the meeting represent various sections of Central Government employees including railways, defence civilians, postal employees etc., the number of which is around Rs. 32 lakhs. 
4. The Staff-Side brought out their concerns on all the 26 demands included in the Charter of Demands and all the points brought out by them in the letter of the NJAC dt. 10.12.2015 were reiterated. However, following issues in support of their demands were highlighted :-
 (i) Minimum Pay needs to be revised to Rs. 26000 p.m. and the minimum pay of Rs. 18000 p.m. as recommended by 7th CPC is not acceptable. This would require upward revision in the fitment multiple of 2.57 and change in the Pay Matrix. It was argued that if the 10% of the pay for NPS contribution and the recommended increase in the CGEIS contribution are taken into account, there would be a drop in the take-home salary of the employees at the minimum pay of Rs.18000.
 (ii) Central Government employees need to be excluded from the National Pension Scheme (NPS), which has been a long pending demand of the StaffSide. The Staff-Side stated that the Pension Fund which has been created under NPS to generate annuity for employees, would not ensure reasonable pension. Rather it is quite likely that it may generate negative returns because of the dismal performance of the financial market to which the fund is invested, leaving the employees without any reasonable social security benefit.
(iii) The 7th CPC has recommended abolition of 52 allowances without properly appreciating the justification of these allowances. The example of break-down allowance in case of Railway employees was given, stating that this allowances is given so that the concerned employees take up the necessary follow up action in the case of breakdown on an urgent basis and therefore its withdrawal is not justified in operational interests of Railways.
 (iv) The withdrawal of advances, especially LTC, TA, Medical, National Calamity Advance, was not justified. It was argued that these advances are recovered from the employees and, therefore, the same should be retained.
(v) In regard to enhancement of contribution under Group Insurance Scheme, it was argued that increase in the contribution from the employees was not justified and if the same is to be raised, the Government should bear the insurance premium.
(vi) The post of LDC should be upgraded to UDC and as part of delayering, Grade Pays of Rs. 1900, Rs. 2400 and Rs. 4600 should be abolished and merged with the next higher Grades.
 (vii) The rate of increment needs to be raised from 3% to 5% because pay is revised in the Central Government after 10 years. It was mentioned that in the PSUs the pay is revised after 5 years and the rate of increment is also higher.
 (viii) Two increments in the feeder post may be granted as promotion benefit.
 (ix) Fixed medical allowance for pensioners who are not covered by CGHS and REHS needs to be increased from Rs. 500 p.m. to Rs. 2000 p.m.
 (x) The recommendation regarding grant of only 80% of salary for the second year of Child Care Leave need not be accepted and the existing provisions may be retained
 (xi) It was also demanded that though the D/o Expenditure has sought the comments of the Ministries/Department on the issues pertaining to them after consulting the Staff Associations, administrative Departments are not inviting the Staff associations for discussions.
5. After detailed explanation by the Staff-Side on all the demands included in the Charter of Demands, JS(IC), while concluding the discussions, assured the Staff-Side that the concerns and demands made by them would be placed before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries for consideration after examining the same in the light of the recommendations of the Commission. He also mentioned that in cases where the comments of the administrative Ministries/ Departments would be necessary, e.g., the case of break-down allowance pertaining to Ministry of Railways, the same would be considered before the issues are placed before the E-CoS. As regards the issue raised that the administrative Departments are not inviting staff associations for discussions, JS(IC) mentioned that the Departments have to formulate the views keeping in view the representations made by the Staff Associations.

 6. Thereafter, the meeting ended with thanks to the chair.
NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION

NOTICE FOR MEETING OF THE JCM (NC) STAFF SIDE
STANDING COMMITTEE MEMBERS

The meeting of Empowered Committee of Secretaries (E-CoS) under the Chairmanship of Cabinet Secretary with Standing Committee members of JCM (NC) staff side is scheculed to be held on 1stMarch 2016 at 06:45 PM in the Committee Room, Cabinet Secretariat, Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi vide Under Secretary (IC) letter F. No. 1-2/2016-IC dated 24.02.2016.

It has therefore been decided that the preliminary Staff Side meeting of the Standing Committee members will be held on 1st march 2016 at 11.00 AM in the office of National Council (JCM), 13-C, Ferozshah Road, New Delhi – 110001 for internal discussion.

You are requested to make it convenient to attend the said meeting on the date and time referred to above.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully
                              


(Shiv Gopal Mishra)
Convenor, NJCA

OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ON 8th MARCH, 2016

For Equal Rights; Equal Opportunities for all working women

Under the right wing regime of the Modi led NDA government in the country attacks on the basic and fundamental rights of all sections including minorities, dalits, women etc. have increased. BJP ruled states like Haryana and Rajasthan are even denying the right to contest in panchayat elections on the basis of literacy, number of children and indebtedness etc. People are increasingly being attacked for not conforming to the dictates of these communal forces on their eating, dressing and other personal choices. All these are meant to deny the constitutionally guaranteed rights of equal rights and equal opportunities to all citizens of the country irrespective of their gender, caste or creed.

All state committees of Confederation and its affiliated organisations must highlight all these aspects and issues related to ‘Equal Rights and Equal Opportunities’ for women workers on this occasion. All are requested to link these up with the neoliberal policies being implemented by successive governments and the communal divisive ideology.

All State committees, District committees and affiliated organisations are requested to take proper organisational measures to ensure effective observance of International Women’s Day, wherever possible, jointly with the state coordination committees of working women. Efforts should be made for joint activities with fraternal organisations including the women’s subcommittees of fraternal trade union organisations in the planning and observance of the International Women’s Day in a befitting manner.

M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation
Usha Bonepalli
Chairperson
Women’s Sub Committee
R. Seethalakshmi
Convenor
Women’s Sub Committee

Dated 28.1.2016

CENTRAL TRADE UNIONS DECIDE TO CONTINUE ACTION AGAINST CENTRAL AND STATE GOVTS. ANTI-LABOUR POLICIES
All India Protest Day on 10th March, 2016 on 12 point charter

New Delhi: All the Central Trade Unions met on 27th January 2016 and resolved to continue their protest action against the anti labour policies of the Central and some State Govts. Central Trade Unions decided to observe 10th March, 2016 as All India Protest Day against Govt. indifference to the 12 point charter of demands and its unwillingness to restart discussions for working out concrete steps for resolution of the issues.
The Central Trade Unions reviewed the drastically deteriorating conditions of work and life of the working people and govt. going ahead with labour law amendments, disinvestment of PSUs and allowing FDI in strategic sectors. The Govt., it appears, does not want to wait for legislating these anti worker labour law amendments, it is taking away rights of workers by way of executive orders and directing state govts to carry out such pro-management amendments. The trade unions condemned one such directive issued by the Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Govt. of India on this 12th January granting exemption to so called start up enterprises from inspection and application of 9 major labor law legislations, thereby legitimizing the violations.
The Central Trade Unions took note of and extend solidarity to the  sectoral struggles of workers/employees in Banks, Defence, Coal, Port and Docks and Telecommunications sectors, the anganwadi workers on their respective demands and also the  Central Govt. employees including Railways resolve to launch action against retrograde recommendations of 7th Central Pay Commission. They also expressed their serious concern over extremely harsh punishment of “double life imprisonment” given by the Court to eight workers of Pricol Ltd., Coimbatore and appealed to all workers to extend help and solidarity.
The Central Trade Unions also decided to organize massive National Convention of Workers in Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi in the last week of March, 2016 to decide about the next course of united action programme.


Fight against anti labour policies will continue. The Central Trade Unions directed its constituents to prepare jointly for protest action on 10th March, 2016. They also appealed to independent employees/workers/unions and federations to participate in the protest action against the offensive of the Govt. against workers and common people.


Sunday 21 February 2016

NJCA
NATIONAL JOINT COUNCIL OF ACTION,
4, STATE ENTRY ROAD, NEW DELHI-110055


                 No.NJCA/2016                                                              Dated: 19.02.2016


Dear Comrades,

Sub: Brief of the NJCA meeting held on 19.02.2016 with theConvener, Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance (Government of India), reg. 7th CPC recommendations and Charter       of Demands of the NJCA

A meeting of the NJCA held today with the Convener, Implementation Cell, Ministry of Finance, Shri R.K. Chaturvedi, wherein we discussed and emphasized on all the 26-point Charter of Demands of the NJCA send to the Cabinet Secretary on 10.12.2015. 

We agitated the issues of NPS, Minimum Wage, Multiplying Factor, deduction of HRA and all other important issues.

The Convener, Implementation Cell, Shri Chaturvedi, after hearing everybody, said that, he would put-up the issues to the Cabinet Secretary, and hopefully a meeting of the JCA would be held with the Cabinet Secretary and the Empowered Committee shortly within 15 days.

Let us not leave any stone unturned for preparations of the strike.

With Best Wishes!
    

                           Convener
                 Shiva Gopal Mishra



Central Civil Services (LTC) Rules, 1988 - Fulfillment of procedural requirements. (Click the link below for details)

Thursday 18 February 2016

NFPE                                                                         NFPE
All India Postal Casual, Part Time Contingent &Contract Workers Federation
CHQ, NEWDELHI 110001
ADVISOR: COM.C.C.PILLAI                           PRESIDENT: COM. M. KRISNAN                       
 WKG.PRESIDENT:COM. Y. NAGABHUSHANAM      website: aipcpccwf.blogspot.com
GEN. SECRETARY: COM.P.MOHAN
 
No. aipcpccwf/memorandum/2016-17                                                 DT. 9-2-2016
 
 MEMORANDUM SUBMITTEDTO SECRETARY, DEPT.OF POST ONTHE PROBLEMS OF  CASUAL. PART TIME, CONTINGENT & CONTRACT WORKERS OF THE POSTAL DEPARTMENT  ON 9TH FEB 2016 AFTER MASSDHARNA.
 
Respected Madam,
 
               We are submitting this memorandum on the problems faced by the casual labour working in the department since long time without any regularization even though number of times orders are issued by the department to regularize this low paid workers and apex court and various courts delivered judgments  in their favor.
         
                       In this connection we convey our sincere thanks for issuing clear orders for revision of wages of these workers with effect from 1-1-2006. Though orders are issued in number of circles arrears are not paid to those workers. We request the madam to issue instructions to all circles to pay them arrears without any further delay. 
 
              Even though there are clear orders to regularize the full time casual labor who worked for 240 days in a year and part time casual labor who worked for 240 days a year for two years and various courts including SUPREME  COURT delivered judgments including the judgment in UMADEVI Vs KARNATAKA STATE still these orders are not being implemented in many circles. Further as per the MTS recruitment rules 25% of the vacancies are to be filled by full time or part time casual labor that was also not being implementing in many circles/divisions. This AIC demands the postal department to take immediate action to regularize all casual, part time and contingent employees working in the postal department in a time bound manner.
 
                      In some circles the outsiders [not GDS] working as substitutes in the vacancies of postmen/MTS are not being paid pro rata wages of postman/ MTS. We   demands that all substitutes [whether GDS or out siders] working in the vacant posts should be paid pro rata wages. Further it is demanded that the substitutes may be paid all benefits such as transport allowance, HRA etc. on prorate basis.
 
               All present daily rated mazdoors [DRM] working against the departmental posts are not being paid the wages of the departmental employees. We  demand that all DRM working in the departmental posts shall be paid pro rata wages of the post  in which he is working.
 
 
               we demand that the benefits of EPF/ESI/PENSION shall be extended to all casual, part time contingent and contract workers, working in the postal department.
 
               We  demand that as and when DA is declared and implemented for departmental employees , revised DA from the same date should be paid to all casual, part time contingent employees also without waiting for any further orders from directorate.
                     
                                       While fixing the working hours based on the standards for sweepers and other PTCL the minimum working hours should be fixed as 3 hrs per day. If the duty hours exceed five hours the post may be converted as full time and the official working in that post may be treated as full time casual labor.
 
                We demand that SUNDAY and holiday wages should be paid to all casual, part time and contingent employees, who work continuously for six days in a week. The break coming on account of holiday should not be treated as a break when six continuous working days are taken.
 
                    In spite of clear modificatory orders from directorate that those casual, part time and contingent employees who are working should not be terminated and their work should not be out sourced, some of the officers [e.g. SSPO’S AMARAVATHI DN, MAHARASTRA,NAGPUR REGION] are issuing orders terminating the services of casual labor. This AIC DEMANDS THE AUTHORITIES TO STOP SUCH INHUMAN PRACTICE and reinstate all casual laborers whose services are irregularly terminated.
 
                              we demand the postal department to extend the facility of formal meetings with officers of the department at all levels to our federation which represents 46000 casual employees in the department to discuss and settle the issues  of casual ,part time, contingent and contract workers which will result in better functioning in the department.
 
                           We demand immediate intervention of Postal Directorate and issue instructions to all the circles resorting to the ongoing recruitment process of GDS undermining the orders of the directorate to first exhaust the list of eligible casual labor for the recruitment to GDS posts [e.g. TAMILNADU CIRCLE except orders strictly. The Postal Directorate issued orders vide. Lr. No. 17-15/2015-GDS dated 7-5-2015 addressed to CPMG Karnataka circle and endorsed to all circles. Many divisions are going ahead to fill the vacancies ignoring the above orders. This AIC resolves to urge upon the Directorate to intervene and cause to stop the irregular process against the orders of directorate and ensure implementation of directorate orders strictly in all circles/ divisions.
 
                                              We  ALSO DEMANDS THE DIRECTORATE TO MODIFY THE CONDITION OF 10TH CLASS PASS COMPULSORY FORABSORPTION AGAINST GDS POST FOR CASUAL LABOUR, AS THISIS NOT REQUIRED FOR GDS MM, PACKER AND OTHER POSTS. AS SUCH WE DEMAND THE DIRECTORATE TO RELAX THAT CONDITION SO THAT NUMBER OF CASUAL LABOUR WILL GET THE CHANCE FOR REGULARISATION.
 
 
                       We demand the directorate to circulate the orders issued by the directorate vide its lr. No. 65-24/88-SPB-1 dated 17-5-1989 clarifying who is casual labour. Many circles /divisions are violating these instructions and denying revised wages and arrears from 1-1-2006 stating that they are not casual labors. This  AIC demands the directorate to reiterate the orders once again to avoid confusion in the circles/ divisions and all PTCL/FTCL will be paid revised wages with arrears.
 
                          We demand the directorate to redeploy the GDS posts transferred to postal divisions from RMS divisions’ earlier due to proposal of abolition of GDS posts in RMS. Now orders are issued to restore the GDS posts in RMS and fill those posts. In this back ground if these posts are not diverted back to RMS divisions the casual labor working in those divisions will be deprived of their legitimate right of absorption. As such we demand the directorate to issue orders to retransfer those posts to RMS immediately and fill up those posts from the eligible casual labor of that Division.
 
 
 
In case of all the above mentioned demands of casual, part time, contingent and contract workers are not settled by the postal board before the end of february 2016, the following agitation programme will be organized in a phased manner.
 
                                              
 
 
 
 
 
                                      PROGRAMME:-
 
a] DHARNA IN FRONT OF ALL CHIEF PMG OFFICES DURING THE SECONDWEEK OF MARCH 2016.
 
b] DHARNS IN FRONT OF ALL DIVISIONAL OFFICES DURING THE 2ND WEEK OF APRIL 2016.
 
c] EVEN THEN THE ISSUES ARE NOTSETTLED INDEFINATE HUNGER FAST FOLLOWED BY STRIKE WILL BE DECIDED BY NEXT CWC.  
 
 
 
M.KRISNAN                                                                         P.MOHAN   
PRESIDENT                                                              GENERAL SECRETARY