CADRE REVIEW – THE NEED OF THE HOUR
The Postal Board has now notified the creation of Postmasters cadre unilaterally without any consultations with the Staff side and not considering the proposals submitted by the unions on the cadre restructuring much earlier in August 2008.
We are not totally against for the creation of Postmasters cadre but not in the present form which is neither advantage to the existing officials or to the new comers. It requires modifications. Without upgrading the grade pay for the present LSG, HSG II, HSG I Postmasters and keeping them in the same pay band I and in the same grade pay of Rs 2800, 4200, 4600 and without any more creation of higher supervisory posts based on the present day requirements, the exercise of new creation is aimed only to fulfill the ego of the higher ups to establish its authority and not in the interest of staff and service.
When the Govt declared that the TBOP and BCR promotions which were granted earlier as per the JCM agreement at par with the regular promotions of LSG and HSG II respectively as Financial up gradations and restored the pre 1983 positions unilaterally in 1999, will it not be its responsibility to revive the 20% LSG scheme introduced in 1974 prevailing up to 1983 based on the agreement in the JCM. In the event of non availability of even 8.25 % LSG posts in the total number of operative posts and not restored to the earlier position of 20%, what will be the benefits, the cadre could gain by splitting the existing supervisory posts as postmasters and others and with the same grade pay available to the operative pay band ie, Rs 2800/-. Nothing but only dividing the workers belong to same cadre.
Further even if the postmasters are declared as separate cadre and not entitled to transfers among other supervisors, will it not cause serious dislocations to the incumbents at the time of rotational transfers? Will it be good before the law to defy and deny the dues of other supervisors who are equated with them all along to assume the post of postmasters? It is the same proportions even in the case of postmasters too.
The prohibition and bar permanently laid down that the existing supervisors other than the selected postmasters and others will have no say in the cadre in the future and all the 100% posts are being filled up only by merit examination, will it not deny the rights of the seniors and lead to depriving their dues for no fault of them.
If only the examination is the solution for effective supervisions, will the department is ready to introduce examinations to PMG, Chief PMG and Secretary Posts. Remember. The existing staff who did not know what is computer earlier are now the experts in dealing all the transactions in computers even in the absence of adequate training in computer operations. As such, will it be the reward extended for their selfless service rendered as supervisor so far in the department by this unilateral method of dividing them and threw them out from the postmasters’ posts after extracting the maximum labour for the successful completion of computer related works in post offices?
The unilateral introduction of postmasters’ cadre without properly assessing the requirements and sentiments of the workers become the last straw on the camel’s back and the discontentment is further aggravated due to the selective approach of the postal board. Unless the entire proposals of the cadre review made by us simply on the following areas are not considered, it cannot be welcomed by the staff unions.
i) Create more number of LSG, HSG II, HSG I posts by upgrading all the postmasters post available in A, B, C class offices, Po& RMS Accts, MEs and ensure minimum of 20% LSG posts in existence
ii) Place the LSG in supervisory pay band with the grade pay of Rs.4200.
iii) Change the nomenclatures decently.
iv) Provide 25% supervisory posts to youngsters for examination to ensure better career.
v) Create Systems Asst with grade pay of Rs.4200/- and absorb the existing incumbents.
The above proposal is feasible and not cost effective. Even if it so, the matching savings can be adjusted with staff cut offered at the time of introduction of TBOP and BCR.
We have enormous materials to prove that we have explored every possible avenue of securing the proposal but of no avail. Shall we expect that the postal board will hear our views before the resentment prevailing amidst our cadre is further mounted?
(Bhartiya Post Editorial March 2010)
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