LET US PREPARE FOR A MASSIVE ACTION RIGHT NOW
We are in receipt of encouraging reports from various circles and Divisions about the mobilization of grass root level workers and leaders for the total participation of employees in the indefinite strike from 5th July 2011 as per the call of Central Joint Council of Action (NFPE, FNPO & GDS Unions)
Department’s move for implementing the Mckinsey Consultancy’s disastrous recommendations has resulted in all round protest and stiff resistance from employees especially in Chennai and Hyderabad.
Chennai Postmen staff has went on three day’s strike and successfully resisted the Mckinsey reforms and halted it. Andhra comrades are conducting continuous agitational and campaign programmes throughout the Circle against the unilateral implementation of Mckinsey reforms. “Mckinsey Go Back” has become the slogan of the fighting comrades.
Postal Board is trying to go ahead with the Mckinsey reforms. Speed post hubs have resulted in the erosion of public faith in the efficiency of this premium service. Now the department wants to implement hubs for first class ordinary mails and registered articles. Total number of sorting offices will be reduced to 77. Further Chief PMGs have already sent proposals to the Directorate for closure / merger of thousands of Post offices in urban areas. Privatisation and contractorisation of the Mail Motor Service (MMS) is also on the anvil. Opening of Franchise Post offices (Private Post offices) in a new name called “Post shoppe” and outsourcing of many other postal functions are also under serious consideration. Orders are already issued abolishing the sorting postman cadre altogether.
Gramin Dak Sevaks are facing the worst attack they have ever faced after independence of the country. The bonus has been reduced. Norms for cash handling and stamp sale drastically reduced. Norms for calculating the workload and allowances of Branch Postmasters have been curtailed resulting in reduction of allowances. Compassionate appointments limited to 10%. 25% of the Postmen vacancies are given to outsiders. And as a last blow, the GDS Conduct and Employment Rules has been changed and instead of “Employment” the word “Engagement” has been substituted. “Appointing authority” is changed as “Recruiting Authority”, thus permanently blocking the chances of GDS to be treated as Civil Servants. All the adverse recommendations of the Nataraja Moorthy Committee are implemented one by one. The revision of wages of casual labourers w.e.f. 01.01.2006 is still pending and the orders for outsourcing their work is not yet withdrawn.
Many sectional demands listed in the 25 point charter of demands are yet to be settled. Cadre restructuring of all cadres, Decentralization of PLI and RPLI, Filling up of vacancies, Revision of OSA and OTA rates, Non implementation of JCM (Departmental Council) assurances, Non-settlement of demands raised in the Postman Committee, issues of MTS, parity in pay-scale and promotion to MMS Drivers, SBCO and Civil Wing issues, problems of Postal Accounts Staff, counting of services of ex-RTP staff, Discrimination towards PO and RMS Accountants Cadre, MACP anomalies, review of Postmaster cadre orders etc. are agitating the minds of the employees for the last more than one year.
Comrades, the very existence of Postal Department as a Government Service and its five lakhs employees is under threat from the Government. This is a question of “DO or DIE”. We have to face the challenge. We shall fight it out with all forces at our command. We are confident that we can stop this onslaught.
Let us prepare ourselves for a massive breakdown from 5th July 2011, which alone can compel the Government to come forward and settle the genuine demands of the Postal workers.
(Bhartiya Post Editorial June 2011)
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