The meeting of the Postal Joint Council of Action (PJCA)
comprising Secretary General and General Secretaries of the National Federation
of Postal Employees (NFPE) and Federation of National
Postal Organisations (FNPO) has reviewed the situation prevailing in the
Department of Posts, regarding settlement of the following long pending demands
of the staff side. The meeting viewed with grave concern the inordinate delay
in implementing the assurances given to the staff side both during the
discussion on strike charter of demands and also in the JCM Departmental
Council meetings, causing large scale resentment among the Postal and RMS
employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks and casual, Part time and contingent
employees.
As the new Secretary, Department of Posts, has taken over
charge only recently, the JCA decided to bring all the important/pending cases
once again to the notice of the Secretary, Posts for early settlement, before
resorting to agitational programmes. Accordingly we submit the following long
pending cases for your immediate intervention and early favorable action.
1. Issues relating
to Gramin Dak Sevaks
The Following specific assurances given by Secretary,
Department of Posts, are yet to be implemented.
(a) Enhancement of
Bonus ceiling – In the matter of enhancement of Bonus ceiling to 3500/-
of Gramin Dak Sevaks, it was assured that another attempt will be made to get
the approval of the Finance Ministry. It was informed that the file has already
been submitted to Finance Ministry with the favourable recommendations of the
Postal Board and Minster, Communications.
(b) Revision of Cash
handling norms
On the issue of withdrawal of upward change in cash handling
norms etc, it was assured that the entire issue will be re-examined. A DDG level
committee was also constituted. Minster of States for Communications has also
assured the staff side that needful will be done in this case.
(c) Ensuring no
reduction of TRCA under any circumstances
It was assured by Minster of State for Communications that
orders for full protection of TRCA will be issued. But, in the orders issued by
the Directorate, protection is given for one year only and thereafter if
workload is not increased TRCA will be reduced without any protection. As per
the earlier orders protection was given up to the maximum of the lower TRCA
even if workload is reduced. As per the new order after one year there will be
no protection at all. When workload is reduced due to circumstances beyond the
Control of the GDS, reducing the TRCA is quite unjustified and inhuman.
(d) Removal of
minimum 50 points conditions for GDS compassionate appointment:
(e) Redeployment of
mailman posts in new areas
(f) Review of cash
conveyance allowance – Monthly ceiling of Rs. 50/- to be removed.
(g) Introduction of
Health Scheme.
(h) Norms for RPLI
(i) Providing norms
for cash remittance from BO to AO & Vice Versa
In the minutes dated 12.07.2010 it was informed that the
issues of the Health Scheme has been taken up with the nodal Ministries still
it is pending.
2. Immediate
finalization of Cadre Restructuring:
After the marathon discussion on the problems put forth in
the strike charter on 10.01.2012 & 12.01.2012, Secretary, Department of
Posts, has assured both orally and also in the minutes, inter alia;
“As recorded in the minutes of the meeting held on
27.12.2011, the proposal is under consideration of a committee under the
Chairpersonship of DDG (P). The Staff side expressed their concern about the
undue delay in fianalisation of the proposal on which the Secretary Posts,
desired finalization of this process by 31st March 2012.It
was assured that the timelines would be adhered to”. As regards
restructuring of Postal Accounts officials, it was informed that the proposal was
cleared by the JS&FA and stands referred to the Secretary (Posts). It was
also decided to have a separate Committee under the Chairpersonship of Ms.
Sandhya Rani, PMG (BD) Andhra Pradesh Circle to consider Cadre Restructuring of
MMS staff. The Committee will submit its report within three months from the
date of formation.”
Again in the Minutes of the discussion held with the staff
side on 21.052012, it is further assured as follows:
“It was decided to formulate a proposal by 30th June
2012 for further examination in consultation with the nodal Ministries.
Regarding cadre restricting of Postal Accounts it was assured that the matter
will be pursued further with Postal Accounts wing and Establishment division
and the PJCA will be kept appraised of the progress in the regard.”
Again during the JCM, Departmental Council standing Committee
meeting held on 18.12.2012 and JCM (DC) Meeting held on 28.12.2012 it was
assured as follows:
“It was informed that the report of the committee is under
consideration. Proposal will be formulated by the Department. However, one
round of talks with JCM members will be held before the proposal is firmed up.”
At one stage, the staff side has made it clear that if the
department goes on dragging the cadre restructuring issue indefinitely, the
staff side will be forced to non-cooperate with the IT Modernisation project.
It was repeatedly assured that the cadre restructuring will
not be linked with the IT Modernisation Project. But still the proposals are
not finalized. No meeting of the Cadre Restructuring Committee by the Postal
Board was held during the last one year. The undue and unwarranted delay is
causing concern and also strong resentment among the employees.
3. Revision of
wages of casual labourers and their absorption
In the minutes of the discussion held with the staff side on
10.01.2012 & 123.01.2012, the Secretary (Posts) has assured as follows:
“The Staff side was appraised that a Committee had been
constituted under the Chairpersonship of CPMG Assam Circle to look into the
issues pertaining to Casual Labourers and it is likely to submit its report
shortly. The Staff side expressed its concern over the delay in the decision.
Regarding the union’s request for revised minimum wages w.e.f 01.01.2006, the
matter will be examined on priority.”
Again in the minutes of the discussion held on 21.05.2012, it
was further assured that____
“A Comprehensive proposal on the matter of Casual labourers
will be formulated by 30th June 2012.”
In spite of these repeated assurances the payment of pro-rate
wages to the law-paid casual labourers w.e.f 01.01.2006 has not taken place
causing inordinate delay in payment of minimum wages to those poor employees.
4. Issuing orders
on the items finalized by the Postmen Committee and also follow up action on
certain items to be referred to work study Unit.
(a) Follow up action
on certain in items of the Postmen Committee constituted by the Postal Board,
is yet to be completed, i.e; maximum beat length, unscientific resorting to
single Postmen beats, Double duty, correction in the definition of the
Congested area etc.
(b) In spite of
Clear orders issued by the Directorate for filling up of Postmen & MTS
Vacancies for the year 2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012, in certain circles (Eg.
Andhra Pradesh) the examination for promotion to Postmen and MTS is not yet
completed.
5. Abnormal delay
in notifying HSG-I Rectt. Rules
The finalization of revised HSG-I Recruitment Rules is being
delayed on one pretext or the other. This is pending over five years. 100% of
HSG I posts are lying vacant and are being managed by officiating arrangements
without any financial benefits. Due to the delay in finalizing HSG I
Recruitment Rules, Carving out of Postmaster Grade III is also delayed. It is
most unfortunate that orders have been issued by the Directorate not to fill up
the HSG I vacancies as per the old Recruitment rules. At least this would have
been caused to fill up the vacancies.
It has defeated the very purpose of matching savings offered
to the extent of 680 PA posts for availing HSG I Promotion and it is highly
deplorable. Necessary action may please be taken to finalise the HSG-I
Recruitment Rules or at least to fill all the vacant posts forthwith besides
carving out of Postmaster Grade III Posts as per the existing HSG I Recruitment
Rules.
6. Abnormal delay
in filling up of vacant LSG, HSG II and HSG-I vacancies due to non-holding of
DPCs in many circles
In many circles, the regular DPC to LSG has not been
convened. Many LSG Posts are being kept vacant resultantly causing a heavy
shortage in PA cadre due to their officiating. Further the delay caused non
filling up of HSG-II Post due to inadequacies in the eligible candidates in LSG
cadre. In many circles, HSG-II DPC has also not been convened and many of the
HSG-II Posts could not be filled up on a regular basis due to the officiating
of the incumbents in the vacant HSG I Posts.
In nutshell all the higher posts are being managed only with
the officiating or adhoc arrangements causing non filling up of basic PA posts
and denying and depriving the due promotional chances to the eligible
candidates .
It is therefore requested to cause appropriate orders to
convene DPC and fill up all the vacant LSG & HSG II posts immediately by
prescribing time schedule
7. Problems of
Postmaster Cadre Officials
(i)
Allowing Postmaster Cadre officials to appear for IP and PSS Group B
examination.
(ii) Orders
permitting the Postmaster Cadre official to officiate in HSG-I vacancies and
earmarked Postmaster Grade III Posts.
(iii) Allow PO &
RMS Accounts cadre official to opt for Postmasters cadre
(iv) Filling up the
Postmaster Grade-III posts by granting promotion to Grade-II officials and also
by option from HSG-I officials after filling up all HSG-I posts
(v) Filing up
of all vacant Grade II and Grade III posts promoting the Postmaster cadre
official relaxing the minimum service condition.
(vi) Filling up 100%
Senior Postmaster/Chief Postmaster posts which are earmarked for Postmaster
cadre by Postmaster Cadre officials alone declaring it as a hierarchical
promotion cadre of Postmaster Cadre.
(vii) Delay in holding LSG,
HSG II and HSG – I DPCs and thereby denying the chance for giving option to
Postmaster Grade – I, II & III to eligible officials.
(viii) Maintenance of up to date
separate gradation list for PM Cadre officials.
In the minutes of the discussion held on 21.05.2012 the
Secretary (Posts) has assured as follows:
“The issue was discussed at length and it was decided to
review it after sometime keeping in view the merits and demerits of the
proposal as well as the response of the officials for Postmasters Cadre.”
The minutes did not reflect the real spirit of discussion as
it was assured to consider favourably the above items after long discussion.
However, it is high time to review the above cases and settle favourably. The
entire Postmaster Cadre officials are totally frustrated and disappointed due
to the negative attitude of the administration towards them.
8. Problems of
System Administrators
In the minutes of the Departmental Council JCM Standing
Committee dated 02.02.2012 (communicated in letter dated 06.06.2012) for the 15
items pertaining to system Administrators including creation of separate cadre,
it is furnished as follows:
“The issue is under the consideration of the cadre
Restructuring Committee constituted under the chairmanship of DDG (P) vide
Department’s office memo no. 01/04/2010-Sr dated 05.05.2011”
Finalization of the proposal by the Cadre Restructuring
Committee is being delayed indefinitely. Recently, during the demonstration of
IT Modernisation Project, the Staff side has repeatedly requested the Member
(Technology) to create a separate cadre and absorb all the existing SAs as a
onetime measure in the new cadre. Unfortunately no commitment was given
regarding the creation of new cadre, except the assurance that the services of
the existing system Administrators will be utilized in future also. It is high
time to end the present uncertainty by creating a separate cadre for System
Administrators.
9. Implementation
of speed Post hubs and L1, L2 System
The High Power Committee appointed to discuss the issues
under the Chairpersonship of then Secretary, Department of Posts assured the
following before implementation of MNOP proposals.
(i) There will be no shifting of staff from L1 office to L2
office vice versa for three years.
(ii) Irregular or wrong identification of L1 office will be
changed after discussion with the staff side.
But to our dismay both the promises were not kept. There is a
complete violation and deviation of assurances. Further, eventhough directorate
has issued instruction to the Chief PMGs regarding change of administrative
jurisdiction of speed post hubs, certain Chief PMGs have not yet implemented it
and still some of the speed post hubs are continuing under the administrative
jurisdiction of postal superintendent.
Further, CRC & Speed post norms have been finalized
without any consultation with staff side. The impracticable norms have been
imposed upon violating the earlier decision and agreements on the subject.
10. MACP Related
issues
The implementation of the Jodhpur CAT Judgment; i.e.
non-counting of promotions acquired from one cadre to other through examination
for MACP, Granting of MACP counting the total service rendered in each cadre
etc has not been implemented resulting deprival of dues to the senior
most promotees in the Department of Posts. This may kindly be considered.
11. Problems of APM
Accounts/Accountants
The following demands in respect of PO & RMS Accountants
have not been considered yet causing resentment and displeasure amidst the
qualified hands.
(i)
Proportionate distribution of APM Accounts posts among LSG, HSG II and HSG-I
(ii) Counting
special allowance for pay fixation benefits to PO & RMS Accountants on
promotion. Implementation of Karnataka High court order not only for a specific
period but also till the withdrawal of the TBOP/BCR schemes in true spirit. The
special allowance should be taken for pay fixation up to 31.08.2008 for
TBOP/BCR officials.
(iii) Date of passing
Accountants exam may be taken as the criteria for counting seniority for
promotion, since no amendment has so far been issued to the statutory rules.
Further the earlier passing of examination will have no relevance in future.
12. Filling up of
all vacant posts
Even though Government of India has lifted ban on filling up
of posts from 2009 onwards, and the Directorate has given repeated instructions
to fill up all direct recruitment as well as promotional quota of vacancies up
to 2012, in many circles posts are remaining unfilled. Similarly in Postal
Accounts much delay in taking place in filling up of posts due to delay in
finalization of the Recruitment process by staff selection commission. Action
may be taken to fill up all vacant posts from 2009 onwards on top priority basis
as the staff are reeling under the pressure of workload which in turn affects
the efficiency of the services rendered by the Department of posts.
In conclusion, we hope that all the above issues will be
given top most priority and the Hon’ble Secretary, Department of Posts, shall
come forward for a negotiated settlement with the staff side in a time bound
manner.
13. Non settlement
of agreed items placed in the Departmental Council (JCM)
Most of the issues agreed in the last Departmental Council
meeting held on 28.12.2012 have not been processed further. Many of them remain
as it is. There is no serious action taken in mitigating the issues put forth
in the departmental council meeting.
Awaiting early action
Yours faithfully,
SD/-
SD/-
(D. Theagarajan)
(M. Krishnan)
Secretary General,
FNPO
Secretary General, NFPE
Mob: 09444841440
Mob: 09447068125
