Wednesday, March 7, 2012

SOME IMPORTANT ISSUES TAKEN UP WITH THE ADMINISTRATION

No.P3/2-75/Vellore                                                                                        Dated the 07.03.2012
To
The Postmaster General,
Chennai City Region,
Chennai 600 002.

Sir,

Sub:  Issue of  show  cause  notice  under   temporary service rules to the new recruits  for taking
          part in the  General  strike on 28.2.2012  organized by  the JCA – case of  Vellore Division – Reg.
                                                                                ….

The Joint  Council  of  Action of   all  Postal Employees unions  comprising  the major   Federations   viz. NFPE   and  FNPO   have issued  strike  notice  in accordance  with  the provisions of  sub section (1 ) of  section 22 of Industrial Disputes Act 1947, to go on  one day strike  on 28.2.2012, with   specific   demands, duly serving  to the   authorities concerned. The staff  side  was neither  called by the  authorities for  any discussions   nor  by the  CLC, New Delhi.  Also  the strike  was not  declared as illegal  either by the   Department   or by the  Labour Commission.

As per the  directions  of  the   unions  concerned,  within  the  Federations,   who are also  the  signatories of the strike  notice,   the  entire   staff    of  the  Department    went  on strike  to  press  their  demands.

Moreover,  as per the   Supreme Court’s  judgment,   the  strike  day  should be treated with  ‘ no work -  no pay ‘ principle.  The Department  has also   decided  and   directed  the   sub-ordinate authorities  concerned,  vide No.8/15/2011 dt. 09.01.2012 to  treat the strike  period under  the principles of  ‘no work- no pay’  to deal with, and   this  should be  followed in letter and spirit.

But, disobeying  all  these  orders,  taking   the Law  into his own hands,   the SSPOs., Vellore  has issued  show cause  notice  to  all the new  recruited  employees ,   to  take  action  that why  their  services  should not be  terminated.  This shows  the   authoritarian  taste  he is having  and  threatening  attitude  towards  the  newly  recruited employees.

In no  Circle, Region, Division , throughout  India, such  kind of notice  was issued  to  any striking employees and  the action of the SSPOs.,  shows  his sadist mindset  very well.  Such kind of  attitude  will disturb  the working atmosphere and   will   leads to   restlessness  and   disturbance to  Industrial  peace.

Our  Circle Union  requests, therefore,   the  immediate  intervention of the PMG, CCR   in this connection,  and   to cause  orders   to drop   any  such arrogant move,   leading  to    State wide agitation  by    the  Unions, besides mending  the officer concerned  suitably   in order to maintain  peace and harmony.
Expecting  your  kind action and a line in reply.

Thanking you Sir,
With regards,
 sd/-
(J. RAMAMURTHY)
CIRCLE SECREARY.
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No.P3/2-11/CCC                                                                                      Dt. 07.03.2012
To
The Postmaster General,
Chennai City Region,
Chennai 600 002.

Sir,
                                Sub : Problems  faced by the  women  members of  the  Core Banking Team
                                          entrusted  with the   work of  minus balance & core banking  solutions -
                                        Harassment  made   by  the  Head  of the  team – Reg.                                                                                                                                                                          …..

You may well aware that  a team of staff from Chennai City Central division , North division and Anna Road HO are attending core banking work of sub offices under Tambaram HPO. Most of them are newly recruited lady staffs.  The team works under the direct supervision of Sri. Anandan, Deputy Superintendent, Tambaram Division. 
 Complaints are being received from  the staff in the said team that Sri. Anandan is showing very harsh approach towards the staffs and always finds unnecessary fault in their work.  He is in the habit of  calling  the lady staff  in singular , commenting with lower taste. If not responding to his comments, he passes adverse comments on the staff  and their work.  His activities  shows  that  he  is a sadist  with  ill taste.   Being   new  entrants,  the Lady staff  could not  able  to ventilate  their  grievances or  to make  any complaints with  the higher authorities.
Hence   this matter is brought to your kind personal  notice , so as to  take  suitable action  against  the  officer concerned and to  control  his  ill activities.  Besides, our Circle Union  requests  the  PMG, CCR  to consider  the   following suggestions in order to solve the  problems of the staff  concerned.
1)      Male Staffs having 3 to 4 years  of service with good computer skill can be utilized for this work instead of new recruits  and  Lady staff .
2)      Staffs  under the same division can be utilized  for attending the SB core banking work of the  offices under that division.     
3)       Outsourced agents may  be  permitted   to attend the  duties of the staff in lieu  thereof .
Expecting  your kind action and a line in reply.

Thanking you Sir,

With  regards,
 sd/-
(J. RAMAMURTHY)
Circle Secretary.          
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No.P3/2-38/Nagappattinam                                                                                       d t. 07.03.2012

To
The Chief Postmaster General,
Tamilnadu Circle ,
Chennai 600 002.

Respected Madam,

Sub: Request  to consider  the  Rule 38 transfer  case  of  erstwhile  PA and now  IP, Jodhpur
         To  Tamilnadu Circle  under   special category – Reg.
                                                                                ….

One   Sri. R.P. Balaji,  erstwhile  PA, Tirunelveli Dn. who is promoted as IP  and  now   working    at O/O Postmaster General, Jodhpur, Rajasthan Circle,  has applied for  transfer  to Tamilnadu  Circle  under Rule 38 of  P&T Man. Vol. IV.

He is  having  mentally retarded  daughter   of  9 years   age,  taking   specialized  treatment  with  the prescribed  therapy    at  Tirunelveli.  He has produced prescribed Medical certificate  in support  to  this .  

His  transfer  application was forwarded to  Circle office , Jaipur  during  Oct. 2011 with specific recommendations of the  PMG. The Circle Office,   Jaipur   has also  forwarded the  same  to the  CPMG, TN Circle  on 13.12.2011 with  due recommendations of the CPMG.

The  D.O. PT  vide No. AB 14017/41/90-Estt.(RR)  dt.  15.02.1991  has  decided  and  instructed the  respective  Departments,  to  consider  the  requests of such  officials and to take a sympathetic view and accommodate such requests for posting at a place of his/her choice  to the maximum extent  possible ,  since looking after such children does require special care and patience and is expensive.

Taking into sympathetic view of  his case  and  the need   of  his assistance  on day to day basis   to the  mentally retarded  daughter,   his  request  may kindly be considered and   concurrence may kindly be given  so as to get his  transfer  to  Tamilnadu Circle  at the earliest means.

Thanking  you Madam,

With regards,
 sd/-
(J.RAMAMURTHY)
CIRCLE SECRETARY.                                                                            
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No.P3/2-2/Ambattur                                                                                             dt.07.03.2012
To
The Chief Postmaster General,
Tamilnadu Circle,
Chennai 600 002.

Respected Madam,

Sub:  Request  for  acceptance of  declination  of appointment  of  the  Postmaster  Grade  I  official 
          before issue of orders – Case  of Sri. Mohan Babu, PA, Manali SO – Reg.
                                                                                ….

One  Sri. Mohan babu, PA, Manali SO   has  passed  the  Postmaster Grade I exam and  the results were  declared in the   recent   second  list.  On  getting   noted  the  results in the web site ,   he  tendered  is  declination  through proper channel,  before   issue  of  even  Region allotment orders.

Subsequently, he was posted   as Postmaster  Grade I  at  Cuddalore  Division  and  was now  ordered   for  immediate relief from Manali  by the SSPOs., Tambaram Division.   His  representation  is   pending    at  Circle  Office  for   the decision of the  CPMG, TN.

As per  the    Directorate  orders   in  No.4-24/2011-SPB II  dt. 26.09.2011,  declination can be accepted in case  of  the  same  is  received  before issue of  orders of appointment.  Hence  his  case may kindly be  considered and    his  declination  may be accepted at the earliest means.  The SSPOs., Tambaram  may kindly be  ordered  to wait  for    any  relief ,   at least  till such  time  of the disposal of  his   papers  at Circle Office.

Expecting   your   kind   orders.

Thanking you Madam,

With regards,
 sd/-
(J.RAMAMURTHY)
CIRCLE SECRETARY.                                                                         

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS IN POSTMAN/MTS AREA

என்ன செய்தது எங்கள் சங்கம் ?
தபால்காà®°à®°் - பல் திறன் பணியாளர்களுக்கு
அஞ்சல் நான்கு à®ªொதுச்  à®šெயலரின் மனம் திறந்த à®…à®±ிக்கை .
இந்த à®…à®±ிக்கையில் உள்ள செய்திகளை தயவு செய்து  நம் அஞ்சல் நான்கு
தோà®´à®°்களுக்கு விளக்கமாக தெà®°ிவிக்கவுà®®்.
JOINT STRUGGLES - NEGOTIATION – SETTLEMENTS
WE ARE MARCHING AHEAD
During 2010, 2011 and 2012 we have mobilized the entire postal workers under banner of JCA for indefinite strike and the Department was compelled to negotiate with us to avoid the indefinite strikes. Through continuous struggles, mobilization, negotiations and settlement, the postmen union has been able to settle many long pending issues. On other issues also favourable decision has been arrived at and orders are expected to be issued soon.
For the first time in the history of Department was compelled to constitute a DDG level committee with staff side representatives, to examine the issues relating to postmen/MTS and to take final decision. JCM Departmental council was revived and most of our issues are discussed in that forum also. During the discussion on strike charter of demands also many of our issues were discussed. The final outcome of the continuous effort made jointly by the Postal JCA, in respect of the postmen, MTS and Group ‘D’ demands are furnished below.
1. During the 2010 July strike discussion the Department agreed to fill up all the vacant posts of Postmen and MTS for the year 2009 and 2010 and also thereafter/Backlog unfilled posts, if any, are also agreed to be filled up (other than screening Committee abolished posts). Accordingly Directorate has given instructions to all Chief PMGs to conduct Postmen examination in all circles to fill up vacancies upto the year 2010 December. Orders for filling up of MTS vacancies was also issued Thus about 12000 vacant postmen posts were filled up by promoting eligible GDS employees and about 4000 MTS posts are also filled up by GDS promotion. Never before such mass-scale promotion of GDS has taken place.
2. Departmental issues New Recruitment Rules for filling up postmen and MTS posts from 2011 onwards. We have objected the 25% outside recruitment in Postmen cadre. Department finally agreed to modify the postmen Recruitment Rules to avoid 25% outside recruitment in the postmen cadre. Revised recruitment Rules of Postmen and MTS will be issued within one month and immediate action will be taken to fill up all the vacant posts of postmen and MTS for the year 2011 and 2012.
3. Department issued orders abolishing all sorting postmen posts. During the 2011 July strike discussion the Department was compelled to cancel that order and revised orders restoring the nomenclature of sorting postmen and also restoring all the abolishing/Sorting Postmen posts were issued. This is one of the greatest achievement of joint struggle.
4. Department agreed to issue instructions to all Chief PMG to fill up all vacant posts of sorting Postmen (after reviving the abolished posts) and also mail overseer, cash overseer and Head Postmen Posts. Member (personnel), Postal Services Board, will be writing D.O. letter to all Chief PMGs this month itself.
5. Regarding uniforms, Chappals, umbrellas etc our demand for cash payment is not agreed as it is a Govt. of India decision applicable to other departments of Central Government also Postal Board alone cannot take a decision in this regard. However our demands to ensure supply of good quality uniforms and kit items is agreed and Postal Board has already issued instructions to all chief PMGs in this regard. Instructions are also issues that before selection the uniforms and other/kit items union representation should also be involved in the process and those items selected by the union representative may be supplied.
6. Our long pending demand of grant of full TA and DA to mail overseer instead of Night Halt Allowance (NHA) was finally agreed by the department and orders already issued. Again this is a great achievement. This item was pending for the last more than 20 years.
7. Removal of the distance conditions for grant of cycle maintenance allowance was also agreed and orders issued. This was also a long pending item.
8. Regarding creation of more promotional avenues for Postmen and MTs, it was assured that this item will be discussed in the cadre Restructuring committee. The proposal of the cadre restructuring committee will be finalized before April 2012. We will make maximum efforts to get more promotional posts for postmen and MTS through our negotiation in the cadre restructuring committee.
9. Regarding extraction of data entry work from postmen staff department has agreed to provide time factor for this work equal to the time factor now being given to Postal Assistants. As some postmen find it difficult to make computer data entry, it is also agreed to impart necessary computer framing to the postmen. As knowledge in computer will be an additional qualification for getting better pay scale for postmen in future, we are not totally opposing the data entry work.
10. Regarding irregular computation of norms and working hours of postmen working in field units, the department has agreed the following points.
(a) Higher time factor will be provided for delivery of unregistered articles in multi-storied buildings where separate post boxes are not provided in the grounds floor.
(b) For person-specific speed post articles, the norms provided for registered article will be provided.
(c) Time factor provided for travelling distance by foot and by bicycle in the hilly and mountainous terrains of less congested areas needs to be relaxed in view of the extra physical effort and time involved in covering such areas. Department agreed to consider this aspect and to issue orders early.
(d) The staff side pointed out that as per the original order issued by the Department in the year 1975, area having a density of population of 2500 per Sq. Miles or 1000 per Sq. Kilometer may be taken as congested area. But in the subsequent orders it is wrongly shown as 2500 per Sq. Kilometers staff side produced a letter received from postal Training centre Mysore under RTI, confirming the argument of the staff side. Finally Department agreed to re-examine the whole case and agreed to correct the mistake committed, if the above mistake is corrected then an area having a density of 1000 per Sq. Kilometer will be treated as congested area instead of 2500. At present the time factor given for congested and less congested area is as follows.
Distance travelled Congested areas Less congested
By foot 19 mts. Per Km. 12 Mts. Per Km.
By Bi-cycle 10 mts. Per Km. 06 Mts per Km.
There will be justification for more number of postmen posts in congested areas when the above mistake is corrected by the department.
11. Regarding timely payment of incentive to Postmen for delivery of speed post articles it is agreed to issue suitable instructions to all Chief PMG to the effect that all payments of speed post delivery incentive bills pertaining to postmen must be cleared by 31.03.2012.
12. Regarding the question of unjustified beat length of postmen in many circles, it is agreed to issue instructions to all chief PMGs. To examine all such cases at circle/Divisional level and remedial measures should be taken staff side has give the examples of many circles in writing.
13. After detailed discussion it was agreed that combination of beats should be resorted to only by exception as it adversely impacts the delivery efficiency. Instructions in this regard will be issued by the Directorate.
14. It was pointed out during discussion that Postmen face difficulty in delivery of registered parcels weighing more than 5 Kgms each and EPP articles for which the maximum weight of 35 Kgms per articles has been fixed. It was highlighted that either some reasonable rate and mode of conveyance for delivering EPP articles should be fixed or the rate of mazdoor charges fixed in the past should be revised for efficient delivery of registered parcels. It was agreed to issue necessary instructions to all chief PMGs in this regard.
15. As per the new postmen Recruitment rules there is 25% seniority quota for MTS. MTS are compelled to accept the seniority promotion. If they declined they are not granted MACP promotion in the MTS cadre. After detailed discussion department agreed to issue clarification that before issues seniority quota promotion, willingness from the eligible MTS should be obtained so that the question of declining will not come.
16. The following items are also discussed but decisions pending and we are pursuing the cases
(a) filling up of all LR posts – we demanded that instructions should be issued to all circles to fill up eligible percentage of LR posts. Member (P) informed that instructions already exist in this regard and chief PMGs can take action to fill up LR posts.
(b) Restoration of double beat systems in metro cities.
(c) OTA for excess work for more than 8 hours for postmen
(d) Higher incentive for delivery of Adhar cards.
(e) Keep all measures of abolition/reduction of Postmen posts based on the old standards until the revised standard as agreed in the postmen committee are finalized.
(f) Providing time factor for many left out items – List of the left out items already submitted to the department.
(h) Reintroduce the “enquiry” remark and “further enquiry” remark to facilitate postmen elucidate proper addressees before affecting delivery or returns of articles as undelivered. Time factor may be provided for this job. Remarks of the postmen written on the undelivered articles may be accepted instead of compelling them to write only remarks framed by department. Postmen should not be sent out for the delivery of same article for so many times on the same day of remarks given.
Comrades
We shall take follow up action in all the above cases and shall try our level best to settle all our genuine demands. We will not hesitate to organize agitational programmes if the departmental fails to implement the assurances given in a time bound manner or if any abnormal delay take place in issuing orders on agreed items.
Let us move onward and forward unitedly. We will not rest, until all our justified demands are settled.
MACP RELATED ISSUES
Regarding MACP our main demand is that the promotion earned through/passing the limited competitive examinations should not be adjusted towards MACP promotion. The MACP orders are issued by the Government of India, Department of Personnel & Training. MACP rules are applicable to all Central Government departments. Any change it the existing MACP rules can be made by the Government of India, DOP&T, only. Postal Board has not powers to modify the MACP orders. Hence we have taken up the above case with the Department of Personnel & Training (Government of India) through confederation of Central Government Employees and workers. A decision at the Government level is required as the employees of the other Ministries/Departments are also facing the same problem. However we are continuing our efforts to settle the above case also.
Yours fraternally
(Ishwar Singh Dabas)
General Secretary

INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY - 8th MARCH

OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY IN A
BEFITTING MANNER
            It is 8th March:- the International Women's Day that is being observed all over the world. The women who constitute half of the human population continue to be the victims of liberalization policies on the one hand and male chauvinism and feudalistic outlook in the society at large on the other. Even the so called economically liberated women are not fully liberated socially. The much talked about legislations on empowerment of women are yet to take off in our country, despite campaigns unleashed by the enlightened women organisations in frequent intervals
            The women employees in different sectors, where their general problems are being tackled through the organised trade union movement, face several women specific problems on which the trade union leadership are not sensitised so far. The most serious problem that the women employees face and suffer silently is the sexual harassment by fellow workers in general and the officers in particular. Trade unions must take up this issue seriously and ensure that women committees as envisaged by the DOPT.
            The women employees, who constitute more than 20 to 40 percent depending upon the places of work, are yet to be unionised fully. Except for payment of union subscriptions and occasionally attending union conferences to elect the leaders of the associations and unions, seldom they are encouraged to take part in other day to day work of the trade unions.
            There are States like West Bengal and Kerala where women organisations are constituted by the class conscious trade union movement. Such initiatives are needed elsewhere also. Even in All India Federations and Associations such Mahila Committees are only in the formative stages.
            Taking into all these aspects, the Confederation called upon the Affiliates to organise women Committees.  The Confederation convened its all India Women meet at Kolkata. The Kolkata convention elected an all India Women Committee. The said Committee has   been mandated to bring about such committees all over the country..
            The International Women's Day is coming up in this particular backdrop. The All India Women Sub- Committee headed by Comrades  Gita Ghoshal Chair Person and C.P.Shobana Convenor has already called upon the entirety of the Confederation Affiliates to organise special women conventions, seminars and other types of organizational activities with specific reference to mobilization of women employees working in CG Departments.
            Confederation Headquarters calls upon the State Committees and the Affiliates of Confederation to observe the International Women's Day on March 8th in a befitting manner by implementing the call of the Women Committee of Confederation.
With International Women's Day Greetings
K.K.N.Kutty                                                                                    M.Krishnan 
Secretary General,Confederation.                    Secretary General NFPE