GDS COMMITTEE IMPLEMENTATION ORDERS BY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS ISSUED ON 9.10.2009
ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICER HEADED NATARAJA MURTI COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF TOTAL BOYCOT PROPOSED BY NFPE IS THE REASON FOR THE PRESENT PREDICAMENT
TOTAL REVERSAL IS NOT POSSIBLE NOW BUT CONCRETE MODIFICATIONS ON SOME ISSUES LIKE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES HAVE TO BE UNITEDLY PRESSED FOR ACCEPTANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY
POSTAL JCA OF NFPE – FNPO – AIPEDEU – NUGDS SHOULD DISCUSS ALL ISSUES ON 28.10.2009 AND PROPER DEMANDS FOR MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE FINALISED FOR SETTLEMENT - UNITY AND UNITED APPROACH BY ALL UNDER THE BANNER OF POSTAL JCA IS THE ONLY CORRECT COURSE FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT EXHAUSTIVE BUT IMPORTANT FACTORS. IN THE VIEW POINT OF NFPE & P3 CHQ THE FOLLOWING ISSUES REQUIRE TOTAL CONCENTRATION FOR MODIFICATIONS BUT THE POSTAL JCA HAS TO TAKE A FINAL VIEW. RANK AND FILE IS REQUESTED TO STUDY THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT ORDERS AND OUR UNDERMENTIONED POINTS AND REQUESTED TO SUGGEST THEIR CONSIDERED OPINION AND SUGGESTIONS THROUGH E-MAILS TO CHQ.
1. TRCA:
The TRCA proposed by the Nataraja Murti Committee for the GDS SPM/BPM and the GDS MD/SV have been based only on the pre-revised Mail overseer Postmen pay scales of 3200 and 3050 respectively. The GDS Committee ignored the recommendation of the 6th CPC which recommended upgradation of pay scales to Postmen from 3050 scale to 3200 scale and for Mail Overseer Postman the 3200 scale was elevated to 4000 scale. Thus the historical prorata comparison maintained by all earlier GDS Committees had been diluted by the Nataraja Murti Committee. Despite the Staff Side representation, the mistake has not been rectified by the Government. The dilution of Pro-rata wages to both GDS SPM/BPM and GDS MD/SV has resulted in a drop in TRCA computation for these two categories. This gross error has to be rectified by the Government.
2. FITMENT FORMULA:
Fitment Formula for regular CG Employees recommended by the 6th Pay Commission was Basic Pay as on 1.1.2006 multiplied by 1.74 and then grant of 40% the maximum of the pay scale as Grade Pay. The 6th CPC ignored the fact that due to merger of DA with Pay w.e.f. 1.4.2004 the Dearness Pay was earning Dearness Allowance. On the demand of the Staff Side, the Government allowed inclusion of the above quantum and implemented the fitment formula as follows: "Basic Pay as on 1.1.2006 multiplied by 1.86 and then grant of Grade Pay @ 40% maximum of pay scale of the employee.
The GDS Committee recommended a fitment formula to GDS Employees viz., the Basic TRCA as on 1.1.2006 multiplied by 1.74 times and then adding 40% of the maximum of the TRCA. The GDS Committee also thus ignored the fact that the GDS were granted 5% additional TRCA w.e.f. 1.4.2004 in lieu of 50% Merger of DA granted to CG Employees. The Staff Side pointed out this omission and ultimately the Government has implemented a fitment formula as follows: " Basic TRCA as on 1.1.2006 + 5% TRCA increase as on 1.4.2004 multiplied by a factor of 1.74 and then adding 40% of the 20th Stage of TRCA [viz., Maximum of TRCA] and fixing at the next higher level in the new TRCA". This inclusion of 5% TRCA in the fitment formula converts the factor into 1.82 which is just 0.04% below the CG Employees.
However, the mistake committed by the Government while calculating the 40% fitment to be allowed, a wrong calculation has been made in the case of GDS Mail Deliverer/ Stamp Vendor under Column 4 and 5 [Page 2]. There is an arithmetic error and instead of Rs.850/- fitment benefit for GDS MD / SV with 3.45 Hrs workload a sum of Rs.750/- has been granted. A sum of 100/- has been miscalculated. Similarly instead of Rs.1056/- fitment benefit to GDS MD / SV for work load above 3.45 Hrs, a sum of Rs.936/- has been granted. A sum of Rs.120/- has been reduced by miscalculation. These arithmetic errors have to be rectified by the Government.
3. OTHER ALLOWANCES:
The Government has ordered implementation of Allowances w.e.f. 9.10.2009 i.e., the date of the order. This should have been from 1.9.2008 as in the case of CG Employees because the date of effect of wage revision in the case of GDS also had been given effect to from 1.1.2006 only as like CG Employees.
4. SERVICE DISCHARGE BENEFITS:
Ex-gratia Gratuity shall not be less than the quantum permissible under Gratuity Act 1972 as ordered by different Court Judgments. The maximum of 60,000 shall be suitably revised upwardly to a maximum of 16 ½ months TRCA + DA to GDS employees on the date of their retirement.
The non-inclusion of Social Security recommended by Nataraja Murti in the Cabinet Memo for approval by the Cabinet is wrong. Nataraja Murti Committee had recommended for a Social Security Scheme wherein the Department of Posts is to deposit a sum of Rs.200/- per month throughout the service of the GDS and then on retirement a monthly payment of social security should be paid. This issue should have been sent for approval along with wage related issues. But this issue has been kept pending for further consideration. The delay caused in this issue would deprive the retiring GDS employees the benefit of Social Security after serving more than 30-40 years. The Social Security should be implemented with immediate effect instead of postponed consideration by the Government.
5. PRODUCTIVITY LINKED BONUS:
The contention of the Government Order that the present calculation of the Ex-grtia bonus by applying the calculation ceiling of Rs.2500 as basic + DA shall continue is based on a wrong concept placed on an unsustainable logic. The records show clearly that all previous bonus ceiling ordered by the Government by way of amendments to Bonus Act have been fully made applicable to GDS also. The departure had been made only from the recent amendment to Bonus Act allowing ceiling limit of 3500/-. The wrong orders issued by Department of Posts have been superseded by an another order but once again a wrong order was issued to supersede the superseded order. No consultation was made even with the MOF on this matter. The Bonus Ceiling for GDS also shall be Rs.3500/- and the dubious method followed to deny the benefit of Bonus Act shall be dropped.
6. TIGHETENING OF TIME FACTOR:
The recommendation of GDS Committee for tightening of time factor of cash counting from the present 1000/- = 1 Point into 20,000 = 1 Point is too harsh and unscientific. In spite of the stiff opposition to this unscientific and irrational norm suggested by the Nataraja Murti Committee, the Government has reportedly gone ahead unilaterally to accept this unjustified recommendation. This tightened time factor has to be given up and a rational norm like at least 5000/- = 1 Point has to be accepted.
7. ESTABLISHMENT RELATED ISSUES:
Once again it is not clear as to what decision the Government has taken with regard to various establishments related matters like relocating the GDS BOs etc recommended by Nataraja Murti Committee. It was pointed out earlier also that on establishment related issues, a deep study and mutual consultations with the Staff Side should be undertaken. The Government should not take any unilateral decision on any of the establishment related recommendations without subjective them to mutual study and scientific analysis.
These are the major issues in our opinion that are to be treated as Anomalies for settlement and effectively projected before the Government by the Postal Joint Council of Action for a settlement. However the GDS Unions in the Postal JCA have to come with their analysis and demands for chalking out a suitable Charter of Demands for placing before the Government for approval. The Postal JCA would meet on 28th October 2009 as already announced in the Office of the NFPE in New Delhi and discuss the GDS Committee implementation and also the pending issues of Postal Regular Employees that are to be taken up for immediate settlement.
ACCEPTANCE OF OFFICER HEADED NATARAJA MURTI COMMITTEE INSTEAD OF TOTAL BOYCOT PROPOSED BY NFPE IS THE REASON FOR THE PRESENT PREDICAMENT
TOTAL REVERSAL IS NOT POSSIBLE NOW BUT CONCRETE MODIFICATIONS ON SOME ISSUES LIKE THE FOLLOWING ISSUES HAVE TO BE UNITEDLY PRESSED FOR ACCEPTANCE BY THE GOVERNMENT IMMEDIATELY
POSTAL JCA OF NFPE – FNPO – AIPEDEU – NUGDS SHOULD DISCUSS ALL ISSUES ON 28.10.2009 AND PROPER DEMANDS FOR MODIFICATIONS SHOULD BE FINALISED FOR SETTLEMENT - UNITY AND UNITED APPROACH BY ALL UNDER THE BANNER OF POSTAL JCA IS THE ONLY CORRECT COURSE FOR IMPROVEMENT.
THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT EXHAUSTIVE BUT IMPORTANT FACTORS. IN THE VIEW POINT OF NFPE & P3 CHQ THE FOLLOWING ISSUES REQUIRE TOTAL CONCENTRATION FOR MODIFICATIONS BUT THE POSTAL JCA HAS TO TAKE A FINAL VIEW. RANK AND FILE IS REQUESTED TO STUDY THE WHOLE GOVERNMENT ORDERS AND OUR UNDERMENTIONED POINTS AND REQUESTED TO SUGGEST THEIR CONSIDERED OPINION AND SUGGESTIONS THROUGH E-MAILS TO CHQ.
1. TRCA:
The TRCA proposed by the Nataraja Murti Committee for the GDS SPM/BPM and the GDS MD/SV have been based only on the pre-revised Mail overseer Postmen pay scales of 3200 and 3050 respectively. The GDS Committee ignored the recommendation of the 6th CPC which recommended upgradation of pay scales to Postmen from 3050 scale to 3200 scale and for Mail Overseer Postman the 3200 scale was elevated to 4000 scale. Thus the historical prorata comparison maintained by all earlier GDS Committees had been diluted by the Nataraja Murti Committee. Despite the Staff Side representation, the mistake has not been rectified by the Government. The dilution of Pro-rata wages to both GDS SPM/BPM and GDS MD/SV has resulted in a drop in TRCA computation for these two categories. This gross error has to be rectified by the Government.
2. FITMENT FORMULA:
Fitment Formula for regular CG Employees recommended by the 6th Pay Commission was Basic Pay as on 1.1.2006 multiplied by 1.74 and then grant of 40% the maximum of the pay scale as Grade Pay. The 6th CPC ignored the fact that due to merger of DA with Pay w.e.f. 1.4.2004 the Dearness Pay was earning Dearness Allowance. On the demand of the Staff Side, the Government allowed inclusion of the above quantum and implemented the fitment formula as follows: "Basic Pay as on 1.1.2006 multiplied by 1.86 and then grant of Grade Pay @ 40% maximum of pay scale of the employee.
The GDS Committee recommended a fitment formula to GDS Employees viz., the Basic TRCA as on 1.1.2006 multiplied by 1.74 times and then adding 40% of the maximum of the TRCA. The GDS Committee also thus ignored the fact that the GDS were granted 5% additional TRCA w.e.f. 1.4.2004 in lieu of 50% Merger of DA granted to CG Employees. The Staff Side pointed out this omission and ultimately the Government has implemented a fitment formula as follows: " Basic TRCA as on 1.1.2006 + 5% TRCA increase as on 1.4.2004 multiplied by a factor of 1.74 and then adding 40% of the 20th Stage of TRCA [viz., Maximum of TRCA] and fixing at the next higher level in the new TRCA". This inclusion of 5% TRCA in the fitment formula converts the factor into 1.82 which is just 0.04% below the CG Employees.
However, the mistake committed by the Government while calculating the 40% fitment to be allowed, a wrong calculation has been made in the case of GDS Mail Deliverer/ Stamp Vendor under Column 4 and 5 [Page 2]. There is an arithmetic error and instead of Rs.850/- fitment benefit for GDS MD / SV with 3.45 Hrs workload a sum of Rs.750/- has been granted. A sum of 100/- has been miscalculated. Similarly instead of Rs.1056/- fitment benefit to GDS MD / SV for work load above 3.45 Hrs, a sum of Rs.936/- has been granted. A sum of Rs.120/- has been reduced by miscalculation. These arithmetic errors have to be rectified by the Government.
3. OTHER ALLOWANCES:
The Government has ordered implementation of Allowances w.e.f. 9.10.2009 i.e., the date of the order. This should have been from 1.9.2008 as in the case of CG Employees because the date of effect of wage revision in the case of GDS also had been given effect to from 1.1.2006 only as like CG Employees.
4. SERVICE DISCHARGE BENEFITS:
Ex-gratia Gratuity shall not be less than the quantum permissible under Gratuity Act 1972 as ordered by different Court Judgments. The maximum of 60,000 shall be suitably revised upwardly to a maximum of 16 ½ months TRCA + DA to GDS employees on the date of their retirement.
The non-inclusion of Social Security recommended by Nataraja Murti in the Cabinet Memo for approval by the Cabinet is wrong. Nataraja Murti Committee had recommended for a Social Security Scheme wherein the Department of Posts is to deposit a sum of Rs.200/- per month throughout the service of the GDS and then on retirement a monthly payment of social security should be paid. This issue should have been sent for approval along with wage related issues. But this issue has been kept pending for further consideration. The delay caused in this issue would deprive the retiring GDS employees the benefit of Social Security after serving more than 30-40 years. The Social Security should be implemented with immediate effect instead of postponed consideration by the Government.
5. PRODUCTIVITY LINKED BONUS:
The contention of the Government Order that the present calculation of the Ex-grtia bonus by applying the calculation ceiling of Rs.2500 as basic + DA shall continue is based on a wrong concept placed on an unsustainable logic. The records show clearly that all previous bonus ceiling ordered by the Government by way of amendments to Bonus Act have been fully made applicable to GDS also. The departure had been made only from the recent amendment to Bonus Act allowing ceiling limit of 3500/-. The wrong orders issued by Department of Posts have been superseded by an another order but once again a wrong order was issued to supersede the superseded order. No consultation was made even with the MOF on this matter. The Bonus Ceiling for GDS also shall be Rs.3500/- and the dubious method followed to deny the benefit of Bonus Act shall be dropped.
6. TIGHETENING OF TIME FACTOR:
The recommendation of GDS Committee for tightening of time factor of cash counting from the present 1000/- = 1 Point into 20,000 = 1 Point is too harsh and unscientific. In spite of the stiff opposition to this unscientific and irrational norm suggested by the Nataraja Murti Committee, the Government has reportedly gone ahead unilaterally to accept this unjustified recommendation. This tightened time factor has to be given up and a rational norm like at least 5000/- = 1 Point has to be accepted.
7. ESTABLISHMENT RELATED ISSUES:
Once again it is not clear as to what decision the Government has taken with regard to various establishments related matters like relocating the GDS BOs etc recommended by Nataraja Murti Committee. It was pointed out earlier also that on establishment related issues, a deep study and mutual consultations with the Staff Side should be undertaken. The Government should not take any unilateral decision on any of the establishment related recommendations without subjective them to mutual study and scientific analysis.
These are the major issues in our opinion that are to be treated as Anomalies for settlement and effectively projected before the Government by the Postal Joint Council of Action for a settlement. However the GDS Unions in the Postal JCA have to come with their analysis and demands for chalking out a suitable Charter of Demands for placing before the Government for approval. The Postal JCA would meet on 28th October 2009 as already announced in the Office of the NFPE in New Delhi and discuss the GDS Committee implementation and also the pending issues of Postal Regular Employees that are to be taken up for immediate settlement.
