NEW YEAR, NEW HOPES.
WE ARE ON THE STRUGGLE PATH
By
the time this issue of “Postal Crusader” reaches your hand, an eventful
year 2013 will be over and a new year 2014 is born. From our
experience in the past, especially during the last year, we can
definitely say that the year 2014 shall be an year of struggle for
betterment of the living conditions of the common people of our country
and the toiling masses including the Central Government Employees &
Postal employees.
General election to the Parliament is scheduled to be held in the year
2014. The ruling class and also the corporate media have started their
campaign, well in advance, in support of those who are ready to carry
forward the rigorous implementation of neo-liberal globalisation
policies. We have witnessed that when it comes to policy of
liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation, both UPA and NDA
Government are two sides of the same coin. Concerted efforts are being
made by the corporate media to relegate the issues raised by the working
class in February 20,21 All India Joint Strike and 2013 December 12th
massive Parliament March to the background. We should identify our
friends and foes from our own experience and shall frontload the working
class issues and conduct intensive campaign against those who are in
favour of neo-liberal policies and also in support of those who are
opposing the anti-people, anti-labour policies of the ruling class.
Remember, in democracy ballot is more powerful than bullet. Let us use
this weapon prudently and discreetly and move forward in our struggle by
further strengthening those forces who are continuously fighting
against this neo-liberal policies and for the cause of working class.
Eventhough the Government has announced constitution of 7th Central Pay
Commission (CPC), the terms of reference and appointment of chairperson
etc. are yet to be finalised. The unanimous proposal on terms of
reference submitted by the staff side includes date of effect from
01-01-2014, DA merger, Interim relief, inclusion of GDS, statutory
pension to those employed after 01-01-2004, minimum wage as per 15th ILC
formula, settlement of anomalies and cashless, hassle free medical
facilities. Now the ball is in the court of Government. In case the
Government deliberately delay the appointment of CPC or reject the terms
of reference submitted by the staff side, confrontation shall become
inevitable.
Postal employees have put up stiffest resistance to the Government’s
policy, to privatise the Postal sesrvices by amending Indian Postoffice
Act 1898 for granting licence to private couriers, to close down 9797
departmental post offices, to merge about 300 RMS sorting offices and
also to continue the ban on recruitment. Postal department is the only
department where mass-scale recruitment and promotion through
departmental examinations has taken place. The united struggle under
the banner of JCA has prevented the Government to a great extent from
implementing the neo-liberal policies in the Postal Sector.
Regarding 7th CPC, Postal employees have every right to get a better
deal from Pay Commission and Government. The pay scales of each
category of Postal and RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks should
be upgraded taking into consideration the fact that the cadre of PA, SA,
Postmen, Mail guard, MTS exchanging mails and clearing letter boxes,
Gramin Dak Sevaks are all unique to the Postal Department. Further IT
modernisation project will be rolled out in full swing in 2014 and the
skill of the postal employees including GDS in dealing with high
technology will be further enhanced. Due to non-creation of additional
posts in commensurate with the increase in workload due to introduction
of new schemes and procedures and also due to abnormal delay in filling
up of vacant posts, the workload of the Postal and RMS employees have
increased manifold and this factor of extra-productivity should be taken
into account while deciding the pay scales of postal and RMS employees
including GDS.
Three lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks and Casual, Part-time, Contingent
employees are the worst sufferers of the Postal department. NFPE &
FNPO has already decided to go for indefinite strike, if the Government
rejects our demand for inclusion of GDS in the ambit of 7th CPC and
revision of wages and regularisation of casual labourers.
NFPE & AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) had filed a writ petition in the Hon’ble
Supreme Court of India praying for implementation of the 1977 Supreme
Court judgement declaring GDS as civil servants and grant of all
benefits of departmental employees to GDS. The Hon’ble Supreme Court
has ordered the Delhi High Court to consider and decide the case and the
writ petition is accordingly transferred to Delhi High Court. Thus the
final legal battle for departmentalisation of GDS has begun and 2014
will be a turning point in the history of GDS
.
In short, 2014 is going to be an year of struggle and advancement of
the working class of India and also the Central Government employees
including Postal, RMS & GDS employees. Let us welcome the new year
with a pledge to continue our fight for a better tomorrow.
