People's Democracy

Postal Employees’ Indefinite Strike From March 15
 

THE National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE), Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO) and its affiliated unions in Postal, RMS, MMS, Administrative, Postal accounts and Gramin Dak Sevak have decided to go on an indefinite strike from March 15, 2005 on a 11-point charter of demands. They have served a strike notice to the secretary, department of posts on February 7 itself.

It may be recalled, in 1988, 6 lakh postal employees went on an indefinite strike which lasted for 8 days and again in December 2000 they were on strike for 14 days to achieve their demands.

Following is the 11-point charter of demands of the postal employees for their latest phase of struggle:

1.  Merger of 50 per cent DA with TRCA of Gramin Dak Sevaks from 1.4.2004; Grant civil servant status, social securities; count GDS, service for pensionable purpose; grant trade union facilities to GDS union and protect emoluments of GDS on periodical review.

2. Implement agreed proposals of 18.12.98 on upgradation of pay scales of TBOP/BCR/HSG-1 of PAs/SAs,/Postmen/Mail Guard/Gr-D/Postal Accounts /Mail Motor Drivers and artisan staff of MMS/PO and RMS accountants and implement assurances given during the December 2000 strike

3. Scrap Fast Track Promotion Scheme and fill up all promotional norms based posts of LSG/HSG-II and HSG-I from among the senior most BCR officials.

4. Drop the proposed move to amend IPO Act 1898 and POSB Act 1873 and retain the monopoly of Postal services and saving bank.

5. Gant three time-bound promotions. Reduce periodically of TBOP/BCR from 16 to 10 and 26 to 20 years respectively and third promotion should be granted on completion of 25 years of service, and extend this scheme to postal accounts staff.

6. Absorption of selected candidates on compassionate appointments and grant of appointment to dependents of all deserving cases.

7. The period of service rendered, as RTP, should be counted as regular service for all purposes.

8. Regularisation of all casual labourers as Group D staff before attaining the age of 50 years. Extend benefits to full/part time casual labourers on par with Group D employees and extend temporary status scheme to all existing casual labourers.

9. Stop decentralisation of PLI/RPLI and move to declare huge staff in DPLI Kolkata as surplus.

10. Stop decentralisation of postal accounts and all moves to shift the work to HPOs.

11. Allotment of adequate fund for various heads like OTA/medical/TA etc, including for clearance of pendancy.

(INN)