ORAL EVIDENCE TO GDS COMMITTEE

            A delegation of NFPE & AIPEU-GDS consisting of Com. R.N.Parashar, Secretary General, Com.P. Pandurangarao, General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS, Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation  Com.K.V.Sridharan, former General Secretary, AIPEU Gr.C., Com. Giriraj singh President, NFPE and Com. Balwinder Sing, Financial Secretary, Gr.C (CHQ) tendered oral evidence before the Chairman, GDS Committee, headed by Shri Kamalesh  Chandra in  New Delhi on 26-05-2016.

The following are the gist of discussions and the demands placed by  delegation.

BRIEF NOTE FOR DISCUSSION IN THE GDS COMMITTEE

SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON 26.05.2016

1.      MAIN DEMANDS

The GDS are ‘holders of civil post’ as per the Supreme Court judgement and they can not be kept apart as a separate class with in the class. They should be covered under Article 309 & 311 of the Constitution of India. They should be treated as ‘civil servants’ apart from regular service but within the ambit of ‘Civil service’ with pro rata benefits as applicable to the regular employees according to the working hours and also the workload.

Notwithstanding our claim for departmentalization of GDS and Grant of Civil status, under Article 309 & 311 of union constitution the following issues are requiring consideration.

(i)     The Nomenclature of GDS shall be declared as ‘Rural Postal Employees’ or Gramin Dak Karmachari”.

(ii)        Make GDS full time job by extending various innovative schemes.

(iii)       Prorata wages at par with regular civil servants.

2.      NORMS

Norms may be introduced for calculation of wages instead of honorarium & incentives.

(i)       Work related to RPLI like procurement of proposal & issuing receipts

(ii)      Work related to verification of Electoral & Election work

(iii)     Work related to collecting statistics for Census etc.

(iv)     Work related to M.G.National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme

(v)     Verification of Mobile Phone Bill Connections of various companies & BSNL

(vi)     Collection of Telephone Bills at BOs

(vii)    Acceptance of Electricity Bills at BOs

(viii)  Acceptance of Water Bills at BOs

(ix)    Carrying out business activities through BOs like delivering of E-post etc.

(x)  Various social security schemes & Direct Benefit Transfer schemes introduced in various States through BOs.

(xi)     Cash remittance from BOs to Accounts office.

(xii)    Opening of new accounts

(xiii)   Marketing activities.

(xiv)   Old age Pension & Disability Pension

3.      WAGE STRUCTURE

(i)        No GDS should be employed less than 5 hours work, per day.

(ii)       Maximum of 8 hours with ½ hour lunch break.

(iii)     Pay equations:

GDS BPM   :           Postal Assistant

GDS MD/SV:          Postmen

                 GDS Packer 

GDS MC                 MTS

GDS MM

(iv)     Increment shall be at par with regular employees.

(v)      The Nomenclature of TRCA shall be replaced with pay.

(vi)    Weightage:The length of service shall be taken and Point to Point fixation for GDS.

(vii)    Date of effect shall be 1.1.2016

(viii)  Wages should not be reduced under any circumstances.

4.      ALLOWANCES

(i)        HRA must be granted to GDS at Par with regular employees.

(ii)       Transport Allowance proportionate to regular employees.

(iii)      For attending holiday & Sunday duties, double the allowance shall be paid

(iv)      TA/DA shall be granted to seasonal Post offices.

(v)       Split Duty Allowance for GDS Packrs in Sub Offices

(vi)      Children Educational Allowance has to be introduced.

(vii)     Boat allowance shall be Rs.350/- PM.

(viii)   Special Duty Allowance to GDS (NE) – Proportionate to regular employees.

(ix)     Revival of Uttarakhand Allowance @ Rs.1000/- PM.

(x)      Grant of Remote Area/Naxalite Threat Area/Hill Area Allowance to GDS.

(xi)   Miscellaneous Allowances viz., bad climate Allowance, Project allowance may be extended.

           

5.      WELFARE

(i)    Medical Attendance facilities – Reimbursement of Medical Claims for in Patient & out Patient treatments.

(ii)    Funeral Allowance of Rs.10,000/- to the family of deceased GDS.

(iii)   Circle Welfare Fund Scheme – Subscription shall be Rs.50/- per month.

6.      LEAVE :All kinds of leave to be granted at par with regular employees-

(i)            Encashment of leave salary to be extended to GDS.

(ii)            Provision of Commuted leave facilities.

(iii)          Retrograde Provisions of 180 days shall be dispensed with.

(iv)     Maternity leave – 180 days from Government exchequer and not from the Circle Welfare Fund. Circle Welfare fund shall meant for grant for illness, education etc.

(v)            Child care leave, Child Adoption leave to GDS.

(vi)        Special disability leave to GDS – can also be extended from Dog, Snake bite etc. as in the case of Postmen.

7.      SOCIAL SECURITY SCHEME

(i)   Proportionate Minimum pension/Family Pension at par with regular employees.

(ii)   GDS shall be brought under the Gratuity Act.

(iii)  SDBS Pension Scheme shall be replaced with regular scheme. At least 10% of Pay shall be recovered from GDS & 20% shall be credited by Government as a Welfare Scheme. The present sanction of Rs.1500/- per year for Severance Amount to Pre 2011 GDS shall be enhanced.

(iv)   Commutation Pension shall be introduced.

(v)  Group Insurance Scheme – Monthly subscription Rs.100/- for the insurance coverage of Rs.2,00,000, 50% of Subscription shall be borne by the Department. Savings Fund shall be reviewed and enhanced.

  

8.      APPOINTMENT & PROMOTIONS

(i)       The word ‘engagement’ shall be replaced with appointment.

(ii)      100% Posts in MTS & Postmen cadres shall be reserved for GDS.

(iii)    GDS shall be permitted to write LGO Exam alongwith Postmen/MTS for recorded vacancies.

(iv)     Three Financial upgradations after completing 10, 20 & 30 years of service.

(v)      No Minimum service for appearing Postmen examination.

9.      CONDUCT & DISCIPLINARY RULES

(i)       The existing GDS Engagement & Conduct Rules, 2011 shallbe replaced with CCS (CCA) Rules, 1965 & Conduct Rules 1964.

(ii)     The GDS Rules must be declared as statutory Rules as per proviso of Article 309.

10.  MISCELLANEOUS

(i)       Present income & cost of BOs calculation should be reviewed along with all the new items of work

(ii)      Foot beat & cycle beat may be revived.

(iii)     Idle wait of GDS MCS shall be include in the work norms.

(iv)     Uniforms to outdoor staff.

(v)    Rationalisation of GDS into three categories of GDS one Postmaster, the second Postmen and third auxiliary MTS staff. They may be fixed with only two scales of running pay (Minimum 5 hours & for upto 8 hours with uniform annual increase of 3% per annum.

(vi)      BO shall open for minimum 5 hours and maximum of 8 hours.

(vii)     GDS in Metropolitan cities shall be upgraded to MTS Posts.

(viii)   All GDS MM Posts in larger Platforms shall be upgraded to Mailmen MTS posts.

(ix)      FSC at par with Departmental Post offices to BOs.

(x)        LTC facilities may be extended to GDS

(xi)       Lunch break/Tea break shall be provided

(xii)    Total length of the GDS Service shall be taken as Qualifying service for all purposes.

(xiii) Rescind the restrictions and restore status Quo ante in case of compassionate appointments in GDS cadre.

(xiv) Advances like Festival, HBA, Motor Car, Computer Advance shall be introduced to GDS. Flood Advance shall be revised to Rs.10000/-.

(xv)  Rent for BOs shall be fixed as per the market rates and paid by the Department.

(xvi)    Office Maintenance Allowance shall be modified as ‘office rent’.

(xvii)   Electricity charges for BO shall be borne by the Department.

(xviii) Combination of duty which is having adverse effect shall be dispensed with.

(xix)   Alternate source of Income shall not be insisted for GDS appointments.

(xx)    Incentive for promoting small family norms shall be introduced to GDS also.

(xxi)    Incentive to GDS Sports Person has to be introduced.

(xxii)  Grant of TA/DA for conveyance of cash – At least Rs.100/- per occasion shall be granted.

(xxiii)  Any GDS summoned for witness in Inquiry shall be paid TA/DA

(xxiv) All terminal benefits shall be paid to GDS on the date of retirement at par with regular employees.

(xxv)   The date of retirement of shall be the last date of the month.

(xxvi)  If any additional work is entrusted, the establishment review must be under taken to enhance the pay.

(xxvii)  Security Bond system to be dropped, as per Vth CPC report.

(xxviii) Co-operative dues can be recovered from GDS.

(xxix)   BO Rule book with updated correction shall be supplied once in two years.

(xxx)    The exam fee shall be waived.

(xxxi) Identify card to the GDS shall be supplied by the Department at departmental cost.

(xxxii)There should be no loss of annual increase/increment on availing the transfer facilities to GDS.

(xxxiii)Revenue generated from all items of  work has  to be added for apportioned income of BOs.

(xxxiv)BPM should be treated as a skilled worker as it requires a technical certificate for the recruitment.

(xxxv)Training & retraining must be given frequently in the guise of Rural ICT and introduction of various new schemes.

11.  TRADE UNION

(i)   All Trade Union facilities like meetings, special casual leave etc. as if available to regular staff at all levels.

(ii)  The Facility of Foreign Service and JCM Provision shall be extended the GDS. Allocation of seats in the JCM (DC) for GDS shall be considered.

DATED : 26-05-2016

NEW DELHI

(P.PANDURANGARAO)

GENERAL SECRETARY
AIPEU-GDS

The Chairman, GDS Committee gave a patience hearing on the above all items and assured consideration.

AIPRPA CHQ WRITES TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS FOR ENDORSEMENT OF 6th APRIL ORDERS ON FULL PENSION TO PRE-2006 PENSIONERS!

ORAL EVIDENCE IN FAVOUR OF MEMORANDUM: GDS

CWC of AIPRPA CHQ in CHENNAI 

ACCOMMODATION FOR MEETING AND STAY BOOKED

ALL ARE REQUESTED TO RESERVE THEIR JOURNEY

 NOW ITSELF

The Central Working Committee of AIPRPA CHQ Will be held in Chennai (Tamilnadu) on 25-26, August, 2016. All CHQ Office Bearers, State General Secretaries and State General Convenors are requested to book their to and fro journey now itself - Air conditioned accommodation for stay and meeting is being booked - As 7th CWC would have been implemented by that time, we have to take stock of situation and plan future; our role in strengthening AIPRPA and the joint pensioners platforms will be other major issues. Next venue of AIC also to be discussed - Attendance must for all - pl plan well in advance - KR GS AIPRPA

AIPRPA CHQ WRITES TO SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF POSTS FOR ENDORSEMENT OF 6th APRIL ORDERS ON FULL PENSION TO PRE-2006 PENSIONERS!

CHQ has written to Secretary Posts for immediate action

Requested for endorsement of 6th April Orders to refix pension for all Pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years of service!

Copy of the letter as follows:

All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association

(Registered No: 83/2015 under Tamilnadu Societies Registration Act, 1975)

Chennai HQ: 2/44, Muthial Chetty Street, Purasawalkam, Chennai - 600007

New Delhi HQ: First Floor, North Avenue Post Office Building, North Avenue, New Delhi - 110001

AIPRPA / 1 / 5/2016 Dated 8.5.2016

To

The Secretary

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan

New Delhi – 110001

Madam,

Sub: Delay in Refixation of Pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years of qualifying service – regarding.

Ref: Department of Pension & PW OM No. 38/37/08-P&PW(A) Dated 6.4.2016.

This All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association is constrained to bring to your kind notice that despite the issuance of orders by the Department of Pension & Pensioners Welfare cited under reference for the grant of full pension instead of prorata pension for those Pre-2006 pensioners, no action seems to have been initiated by the Postal Authorities for re-fixing the pension to such pensioners so far. It is learnt that the absence of endorsement of the orders of the DoP&PW by the Postal Directorate is cited as the reason for not initiating any action on the matter by the Postal Audit Authorities.

This Association is pained to note that some important orders of the Pension Ministry are not immediately endorsed by the Postal Directorate in the past also. To cite an example, the orders of FMA Revision from 300/- to 500/- was inordinately delayed by the Postal Directorate. Now the present orders on grant of full pension to Pre-2006 is also not endorsed in time by the Postal Directorate. This type of avoidable delay on the part of the Postal Directorate is causing much strain on the Postal Pensioners as they are forced to wait longer to get justice, despite orders by the Government of India.

We therefore urge upon you to kindly intervene to cause to issue the endorsement orders immediately with instructions for grant of revised pension w.e.f. 1.1.2006 suo-moto without any need for personal representations from the pensioners. Such a move will give benefits to thousands of eligible Pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years of service.

This Association will highly appreciate your early action.

Yours faithfully,

Sd/-

(K.Ragavendran)

General Secretary

K.Ragavendran

General Secretary AIPRPA

SMALL TOWNS HELP SPEED POST DOUBLE REVENUE IN 5 YEARS

Growing commerce in small towns is expanding the business of Speed Post - the express mail service from India Post. Despite dividend payments and annual reports moving to electronic transfers, Speed Post revenues have doubled in five years, partly due to e-commerce and also due to the postal department's near monopoly status in smaller centres.

 

For the year ended 2015-16, Speed Post's revenue touched Rs 1,645 crore, an increase of 10% over the previous year, and the number of parcels shipped crossed 43 crore, which translates into 3,400 deliveries a minute considering the working hours. The average annual revenue growth over this five-year period has been 17.7%, probably the highest among the domestic express-courier services in the country.

 

"Nearly 30% of business is now coming from small towns and mofussil centres," said P N Ranjit Kumar, postmaster general, Mumbai region. The department's business is concentrated among the top 15 cities. "Part of the reason is because printing and bulk mail is concentrated in some cities like Manipal," said Kumar.

 

To tap new segments, the department is now offering services such as cash on delivery, SMS alerts, login id to corporate customers to track bulk articles and API (application programming interface) to e-commerce companies that allows them to get raw data regarding their consignments. "In coming years, we see express delivery being super-specialized. Customers will expect consignments to be delivered within a specific time frame in a defined location. This will be possible with postmen carrying hand-held devices. We are also introducing new technology such as parcel-vending machines," said Kumar.

 

According to the Express Industry Council of India, the size of the country's express-courier segment is estimated at Rs 10,000 crore. The industry is expected to grow at 25% annually. The key drivers are seen to be e-commerce and the eventual passage of the Goods and Services Tax, which will bring down trade barriers within the country.

 

"Revenue from Speed Post has been growing at an average annual rate of about 17.7% over the last five years. The product has managed to this by competing in an open market without any government protection," said Kumar. He added that in the past two decades, there has not been a single year when revenue has dipped

Source-The Times of India

ALL INDIA TRADE UNION EDUCATION CAMP-2016

2016 MAY 24th & 25th ----DEHRADUN (UTTARAKHAND)

 COM: S. K.VYASJI AUDITORIUM

PROGRAMME 24th MAY 2016 - TUESDAY
08.30 AM	:	REGISTRATION
09.30 AM	:	FLAG HOISTING & HOMAGE TO MARTYRS
10.00 AM	:	INAUGURATION
INAUGURATION & CLASS - 1 BY	:	COM A.K.PADMANABHAN, National President , CITU
SUBJECT	:	NEO-LIBERAL POLICY OFFENSIVES & TASK IN THE TRADE UNION FRONT
01.00  PM	:	LUNCH BREAK
02.00 PM -- CLASS- II    BY	:	DR.S.P.KASHYAP , Eminent Scholar, Retd. Principal, R.B.S. Degree College, Agra
SUBJECT	:	TRADE UNION & SOCIAL ISSUES
04.30 PM -- CLASS - III ----BY	:	COM: K.K.N. KUTTY, National President , Confederation
SUBJECT	:	7th CPC RECOMMENDATIONS AND OUR TASK
06.00 PM	:	NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING OF CONFEDERATION
08.30 PM	:	DINNER
25th MAY 2016 – WEDNESDAY
09.30 AM -  CLASS - IV ----- BY	:	DR. VENKATESH  ATHREYA, Renowned Economist
SUBJECT	:	CHOICE BEFORE HUMANITY – SOCIALISM OR DESTRUCTION
01.00 PM	:	LUNCH BREAK
02.00 PM -- CLASS - V ----- BY	:	COM : M. KRISHNAN, SECRETARY GENERAL, CONFEDERATION
SUBJECT	:	60 YEARS OF CONFEDERATION –   SAGA OF STRUGGLE, SACRIFICE AND ACHIEVEMENTS
03.30 PM	:	INTERACTION WITH CONFEDERATION LEADERS & CAMP REVIEW
05.00 PM	:	END

To

(1) All Affiliated Organisations of Confederation 
(2) All C-O-Cs
(3) All CHQ Office Bearers of Confederation 
(4) All Women Sub Committee members

Please ensure participation of delegates from each affiliate and C-O-Cs as per quota fixed. 

(M. KRISHNAN)

Secretary General 

Confederation  

GOVT SHOULD NOT TAKE THE JCM(NC) STAFFSIDE FOR A RIDE CONFRONTATION WILL BECOME INEVITABLE IF UNILATERAL ORDERS ARE ISSUED

It seems that Modi Govt. is not in favour of a negotiated settlement on the 7^th CPC related issues with the staff side. The Seventh CPC report was submitted on 19^th November 2015. Six months are almost over since then. Till date the Govt. has not come forward for a negotiated settlement. Instead, Empowered Committee of Secretaries (ECoS) headed by Cabinet Secretary conducted a meeting with the staff side on 1^st March 2016. In the meeting Govt. did not disclose its mind on any of the demands raised by the staf fside in the charter of demands submitted to Govt. Staf fside explained the justification for each demand but official side didn’t make any comment, either positive or negative. The concluding paragraph of the minutes of the meeting reads as follows:

“After hearing the participants, Cabinet Secretary observed that the deliberations have helped ECoS in understanding the major concerns of the staff side and said that all issues have been taken note of. He assured that fair consideration will be given to all points brought out by JCM before taking final views. He further stated that the ECoS needs to examine the Report of the Commission in entirety as well as the issues raised by JCM in consultation with all other stake holders. As such, it may take some time to take a final call on the recommendations of the Commission.”

It may be seen that, neither did the Govt. side made any commitment on any demands, nor did they indicate in the minutes that further discussion will be held with the staff side to arrive at a negotiated settlement on each demands. It seems that the Modi Govt is moving ahead to issue unilateral orders taking the staff side for a ride.

The JCM staff side Secretary, in his letter dated 2^nd May 2016, addressed to Cabinet Secretary, has made the stand of the staff side clear, without any ambiguity. The letter reads as follows:

“I have been directed to draw your attention towards minutes of the Standing Committee of National Council JCM held on 7^th May 2008 and our rejoinder submitted to Govt. in the matter of Report of 6^th CPC.

You will kindly find that it was not only a general discussion, but also official side explained their views on each and every issue.

I would therefore request your good self to kindly arrange for similar type of meeting for bi-lateral settlement on each of the issues raised by the staff side, NC/JCM before the Empowered Committee of Secretaries.”

Thus the picture is clear now. The Govt, it seems, has a hidden agenda to take the staff side for granted without giving any further opportunity for a negotiated settlement. The staff side on the other hand has taken a position that if unilateral orders are issued, without taking the staff side into confidence, the NJCA shall go ahead with the indefinite strike from 11^th July 2016 as already informed to the Govt. Employees have faith in the NJCA and they believe that the NJCA leadership shall assert itself and shall not compromise on major demands.

The coming days are crucial. If the Govt. adopts delaying tactics or issue unilateral orders rejecting our demands, then confrontation shall become inevitable. The stand taken by the then Nehru Govt. that “Pay Commission report is an award and is not negotiable” has resulted in the historic indefinite strike of 1960, which commenced on July 11^th midnight.

The NJCA leadership should be ready for a showdown, if Modi Govt refuse to arrive at a negotiated settlement with the staff side as demanded by Secretary, JCM(NC) staff side.

M KRISHNAN

Secretary General

Confederation