The
Govt. of India had issued the orders for payment of enhanced bonus to
all Central Govt. Employees on 29-10-2016. The bonus calculation
ceiling is raised from Rs.3,500/- to Rs.7,000/- from 01-04-2014.
Accordingly the bonus payment to all regular employees for the financial
year 2014-15 and 2015-16 was paid with arrears at the enhanced rate of
Rs.7,000/- in August 2016. Unfortunately the Postal Board refused to
issue enhanced bonus ceiling in respect of about three lakh Gramin Dak
Sevaks working in the Department of Posts. It referred the case to
Gramin Dak Sevaks Committee for recommendations.
The previous GDS Committee headed by Shri Nataraja Murthy had made a
retrograde recommendation in its report. As per that recommendation the
productivity of GDS is only 50% of the regular employees and hence it
recommended only 50% bonus paid to regular employees to GDS. At that
time the bonus calculation ceiling was Rs.3,500/-. As per Nataraja
Murthy Committee, the GDS are eligible for Rs.1,750/- calculation
ceiling only. Hence the Postal Board refused to extend the enhanced
bonus ceiling of Rs.3,500/- for GDS. Against this stand NFPE and
AIPEU-GDS along with Postal Joint Council of Action including FNPO and
NUGDS conducted series of agitational programmes including strike.
Postal JCA discussed the case with the then Minister of Communications
also. Finance Ministry rejected the case for enhancement of bonus to
3,500/- three times inspite of favourable recommendations from Minister,
Communications. Finally, after prolonged struggle the Finance Ministry
approved the enhancement and orders for grant of bonus at the rate of
Rs.3,500/- was issued for Gramin Dak Sevaks also.
This time, the Chairman of the GDS Committee, Shri Kamalesh Chandra,
took a different stand. The Committee recommended the enhanced bonus of
Rs.7,000/- to GDS also. It stated that the overall revenue generated
by GDS Post offices and the overall expenditure for running the GDS Post
offices is almost equal. The actual deficit on account of GDS is only
200 crores, whereas the total deficit of Postal department is more than
6000 crors. That means the loss on account of GDS is very meagre when
compared to the loss incurred for running the departmental post offices,
RMS and Administrative Offices. Hence, Shri Kamalesh Chandra Committee
made a favourable recommendation to Postal Board to grant enhanced
bonus to GDS at the rate of Rs.7,000/-. Postal Board sent the file to
Finance Ministry for approval. The Finance Ministry after detailed
study, gave approval and Department of Posts issued orders on
27-10-2016.
Role played by NFPE & AIPEU - GDS:
NFPE and AIPEU-GDS under the leadership of Com.R.N.Parashar, Secretary
General, NFPE and Com. P.Panduranga Rao, General Secretary, AIPEU-GDS,
gave call for agitational programmes along with FNPO & NUGDS,
protesting against the discrimination shown towards GDS and demanding
enhanced bonus calculation ceiling of Rs.7,000/- to GDS also for the
financial year 2014-15 and 2015-16 also demanding payment of revised
wages to all casual, part-time, contingent employees from 01-01-2006.
It conducted nationwide protest demonstrations and mass dharna in front
of all Circle/Regional and Divisional Offices. It declared indefinite
hunger fast in front of Postal Directorate (Dak Bhavan, New Delhi) from
3rd November 2016 and two days strike on 9th &10th November, 2016.
Notice for the two days strike was served to the Secretary, Department
of Posts on 20-10-2016. Intensive campaign was undertaken throughout
the country and the response from employees was overwhelming.
Departmental Employees and GDS unity is exhibited:
In 1984, first time in the history of Postal Trade Union movement the
Postmen,Group D & EDAs Union (NFPE) under the leadership of late
Com. Adinarayana, the legendary leader, gave a call for nation-wide one
day strike on 19th September 1984 exclusively for one demand ie; the
demand of the Extra Departmental employees. Again after 32 years NFPE
& AIPEU-GDS along with FNPO & NUGDS took a historic decision to
go for two days nation- wide strike on 2016 November 9th & 10th,
both by departmental employees and Gramin Dak Sevaks, exclusively for
the demands of most down-trodden section of GDS and Casual Labourers.
No other demand of departmental employees was added to the charter of
demands. We proved that NFPE, AIPEU-GDS and Postal JCA always stood
with the GDS and Casual Labourers and the departmental employees
declared that GDS and Casual Labourers are our own family members and we
will not tolerate any discrimination and shall go for two days strike
for GDS and Casual Labourers. This is really an inspiring experience.
Role of recognised GDS Union:
The recognised GDS Union of Shri S.S.Mahadevaiah, earlier used to
declare that I will go for indefinite strike only as no purpose will be
served by one day or two days strike. He has written many write-ups and
circulars earlier criticising NFPE & AIPEU-GDS for one day or two
day’s strike. The same leader, who earlier said that I don’t believe in
one day or two days strike, this time was afraid of the NDA Government
and decided to go for two days strike on 25th & 26th October 2016.
He has not made any campaign other than giving strike notice. His list
of new office bearers elected in the belated last All India Conference
was pending before the Directorate for approval. He was afraid of
loosing recognition, if he goes on strike. The Department of Posts has
clearly informed him about the consequences of the strike. After
discussion with Department he surrendered and agreed to withdraw the
strike and his strike call was withdrawn on 24-10-2016 itself, even
before the approval of the Finance Ministry. The leader who used to
criticise others for deferring the strike earlier, has ran away from the
battle field half way, fearing withdrawal of recognition. Thus the
real face of the recognised union leader was exposed before the entire
postal employees. NFPE has already reminded him earlier itself that- ''
you can make fools some GDS for sometimes but cannot make fool all GDS
for all time”. Sri Mahadevaiah is afraid of facing membership
verification also and is requesting the department every time for
extension.
NFPE, AIPEU-GDS and PJCA stand-
Departmental held discussion with NFPE, AIPEU-GDS, FNPO& NUGDS.
They have also cautioned the leaders on the consequences of the strike.
But, unlike Shri Mahadevaiah who ran away from battle field fearing
de-recognition NFPE, AIPEU-GDS and PJCA took a bold stand and declared
that we will not withdraw the strike unless and until orders for
payment of enhanced bonus is issued by Department and we are ready to
face any victimisation. It also demanded issuing of instructions
regarding casual labourer wages. Finally department issued GDS bonus
orders on 27-10-2016. It has already issued orders for payment of
Casual Labour wages from 01-01-2006 and agreed to issue strict
instructions to all Chief PMGs for implementation.
GDS Committee and role of NFPE & AIPEU-GDS
Government has appointed a separate GDS committee under the
Chairmanship of Retired Postal Board Member Shri Kamlesh Chandra. Our
demand for inclusion of GDS also under the purview of 7th CPC was not
accepted by the NDA Government NFPE and AIPEU-GDS has submitted a
detailed memorandum to GDS Committee. A delegation of NFPE and
AIPEU-GDS has met the Chairman, GDS Committee three times and tendered
oral evidence. Our main demand is grant of Civil Servant Status and
grant of all benefits of departmental employees to GDS. The GDS
Committee has informed that it will submit it’s recommendations to
Government in November 2016 . If the recommendations are against the
interest of the GDS, NFPE & AIPEU-GDS will definitely go for
struggle including strike along with postal JCA.
The recognised GDS Union of Shri Mahadevaiah could not settle any of
the demands of GDS during the last more than 15 years. He don’t
believe in the unity of GDS and departmental employees. He is treating
the departmental employees and their recognised federations ( NFPE &
FNPO) as the enemy of GDS. He is also against the united movement of
Central Government Employees and Confederation of Central Government
Employees and workers.
In the above circumstances it is the duty of every GDS employee to
strengthen NFPE and APIEU-GDS. It is proved that only a United Struggle
of departmental employees and GDS can settle the genuine demands of GDS
employees. Realising this fact, all the GDS are requested to vote for
AIPEU-GDS, by submitting the authorisation letters (declaration forms)
in favour of AIPEU-GDS, which is an Associate Member of NFPE, in the
coming membership verification.
Role of Confederation and JCM (National Council) Staff Side:
The Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers extended
full support and solidarity to the strike call of NFPE, AIPEU-GDS and
Postal JCA for enhancement of bonus ceiling to 7000 and called upon all
other Central Govt. employees (other than Postal employees) to conduct
solidarity demonstrations on the days of the two day strike on 9th
&10th November 2016. The Confederation took initiative to raise the
issue in the JCM (NC) Standing Committee meeting held on 25-10-2016
along with the JCM staff side. The GDS Bonus issue was discussed in the
JCM with Govt. and demanded immediate settlement.
Congratulations and Salute to All:
No doubt, the GDS bonus ceiling enhancement is as great victory for
NFPE, AIPEU-GDS and Postal JCA including FNPO and NUGDS. The
departmental employees and GDS who unitedly conducted the struggle till
victory, deserves congratulations. The unity of departmental employees
and Gramin Dak Sevaks should be further strengthened and those who are
trying to break the unity should be isolated. Coming days are very
crucial and may demands more united and militant struggles.
Let us once again declare that “Unity is for struggle and struggle for Unity”.
