Tuesday 13 September 2016

Download the corrected Memorandum for submission to Government

CORRECTIONS CARRIED OUT TO MEMORANDUM

Dear Comrades!

Some Corrections have been carried out in the Memorandum to be submitted to Hon'ble Ministers by AIPRPA.

The corrections are carried out directly in the Memorandum already placed in the website - So kindly take a new print out now and that should be submitted to the Ministers.

KR GS AIPRPA

Sunday 11 September 2016

ORGANISE AIPRPA CWC DECISIONS OF A PROGRAMME OF ACTION!

AIPRPA CWC DECISIONS FOR APROGRAMME OF ACTION ON POSTAL PENSIONERS CHARTER OF DEMANDS



THREE STAGE PROGRAMME OF ACTION

(i)                Demonstrations shall be held at all places by the AIPRPA on 19th September, 2016 and Memorandum will be forwarded to Health and Finance Ministers
(ii)             Mass Dharna by Postal & RMS Pensioners on 21st October, 2016 to demand implementation of the Charter of Demands.
(iii)           ‘Chalo Delhi’ by Postal & RMS Pensioners to conduct a ‘Mass Demonstration’ in front of Parliament on 21st February (Date will be subject to finalisation in consultation with NCCPA to synchronize with the National Convention against NPS proposed by NCCPA) and to submit the Memorandum to the Prime Minster of India.

All District / Divisional Secretaries are requested to organise the Demonstration on 19th September, 2016 either at morning or lunch hour or in the evening and submit the following Memorandum by Speed Post to Honourable Finance Minister Government of India New Delhi – 110001 and to the Honourable Health Minister Government of India, Nirman Bhawan, New Delhi – 110108.

******


MEMORANDUM SUBMITTED TO HONOURABLE FINANCE MINISTER - HONOURABLE MINISTER OF COMMUNICATIONS & IT;  & HONOURABLE HEALTH MINISTER AS PER THE DECISION OF THE CWNTRAL WORKING COMMITTEE OF ALL INDIA POSTAL & RMS PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION:

Respected Sir,

We, the Members of All India Postal & RMS Pensioners Association ______________________________
District / Division under ________________________________ State, submit this Memorandum for the consideration and favourable action of Government of India.

1.   Grant of Universal Pension @ 3000/- to all Senior Citizens:

The Senior Citizens of India, irrespective of their industry including agriculture or any other unorganized sector should be protected in their old age. The OASIS project under Shri.Atal Behari Vajpayee Government stated that all the workers in their old age must get social security. It is the responsibility of Government to take care of all the senior citizens even though they are not retired from pensionable service like Government jobs. The demand for a universal pension to all  senior citizens is gaining ground in all countries. India should take the lead and enact a law to protect all senior citizens above age of 60 and not covered by any pension scheme with at least a pension of Rs.3000/- per month by the Central Government.

2.   Scrapping NPS for Central Government Employees:

The decision taken by the Government to bring all Central Government Employees recruited on or after 1.1.2004 under New Pension Scheme, now renamed as ‘National Pension System’ is violative of Constitution, as it discriminates one section of Government employees against another. The introduction of NPS through PFRDA Act against the recommendations of 6th CPC constituted Expert Committee headed by Doctor Gayatri of Bangalore Institute of Economic Studies was a retrograde step taken by the Government. The NPS does not guarantee any minimum  pension and everything is left to the vagarities of the share market. There is no guarantee that a Government Employee after serving for three or four decades will get at least half the basic pay of his last pay drawn as his pension like the employees recruited before 1.1.2004. Contrast this with the fact that even after a single day holding the position of a Member of Parliament; every M.P is eligible for a guaranteed government pension! The 7th CPC has in detail narrated the weaknesses in the system of NPS, which goes to prove that there is no guarantee to any minimum pension after retirement for a Government Employee  entering service after 1.1.2004. While the NPS should have been restricted only to those employees and workers for whom no other pension system is in vogue as originally thought out in OASIS Project, the implementation of NPS to a section of government employees also was a step in wrong direction. The NPS has to go as far as all Government Employees without any discrimination.

3.   Full Parity in Pension between past and present pensioners:

5th CPC had recommended that all pensioners must be notionally brought on to the new pay scale implemented prospectively by treating them as though as they were in service before refixing their pension at the rate of 50% of pay of the post or cadre from which a pensioner had retired. This recommendation had been diluted by 6th CPC by denying the notional fixation and also the Refixation based on the new scale of pay granted to the same post or cadre. The 6th CPC had only recommended for calculations in the replacement scale of pay corresponding to the pre-revised scale of pay in which the pensioner had retired. The 7th CPC even though had conceded to take into account notionally the number of increments earned by the pensioner, has not recommended for basing it on the pay scale recommened for the cadre or the post but only on the pay scale corresponding to the pre-revised scale of pay. The grant of OROP to the Pensioners of Armed Forces by the Government ensures the fixation of pension based on the pay scale granted to the same rank and the number of increments earned by the retired pensioner. This factor is rejected to the Civilian Pensioner. This is discriminatory treatment between one class of pensioners and another by the Government. All the Civilian Pensioners also should be granted ‘Pension Refixation’ based on the scale of pay of the post or cadre granted by the 6th and 7th Pay Commission instead of replacement scale corresponding to the replacement scale only.

4.   Grant of Option Number 1 of Pension Refixation by 7th CPC:

The 7th Pay Commission had granted two options to all Pre-2016 Pensioners on the Refixation of their pension from 1.1.2016. Option No.2 is application of 2.57 fitment factor. Option No.1 is to take the number of increments earned by the Pensioner notionally in the last pay scale before his retirement and fix the pension based on the appropriate cell in the Pay Matrix corresponding to the Level of Pay Scale. Many Pensioners may be benefited by Option Number 1 method. Unfortunately the stand taken by the Pension Ministry that Option Number 1 is not feasible as the number of increments earned by pensioners cannot be verified with non available records. Actually the averment of the Pension Ministry is untenable as the PPO of Pensioners carry most of the details besides other records to verify the number of increments earned by the Pensioner before retirement. On several occassions pension records had been reconstructed based on court judgments and therefore it is not tenable to say that the Option Number 1 is not feasible. Denying Option Number 1 is like denying a step taken towards pension parity between the past and present pensioners, even though it is not full parity between the past and present pensioners. Therefore Option Number 1 recommended by the 7th CPC should be extended to those pensioners for whom it is more advantageous than Option Number 2.

5.   Changing from nearest level to next level in Pay Matrix for increments and linking the Pay Matrix for Option No.2 to Pensioners:

A Pay matrix is recommended by the 7th CPC with appropriate level of starting pay for the corresponding pre-revised scale pay. But all further stages corresponding to incremental stages are worked out in Ms Excel format with the ‘nearest level’ instead of ‘next level’. This causes loss at many levels as the sum so worked out by the command of ‘nearest level’ does not guarantee the actual rate of increment of 3% in many places. The rate of annual increment has been recommended as 3% but the calculation in the Pay matrix denies the same 3% at various stages. The preparation of Pay matrix is contradictory to the accepted recommendation of 3% annual increment. The Pay Matrix is to be redrafted with ‘next level’ instead of ‘nearest level’ applied to work out the incremental stages of pay scales. This anomaly is causing a loss to Pre-2016 Pensioners also as their pension option Number 1 is to be based on the Pay Matrix only. Therefore ‘The Pay Matrix’ is to be redrafted with ‘next level’ instead of ‘nearest level’ applied to work out the incremental stages of pay scales’. It is also demanded to Link the pension refixation under Option Number-2 with the Pay Matrix to the next level on par with the employees. This is on lines of Option Number-1(where Pay Matrix comes into picture) as well as spirit of the recommendations of 7th CPC. It may be noted that Option Number 1 is linked to Pay Matix whereas Option No.2  is not linked to Pay Matrix even though for serving employees pay fixation by applying Fitment Factor 2.57 is linked to Pay Matrix. Thus correcting the Pay Matrix with ‘Next level’ for incremental stages and linking Pay Matrix for Pensioners to Option Number 2 are necessary to prevent any loss to Pre-2016 Pensioners who opt either for Option Number-1 or Option Number-2.

6.   Refixation of Pre-2006 Pensioners of Postman, HSG-1 Postmasters, IPOs, ASPOS etc:

The Refixation of Pension for Pre-2006 Postman, HSG-1 Postmasters, IPOs, ASPOS etc based on their pre-revised scale of pay only instead of their pay scale granted and implemented by Government from 1.1.2006 is an injustice. After OPOP acceptance by the Government to Armed Forces Pensioners, denial of pension fixation to Pre-2006 Pensioners in the Civilian side based on the scale of pay of the same post or cadre is discriminatory. They should also be ordered for Refixation of pension based on the scale of pay granted to the cadre of Postman, HSG-1 Postmasters, IPOs and ASPOs etc from 1.1.2006.

7.   Injustice to Pre-2006 HSG-1 Postmasters in pension fixation:

The denial of Refixation of pension in case of Pre-2006 HSG-1 Postmasters on 4600 Grade Pay level is totally an injustice. The HSG-1 is a promotional cadre to HSG-2; After HSG-2 Postmaster cadre is granted a replacement scale of 4200 Grade Pay by amalgamation of several pay scales into one, the grant of 4600 Grade Pay level to HSG-1 is naturally a replacement scale of pay to them only. The interpretation taken by the Government that the scale of 4600 grade pay given to HSG-1 is an upgraded pay is basically wrong as both the feeder cadre and a promotional cadre cannot be the same scale pay. The net result of misinterpretation of the issue by the Government is that even the BCR Postal Assistants who were supervised by the HSG-1 Postmasters are fixed in the same level of 4200 Grade Pay for their pension calculation. This has to set right by considering the 4600 GP scale of pay to HSG-1 Postmasters granted from 1.1.2006 as the replacement scale of pay and all Pre-2006 HSG-1 Postmasters are to be fixed their pension appropriately.

8.   Refixation of Pension to Post 1.1.1996 Pensioners of Postman cadre:

The Supreme Court had accepted the position proposed by the Department of Posts that the grant of two advance increments will be taken into calculation for pension purposes for all post 1.1.1996 postman retirees. This position has not been translated into practice by the Department of Posts. No orders are issued as per the direction of the Supreme Court even after months. Necessary orders are to be issued for refixing the pension of all Post 1.1.1996 Postman pensioners as per the direction of the Supreme court without further delay.

9.   Grant of FMA @ 2000:

The Fixed Medical Advance is at present given @ 500/- per month. It was 300/- only and the Pay Commission should have gone into it naturally, but the Government had unilaterally raised it as 500/- and prevented the CPC from going into the issue. The cost of medicines and consultation fees has gone up in the recent times; most of the pensioners are suffering from different illness and even the diabetic medicines are costing more than 2000/- per month. Expecting a pensioner to manage all his family’s out-patient medical expenses within a paultry sum of 500/- per month is by any standards unjustified. The employees in EPF department are being drawn a sum of 2000/- per month right from 1.1.2006 is also a fact to prove that already the rationale for grant of 2000/- is recognized by the Government in other place. Notwithstanding the fact that this issue is under the consideration of the High Level Committee headed by the Finance Secretary and the Expenditure Secretary, the FMA has to be revised from 500/- to at least 2000/- per month.

10.               Accepting the recommendations of 7th CPC on Medical Treatment:

The 7th Pay Commission had recommended some basic issues related to medical treatment of pensioners. Importantly it had categorized the discrimination being shown towards Postal Pensioners in the matter of denial of entry into CGHS medical system as untenable and recommended to allow all pensioners into CGHS system without conditions. The stand of the Health Ministry that Postal Department has its own Postal Dispensaries and therefore unless the postal pensioner was a CGHS beneficiary while in service, he or she cannot be allowed into CGHs is utterly discriminatory as Postal Dispensaries are not covering all the Postal Employees or Pensioners. The 7th CPC has recommended to merge Postal Dispensaries also with CGHS. It has also recommended for a comprehensive Medical Insurance for employees and pensioners to get treatment in a cashless and hassle free manner. Merger of CGHS with Railway and Defense Hospital systems also is  recommended by the Pay Commission. These recommendations are left to respective Ministries / Departments for taking appropriate decisions instead of Cabinet taking a positive decision regarding their implementation. These recommendations are made after going in depth into the medical issues of pensioners and therefore the Departments or Ministries should not be dealing them only on the basis of expenditure to either dilute them or deny them in a casual manner. These recommendations are vital for the health care for thousands of postal pensioners all over the country who are out-of the CGHS coverage areas and hence are to be  urgently accepted for implementation.

11.               Revision of Pension by treating the period of training as eligible service for grant of TBOP/BCR upgradations:



The Postal Employees were granted TBOP/BCR promotions before 1.9.2008. It had been ordered to treat the period of training undergone prior to 01-01-1986 by direct recruits Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants as eligible service for grant of their TBOP/BCR upgradations. . Accordingly the date of TBOP / BCR were revised for many employees. This order should have been extended to pensioners also who would have been eligible for their TBOP or BCR upgradations but for denial of treating the period of training to them also. Grant of TBOP or BCR would have elevated them to them to the next upgraded scale to facilitate higher fixation of pension. The application of these orders for one section of employees and denial of extending them to the retired employees is unjustified. The eligible pensiones are to be extended with the benefit of Refixation by applying the above orders to them also and by granting them the financial up gradations who were otherwise missed their TBOP/BCR.

12.               Rent free BSNL land line phones to erstwhile P&T Employees:

The issue of grant of rent free land line phones of BSNL is  pending in the SCOVA also for a pretty long time. Several Courts have ruled against the discrimination shown towards one class of people against the other. The cut off date fixed by the DoT is most discriminatory as it disallows other erstwhile P&T employees from getting the benefit. All the erstwhile P&T employees irrespective of their period of service in the combined department of Posts and Telecommunications shall be granted the benefit of a rent-free land line phone by BSNL.

13.               Allotment of vacant Postal Staff Quarters to Postal Pensioners:

Several Postal Staff Quarters are lying not only vacant but also getting corroded due to non-occupation for a long time. The Staff Quarters which are not occupied by the willing employees can be allotted to willing pensioners of Postal Department so that the buildings will be comparatively maintained by occupation besides some rent is collected by the Department also. The vacant postal staff quarters may be granted to Postal Pensioners on nominal rent.

14Extension of benefit of delinking 33 years for full pension to Compulsory Retirement:

Government had accepted the Apex Court direction and issued orders for removing the condition of 33 years qualifying service for grant of full pension to Pre-2006 retirees. Subsequent to issue of this order, by way of clarificatory orders the Departmet of Expenditure had excluded the compulsory retired pensioners from getting this benefit. The compulsory retired were already punished with forfeiture of their future services to earn more and to get more pensions. The preclusion of compulsorily retired pensioners from getting even the minimum pension guaranteed by the orders of Government acts harshly on them as a second punishment. It is requested that a reconsideration is necessary to grant minimum pension by delinking the condition of 33 years of qualifying service to compulsorily retired employees also w.e.f 01-01-2006.  



Signature
District / Divisional Secretary AIPRPA
 …………………………………………………District
…………………………………….State




Thursday 8 September 2016

DA / DR should be 3% and not 2% of the Revised Pay and Pension from 1.7.2016!

JCM STAFF SIDE SECRETARY WRITES TO GOI FOR CORRECT COMPUTATION OF 
DA FORMULA w.e.f. 1.1.2016



No.NC/JCM/2016
Dated: September 6, 2016
The Secretary (Expenditure),
Ministry of Finance,
(Government of India),
North Block, New Delhi-110 001

Dear Sir,

Sub: Future computation of Dearness Allowance and adoption base index figure to Revised Minimum Wage – Regarding

            The revised pay structure, as recommended by the 7th CPC, was given effect as on 01.01.2016 as per the Government’s Notification. The Dearness Allowance, which was computed at 125% ( i.e 125.75 fraction of 0.75 being ignored), got merged with Pay as on that date. The 7th CPC has not indicated as to what base figure of AICPI (IW) the Revised Wages will relate to hereafter wards. As you are aware, the actual DA that was due as on 01.01.2016 was 125.75. It is only due to the practice of ignoring fraction; the DA was determined at 125%. No doubt, the said practice had not been impacting very much except for the postponement of the benefit by six months. It is, therefore, necessary that, Revised Wages are related to a base index figure equivalent to actual Dearness Allowance percentage of 125 that stands merged as on 01.01.2016. This is more so due to the fact that there is no possibility of the ignored fraction of 0.75 being reckoned for any computation in future.

            We, therefore, request that, 12 monthly average, which stood at 261.33 as on 31.12.2015, may be taken at 260.46, which would provide the exact percentage of DA at 125. The future percentage increase in DA in other words may be computed with the base figure of 260.46. The next instalment of DA, which has become due as on 1.07.2016 if computed on the above basis of 260.46, shall work out to 3.28%. On ignoring the faction, the DA with effect from 01.07.2016 shall be 3%. We, request you to kindly take the above into account and issue orders for grant of 3% DA w.e.f. 01.07.2016.

Sincerely yours

(Shiva Gopal Mishra)
Secretary (Staff Side)
National Council (JCM)


Wednesday 7 September 2016

NFPE 'X' Federal Council opens at Guwahati!

10th Federal Council of NFPE at Guwahati (Assam)
7-9, September, 2016
Comrades!
The historic 10th Federal Council Session of NFPE commenced at Guwahati from 7th September, 2016. The Federal Council Session is taking place at a very important juncture. The Strike on 2nd September has taken place; the 7th CPC recommendations are implemented; Modifications to the Report are under the consideration of High Level Committees; The NJCA has resolved to go on indefinite strike if justice is not rendered by the Government; GDS Employees are eagerly awaiting the Report of Kamlesh Chandra Committee and they are looking forward to the decisions of NFPE  in the event of negative recommendations from the GDS Committee; the Casual labourers are looking forward the Federation for getting implemented the decisions of Directorate in all States as well as for their regularization; the sectional issues of Postal Employees and the stage in which they are placed and the role of NFPE in unifying the Postal Movement for achieving them. As far as the Postal Pensioners are concerned, it is a platform of the cream of leadership from all over India, that can be appealed for extending total cooperation in building AIPRPA. Comrade K.Ragavendran General Secretary of AIPRPA is an invitee to the NFPE Federal Council and he will take the opportunity to appeal to the entirety of the Postal Movement to extend their due role in building the Postal Pensioners Organisation in all States.

Flag Hoisting and Martyrs Column
The three days (7-9)historic session of X Federal Council of NFPE started in Guwahati, the capital of Assam. You can see in photos the National Flag being hoisted by Comrade M.R.Das (Working Chairman Reception Committee); and comrade Giriraj Singh (NFPE President) hoisting the Federation flag. Comrade A.K.Padmanabhan (National President CITU) respecting the Martyrs Column followed by other leaders and Federal Councillors. Slogan shouting rented the air!

The NFPE Federal Executive was held in the forenoon before the Open Session.

Open Session of X Federal Council starts with cultural folk song!
With a beautiful Assamese folk song by the cultural troup the Open Session of X Federal Council of NFPE commenced at the District Library Hall, Guwahati at 4.00 p.m today:

Open session welcome address of Chairman Reception Committee placed by P3 Circle President comrade L.P.Saikia! Comrade Giriraj Singh NFPE President in chair. Comrade D.K.Debnath General Secretary Reception Committee anchord the proceedings. All leaders including the Chief Guest Comrade A.K.Padmanabhan CITU National President; KKN.Kutty Chairman of Confederation; M.Krishnan Secretary General Confederation; R.N.Parasshar Secretary General NFPE; M.S.Raja Secretary General Audit; Vrighu Bhattacharjee Secretary General Civil Accounts; C.C.Pillai Ex-Secretary General NFPE; K.Ragavendran Ex-Secretary General NFPE & General Secretary AIPRPA; K.V.Sridharan Ex-General Secretary P3 NFPE; Satanjib Das Convenor JCTU Assam; CGM Telecom Srive.Mahesh Kumar Seth; Deputy Secretary General Reception Committee and Circle Secretary of AIBDPA Comrade M.R.Das; and may other leaders on dias.
Inaugural Address
A.K.Padmanabhan CITU National President inaugurated the  NFPE Federal Council with an inspiring speech.  He stated that this time the 2nd Sep strike is a great victory including Assam because it was organised despite efforts of Modi Government to break the strike! On the important issues, the reply of government is that they are policy issues and unions have no role. When press asked about bank employees strike against merger of subsidiary banks of SBI with SBI, the FM told this is a policy matter and unions can't intervene! If you go on strike against postal corporatisation, the same will be the response of government. This government saying everywhere that we are a growing economy! Among the 20 countries attended Conference in China (G20), except population we stand last in 20! In BRICKS also we are last! During last 25 years the same neo-liberal policies implemented, by many Prime Ministers, but as per the proverb that despite Indra the God of Devas change but Indrani the queen not changes, the change of PM does not bring any change of policy! Chief Minister Kerala supported 2nd Sep strike; and the reaction of a Central Minister is that 'a CM should not support strikes!". First 12 strikes by us was not so united as the strikes after that including the 17th strike on 2nd sep. There is a systematic attack on peoples Democratic rights. We should educate all and build stronger movement in future.

Address by Chairman Confederation
Chairman Confederation Com.KKN.Kutty addressed the  Open Session NFPE! He stated that both the Confederation President and Secretary General are here that marks the importance attached by Confederation to NFPE Federal Council. On 29th July Govt announced decisions on implementation of 7th CPC. You may ask as to why strike was deferred? We can only say that we do understand the heat created by you at that time; but as i am before the cream of leadership, I share some points with you. If the govt wanted to proceed undermining our voice, we would have definitely faced it with strike. History proves the merit of Confederation. This govt if takes the same position as in 1960 or 1968, there will be a struggle. If govt not comes forward to amend the recommendations, we will definitely go on strike. NJCA is determined to that. But Confederation will under any circumstances go ahead with strike if our issues referred to Committees are not settled! On 12th Dec 2012 we went on strike on our own. We had been on strike on many occasions based on our own strength in the past. The ongoing audiences by Committees to NJCA are not negotiations! Minimum wage is our most important demand; and we shall not allow the Government to deny our legitimate demand without a confrontation!

M.S.Raja Wkg.President Confederation & SG Audit Federation addressed the Open Session! He reieterated that We should create a condition to force the government to concede our issues before the High Level Committees! Confederation has a major role to play!

Vrighu Bhattacharjee SG Civil Accounts Employees Federation addressed and said by taking pride that we were part of the national movement of strike on 2nd September! You are the biggest contingent if Confederation. In your federal council, you have to take such decisions to lead the CG movement! It was we, the confederation, that initiated and led the movement for 6th CPC formation. Our movement had not gone waste. This govt declared that we are not eligible for bonus ceiling revision, but on the face of strike, it had conceded the issue. NPS implemented but some orders on gratuity etc came on the face of strike! We have many issues! Railways and others are discriminated on compassionate appointments. Your Conference will take decisions to guide the CG movement!

Satanjib Das Convenor JCTU Assam.
The Convenor of JCTU Assam spoke and said that 'Public Sector is born to die' was the comment of PM Narendra Modi! He has become our PM! Assam is economically a backward state. Entire NE not got 1% of total investment in the country. This is going down in the recent years. In 1997 a Regional development council was formed by Government to develop private investment in the region; but the present govt is destroying that also. Today thousands of Assamese boys go to Tamilnadu or Kerala to work for lower wages. Unemployment has gone up rapidly in this region. I wish your Federal Council will take appropriate decisions to struggle against the twin dangers if economic offensive and divisive politics!
Confederation SG M.Krishnan addressed with an emotional speech!
Comrade M.Krishnan SG Confederation said that NFPE and Postal movement was built up as a TU and not as a service organization since the days of British! Many of our leaders were imprisoned on many occasions to build our movement! CG movement both NJCA and Confederation reached out nook and corner of India to organise the strike! But Railways don't want to go on strike. Govt announced unilaterally to implement CPC recommendations. It was Confederation that prevailed upon NJCA to stick on the strike decision. But for Confederation, no question of NJCA sticking on the decision of strike. We had two options; either to go for independent action on our own or keep unity in tact. We developed consensus to carry forward the unity. You NFPE should take a decision to go on indefinite strike if after four months time, the Committees don't deliver! If you are ready, then confederation will go ahead! There are Postal workers issues also. All issues for up gradation of pay to Allowances of Postal Employees stand rejected! Three lakhs of GDS who have full faith in NFPE, are watching the result of Kamlesh Chandra Committee. NFPE cannot keep quiet for the GDS Committee to wind up its work, but prepare for big struggles from now onwards! GDS NFPE has formed in more than 90% of divisions! Casual labourers are being denied justice and even Directorate Orders are not implemented in many Circles! AIPRPA the organization of Postal Pensioners also is formed in most states! Outsourcing decisions also come through T.S.R.Subramaniam Cimmittee! Though stayed for time being, danger is there. Though verification of membership is over long back, earlier Minister refuses to sign because BPEF will not be in reckoning! GDS unions also verification not going ahead! New Minister has come and we have to see development! Without serious struggles we cannot advance at all!After thorough discussions in Dharwar FC, unanimous decision was taken to join strikes with Indian Workibg Class; but today tendencies here and there for organising 'wherever possible'! This trend is dangerous and weaken our movement! NFPE Federal Council should have all these factors in mind to take proper decisions to march ahead!

NFPE SG R.N.Parashar’s addresses to Open Session!
The Secretary General NFPE Comrade R.N.Parashar pointed out that the 2nd September Strike was total success in those places where leadership that was negative in past was changed! We called for Convening of Circle councils, cwcs, GBs etc to organise struggles! Self critically analyse whether held in all places? Government is dictated that business is not the business of Governments! We should fight to reverse this policy! Government not accepting minimum wage and fitment formula! Finance Minister says that he asked his driver and he agreed that he was very happy for wage increase! Can we allow this nonsense? We asked our Secretary DoP as to what he wants? A privatised Postal Department? He could not answer! We will discuss thoroughly in FC and take decisions. We assure Confederation and Central TUs that NFPE will carry forward its tradition! We will introspect our weaknesses and improve our performance!

CGM Telecom Srive.Mahesh Kumar Seth

Sri.Mahesh Kumar Seth delivered a speech imparting confidence in our movement stating that the faith and trust should be there in the movement that all our genuine issues would be resolved. He appreciated the Federal Council coming to Guwahati. His speech exposed the hollowness of the claims of the Government on many aspects.

NFPE President Giriraj Singh concluding address

NFPE President Comrade Giriraj Singh delivered his concluding remarks by assuring the Confederation and the Central Trade Unions that NFPE will continue to play its due role in the united movement against the neo-liberal policies.

Vote of Thanks by Comrade G.Talukdar

Comrade G.Talukdar Dy.GS Reception Committee delivered vote of thanks.

Cultural Show

A cultural performance followed the end of Open Session in which various artists showed their talent and entertained the audience. 

Inaugural Address by AKP 

Cultural show at the beginning of Open Session

Cultural show at the close of Open Session

Cultural Show at the end of Open Session

D.K.Debnath anchoring the Open Session

Giriraj Singh NFPE President

Satanjib Das Convenor JCTU Assam

KKN Kutty Chairman Confederation

M.Krishan Secretary General Confederation


Martyrs Column respects by Comrade AKP

M.R.Das hoisting National Flag

Giriraj Singh Hoisting NFPE Flag

Open Session

R.N.Parashar Secretary General NFPE

.
Vrighu Bhattacharjee SG Civil ACcounts
M.S.Raja SG Audit

CGM Telecom Mahesh Kumar Seth

Saturday 3 September 2016

Magnificent Response to Strike Call by All Trade Unions!

180 Million Indian Workers & Employees Struck Work on 2nd September!

This must be a Guinness record! 18 Crores of Indian Workers (180 Million) went on a nationwide strike on 2nd September, 2016. Many Nations do not have this much population in their countries! The strike, 17th in its number against the neo-liberal policies  of successive Central Governments is an indication of growing discontentment against the attitude of Modi Government towards labour in general! 

The Postal Employees responded magnificently in several states.The response is reportedly better than last strike. Several Head Post Offices and Post Offices found closed totally with not even a single employee turned for work. The attempt of the Central Government to announce implementation of Bonus Ceiling 7000/- instead of 3500/- to CG Employees from last financial year did not deter the CG Employees in general and the Postal Employees in particular from participating in the strike action. The announcement that the NPS covered Employees will get Gratuity did not prevent the newly recruited employees on or after 1.1.2004 from joining the mainstream of workers and employees in the Strike. The implementation of 7th CPC as well as payment of arrears before 31st August also not created any confusion amongst the CG Employees. The indication is very clear! That if the pending High Power Committees fail to deliver proper results in offering enhancement of Minimum Wage and Fitment Factor; fail to change the retrograde recommendations on Allowances etc, the CG Employees will not hesitate to launch the indefinte strike that has been deferred on the request of Group of Ministers!

The response of Pensioners is appreciable. The AIPRPA CHQ is receiving reports from many States that the Pensioners of AIPRPA together with other sister pensioners organisations organised either demonstrations or dharnas on 2nd Septermber, 2016 or on 1st September, 2016 in places where 2nd was a declared bandh as in Kerala. Even some of our members courted arrest by staging rasto roko as in Vellore District of Tamilnadu where four of our own Members of AIPRPA were arrested while staging a rasto roko agitation. Demonstrations and Dharna agitations were held in many District Headquarters at the call of the State COC of Central, State Government and Public Sector Pensioners Organisations of Tamilnadu. Hundreds of Pensioners responded in places like Chennai. Kerala reported demonstrations by AIPRPA in all Districts together with AIBDPA and CGPA. In many centres Pensioners joined hands with employees and staged demonstrations as in Andhra. Delhi State also held a protest demonstration. States like Jharkhand reported joint protest demonstrations with Employees and Pensioners joining hands. More reports are expected and they will be reported as soon as we get them. 

Here are some photographs of Pensioners staging demonstrations / dharnas on 1st or 2nd September:

Erode Tamilnadu
Erode Tamilnadu

Kakinada Andhra

Kakinada Andhra

Tirunelveli Tamilnadu

Tirunelveli Tamilnadu

Four Vellore Tamilnadu Comrades Senjimani (State AGS AIPRPA); S.Perumal (Vellore District Assistant Secretary AIPRPA); S.Selvaraj (Executive Member of AIPRPA Vellore); and  S.Pasupathi (Member AIPRPA Vellore) arrested on 2nd September for their Rasto Rokho agitation - released in the evening of 2nd September!

Chennai Dharna by All Pensioners Coordination Committee

Chennai Dharna - leaders addressing