NPS COMMITTEE

NPS COMMITTEE - HOPES OF YOUNGER GENERATION SHATTERED

NPS committee constituted by the Government to streamline the National Pension System has called the JCM Staff Side for second round of discussion on 10.02.2017. As per the notified agenda, the committee is proposing discussion on only cosmetic changes in NPS. Basic issues such as (1) scrapping of NPS (2) Guaranteed Minimum pension to NPS Pensioners  ie; 50% of the last pay drawn should be guaranteed by Government as minimum pension even if the returns from annuity insurance scheme amount is less than the 50%. and (3) Exemption of Central Govt. Employees from the purview of NPS, are not included in the agenda of the meeting even though the Cabinet Secretary has assured JCM Staff Side Chairman and Secretary Shri. Raghavayya and Shri Shiv Gopal Misra on 19^th January 2017 that -- "so far as issue of NPS is concerned he has already directed the Committee to hold meeting with Staff Side". From reading the agenda it can be seen that main demands of the Staff Side are avoided, thus betraying the cause of thousands of younger generation Central Government Employees who joined service after 01.01.2004. Their hopes are shattered and belied. NJCA should revive the deferred strike to protect the interest of younger generations. Let us make the 16th March 2017 Confederation Strike a grand success.

M. Krishnan
Secretary General
Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers.
Mob & WhatApp:  09447068125.
Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

08th MARCH 2017 -- OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2017

08th MARCH 2017 -- OBSERVE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY 2017 IN A BEFITTING MANNER. -- TOPIC "WOMEN'S EMPLOYMENT AND EMPOWERMENT".

The topic for International Women's Day this year has been decided as "Women's Employment and Empowerment."

The country is witnessing one of its lowest work participation rate of women. With the continuing agrarian crisis and now the reverse migration due to industrial slow down after demonitisation , even those women who were earlier employed are forced to go for poorly paid work for subsistence. The demand for decent work and decent wages are at the centre of our demands. The "empowerment " of women in all aspects is related to the "employment" of women and it's quality. The policy pursued by the present day regime can create only unemployment and distress.

National Secretariat of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers Calls upon all affiliated organisations and C-O-Cs and Women's Sub Committees to take proper organisational measures to ensure effective observance of the International Women's Day jointly with other fraternal organisations.

M. KRISHNAN 

Secretary General 

Confederation 

Mob & WhatsApp:  09447068125

Email : mkrishnan6854@gmail.com

KAMALESH CHANDRA COMMITTEE REPORT ON GDS

ONE STEP FORWARD

            Sri Kamalesh Chandra, Retired Member, Postal Services Board & Chairman Gramin Dak Sevak Committee has submitted it's report to Government on 24th November 2016. Even though earlier GDS Committee reports were published on the same date of submission itself , this time the Postal Board kept it pending for two months and published only on 19th January 2017. Against the unjustified delay in publishing the report , NFPE & AIPEU - GDS  conducted series of agitational programmes like protest demonstrations , mass dharnas and finally declared indefinite hunger fast of Secretary General and all other General Secretaries in front of Postal Directorate (Dak Bhavan) from 18th January 2017.

            The main recommendations of the Committee relates to simplification and rationalisation of categories of GDS and the number of Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) slabs, increasing the wages of GDS and other welfare measures of GDS. The Committee has not attempted to analyse the justification of our demand for grant of Civil Servant status to GDS and has refrained from making any recommendations on the legal status of the GDS stating that the matter is presently subjudice and hence left it to the outcome of the court case. The committee , however , observed that there is a tendency to withhold the legitimate demands of GDS which are due to them , based on the apprehension that they will get closer to regular employees , and their claim for regularisation  will be strengthened in the court of law , if such demands are allowed.

            The Committee has further observed that the future survival of the Postal department will largely depend on the successful management of the GDS post offices, which effectively form it's "soul" and it would be difficult for the department to survive without the "soul". The Committee felt that the India Post Payment Bank (IPPB) which is going to be rolled out shortly , will use the strength of the GDS network and experiences of more than 2.60 lakhs trustworthy Gramin Dak Sevaks.  

            Under the new wage structure recommended by the Committee, eleven (11) TRCA slabs are subsumed into three (3) wage scales with two levels each for Branch Postmasters (BPMs) and for other than BPMs. Out of three wage scales , one scale will be common to both categories of GDS. The minimum scale for GDS other than BPM is fixed as 10000 for 4 hours duty and the minimum scale for 5 hours duty is 12000. Similarly, the minimum scale for BPM with 4 hours duty is fixed as 12000 and minimum scale for 5 hours duty is 14500. There will be only three categories of GDS with nomenclature BPM, Assistant BPM and GDS. All GDS working in Branch Post offices (other than BPM) are re-designated as Assistant Branch Post Masters (ABPM). All GDS working in Departmental Post offices are designated as Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS).

            The minimum working hours of GDS is fixed as 4 hours (Level - 1) , instead of 3 hours at present and maximum working hours is 5 hours (Level - 2). Point system for assessment of workload of BPM is abolished. The new wage structure is linked to revenue generation of GDS Branch Post offices. Based on revenue generation ,  all GDS Post offices will be categorised as A(Green), B (Orange) , C (Pink) , D (Red) and efforts to be undertaken by the GDS BPM and the departmental officers to increase revenue of each category is explained in detail in the report. Committee has recommended that existing TRCA should not be reduced. If the BPM in the  category D (which is the lowest category as per revenue earning) is not ready to improve the revenue earning  , extension of working hours of Post office , stoppage of increment , withholding of promotion under financial upgradation scheme , relocation of the Post office etc are also recommended. The GDS BPM will be paid a revenue linked additional allowance @10%  beyond level - 2 wage scale , if the revenue earned exceeds the limit fixed for category "A" offices. The increment rate recommended is 3%.

            The other major recommendations are (a) Composite Allowance comprising of support for hiring accommodation , office maintenance , electricity charges etc (b) Children Education Allowance (c) three promotions (financial up gradations ) on completion of 12 ,24 and 36 years. (c) Enhancement of ex-gratia ceiling and Group Insurance Scheme amount  (d) 26 weeks maternity leave for women GDS and one week Paternity leave (e) 30 days General leave (instead of paid leave) with provision for carry forward and leave surrender benefit upto 180 days of accumulated General leave at the time of retirement   ( f ) five  days Emergency leave like casual leave  (g) Minimum one year service for writing promotional examination  (h) liberalisation of grants and financial assistance from welfare fund and  (h)  Risk and hardship allowance.

            Regarding Pension, no major change is recommended by the Committee, except increase in severance amount and increase in contribution to Service Discharge Benefit Scheme (SDBS). Similarly, there is no favourable recommendation regarding medical facilities. While recommending that the existing policy of relocation /redeployment should be vigorously pursued to relocate GDS post offices which are not justified as per norms, the Committee had also recommended that the department should not order closing of any GDS post office to further reduce the existing number of GDS post offices. The existing rule that the maximum hours of duty of GDS should not go beyond five hours , is retained by the Committee. There is also a recommendation that two separate unions should be formed for GDS, one exclusively for BPMs and one for all other categories of GDS.

            Now comes the question of implementation. Normally Department will appoint a Postal Board Member to study and process the recommendations of the GDS committee for implementation. Then Postal Board has to approve it after seeking the comments of Joint Secretary & Financial Advisor. Then it is to be approved by other nodal Ministries like Department of Personnel & Training, Ministry of Finance, Law Ministry etc. After completing all these process, the final proposal will be submitted to Cabinet for approval.

            NFPE & AIPEU - GDS will be making an in depth study of the recommendations and shall submit a detailed memorandum to the Department demanding immediate implementation of the favourable recommendations and also demanding modifications , improvement and rejection where ever required. NFPE & AIPEU -GDS will make sincere effort to get maximum benefits to the GDS. In case Government refuse to implement or dilute the favourable recommendations NFPE & AIPEU GDS will not hesitate to organise serious trade union action including indefinite strike.

            All of us should keep in mind that the favourable recommendations of the GDS committee is a product of sustained struggles conducted by the entire Postal employees under the banner of NFPE , AIPEU -GDS , PJCA  and Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers. Let us be ready for the 16th March 2017, one day strike, for further improvement of our service conditions. Let us unitedly fight and shall not rest till our final goal ie; civil servant status to GDS is achieved. No doubt, Kamalesh Chandra Committee report is ONE STEP FORWARD. Let us hope for the best.

NFPE-P3 CHQ news

SOME IMPORTANT MATTERS TAKEN UP WITH SECRETARY POSTS BY OUR FEDERATION/CHQ DURING THE JCM DC MEETING HELD ON 20.12.2016

DEAR COMRADES,

AT THE TIME OF JCM DEPARTMENTAL COUNCIL MEETING HELD ON 20.12.2016, THE FOLLOWING  CASES WERE  TAKEN UP WITH THE SECRETARY POSTS, BY OUR FEDERATION/ CHQ AS OUT OF AGENDA. 

THE LETTERS WERE HANDED OVER PERSONALLY  WITH THE SECRETARY POSTS AND REQUESTED TO INITIATE ACTION ON THESE MATTERS.  THE COPY OF LETTERS ARE  PUBLISHED  HEREUNDER FOR YOUR VIEW.

IMPORTANT CIRCULAR - confederation

Dated – 19.12.2016

IMPORTANT CIRCULAR

MOST URGENT

DECISION OF THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE MEETING OF THE CONFEDERATION HELD AT NEW DELHI ON 16.12.2016, AT MP’S CLUB HALL

To,

1)   All National Secretariat Members

2)   All Affiliated organisations

3)   General Secretaries of all C-O-Cs.

Dear Comrades,

The National Executive Meeting of the Confederation was held on 16.12.2016 at MP’s Club hall, New Delhi under the Presidentship of Com. K. K. N. Kutty, National President. After detailed deliberation the meeting took the following unanimous decisions.

1.   15^th December 2016 Parliament March.

The meeting reviewed the participation of employees in the Parliament March and came to the conclusion that inspite of cancellation and delayed running of Trains due to adverse weather conditions and also the havoc unleashed by the Cyclone in Tamilnadu, the March and Rally was an unprecedented success and impressive. (Report enclosed).

2. 15^th February 2017 one day All India Strike.

The meeting conducted detailed discussion and unanimously decided to implement the strike decision in a most successful manner. The following decision are taken for making the strike a grand success.

(a) National Secretariat members shall undertake campaign programme and address meetings in all states. (Campaign programme will be published in website within two days)

(b)        Strike notice should be served on 28.12.2016 (28^th December 2016 Wednesday) to Government and to all the Departmental heads. On that day demonstrations should be organized in front of all offices. Copy of the strike notice may be submitted to all lower level authorities also. (Model copy of the strike notice and charter of demands enclosed. Necessary modifications may be made in the strike notice). In the Charter of demands departmental wise demands can be added as Part-II of the Charter.

(c)  All affiliated organisations of Confederation should serve the strike notice to their respective authoritiesWITHOUT FAIL. Copy of the strike notice served may be sent to Confederation CHQ also for exhibiting in website.

(d) Mass dharna or Rallies should be organized at all state Capitals and District headquarters on 10.01.2017 (10^th January 2017 Tuesday). Leaders of other trade unions and fraternal organisations may be invited to address the dharna/Rally.

(e) Press Conferences may be conducted in all states. Maximum publicity may be given through local print and electronic media and also through social media, Whatsapp, facebook etc. etc.

(f)   A brief explanatory note on the Charter of demands will be prepared and placed on website by the CHQ, as campaign material.

(g) All affiliated organistions should immediately convene their managing body meetings and chalk out their own campaign programme of each individual Federations/Association/Union. This is most important and urgent. Without conducting separate campaign in each organization by their own leaders, it will be very difficult to organize this strike effectively in each department. Each affiliated organisations should issue their own separate circular to their lower units and copy should be sent to Confederation CHQ also. The COCs should immediately convene their meetings and plan C-O-C level campaign also. Lapses, if any, on the part of any organization, may be reported to their central head quarters and also to Confederation CHQ by COCs.

(h) A meeting of Central Trade Union leaders and other Federations/Association/unions (like state employees, Pensioners etc.) may be convened by inviting them and the background and demands of the strike may be explained to them and their support and solidarity may be requested.

(i)   Letters may be given to all political parties and People’s Representatives explanning the background and demands of the strike and their support and solidarity may be requested.

(j)   An All India Convention of Autonomous body employees and pensioners organisations should be organsied at Bangalore in January 2017 and maximum participation of autonomous body employees in the strike may be ensured.

(k)  It is decided to include the following demand also in the Charter of demands –“Implementation of the “Equal Pay for Equal Work” judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court in all Central Government departments.

(l)   Strike shall commence at 6 AM on 15.02.2017.

3. Women’s Sub Committee meeting decisions.

The first meeting of the newly elected Women’s Sub Committee meeting of the Confederation was held on 15.12.2016 at NFPE office, New Delhi at 4 PM. Com. Usha Bonepalli, Chair person Women’s Sub Committee presided. Com. R. Seethalakshmi, Convenor, Women’s Sub Committee presented organisational report, Com. M. Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation, Com. R. N. Parashar, Secretary General, NFPE, Com. K. V. Jayaraj, Secretary General, National Federation of Atomic Energy Employees attended and addressed the meeting. The Committee after detailed discussion took the following decision.

(i)   Decided to organize on all India Women’s Trade Union workshop at Bangalore during the month of September/October 2017 in consultation with C-O-C Karnataka. Comrades of NFPE who attended the Women’s Committee meeting assured to share the major portion of expenses.

(ii)  Decided to request all affiliated organisations of Confederation to form separate Women’s Sub Committee in their organization. Similarly, it is decided that all C-O-Cs should from their own separate Women Sub Committee at State/District level. (just like All India Women’s Sub Committee).

(iii) It is decided to co-opt Mrs. Mausumi Majumdar, AIPEU Group ‘C’ (Assam) to the Women’s Sub Committee.

4. The above decision of the Women’s Sub Committee are presented in the National Executive Committee meting of Confederation and the National Executive endorsed the decision for implementation.

5. It is decided to conduct the next All India Trade Union Camp of Confederation at Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) during the month of April/May 2017. Date will be finalized later in consultation with COC Kerala.

The meeting paid resectful homage to the legendary and Cuban Armed revolution leader & Ex-President of Cuba Com. Fidel Castro, Com. Dipen Ghosh, the great leader of the Central Government employees movement and working class.

The meeting paid special tribute to Com. Gopal Chandra Singh, GDS Mail Packer, Maguria Town Sub Post office under Purulia Postal Division in West Bengal who breathed his last on 15.12.2016 while he was in New Delhi along with the comrades of West Bengal to attend the Parliament March organized by Confederation.

Fraternally yours,

(M. Krishnan)

Secretary General

Confederation

Mob: 09447068125

Email: mkrishnan6854@gmail.com