Postmen/Mailguard & MTS Exam Postponed

Directorate has postponed the Postman / Mail guard Examination and Direct Recruitment Examination for Multi Tasking Staff (MTS) scheduled to be held on 20.05.2012 Indefinitely, since the Recruitment Rules for the posts of Postman/Mail Guard and Multi Tasking Staff are under revision. Copy of the said Directorate letter is reproduced below

14.04.2012- HOLIDAY DECLARED FOR AMBEDKAR JAYANTHI

The Government has decided to declare tje saturday, the 14th April 2012, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments throughout India.

Full Text of OM dated 27.03.2012 is reproduced below :

                    F. N0.12/2/2012-JCA-2Government of India

               Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions

                       (Department of Personnel & Training)

                                North Block, New Delhi

                             Dated the 27th March, 2012.

                            OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Declaration of Holiday on 14th April, 2012 – Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

It has been decided to declare saturday, the 14th April 2012, as a Closed Holiday on account of the birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, for all Central Government Offices including Industrial Establishments throughout India.

2. The above holiday is also being notified in exercise of the powers conferred by Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act, 1881 (26 of 1881).3. All Ministries/Departments of Government of India may bring the above decision to the notice of all concerned.

Sd/-(Ashok Kumar)

Deputy Secretary.

1. Pay & Allied Issues


 1. What are all the conditions for claiming stepping up of Pay with juniors?

Ø (i) Both senior and junior must be in the same cadre in identical pay scales and also in the same recruiting unit.
(ii) Posts to which they are promoted must also be identical and same.
(iii) At the time of promotion, senior must be getting equal or more pay than junior.
(iv) Anomaly should be direct result of application of FR 22 (c) or any pay fixation rules.

2. How option can be made for pay fixation on date of promotion which will be advantageous?

Ø As per the revised pay rules, if the promotion is in between 2nd July to 31st December, his next increment will be from 1st July of the same year. If the promotion is accorded in between 1st Jan to 30th June in a year, his increment will be drawn only in the next year. So, one has to carefully study before making option for pay fixation at the time of promotion.

3. What is the restriction under FR 35 for officiating pay when a Government is ordered to work in higher posts?

Ø As per DOPT OM No. F/1/4/2009 - Estt (pay I) dt. 08.03.2010, for employees receiving pay in the pay band up to Rs.14880 PM (our cases), 15% of the basic pay subject to a maximum of Rs. 2000/- PM (including the difference of grade pay between the feeder and the promotional post). The annual increment @ 3% of the basic pay so fixed shall be granted.

4. What are all the cases which will not construe under the pay anomalies?

Ø (i) Senior getting less pay in lower post due to postponement of date of next increment on account of his proceeding on extraordinary leave.

(ii) Senior refusing promotion leading to early promotion of the junior and later promotion of the senior.

(iii) Junior getting higher pay in lower post due to adhoc arrangements.

(iv) Senior joining higher post later and getting lower pay.

(v) Senior appointed to lower post later than the junior but getting promoted earlier than the junior.

(vi) Senior direct recruits getting less pay than the junior promotees whose pay is fixed with reference to pay last drawn.

(vii)Junior getting more pay due to additional increments earned on acquiring higher qualifications.

(DOP&T OM No. 4/7/92 – Estt (Pay I) dt. 04.11.93)

5. Whether stepping up of pay can be allowed second time with another official?

Ø As per DOPT order dated 22.07.1985, the benefit of stepping up of pay can be allowed to senior official second time, provided the anomaly has arisen with reference to the pay of the same junior, with reference to whom the pay of the senior was stepped up first time. As such there is no provision to step up with another person directly.
source--Tamilnadu circle

CLARIFICATION ON GENERAL POINTS OF DOUBT IN CONNECTION WITH FIXATION AS PER RECENT ORDERS INCREMENT FROM 1-1-2006

Whether Dies non, EXOL without MC etc will cause postponement of increment which was available earlier?

Ø As per the R. P. Rules 2008, the date of increment will be 1^st July every year for all employees. If an employee has completed six months or more after his last increment in July, he is entitled for next annual increment. As such there is no effect for Dies non, EXOL without MC etc up to six months in one year starting from July to June next year.

2. Whether the current pay bands remove the stagnation? Or is there any provision of stagnation increments etc?

Ø There will be no stagnation as per the revised rules. If an employee reaches maximum of his pay band, after one year he will be placed in the next pay band providing him one increment. Thus he will move up to pay band 4 and there is no chance of stagnation.

3. Suppose, an official availed EOL (Without MC) for more than six months and he is not having six months qualifying service as on 1^st July what will be the fate of his increment?

Ø No. He will not be drawn the increment. If qualifying service is less than six months from 1^st July of the previous year till 30^th June of the year the date of increment shall be postponed to 1^st July of the next year.

4. An official is ordered to officiate in higher Post first for 10 days and subsequently extended for another 10 days. Whether he is entitled for higher officiating pay?

Ø Yes. An official officiating in higher post for less than 14 days, he is not entitled for higher pay. However, even if the first spell is less than 14 days but subsequently extended, the official officiating in the higher post is entitled for higher pay as per the Directorate letter No. 9-25/82-SPG/SPB II dt. 29.05.86.

5. What is the maximum amount of salary that can be attached?

Ø (i) In case of decree for maintenance: (Gross emoluments – allowances exempted) X 2/3

(ii) In case of other decrees: (Gross emoluments – allowances exempted – Rs.1000/-) X 1/3

(Rules 74 of CGA (R & P) Rules 1983)

MODEL REPRESENTATION FOR GRANT OF ONE INCREMENT

Government servants are aware that the Ministry of Finance and Railways, both have already issued orders for grant of one increment in the pre-revised pay scale to nullify the anomaly in respect of central government employees who were in receipt of pre-revised increment between February 2006 to June 2006.

A model requesting the concerned head of Office for grant of one increment and drawl of arrears is published below for ready use by the Officers:

MODEL REPRESENTATION FOR GRANT OF ONE INCREMENT

From

To,

Sir / Madam,

· Sub: Officers who were due to get heir annual increment between February to June during 2006 – Grant of additional increment as one time measure- Request for sanction and drawal of arrears – Reg.

Kind reference is invited to the Ministry of Finance, Department of Expenditure O.M.No.10/02/2011- E.III/A dated 19th March, 2012 wherein all the central government employees who were due to get their annual increment between February to June during 2006 were granted one increment on 1.1.2006 in the pre-revised pay scale as a one time measure and there after next increment in the revised pay structure on 1.7.2006 as per Rule 10 of CCS(RP) Rules, 2008 (Copy enclosed for ready reference).

I wish to submit that my increment in pre revised pay scale was on __________ and hence, in terms of the above Office Memorandum, I am eligible for one additional increment in pre-revised pay scale as a one time measure and also eligible for next increment in the revised pay structure on 1.7.2006 as per Rule 10 of CCS(RP) Rules, 2008.

In view of above submission, I request that one additional increment may kindly be granted and my pay may please be fixed as stipulated in above O.M. and that the arrears of pay and allowance may kindly be drawn and paid to me at an early date.

Thanking you ,

Yours Faithfully
courtesy-----NFPE

 

POST OFFICE INTEREST RATES REVISED- ORDERS ISSUED The Finance Ministry (Budget Division) has issued an Office Memorandum O.M.No: 6-1/2011-NS.II (Pt) dated 26.03.2012 for revision of Interest Rates for various small saving schemes operated mainly through post offices and PPF. Based on the recommendations of Shyamala Gopinath Committee for comprehensive review of National Small Savings Fund (NSSF), Government had earlier taken the decision that interest rates of various small savings shall be reviewed every financial year and revisions in the same to be notified before 1st of April of that year.

Accordingly the present revision in the interest rates of various small saving scheme has been made. The following table provides the revision made:

Barcode shortage cripples Speed Post service in city

By: Priyankka Deshpande   Date:  2012-03-22   Place: Pune The speed post system in various post offices of the city is reportedly crippled  due to scarcity of barcodes since the past month. Post masters of various post offices  in the city claim the advent of global technology like the Internet has already affected  the Indian Postal Services and now Puneites wishing to use speed post services say they  are being compelled to run from pillar to post. A barcode is the specific number used to dispatch parcels and Register AD,  which is essential to track status of the dispatched material. In denial: The General Post Office. Director of Postal Services, Pune, R K Jayabhaye denies there is a barcode scarcity. Pic/Krunal Gosavi Speed post booking officer of Sachapir Street Post Office A A Kakde said, "Presently,  I have only fifteen barcodes while the necessity is of minimum 54 barcodes for the day."  Kakde added that the supply for barcodes is never sufficient and even after repeated  requests, she has not received the same since last month. These barcodes are printed at the press located in Nasik and then come to the Regional Post Office from where they are distributed among various post offices in the city. "Generally we book the speed posts in bulk and have to send it immediately, as most the s peed posts that we receive come from various departments of the University of Pune," said post master of Ganeshkhind Post Office, SD Borade. He added that along with speed post barcodes, the stock of barcodes necessary for Register AD has also finished. "At times we have to face the citizen's anger, but it has been a month that we have been asking for the supply of barcodes," Borade added. Meanwhile, citizens have to go to the City Post Office at Budhwar Peth to dispatch  anything by speed post. Matin Mujawar went to Shukrawar Peth Post office seeking  to use the speed post service, but was told by the officials that he had to go to the City  Post Office, as barcodes were not available. "When I contacted the officials at City Post Office, they told me that they haven't yet  received the barcodes from the press in Nasik," Mujawar said. Meanwhile, duplication of barcodes is happening in many post offices. "After every three months, the same number of series of barcodes comes to us.  However, then it's difficult to track that speed post as two different parcel shows  the same barcode," said A D Tekale, senior postmaster of City Post Office. He added that whenever they (City Post staff) contact the press in Nasik they are always  told that there is no stock of barcodes. "I think the decision has been made at higher level to print those barcodes in the district and therefore they are denying supplying us the barcodes," Tekale said. Director of Postal Services, Pune, R K Jayabhaye denied that there is any scarcity of barcodes  in the city. He said, "Whenever we don't get the barcodes from Nasik, we print it at city and supply it to  the various post offices of four district of Pune, Ahmadnagar, Solapur and Satara." Jayabhaye  added that every month the city needs approximately two lakh barcodes, which were supplied  in time. He however denied shifting of the press, which prints barcodes from Nasik to the city. "The printing of barcode is cheap in Nasik and therefore there is no plan of shifting press to  Pune," Jayabhaye said. source----.mid-day.com/news
DA 7% INCREASE FROM 1.1.2012 APPROVED BY CABINET CABINET APPROVES 7% HIKE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE... UNION CABINET HAS APPROVED 7% HIKE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO CG EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS UNION CABINET APPROVED A PROPOSAL TO HIKE ADDITIONAL DEARNESSALLOWANCE BY 7% FOR CENTRAL STAFF AND CENTRAL PENSIONERS... THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT ON FRIDAY APPROVED A SEVEN PER CENT HIKE IN DEARNESS ALLOWANCE TO CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS, THIS HIKE IS TO BE EFFECTIVE RETROSPECTIVELY FROM JAN 2012. THE DEARNESS ALLOWANCE AND DEARNESS RELIEF FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT SERVING EMPLOYEES AND PENSIONERS WILL INCREASE FROM 58% PER CENT OF BASIC EMOLUMENTS TO 65% PER CENT WITH EFFECT FROM 1.1.2012. News Courtesy: Central Government News.

photos of Gadag Division Joint Conference held on 18/03/2012

Welcome to PMG SK Region

Sri. Vineet Pandey, IPoS 1986 Batch Officer posted as Postmaster General South Karnataka Region. The Association welcomes Sir to SK Region and wishes him a successful tenure, peaceful stay. 

source-- IPASP Karnataka 

STAFF SIDE DEMAND ON INCREMENT ANOMALY STANDS SETTLED BY THE ORDERS OF MOF

MINISTRY OF FINANCE ISSUED ORDERS GRANTING ONE TIME MEASURE INCREMENT ON 1.1.2006 FOR ALL OFFICIALS WHOSE INCREMENT FELL DUE BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JUNE 2006

COMRADES  MAY REMEMBER THAT THE STAFF SIDE TOOK UP THIS ANOMALY VERY STRONGLY AND THE JCM STANDING COMMITTEE MEETING HELD RECENTLY TOOK A DECISION TO CONSIDER GRANT OF ONE  INCREMENT IN THE PRE-REVISED SCALE OF PAY AND ACCORDINGLY THE GOVERNMENT HAS NOW ISSUED ORDERS.

THIS WILL BE APPLICABLE TO ALL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AS ON DUTY ON 1.1.2006 AND WHOSE DATE OF INCREMENT WAS BETWEEN FEBRUARY AND JUNE, 2006 WOULD BE NOW GIVEN AN INCREMENT IN THE PRE-REVISED SCALE OF PAY AS 'ONE TIME MEASURE' AND THEN AGAIN REFIXED WITH ANOTHER INCREMENT IN THE NEW PAY ON 1.7.2006.

ALL SUCH OFFICIALS WHOSE PAY WILL BE REFIXED W.E.F. 1.1.2006 SHOULD GET ARREARS AND OFFICIALS WHO RETIRED AFTER 1.1.2006 WILL GET THEIR PENSION UPWARDLY REVISED WITH ALL CONSEQUENTIAL RETIREMENT BENEFITS.

THE ORDERS OF THE MOF IS AVAILABLE IN THE MINISTRY OF FINANCE WEBSITE OR YOU CAN DOWNLOAD THIS BY CLICKING ON THE LINK BELOW:

http://www.finmin.nic.in/the_ministry/dept_expenditure/notification/misc/DateofIncrement_RevPayRules2008.pdf

Posties bite back: Royal Mail inquiry launched as figures show 11 postal workers are bitten by dogs every day T

The Royal Mail today launched an inquiry into dog attacks after it emerged around 11 postmen a day are being bitten on their rounds.
The walk between the letterbox and the gate is now fraught with danger for posties, with over 24,000 suffering bites since 2006.
Almost 400 of the injuries resulted in postmen and women taking days off sick in the last year, with a total of 4,100 working days lost.
The independent inquiry, led by former high court judge Sir Gordon Langley, will make recommendations to reduce the number of dog attacks.
The Royal Mail has already spent over £100,000 trying to reduce the risk of injury, including a device to put letters through doors to protect fingers.
The Communication Workers Union said it believed up to 6,000 postal workers were attacked by dogs every year while on delivery rounds and called on the Government to strengthen the law as a matter of urgency.
Dave Joyce, national safety officer of the CWU, which has been campaigning for years for measures to tackle dangerous dogs, said: "This is a very positive and welcome development at a key moment and will definitely raise the profile of the issue and influence the public and political debate and strengthen the case for change which is overwhelming and must not be further delayed."
The union said it received an assurance from Prime Minister David Cameron almost two years ago that he supported its campaign for tougher laws against dangerous dogs, but changes have not been made.
The CWU said recent incidents included extensive bruising and a deep flesh wound suffered by Devon postwoman Patricia Prew inflicted on her by a golden retriever, which attacked her as she entered the front garden of a house in the coastal town of Budleigh Salterton.
"It just grabbed hold of me and pulled me down and then it bit me so deeply that it took a chunk of my muscle from that part of my arm," said Ms Prew, who was off work for six weeks.
In August 2011, Andrew Berge suffered severe damage to his left-hand ring finger and tendon when a dog bit him at an address in south west London.
"As I posted an item through the letterbox, a dog bit and held on for four to five minutes," he said.
The company's chairman Donald Brydon said: "It is an offence to decency that good people should suffer these attacks when carrying out their daily jobs and serving the public."
Claire Robinson, the RSPCA's government relations manager, said: "This is a welcome step in the ongoing attempts to find a solution to problems associated with irresponsible dog ownership and dangerous dogs.
"We look forward to following the progress of the inquiry and hope that it will be of huge benefit to public safety, but also to animal welfare.
"While this inquiry is focused on postal workers, hopefully the impact of its findings will be seen much wider and benefit the general public - both human and animal - as a whole.
"The RSPCA strongly believes any new measures should focus on preventing dog attacks and bites from happening at all, rather than simply respond to them after they have happened.
"Hopefully this will be reflected in the inquiry."

source--article published in Mirror News dated 14/03/2012

DA from Jan 2012 – Cabinet will decide in the next meeting wich is held on 15.03.2012

…

The additional Dearness allowance which is announced every six months by the Central Government to the Central Government employees and the Pensioners is based depending upon the price hike of essential commodities all over the nation.

The statistics of All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers (AICPIN-IW) is increased on account of the proportionate rise in twele-month as of December 2011, regarding the additional DA to be announced from 1.1.2012, which is based on the price rise from July 2011 to Dec 2011 in about 70 selected areas throughout India. These calculation are done by the Labour Ministry and it was sent to the Finance Ministry and discussed in the meeting of the Cabinet Ministers. The decision is expected to be finalised in the next meeting.

DA from 1.1.2012 may increase 7% form the existing rate is expected. Now all the Central Government employees and pensioners are getting 58% from their basic pay (Pan in the pay band + Grade Pay), it will become as 65% from 1.1.2012. The minimum of the enhanced amount of DA will be Rs.500 to the existing employees.

After the final decision is taken from the Cabinet Committee, order will be issued by the Finance Ministry in the end of this month and the DA for the month of March will be included in the salary and the previous two month’s DA will be paid as arrears in the month of April 2012.

Source : cgen.in

Photos of 6th Biennial Joint Conference of Kodagu Division held on 11/03/2012

The 6th Joint Biennial Conference of Kodagu Division was held on 11/03/12,sunday over 150-200 members attended this conference.com V.G.Raghunath P3,Com.N.V.Baby Joseph P4, & com.V.Shivashankar         were unnamiosly

elected as Divisional Secretaries for the period of 2012 to2013.Our circle union congatulate all the comrades.

com.S.S. Manjunath,Circle Secretary P3,com.V.Purushotham Circle Secretary P4,com Javarai Gowda,com.Ravishankar,com.Rudresh,Com.Sundriah,com.Satyan,com.K.N.Lakshminaryan attended from union side  for this memorable conference. com.puttaih,com.Kayappa.com.T.T,Kuriyan jointly presided this conference.Kodagu division Supdt,Ramlingaiah, Distict J.D.S party leader Sashidhar were the Guest of this occasion.

Promotions/Allotments and postings from the cadre of IP's to the cadre of ASPO's issued by PMG NK Region........

Transfer/Posting in the cadre of IP's issued by PMG NK Region

The posting order issued in respect of Sri K Srinithi at SL No. 1 stands cancelled. All other entries mentioned in the memo holds good. vide PMG memo No: NKR/STA-2/171/RT dated 29.02.2012.

HAPPY HOLI AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY !

  WISH YOU A HAPPY HOLI AND INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY  

 A Brief History of International Women's Day

The idea of an International Women's Day first arose at the turn of the century, which in the industrialized world was a period of expansion and turbulence, booming population growth and radical ideologies.

On 8 March 1857, women working in clothing and textile factories (called 'garment workers') in New York City, in the United States, staged a protest. They were fighting against inhumane working conditions and low wages. The police attacked the protestors and dispersed them. Two years later, again in March, these women formed their first labour union to try and protect themselves and gain some basic rights in the workplace.

On 8 March 1908, 15,000 women marched through New York City demanding shorter work hours, better pay, voting rights and an end to child labour. 

They adopted the slogan "Bread and Roses", with bread symbolizing economic security and roses a better quality of life. In May, the Socialist Party of America designated the last Sunday in February for the observance of National Women's Day. 

Following the declaration of the Socialist Party of America, the first ever National Woman's Day was celebrated in the United States on 28 February 1909. Women continued to celebrate it on the last Sunday of that month through 1913.

An international conference, held by socialist organizations from around the world, met in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910. The conference of the Socialist International proposed a Women's Day which was designed to be international in character. The proposal initially came from Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, who suggested an International Day to mark the strike of garment workers in the United States. The proposal was greeted with unanimous approval by the conference of over 100 women from 17 countries, including the first three women elected to the parliament of Finland. The Day was established to honour the movement for women's rights, including the right to vote (known as 'suffrage'). At that time no fixed date was selected for the observance.

The declaration of the Socialist International had an impact. The following year, 1911, International Women's Day was marked for the first time in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland. The date was March 19 and over a million men and women took to the streets in a series of rallies. In addition to the right to vote and to hold public office, they demanded the right to work and an end to discrimination on the job.

Less than a week later, on 25 March, the tragic Triangle Fire in New York City took place. Over 140 workers, mostly young Italian and Jewish immigrant girls working at the Triangle Shirtwaist Company, lost their lives because of the lack of safety measures. The Women's Trade Union League and the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union led many of the protests against this avoidable tragedy, including the silent funeral march which brought together a crowd of over 100,000 people. The Triangle Fire had a significant impact on labour legislation and the horrible working conditions leading up to the disaster were invoked during subsequent observances of International Women's Day.

As part of the peace movement brewing on the eve of World War I, Russian women observed their first International Women's Day on the last Sunday in February 1913. Elsewhere in Europe, on or around 8 March of the following year, women held rallies either to protest the war or to express solidarity with their sisters.

With 2 million Russian soldiers dead in the war, Russian women again chose the last Sunday in February 1917 to strike for "bread and peace". Political leaders opposed the timing of the strike, but the women went on anyway.

The rest is history: Four days later the Czar of Russia was forced to abdicate and the provisional Government granted women the right to vote. That historic Sunday fell on 23 February on the Julian calendar then in use in Russia, but coincided with 8 March on the Gregorian calendar used by people elsewhere.

Since those early years, International Women's Day has assumed a new global dimension for women in developed and developing countries alike.

In December 1977 the UN General Assembly adopted a resolution proclaiming a United Nations Day for Women's Rights and International Peace. Four global United Nations women's conferences have helped make the demand for women's rights and participation in the political and economic process a growing reality.

In 1975 the UN drew global attention to women's concerns by calling for an International Women's year and convening the first conference on women in Mexico City. Another convention was held in Copenhagen, Denmark in 1980.

In 1985, the UN convened a third conference on women in Nairobi, Kenya, to look at what had been achieved at the end of the decade.

In 1995, Beijing hosted the Fourth World Conference on Women. Representatives from 189 different countries agreed that inequalities between women and men has serious consequences for the well-being of all people. The conference declared a set of goals for progress of women in various areas including politics, health, and education. The final document issued by the conference (called the "Platform for Action") had this to say: "The advancement of women and the achievement of equality between women and men are a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice and should not be seen in isolation as a women's issue."

Five years later, in a 23rd special session of the United Nations General Assembly, "Women 2000: Gender Equality, Development and Peace for the 21st Century" reviewed the progress the world has made towards achieving the goals set out by the Beijing conference. This conference has come to be known as the "Beijing +5" conference. Delegates found both progress and perservering obstacles. The delegates made further agreements to continue carrying out the initiatives of the 1995 women's conference.

courtesy : ipaspandhra.blog

Letter to General secretary reg split duty allowance continuation order

To

The General Secretary

AIPEU POSTMEN,M.T.S/GROUP’D’

New Delhi-110001

Comrade

Sub-continuation order for grant of split duty Allowance

       

The existing order for grant of Split duty Allowance is upto 30/06/2011.Furtherorder  to Continue the same is yet to be issued by the competent Authority.Kindly cause  to release the  order at the earliest.

               Thanking you

                                           

                                               Comradely yours

                                                V.Purushotham,

                                     Circle Secretary AIPEU P4,

                                  Karnataka circle, Bangalore-5600096

FLASH NEWS FROM CHQ

 NFPE

ALL INDIA POSTAL EMPLOYEES UNION POSTMEN, MSE/GROUP ‘D’

(CENTRAL HEAD QURTERS, NEW DELHI)

JOINT STRUGGLES - NEGOTIATION – SETTLEMENTS

WE ARE MARCHING AHEAD

During 2010, 2011 and 2012 we have mobilized the entire postal workers under banner of JCA for indefinite strike and the Department was compelled to negotiate with us to avoid the indefinite strikes. Through continuous struggles, mobilization, negotiations and settlement, the postmen union has been able to settle many long pending issues. On other issues also favourable decision has been arrived at and orders are expected to be issued soon.

For the first time in the history of Department was compelled to constitute a DDG level committee with staff side representatives, to examine the issues relating to postmen/MTS and to take final decision. JCM Departmental council was revived and most of our issues are discussed in that forum also. During the discussion on strike charter of demands also many of our issues were discussed. The final outcome of the continuous effort made jointly by the Postal JCA, in respect of the postmen, MTS and Group ‘D’ demands are furnished below.

1. During the 2010 July strike discussion the Department agreed to fill up all the vacant posts of Postmen and MTS for the year 2009 and 2010 and also thereafter/Backlog unfilled posts, if any, are also agreed to be filled up (other than screening Committee abolished posts). Accordingly Directorate has given instructions to all Chief PMGs to conduct Postmen examination in all circles to fill up vacancies upto the year 2010 December. Orders for filling up of MTS vacancies was also issued Thus about 12000 vacant postmen posts were filled up by promoting eligible GDS employees and about 4000 MTS posts are also filled up by GDS promotion. Never before such mass-scale promotion of GDS has taken place.

2. Departmental issues New Recruitment Rules for filling up postmen and MTS posts from 2011 onwards. We have objected the 25% outside recruitment in Postmen cadre. Department finally agreed to modify the postmen Recruitment Rules to avoid 25% outside recruitment in the postmen cadre. Revised recruitment Rules of Postmen and MTS will be issued within one month and immediate action will be taken to fill up all the vacant posts of postmen and MTS for the year 2011 and 2012.

3. Department issued orders abolishing all sorting postmen posts. During the 2011 July strike discussion the Department was compelled to cancel that order and revised orders restoring the nomenclature of sorting postmen and also restoring all the abolishing/Sorting Postmen posts were issued. This is one of the greatest achievement of joint struggle.

4. Department agreed to issue instructions to all Chief PMG to fill up all vacant posts of sorting Postmen (after reviving the abolished posts) and also mail overseer, cash overseer and Head Postmen Posts. Member (personnel), Postal Services Board, will be writing D.O. letter to all Chief PMGs this month itself.

5. Regarding uniforms, Chappals, umbrellas etc our demand for cash payment is not agreed as it is a Govt. of India decision applicable to other departments of Central Government also Postal Board alone cannot take a decision in this regard. However our demands to ensure supply of good quality uniforms and kit items is agreed and Postal Board has already issued instructions to all chief PMGs in this regard. Instructions are also issues that before selection the uniforms and other/kit items union representation should also be involved in the process and those items selected by the union representative may be supplied.

6. Our long pending demand of grant of full TA and DA to mail overseer instead of Night Halt Allowance (NHA) was finally agreed by the department and orders already issued. Again this is a great achievement. This item was pending for the last more than 20 years.

7. Removal of the distance conditions for grant of cycle maintenance allowance was also agreed and orders issued. This was also a long pending item.

8. Regarding creation of more promotional avenues for Postmen and MTs, it was assured that this item will be discussed in the cadre Restructuring committee. The proposal of the cadre restructuring committee will be finalized before April 2012. We will make maximum efforts to get more promotional posts for postmen and MTS through our negotiation in the cadre restructuring committee.

9. Regarding extraction of data entry work from postmen staff department has agreed to provide time factor for this work equal to the time factor now being given to Postal Assistants. As some postmen find it difficult to make computer data entry, it is also agreed to impart necessary computer framing to the postmen. As knowledge in computer will be an additional qualification for getting better pay scale for postmen in future, we are not totally opposing the data entry work.

10. Regarding irregular computation of norms and working hours of postmen working in field units, the department has agreed the following points.

(a) Higher time factor will be provided for delivery of unregistered articles in multi-storied buildings where separate post boxes are not provided in the grounds floor.

(b) For person-specific speed post articles, the norms provided for registered article will be provided.

(c) Time factor provided for travelling distance by foot and by bicycle in the hilly and mountainous terrains of less congested areas needs to be relaxed in view of the extra physical effort and time involved in covering such areas. Department agreed to consider this aspect and to issue orders early.

(d) The staff side pointed out that as per the original order issued by the Department in the year 1975, area having a density of population of 2500 per Sq. Miles or 1000 per Sq. Kilometer may be taken as congested area. But in the subsequent orders it is wrongly shown as 2500 per Sq. Kilometers staff side produced a letter received from postal Training centre Mysore under RTI, confirming the argument of the staff side. Finally Department agreed to re-examine the whole case and agreed to correct the mistake committed, if the above mistake is corrected then an area having a density of 1000 per Sq. Kilometer will be treated as congested area instead of 2500. At present the time factor given for congested and less congested area is as follows.

Distance travelled Congested areas Less congested

By foot 19 mts. Per Km. 12 Mts. Per Km.

By Bi-cycle 10 mts. Per Km. 06 Mts per Km.

There will be justification for more number of postmen posts in congested areas when the above mistake is corrected by the department.

11. Regarding timely payment of incentive to Postmen for delivery of speed post articles it is agreed to issue suitable instructions to all Chief PMG to the effect that all payments of speed post delivery incentive bills pertaining to postmen must be cleared by 31.03.2012.

12. Regarding the question of unjustified beat length of postmen in many circles, it is agreed to issue instructions to all chief PMGs. To examine all such cases at circle/Divisional level and remedial measures should be taken staff side has give the examples of many circles in writing.

13. After detailed discussion it was agreed that combination of beats should be resorted to only by exception as it adversely impacts the delivery efficiency. Instructions in this regard will be issued by the Directorate.

14. It was pointed out during discussion that Postmen face difficulty in delivery of registered parcels weighing more than 5 Kgms each and EPP articles for which the maximum weight of 35 Kgms per articles has been fixed. It was highlighted that either some reasonable rate and mode of conveyance for delivering EPP articles should be fixed or the rate of mazdoor charges fixed in the past should be revised for efficient delivery of registered parcels. It was agreed to issue necessary instructions to all chief PMGs in this regard.

15. As per the new postmen Recruitment rules there is 25% seniority quota for MTS. MTS are compelled to accept the seniority promotion. If they declined they are not granted MACP promotion in the MTS cadre. After detailed discussion department agreed to issue clarification that before issues seniority quota promotion, willingness from the eligible MTS should be obtained so that the question of declining will not come.

16. The following items are also discussed but decisions pending and we are pursuing the cases

(a) filling up of all LR posts – we demanded that instructions should be issued to all circles to fill up eligible percentage of LR posts. Member (P) informed that instructions already exist in this regard and chief PMGs can take action to fill up LR posts.

(b) Restoration of double beat systems in metro cities.

(c) OTA for excess work for more than 8 hours for postmen

(d) Higher incentive for delivery of Adhar cards.

(e) Keep all measures of abolition/reduction of Postmen posts based on the old standards until the revised standard as agreed in the postmen committee are finalized.

(f) Providing time factor for many left out items – List of the left out items already submitted to the department.

(h) Reintroduce the “enquiry” remark and “further enquiry” remark to facilitate postmen elucidate proper addressees before affecting delivery or returns of articles as undelivered. Time factor may be provided for this job. Remarks of the postmen written on the undelivered articles may be accepted instead of compelling them to write only remarks framed by department. Postmen should not be sent out for the delivery of same article for so many times on the same day of remarks given.

Comrades

We shall take follow up action in all the above cases and shall try our level best to settle all our genuine demands. We will not hesitate to organize agitational programmes if the departmental fails to implement the assurances given in a time bound manner or if any abnormal delay take place in issuing orders on agreed items.

Let us move onward and forward unitedly. We will not rest, until all our justified demands are settled.

MACP RELATED ISSUES

Regarding MACP our main demand is that the promotion earned through/passing the limited competitive examinations should not be adjusted towards MACP promotion. The MACP orders are issued by the Government of India, Department of Personnel & Training. MACP rules are applicable to all Central Government departments. Any change it the existing MACP rules can be made by the Government of India, DOP&T, only. Postal Board has not powers to modify the MACP orders. Hence we have taken up the above case with the Department of Personnel & Training (Government of India) through confederation of Central Government Employees and workers. A decision at the Government level is required as the employees of the other Ministries/Departments are also facing the same problem. However we are continuing our efforts to settle the above case also.

Yours fraternally

(Ishwar Singh Dabas)

General Secretary