CHQ CIRCULER

No.GDS/CHQ/1/5/2011                      Dated 26-09-2011

To,

All Circle/Divisional/Branch Secretaries,

All CWC Members, A.I.P.E.D.E.U.

Subject:- Certain important matters and developments to think over.

Dear Comrades,

At the outset we condole the deaths of the people on account of the severe earth-quake in Sikkim, Bhutan, Nepal, West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand. We offer our sympathies to those who have suffered losses at the hands of the devastating earth quake.

The holy Ramdan and Idul fitr have passed away and the festivals of Durgapuja and Diwali are fast approaching. We offer our greetings on this occasion. What we are actually concerned about is whether we shall be able to fulfill the aspirations of our young ones on these occasions. The inflation has been rising unabated and naturally the pay-packets are shrinking not with standing the installment of D.A. Which has fallen due and 7% D.A. relief has been approved. Orders are expected any time. But the moot problem remains as it is.

There are other problems and developments as well and the strike issues remain totally unsettled. We would not like to mislead our members on that score. Other developments are as follows:-

BONUS: Despite our consistent efforts and solid arguments, the discrimination regarding the ceiling on salary i.e. Rs. 2500/- for us continues. The powers-that be have become so insensitive to the problems of the GDS employees. We shall have to put our heads together and think of some positive methods. As regards the quantum of bonus, though nothing has emerged so far it is likely to be about the same as last year.

But one thing that appearers not to have been given any consideration by any of the concerned entities-be it government or the employees representatives-is that even the ceiling of Rs. 3500/- has become totally irrelevant and requires immediate upward revision, proportionate to the rate of inflation over the period.

TIGHTENED NORMS:- We have been repeatedly hammering the issue about impractibility of the tightened norms-especially in respect of cash handling and stamp-sale, but there is no reaction from the administration. The justified arguments are not being heard. There is deficits of empathy. We again have to think over the issue very deeply to find out a solution.

NORMS for COMPASSIONATE APPOINTMENT: The Directorate has evolved strange norms, called the merit points to weigh the justification for appointment on compassionate grounds on death or incapacitation during service. We have written repeatedly to show that these norms are totally embalanced and impracticable. On the scale of these norms not even a single case would justify for such appointment. It does not require intelligence to understand that required qualification of gradation for appointment as GDS is not a product of normal thinking.

Nothing positive is coming out and cases are being rejected on the basis of these abnormal merit points. In case the powers-that be do not move, we shall have to seriously think of some way out.

GDS (CONDUCT & ENGAGEMENT) RULES: The ED As (Conduct and Services) Rules, 1964 were replaced by GDS (Conduct & Appointment) Rules 2001. There was a fundamental

change and some intension is very clearly seen when the term “Service” was replaced with “Employment”; and now the term “Employment” has been replaced with “Engagement.” Every body is aware that the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India has in its Judgement has held that ours is a “Service” and an “appointment” to a post which exists. Was the Wiseman who presided over the ED Committee above the Supreme Court of India that the Department has bowed down to obey its illegal and unwarranted recommendation regarding change of the service Rules?. In the long run it may hurt us grievously and our attempts to get suitable action taken has not produced results. Kindly advise us what to do next.

POSTMEN RECRUITMENT RULES: The avenues of promotion for the GDS staff is very little. They are appointed as group ‘D’ and postmen on promotion. While, regarding recruitment as group ‘D’ (now multi functional group ‘C’) there is not much clarity, the Postmen Recruitment Rules have been made to go against the interests of GDS staff as our quota has been curtailed. A very glaring discrimination is that while everyone not only in our department but also in other departments is enjoying three automatic promotions, there is none for the GDS employees. All these are glaring examples of crude discrimination. We shall have to find a way out of this. We are looking forward to your suggestion.

REMMITTANCE OF QUOTA: Comrades, the position of receipt of quota by the CHQ is again very disheartening. The Divisional/Branch union get their subscription every month from the DDO’s but the remittance of quota to CHQ is rather very casual. The Divisional Presidents and Secretaries will please ensure timely remittance of quota.

TAILPIECE: The planning commission has told the Hon’ble Supreme Court that is urban areas if a person spends Rs. 32/- per day per member and in rural areas a sum of Rs. 26/- is spent per day per members, the person in not poor i.e. he is reach) to receive the benefit of schemes of government. This shows the bankrupcy of moral sentiments of those in planning Commission working from Air conditioned cambers who probably spend more than Rs. 32/- over a cup of tea. This is the contradiction of five star culture on one hand and near starving situation faced by the majority on the other. This what the government prides itself in calling the government of “aam admi”.

Comrades, in order to register our resentment and anger against the administration’s failure to address our problems which are piling up like a mountain, we hereby call upon all Circle unions to observe one day Dharna at Circle/Region Head Quarters on 12 October, 2011 as first step of our agitational programme. Further programme will be announced in due course. After the conclusion of the dharna please send the following savingram to the Minister of State for Communications and IT New Delhi and Secretary Department of Posts, New Delhi-110001

“Problems of GDS employees are piling up without any concrete steps by administration to address them kindly intervene.

The problems are:-

1. Discrimination in bonus ceiling
Tightened norms
Abnormal merit points for relaxation appointment.
Illegal replacement of GDS (Conduct & Employment) Rules 2001 with GDS (Conduct & Engagement) Rules 2011
Postmen Recruitment Rules affecting interests of GDS staff adversely
Three time bound promotions (financial up gradation) for GDS employees.

With warm greetings,

Yours fraternally

(S.S. Mahadevaiah)

General Secretary

Posted by : AIPEDEU,Orissa Circle.