KAVALIPOST

Tuesday, 25 February 2014

CADRE RESTRUCTURING OF GROUP ‘C’ EMPLOYEES OF DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

We are exhibiting below the proposal of the Department, regarding Cadre Restructuring along with the letter submitted by staff side to the Department, for modification of the proposal. As on date, the Department is not ready for any favourable modifications. We are continuing our effort to get it modified. Meanwhile all the Circle/Divisional Secretaries and office bearers are requested to intimate their view points on the proposal of the Department and also regarding the modifications suggested by the staff side. Department is ready to sign the agreement without any modification. In that case what should be our stand?

CADRE RESTRUCTURING – DEAPRTMENT’S PROPOSALS

The Committee constituted by the Department on cadre restructuring of Group ‘C’ employees vide No. 25-04/2012-PE I dated 23rd Oct 2013 held its discussions on 04th Feb 2014 at 1500 hours & on 05th Feb 2014 at 1430 hours under the Chairmanship of Shri V. P. Singh, DDG (Personnel). The following were present: -

OFFICIAL SIDE
STAFF SIDE
1. Shri V. P. Singh, DDG (P) – Chairman
2. Shri Alok Saxena, Secretary PSB – Member
3. Ms. Trishaljit Sethi, DDG (E) – Member
4. Sh. Surender Kumar, ADG (PCC) – Member Secretary
1. General Secretary, AIPEU Group ‘C’
2. General Secretary, NAPE Group ‘C’
3. General Secretary, AIRMS & MMS
4. General Secretary, NU RMS & MMS Group ‘C’
5. General Secretary, AIPEU, Postman & MTS
6. General Secretary, NUPE, Postman & Multi Tasking Employees

2. The Committee had earlier met on 27th Nov.

3. The representatives of the Staff side informed that Postal Assistant cadre officials are getting promotions in promotional hierarchy to Grade Pay of Rs. 2800/- (PB-1) in Lower Selection Grade at a time when they are already placed in the Grade Pays’ of Rs. 4200/- (PB-2) or Rs. 4600/- (PB-2) on award of financial upgradation(s) under MACPS. At this, the official side asked Staff side to furnish copies of the orders on above lines from few Circles to corroborate the above claim. The Committee recommends that before processing these recommendations, Establishment Division may obtain the same from Staff Side. After discussions, the following recommendations in respect to the cadre restructuring of Group ‘C’ employees were agreed to by the Department.

(a)   The post of SPMs in Single Handed Post Offices and Double Handed Post Offices will be placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 2800/- in the Pay Band PB-I.
(b)   The Post of Sub Postmasters in Triple Handed Post offices and LSG Post Offices will be placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4200/- in the Pay Band PB-II.
(c)    The post of HSG-II Head Postmasters and Sub-Postmasters will be placed in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/- in the Pay Band PB-II.
(d)   After the implementation of the above restructuring, the officials in the Grade Pay of Rs. 4600/-, who have completed 4 years of regular service, will be granted the Grade Pay of Rs. 4800/- in the Pay Band-II on non-functional basis after following the usual procedure of non-functional upgradation(s)
(e)   Cadre ratio as per the agreed position mentioned at (a) to (d) above, will be worked out and the ratio so worked out will be replicated to the SA cadre of RMS, PA cadre of Circle & Administrative offices as also to the PA cadre of SBCO.
(f)     In the light of peculiar situation of Postman/mail Guard cadre where the work for bulk of the cadre continues to remain the same; as a special case the Committee recommends the ratios as worked out in pursuance of (e) above may be considered for implementation for these cadres as well and that the cadre so restructured may concurrently get the benefit of MACP also. The Committee further recommends that a proposal may be considered for submission to the 7th CPC to have a percentage based promotion scheme for this cadre akin to the scheme of Staff Car Drivers.

CADRE RESTRUCTURING – STAFF SIDE
LETTER SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT ON 05.02.2014

CADRE RESTRUCTURING COMMITTEE
STAFF SIDE JCM DEPARTMENTAL COUNCIL
DEPARTMENT OF POSTS
NEW DELHI – 110001

N. JCM (DC)/Cadre Review/Staff Side/2014                                                         Dated - 05.02.2014

To,

Shri. V. P. Singh
DDG (P) & Chairman
Cadre Restructuring Committee for Group ‘C’
Department of Posts,
Dak Bhawan, New Delhi – 110001

Sir,

Sub: -  Cadre Review of Group ‘C’ employees of Department of Posts.

Kindly recall the discussions we had with you in the Cadre Restructuring Committee meeting held on 27.11.2013, 04.02.2014 and 05.02.2014.

While appreciating the positive attitude taken on some of our proposals submitted to the Cadre Restructuring Committee, we are totally disappointed and feel let down by the way in which certain valid points raised by us has been simply brushed aside and rejected by the Administration side in a pre-decided manner, even without examining the merits or demerits of our suggestions. Outright and summary rejection seems embarrassing.

We are once again constrained to submit the following proposals and modifications for your judicious and dispassionate consideration and acceptance, with a fervent hope that the same will receive due consideration.

1.      GENERAL LINE POSTS:
While upgrading the existing LSG posts (GP 2800) to HSG-II posts (GP 4200) only the LSG posts of Sub Postmasters is taken into account. All the other posts in the LSG grade such as Asst. Postmasters in Head Post offices and above, Asst. Sub Postmasters in certain major sub post offices, etc. are avoided. This will result only in marginal increase in the number of HSG II post (GP 4200) as below:

(a)   
Total number of triple handed Postmaster’s post to be upgraded
3732
(b)
Total number of LSG posts including Asst. Postmasters Posts
6989
(c)
Total Posts
10721
(d)
Out of this LSG posts carved out for creation of Postmasters Grade-I to be deducted
2097
(e)
Remaining Posts for upgradation to HSG II
8624
(f)
Out of this LSG Asst. Postmasters and ASPMs posts are to be deducted
4000 (Correct figure not available with staff side, it will be more than 4000)
(g)
Net posts remaining for upgradation to HSG II (GP 4200)
4624

Now we are having 4892 LSG Posts in General line (6989-2097 PM Cadre). Even after upgrading ‘A’ class Postmasters as HSG-II (GP 4200) the number of Posts available for upgradation to HSG-II will be less than the number available now and employees are not going to be benefited, if only those posts are upgraded. Hence our request for upgradation of all existing LSG posts (not only Postmasters posts) to GP 4200 along with Postmaster posts of ‘A’ Class offices. Similarly all posts in HSG-II (other than Postmaster Posts also) may be upgraded to 4600/-.

2.      PROMOTION CHANCES OF ACCOUNTANT QUALIFIED OFFICIALS:
At present PO & RMS exam qualified officials are posted as Accountants. Officials working as Asst. Postmaster (Accounts) should posses Accountant qualification. There is no separate channel of promotion for qualified Accountants above the post of APM (Accounts). As per the proposal of the Administration side those Asst. Postmaster posts will remain as LSG (GP 2800) only and further those APM (Accounts) posts which are now in HSG-II (GP 4200) will remain as HSG-II (GP 4200) without any further upgradaion. In fact there is no upgrdation for Accounts line posts and the qualified officials have to move out of their Accountant/Asst. Postmaster (Accounts) posts if they want promotional upgradation, thereby the Department will be loosing the services of qualified officials to work in Accounts Branches. Nobody will be willing to work as Accountants and Asst. Postmaster (Accounts).

Hence it is once again requested to upgrade all the posts of PO & RMS Accountants to LSG (GP 2800) and LSG APM Accounts posts to HSG II (GP 4200) and at least 20% of the posts in upgraded GP 4200 may be further upgraded to HSG-I APM Accounts (GP 4600). Thus Accountant qualified officials will have their own channel of promotion. Regarding promotion to GP 4800/- the conditions applicable to General line officials may be made applicable to them also.

3.      POSTMASTER CADRE:
At present norm based LSG Postmasters posts are upgraded as Postmaster Grade-I. When LSG Postmaster posts are upgraded to 4200 GP (HSG-II), the Postmaster Grade-I posts shall also be automatically upgraded to the Grade Pay of 4200/-. Otherwise a glaring anomaly will arise. Their counter parts working in general line LSG post offices will be in GP 4200 where as they will remain in GP 2800. The benefit of upgradation should be made equally applicable to Postmaster Grade-I, Grade-II and Grade-III officials also by suitably upgrading the posts in Postmaster Cadre.

4.      SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS:
In the JCM Departmental Council meeting held on 27.08.2010, JCM (DC) standing Committee dated 18.12.2012 and 23.08.2013 it was decided that the demand for creation of a separate cadre for system Administrators will be considered by the Cadre Restructuring Committee.

But to our dismay, surprisingly the Department informed in the JCM Departmental Council meeting held 23.08.2013 that creation of separate cadre is not feasible.

We are totally in disagreement with the above stand taken by the Department. it seems that the Department has already made up its mind not to create a separate Cadre. We are not repeating the unstinted yeomen service done by the existing System Administrators since the inception of computers in Postal Department by converting it from a wholly computer illiterate department to the present fully computerised status. We have already explained in detail all the points which justified a better treatment for system Administrators and also for creation of a separate cadre as a promotional cadre of qualified PA/SAs. Inspite of all our best efforts, it is quite unfortunate that the Department is taking a totally unreasonable and negative attitude towards the SAs and their claim for better treatment has been mercilessly rejected.

The role of existing System Administrators in total computerization and also in core banking Solutions must be recognised. They are very much frustrated and the discontentment is mounting due to the continuous exploitation of these category of officials for the last more than ten years..

Notwithstanding our claim for creation of a separate cadre of System Administrators (System Assistant) with GP 4200, we request the Administration side to consider the following proposal of the staff side:
(a)   At present there is no sanctioned posts of System Administrators and services of officials working in sanctioned posts of Postal Assistant/Sorting Assistant (PA/SA) in various offices are utilized as System Administrators, keeping the PA/SA post vacant. The PA/SA posts already kept vacant due to deputation as System Administrators may be redeployed and converted as Posts for accommodating System Administrators (in the PA cadre itself). This is suggested as matching savings. An amount of 15% special allowance may be sanctioned to the officials who are performing the duties of System Administrators in those redeployed post.
(b)   The official working as SA may be granted eligible promotions in the general line as and when due.

5.      MARKETING EXECUTIVES:
Notwithstanding our demand for creation of separate posts for marketing Executives in GP 4200 we request to create separate PA Posts for marketing Executives on redeployment and grant special allowance to the officials working in those posts. (this is suggested as matching savings).

6.      CHANGE OF NOMENCLATURE:
As already explained by us the present nomenclature for supervisory post viz: - LSG, HSG-II, HSG-I does not exhibit the nature of status of the officials holding the posts to the customers and public and it require change.

7.      SBCO STAFF:
In the case of SBCO Staff the following proposal is submitted.

Present Designation
Proposed Designation
MACPs
Proposed Scale of Pay
PA (SBCO)

Auditor (Entry Level)
-

5200-20200

GP-2800



MACPS-I
9300-34800
GP-4200


MACPS-II
9300-34800
GP-4600


MACPS-III
9300-34800
GP-4800
LSG (Supervisor
Sr. Auditor
-
9300-34800
GP-4200
HSG-II (Sr. Supervisor)
Chief Auditor
-
9300-34800
GP-4600
HSG-I (Chief Supervisor)
Executive Auditor
-
9300-3480
GP-4800
-
Chief Executive Auditor
-
9300-34800
GP-5400

8.      POSTMEN STAFF/MAIL GUARD:
In the case of Postmen/Mail Guard Staff as already suggested by us percentage promotion may be granted and the same may run concurrently with MACP as in the case of staff car drivers of MMS.

9.      MULTI TASKING STAFF:
As the nature of duties of MTS Staff in Post offices/RMS offices is entirely different from their counterparts in other departments of Government of India, we reiterate our request for bringing MTS Staff also under the purview of Cadre Review.

10.  MATCHING SAVINGS:
(a)   Even after the above cadre review proposals are implemented none of the existing officials will be benefited-financially as more number of officials are available under MACP in the Grade pay of 2800, 4200 and 4600 to work against the upgraded posts of 2800, 4200 & 4600 because of MACP-I, II & III. At present there are 26000 MACP II officials and 12000 MACP III officials in the Department of Posts. Even after upgradation as above, more number of officials will be getting MACP-I, II and III, much earlier than their normal promotion to grade pay 2800, 4200 & 4600 (LSG, HSG II and HSG-I). Hence the question of matching savings does not arise at all.

(b)   6% posts in operative cadre and 20% posts in supervisory cadre was reduced as a matching savings when TBOP, BCR scheme was in force. The TBOP/BCR scheme has been scrapped on introduction of MACP scheme. Directorate has issued orders for restoration of justified posts without 6% and 20% cut. But no posts are sanctioned or restored. The cut still remains. If at all any matching savings is required, the above fact may be taken into account and the posts yet to be restored may be adjusted as matching savings.

Once again request you to consider the above points favourably.

Yours faithfully,


(M. Krishnan)                                      (Giri Raj Singh)                                  (R. Seethalakshmi)
General Secretary                               General Secretary                               General Secretary
AIPEU Group ‘C’                             AI RMS & MMS EU Gr’ ‘C’              AIPEU, Postmen & Gr ‘D’/MTS



(D. Theagarajan)                                 (T. N. Rahate)                                      (D. Kishan Rao)
General Secretary                               General Secretary                               General Secretary
NU RMS & MMS, Group ‘C’           NUPE, Postmen & Gr’ ‘D’/MTS            NUPE, Group ‘C’


RTP CASE – NEXT HEARING ON 07.04.2014

The RTP case (OA No. 3532/2013) came up before the Registrar of Principal Bench CAT New Delhi on 24.02.2014. The counsel on behalf of the union of India (Department of Posts) did not appear. Nor have the Respondents given their counter statement (Reply). The case had to be adjourned. The next date is 07.04.2014

Sunday, February 23, 2014

NFPE - FNPO - AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) - NUGDS
 
CIVIL SERVANT STATUS
AND INCLUSION OF GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS (GDS)
IN THE TERMS OF REFERENCE OF SEVENTH PAY COMMISSION.
 
MAHADEVAIAH SIGNED THE DEATH WARRANT OF 2.76 LAKHS GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS. HE WANTS TO KILL THE CHILD EVEN BEFORE ITS BIRTH.


Recognised union (Mahadevaiah) accepted the stand of the Government and Postal Board that GDS are NOT Government employees (Civil servants) and hence they cannot be included in the Seventh Pay Commission which is for Government Employees.
 
Government and Postal Board cleverly managed Mahadevaiah to sign a written agreement accepting their stand, so that he cannot go back from the agreement again.


All organizations in the staff side, JCM National Council including Railways, Defence, Confederation, NFPE & FNPO has taken a firm stand that we will not accept separate committee (Whether separate Judge or Bureaucrat) for GDS this time and GDS should be included in Seventh CPC itself. Recognised GDS union leader (Mahadevaiah) became an Agent of the government and signed Agreement accepting the Government’s stand. Mahadevaiah admitted that GDS are not civil servants and hence a separate committee is enough.
 
NFPE & FNPO and also the GDS unions of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) & FNPO (NUGDS) strongly condemn and protest against the foul play and treachery of Mahadevaiah and Postal Board.
 
Hold Protest Demonstrations in front of all offices on 26.02.2014 demanding cancellation of the agreement and inclusion of GDS in the 7th Pay Commission itself.
 
Dear friends and Comrades,

All of you are aware that all the Unions and Federation of the Staff Side, JCM National Council including Railways, Defence, Confederation, NFPE & FNPO have taken an unanimous stand that Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Department of Posts should be included in the 7th Pay Commission and we will not accept any separate Committee (Whether Judge or Bureaucrat) for GDS. This is the first time the entire JCM (Staff Side) including Railways and Defence is taking such a firm stand. Accordingly JCM (Staff Side) has submitted a letter to the Government (DOP&T) to include GDS in the terms of reference of 7th CPC. The matter is now pending before the Government for a decision. NFPE & FNPO and the GDS unions of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) and FNPO (NUGDS) has conducted two days nationwide strike demanding inclusion of GDS in the terms of reference of 7thCPC. Both NFPE & FNPO has already declared that they will jointly go for an indefinite strike, if the demand for inclusion of GDS under the 7th CPC is not accepted by the Government.

But to our shock and surprise, the recognised GDS Union leading by Mahadevaiah has signed an agreement with the Postal Board agreeing for the appointment of a separate committee for GDS. No Unions/Federations including Mahadevaiah’s union have demanded a separate committee (either Judge Committee or Bureaucratic Committee) in their charter of demands submitted to the Government and the Department of Posts. The 7th Pay Commission is appointed for Central Government Employees (Civil Servants). Separate Committee (even if it is a separate Judge) means GDS are not civil servants and they are only Extra-Departmental. Why should Mahadevaiah accept such a stand of the Department and Government? Earlier also one separate committee of Retired Judge (Justice Talwar Committee) was appointed for GDS. But even now GDS are Extra-Departmental and not treated as Civil Servants. Inclusion in 7th CPC means Government accepting our demand that GDS are Government employees (Civil Servants) and their service conditions and wage structure will be examined and recommended by 7th CPC alongwith other Central Government Employees. Thus a century long discrimination towards GDS shall come to an end. Even Justice Talwar Committee has recommended that in future, no separate committe (either Judge or Bureaucratic) should be appointed for the GDS and they should be included in Pay Commissions itself. By accepting a separate Committee, Mahadevaiah has spoiled the entire future of GDS.

By signing an agreement with the Postal Board, the Recognised GDS Union (Mahadevaiah) has signed the Death Warrant of the 2.76 lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks. He has played a drama with the Postal Board and Government and cheated GDS and defeated the very purpose of the united stand taken by all the JCM Staff side organizations. Postal Board has cleverly managed Mahadevaiah to sign an agreement itself. Normally after discussions with the unions, minutes are signed and copy given to unions. In this case, the Postal Board was very particular to get an agreement signed by the Recognised Union (Mahadevaiah) so that he cannot go back from the agreement in future. Ironically, for all other demands raised by Mahadevaiah in his Charter of Demands only separate minutes is given by the Department. Departmental officers and DOP&T are very inteligent and shrewd and they obtained what they want!!!

When Recognised union signed an agreement, tomorrow the Government will say to the staff side that as the recognised union has already agreed for a separate committee, we are not including GDS in the 7th CPC. Thus, the Recognised Union of the GDS (Mahadevaiah) has become an agent of the Government. As already stated by us, Postal Board and the Government have succeded in their game of “Divide and Rule”. That is why Mahadevaiah has not joined the joint strike of two days conducted by NFPE, FNPO and the GDS union of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) and FNPO (NUGDS) on 12th & 13th February 2014. In the coming days the hidden agenda behind the separate strike held by Mahadevaiah and the agreement will come out with more clear.

The Department and the Government always used to told NFPE & FNPO that by appointing a separate committee (either Judge or Bureaucratic) GDs will be much benefited. They have compelled NFPE & FNPO to accept separate Committee. We rejected the offer of the Government & the Department as we are well aware, from our past experience, the danger behind it and also the hidden agenda of the Government & the Department. Finally after the two days strike the Secretary, Department of Posts has given us a letter informing that our demand for inclusion of GDS in Seventh Pay Commission is referred to Government (DOP&T) for a decision. The Government understood that when the entire JCM staff side has taken a firm united stand, it will be very difficult for them to reject our demand. They wanted to pre-empt the united stand of the staff side. That is why the indefinite strike drama was played (eventhough participation was very less) and finally an agreement was signed behind the curtain and declaring that this is a greatest achievement (!) and this is a first step towards the liberation of GDS (!!!), as if there was no separate Judge Committee (Talwar Committee) appointed by Government earlier. It proved beyond doubt that both the Recognised Union (Mahadeviah) and the Government want to keep the GDS always outside the Pay Commission and always as “extra-departmental employees”.

NFPE and FNPO and the GDS Unions of NFPE (AIPEU-GDS-NFPE) and FNPO (NUGDS) strongly condemn and protest the anti-GDS agreement signed by the Postal Board and the Recognised Union (Mahadevaiah) and we demand the Government to include the GDS in the terms of reference of the 7th CPC itself instead of a separate Committee (Whether Judge or Bureaucrat). We call upon the entire Postal and RMS employees including Gramin Dak Sevaks to recognise the danger behind the agreement and expose those who signed the agreement which is nothing but a
“DEATH WARRANT OF 2.76 GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS”.

We further call upon the entire employees to conduct protest demonstration all over India on 26.02.2014 in front of all important offices against the stand taken by the Postal Board and demanding to remit the GDS issues the purview of the Seventh Pay Commission.

Yours sincerely,

                                                                                               
M. Krishnan                                                                                         D. Theagarajan
Secretary General                                                                               Secretary General
NFPE                                                                                                    FNPO
                                                                                                           
                                                                                   
P. Pandurangarao                                                                                P. U. Muraleedharan
General Secretary                                                                               General Secretary

AIPEU-GDS (NFPE)                                                                               NUGDS (FNPO)



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