CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS

CENTRAL HEAD QUARTERS

NATIONAL FEDERATION OF POSTAL EMPLOYEES

CENTRAL HEAD QUARTERS

1^st Floor, North Avenue Post office Building, New Delhi – 110001

 

HISTORIC GDS ALL INDIA STRIKE

ORGANIZE ONE DAY HUNGER FAST IN FRONT OF MAJOR POST OFFICES ON 31^st MAY 2018, THURSDAY, 10 AM TO 5 PM

JOIN THE SANCHAR BHAWAN MARCH (MARCH TO COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER’S OFFICE NEW DELHI) IN LARGE NUMBERS ON 1^st JUNE 2018 AND MAKE IT A GRAND SUCCESS

Dear Comrades,

As you are aware the indefinite strike of GDS Unions (AIPEU-GDS, AIGDSU, NUGDS & BEDEU) entered the 8^th day today. All India strike percentage is 96%. Five rounds of discussions held with Secretary, Department of Posts, Additional Director General, Posts and conciliation meetings of Regional Labour Commissioner failed due to the adamant and negative attitude of the Government and Department. As per the call of NFPE and all affiliates of NFPE, departmental employees in Postal department organised black badge campaign and protest demonstration as solidarity support to the GDS strike. In five states (Kerala, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal) departmental employees also organised solidarity strike eventhough in four states (Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and West Bengal) they have withdrawn the solidarity strike on the fourth day due to compelling reason. In Kerala departmental employees of NFPE and FNPO are continuing their strike. In all states including those states where the departmental employees have withdrawn the solidarity strike, 100% GDS employees are continuing their strike.

Confederation of Central Government employees & Workers has already given call for daily demonstration in front of Postal and RMS offices and also extend full support and solidarity to the strike.

 

As the strike is continuing Confederation National Secretariat and NFPE Federal Secretariat has decided to organize mass hunger fast in front of major Post office/RMS offices on 31^st May 2018 Thursday from 10 AM to 5 PM. It is also decided to mobilise maximum number of employees from Delhi and nearby states in the Sanchar Bhawan March already announced by the striking GDS Unions on 1^st June 2018 Friday at 10:30 AM.

All affiliates and State/District Level Coordinating Committees of Confederation and NFPE are requested to organize the above mentioned programmes in an effective manner with biggest participation of employees.

Yours fraternally,

 

(M. Krishnan)                                                          (R. N. Parashar)

Secretary General                                          Secretary General

Confederation                                               NFPE

Mob: & WhastApp – 094470688125                Mob: & WhatsApp - 09868819295

Revision of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula due to increased revenue collections of the Central Government


Comrades,

                  Today none of the 7^th CPC related demands of Central Government Employees are settled. The assurance given by the Group of Ministers to the NJCA leaders regarding increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is in paper even after a lapse of 20 months. Now the Finance Minister has replied in Parliament that “no change in Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is at present under consideration”. 

To avert the 11^th July CG employees strike the Hon’ble Prime Minster had instructed the group of Hon’ble Ministers including Shri Rajnath Singhji, Hon’ble Home Minister, Shri Suresh Prabhuji , Hon’ble Railway Minister    and Shri Arun  Jaitelyji , Hon’ble  Finance Minister to hold discussions with the Staff Side (JCM) on 30^th June 2016 and the Shri Arun  Jaitelyji , Hon’ble  Finance Minister had published a written assurances in the Government  website on 6^th July 2016 leading to deferment  of the strike .

Pay Commission Objective: It is the endeavour of every pay commission to ensure that the pay and allowances of employees should be ‘fair and reasonable’. The pay structure should also motivate the employees to reasonable levels of performance in the tasks assigned to them, so that the general public derive the benefit of their service as intended.

Our demand of revision of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula is quite justified.

Comparison of earlier wage hike we can observe that the fitment factor of 2.57 times   is the lowest comparing to other pay commissions. If we make a study of earlier pay commission.

Pay Commission	Year	Minimum wage ( old )	Minimum wage (revised)	Increase
2nd CPC	1959	Rs 55/-	Rs 80/-	1.45 times
3rd CPC	1973	Rs 80/-	Rs 196/-	2.45 times
4th CPC	1986	Rs 196/-	Rs 750/-	3.82 times
5th CPC	1996	Rs 750/-	Rs 2550/-	3.40 times
6th CPC*	2006	Rs 2550/-	Rs 7000/-	2.74 times
7th CPC *	2016	Rs 7000/-	Rs 18000/-	2.57 times

Comparative picture of pay of Central Government and State Government in regards to minimum wage as on  1.7.2017

Many of the State Governments are following the Central Government pay scales, but a few state Governments have improved upon the Central Government pay scales. The examples are as under:

Government Agency	Group “D” Basic pay in Rs	Add Skill 25% from Group “D” to Group “C”	Group “C” Basic Pay in Rs	DA %	Add DA Amount in  Rs	Basic Pay in Group “C” in Rs
Govt. of India		Nil	18000	5	900	18900
Andhra  Pradesh &  Telangana	13000	3250	16250	24.1	3916	20166
Kerala	16500	4125	20625	14	2887	23512
Karnataka	17000	4250	21250	Nil		21250

  

The financial position of the Central Government is very good. Even the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) has shown increase in last few years which is around 7% ,  the Indian economy is fastest growing and placed 7^th in the world  ( which is at 2,250.987  billions of $ ), comparing to wages paid in  the world our wages are at lower  level. The Government fiscal budget deficit equal to 3.50 percent of the country's Gross Domestic Product in 2016. Compared to 2008 where the fiscal deficit was at 7.8 %, but today the fiscal deficit is contained at 3.5%. This is also a healthy sign of the economic status of the Central Government financial status, the budget fiscal deficit is always below 4%.  

Direct tax collections in 2017-18 at Rs 9.95 lakh crore, exceeded the revised budgetary target of Rs 9.8 lakh crore. Also, 6.84 crore income tax returns filed in the year against 5.43 crore in the previous year signalling a rise of 26 %  . A net of 99.5 lakh new assesses were added to the tax net.

Net collection from corporate tax went up 17.1 per cent while that from personal income tax rose 18.9 %.

The revenue collection from Goods and Services Tax (GST) exceeded Rs 1 lakh crore in April 2018, GST revenue collected in April 2018 came at Rs 1,03,458 crore.

With the improved economic climate, introduction of e-way bill and improved GST compliance, GST collections would continue to show a positive trend.

The wage bill of the Central Government on in its employees is less than 10% or 3.4% of the GDP, which is less compared to various countries world wide .  

Vacancy of the Central Government is about 15 % , more than 4 lakhs vacancies are existing in the Central Government the work load is being carried out by the existing employees. The Government being a model employer should pay for its employees and motivate them to work more for implementation of its policies. 

   

Hence due to the improved revenue earning of the Central Government, as assured to the staff side JCM by the Group of Ministers in respect of increase of Minimum Pay and Fitment formula, the Central Government should increase the MinimumPay and Fitment formula.

Issued by COC Karnataka  

PAY REVISION OF EMPLOYEES FOLLOWING CDA PATTERN IN CENTRAL PUBLIC SECTOR ENTERPRISES (CPSES) -GOVERNMENT DECISION ON ALLOWANCES ETC: REGARDING.

No.W-02/0058/2016-DPE (WC)-GL-XIII/18

Government of India

Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises

Department of Public Enterprises

Public Enterprises Bhawan,

Block No.14, CGO Complex,

Lodhi Road, New Delhi-110003.

Dated, the 21st May, 2018

OFFICE MEMORANDUM

Subject: Pay Revision of Employees following CDA pattern in Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSES) -Government decision on allowances etc: regarding.

            In continuation of DPE’s OM of even number dated 17.08.2017 regarding Pay Revision of Employees following CDA pattern in CPSEs, it is informed that following allowances applicable to the Central Government employees have been revised by Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT):

i. Travel entitlements for the purpose of LTC as per DoPT’s OM No.31011/8/2017-Estt.A-IV dated 19.09.2017(Annexure-I).

ii. Grant of Children Education Allowance as per DoPT’s OM NO.A 27012/02/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 16.08.2017(Annexure-II).

iii. Grant of Children Education Allowance for differently abled children of government employees as per DoPT’s OM No.A-27012/02/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 31.10.2017(Annexure-III).

iv. Special Allowance for Child Care for women with disabilities as per DoPT’s OM No.A-27012/03/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 16.08.2017((Annexure-IV)).

2. Further, the following allowances have been abolished by Department of Expenditure/DoPT

i. Department of Expenditure’s OM No.12 (4)/2016-EIII.A dated 07.07.2017 regarding discontinuance of Family Planning Allowance for adoption of small family norms-recommendation of the 7th CPC (Annexure-V).

ii. Department of Personnel & Training’s OM No.A-27023/01/2017-Estt.(AL) dated 16.08.2017 regarding implementation of Government decision on the recommendations of the 7th CPC-Abolishing Desk Allowance (Annexure-VI).

3. Accordingly, the allowances of the employees of CPSEs following CDA pattern of pay may be revised in terms of OMs mentioned above in para 1 and 2 w.e.f. 01.07.2017.

4. Any subsequent amendment(s) made by the DoE/DoPT in respect of above allowances for Central Government employees would be applicable to these employees also.

5. All administrative Ministries/Departments of the Government of India are requested to bring these orders to the notice of CPSEs under their administrative control who are following CDA pattern of pay scales as per DPE’s OM dated 17.08.2017.

Sd/-

(Samsul Haque)

Under Secretary

Source: Click here to view/download the PDF

[https://dpe.gov.in/sites/default/files/OM_21_May_2018_reg_CDA_Allowances.pdf]

GDS INDEFINITE ALL INDIA STRIKE

         Govt. of India has not included 2.76 lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) of the Postal department under the purview of 7^th Central Pay Commission. Govt’s stand is that GDS are not Civil Servants but are Extra Departmental Employees. After much pressure and agitations by Postal Federations finally Government appointed a separate Committee for revision of wages and service conditions of GDS, headed by a retired Postal Board Member Shri Kamalesh Chandra.

2.         Service conditions of GDS are pathetic. No pay scale is granted instead Time Related Continuity Allowance (TRCA) is granted. Minimum monthly allowance for 3 hours is Rs.2295- plus DA and maximum monthly allowance for hours is Rs.3635 plus DA. No other allowances such as HRA, Children Education Allowance etc., are granted. Rent of the building in which Branch Post Office is housed is to be paid by the Branch Post Master (BPM) from his pocket. No maternity leave is granted instead 90 days leave salary is granted from Welfare Fund. No medical reimbursement or Medical Insurance Scheme. Only 20days paid leave is granted in a year. No time bound promotion except examination based promotion to limited number of Postmen & Group-D vacancies. No pension is granted and GDS service is not counted towards pension.

            In 2011 a Contributory Pension Scheme is introduced with contribution of Rs.200/- each by the employee and the department. But the pension from this insurance annuity based scheme is meager, less than Rs.1000/- per month. In short the wages and service conditions are deplorable.

3.         It is this background; the Kamalesh Chandra Committee submitted its report on 24-11-2016. Most of the recommendations of the Committee are positive. Minimum pay recommended was Rs.10,000/- and maximum Rs.14,500/- plus DA. Composite Allowance in lieu of building rent & Children education Allowance were recommended. Maternity leave for 26 weeks and one week paternity leave, Time bound three promotions on completion of 12,24 & 36 years of service, 30 days ordinary leave, five days emergency leave etc., are also recommended.

4.         Eventhough the Committee Report is submitted to Govt. on 24-11-2016, even after a lapse of 18 months, the report is not yet implemented. In the case of departmental employees, wage revision as per 7^th CPC Report was already implemented from 01-01-2016. Unjustified discrimination is shown towards GDS. As a result, the discontentment and protest among the GDS is growing day by day. NFPE & AIPEU-GDS has conducted various agitational programmes including one day strike on 23-08-2017 and five days continuous dharna at Delhi demanding immediate implementation of positive recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra Committee Report. Other Federations and GDS Unions too conducted their own agitational programmes. Inspite of all these, implementation of the Committee Report is delayed inordinately. The All India Conference of AIPEU-GDS held at Allahabad in March 2018, reviewed whole situation and decided to organize indefinite strike in the month of May 2018.

5.         It is in this back ground, the indefinite strike notice was served by four GDS unions. First BEDEU (BMS) served notice for indefinite strike. Then AIGDSU and NUGDS (INTUC) gave notice for indefinite strike from 22-05-2018. As other GDS Unions had given indefinite strike notice, AIPEU-GDS (NFPE) also decided to service indefinite strike notice from the same date i.e., 22-05-2018 in consultation with NFPE.

Simultaneously, NFPE issued instructions to all Branch / Division / Circle Unions to extend full support and solidarity to the GDS strike by organizing daily protest demonstrations and attending duty by wearing black-badges. In five States viz., Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana & West Bengal departmental employees’ Unions also joined the strike from 22-05-2018.

6.         Indefinite strike commenced on 22-05-2018. 100% GDS in all States went on strike. Out of 1,55,000 post offices, 1,29,500 post offices are Branch Post Offices manned by GDS. All the 1,29,500 Post offices remained closed. Out of five lakhs postal employees 2.76 lakhs are Gramin Dak Sevaks 90 – 95% of GDS went on strike from 22-05-2018 and their percentage increased day by day and came to near total. Regarding Departmental employees, the solidarity strike from 22-05-2018 conducted in Tamil Nadu, Andhra, Telangana and West Bengal withdrawn on the fourth day due to compelling reasons, but the entire GDS in these States are continuing their Strike. In Kerala, departmental employees are continuing their solidarity strike even today.

7          .After giving the strike notice, till, date four round of negotiations took place. First round discussions held with Additional Director General, Department of Posts. Second round of talks held with Secretary, Department of Posts. Third and fourth round of conciliation proceedings was held by Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi. All these discussions failed due to the totally negative and adamant attitude of the Govt. and Postal Authorities and hence the strike is continuing. All the four GDS Unions are on strike and it is near total in almost all States. The functioning of the rural postal services is paralyzed as 80% of the post offices are closed and 100% GDS are on strike.

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