EDITORIAL POSTAL LIFE JUNE
A Glorious Strike by GDS
The three lakhs of Gramin Dak Sewaks have victoriously concluded their
indefinite strike of 16 days on 6th June, 2018. The spectacular victory of the
strike is that the Central Government has settled the major issue of the strike
demand and the Cabinet has approved the implementation of Kamlesh Chandra
Committee recommendations. The approved recommendations will improve the
financial position of Gramin Dak Sewaks and contrary to the speculations and
rumours the wage hike has been approved as recommended w.e.f 1.1.2016. All the
GDS will get their revised TRCA fixed by application of 2.57 multiplication
factor as like the regular employees. Thus there won’t be any discrimination
between the regular CG Employees and the Postal Gramin Dak Sewaks on this
score. The introduction of Risk and Hardship Allowance to GDS will also
financially improve their lot as recommended by the GDS Committee. The
continuation of DA formula as like the CG Employees is also a welcome step. The
rationalization of GDS TRCA scales into just three TRCA slabs and the introduction
of 4 Hour minimum work and wages accordingly from prospective date as
recommended by the Committee is another welcome step. Hereafter wards there
shall be a minimum work of 4 Hours to all GDS. The Cabinet decisions is a sigh
of relief to all GDS as there were rumours that certain recommendations of the
Kamlesh Chandra Committee will be
modified detrimentally.
The only discontent of the GDS is that the continuation of productivity
linked bonus to GDS is based on 7000/- per month instead of 9000/- calculated
to the regular employees. Though there is no justified rationale for this
discrimination, the Government is continuing with the discrimination as
recommended by Kamlesh Chandra Committee. The movement will no doubt continue
its battle to end this discrimination also in future. There are some other
important issues of GDS also are pending like the regularization of GDS; grant
of prorata on the basis of the actual wages of the corresponding regular Postal
Employees that existed before Nataraja Murthy Committee implementation; ending
bonus discrimination; pension and social security etc. The support and solidarity extended by the
AIPEU Postman & MTS (CHQ) by issue of an indefinite strike notice from just
one day after the commencement of GDS strike on 23rd May, 2018 and remaining
with the struggling GDS till the last minute of the strike is giving us enough
satisfaction. We have performed our historical duty as taught by our legendary
leader Comrade Adinarayana. It was our P-4 that went on nationwide strike on
19th September, 1984 for the cause of ED Employees. A similar feat was required
of from our P-4 and this task we have performed even in the adverse condition
of all Postal Employees in all States could not jump into strike action at the
call of the Federations. The reason being the unpreparedness of regular
employees of some states. This weakness has to be removed by the Postal
Employees movement at the shortest. Even the P-4 that has gone on solidarity
strike could not boast even participation of Postman and MTS masses uniformly
in all States. There was unevenness as P4 could not prepare for action in all
States and could not consult the issue in its own managing body as to how to
react to such an eventuality. Nevertheless, the P-4 CHQ with all sincerity
stood with the GDS masses in the hour of need. That is more important. The CHQ
has withdrawn the strike call only along with the struggling GDS. We will
introspect in our managing bodies and try to improve our organizational
strength. We also observe that some improvements in the P-4 issues also came
about by our bold decision to go on indefinite strike along with the GDS.
The regular employees at the call of the NFPE Coordinating Committees
have gone on solidarity strike according to their strength in some states. The
number of days on strike is not important as solidarity strikes depend upon the
preparedness of the regular employees as per local conditions. We salute all
such COC organizations for boldly going on strike in support of GDS. The
role of FNPO regular employees in some states who also went on strike also to
be appreciated.
The major appreciation goes to GDS masses and their organisational
leaders who came together without ego and stood together in the industrial
action until success. We know there exist some ideological and organizational
divide between the GDS Unions. The strike call was given by the united platform
of GDS unions. However, the independent decisions that resulted in a united
indefinite strike, and the stubbornness showed by the GDS leadership on the
face of distractive negotiating tactics adopted by the Government side needs
total appreciation. The success of the strike breaks the myth that the present
Central Government cannot be pressurized by the workers. Such a united struggle
alone can force the unwilling governments. The Postal Joint Council of Action
shall take a leaf from the experience of the successful strike and should come
forward immediately to revive the Joint Council of Action including all the GDS
unions to present a formidable power of struggle of Postal Employees for
future. If such a thing could emerge, then we can surmise that proper lesson
has been derived from the successful and glorious GDS strike.
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