Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Circular No.12

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL  GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS.

          A-2/95,Manishinath Bhawan,Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-110 027

Conf/12/2011                                                                                                                                      dated 28th  June, 2011

Dear Comrade,

                Kindly see our website. We have placed a copy of our letter seeking solidarity and support of our sister organizations and affiliates to the postal workers who will commence the indefinite strike action from 5th July onwards.  We request all our affiliates and State Committees to organize Lunch –recess demonstration at the respective work spots on 5th July, 2011.  The State Committees must ensure that a massive demonstration is organized at the CPMG offices of the State Capital eliciting participation of all CGEs on 8-7-2011 and send the following telegram/savingram to the Secretary-Post, Government of India, Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001 as also to the Communication Minister. Shri Kapil Sibal, Hon'ble Minister for communications, 107, First Floor, Sanchar Bhawan, New Delhi-110 001.

                                 "We express our solidarity with the striking Postal employees. Urge upon you

To hold negotiations with the organizations and settle their demands."

                The affiliates may kindly issue necessary instructions to all their Branches to carry out the above programme.   Copy of the said communication may please be endorsed to the Confederation CHQ

                The National Secretariat of the Confederation will meet on 30th July, 2011 at Chennai and the first meeting of the National Women's convention will also be held on the same day. Copies of notices are placed hereunder.

PFRDA Bill

                The Government could successfully introduce the PFRDA Bill in the last session of the Parliament with the help of the BJP and others in the opposition. The Bill might come up for discussion and enactment in the monsoon session.  In the wake of the attempt in this direction by the UPA-I Government,  we had taken the decision to organize a day's strike jointly with AISGEF, the School and University Teachers Federations and the AIDEF.  We have been in touch with all these organization for venturing into another serious campaign against the present Bill to culminate in an industrial action. Accordingly we have decided to hold a joint convention on PFRDA Bill at New Delhi on 22nd July, 2011.  The venue of the convention will be :

M.P.C.U Shah Auditorium,

Shree Delhi Gujarati Samaj,

No.2, Raj Niwas Marg,

Civil lines, Ring Road,

New Delhi-110 054 (next to Civil lines Metro Station- Yellow Line)

 

                The convention will commence at 11-30 AM and shall be concluded at 3-30 PM. The convention have the participation of the representatives from AISGEF, Confederation,  AIDEF,School and University teachers Federations, and DREU. Other details will be conveyed in our next circular.

With greetings

 

Yours fraternally,

KK.N. Kutty,

Secretary General

N O T I C E

                Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the Secretariat of the Confederation to be held at Chennai on 30th July, 2011.  The meeting will begin at 11-30 A.M. The exact venue of the meeting will be communicated by the Tamilnadu State Committee.  The meeting will deliberate upon the following agenda:

(a)    Review of the campaign programme if any undertaken to popularize the charter of demands.

(b)   To finalise the date for the next phase of programme of action.

(c)    The implication of deems taken at the Joint Covention on PFRDA Bill at Delhi on 22-7-2011.

(d)   Any other matter with the permission of the Chair.

 

The first meeting of the women committee formed by the National women's convention at Kolkata will also be held at Chennai at the same venue.  The meeting of the women committee will begin at 3-00 P.M.  The convenor  of the Committee will circulate the agenda for discussion in due course:

Yours fraternally,

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General

N O T I C E

                Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the women's committee of the Confederation of CG employees and workers to be held at Chennai on 30th July 2011.  The meeting will begin at 3-00 P.M. The following agenda will be subjected to discussion.

(a)    Follow-up action required to be taken to implement the decisions taken at the National Conventions at Kolkata.

(b)   Finalisation of date of State level conventions and formation of sub-committees for each state.

(c)    Steps to improve the participation of women comrades in the programme of action.

 

 

(C.P.Shobhana)

Convenor

National Women's committee of Confederation of CGE and Workers

Address: Sub-Postmaster,  Vikas Bhawan P.O. Thiruvanatapuram. 695 033.

Cell No. 9446721330

 


Friday, June 24, 2011

Notice

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL  GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS.

A-2/95,Manishinath Bhawan,Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-110 027

 

Website:www.confederationhq.blogspot.com.  Email:Confederation06@Yahoo.co.in

Tel: 011-2510 5324:  Mobile: 98110 48303

 

N O T I C E

                Notice is hereby given for a meeting of the Secretariat of the Confederation to be held at Chennai on 30th July, 201.  The meeting will begin at 11-30 A.M. The exact venue of the meeting will be communicated by the Tamilnadu Stae Committee.  The meeting will deliberate upon the following agenda:

(a)    Review of the campaign programme if any undertaken to popularize the charter of demands.

(b)   To finalise the date for the next phase of programme of action.

(c)    The implication of deems taken at the Joint Covention on PFRDA Bill at Delhi on 22-7-2011.

(d)   Any other matter with the permission of the Chair.

 

The first meeting of the women committee formed by the National women's convention at Kolkata will also be held at Chennai at the same venue.  The meeting of the women committee will begin at 3-00 P.M.  The convenor  of the Committee will circulate the agenda for discussion in due course:

Yours fraternally,

K.K.N. Kutty

Secretary General


 


 

 

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Postel Strike

 

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL  GOVT. EMPLOYEES & WORKERS.

A-2/95,Manishinath Bhawan,Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-110 027

Website:www.confederationhq.blogspot.com.  Email:Confederation06@Yahoo.co.in

Tel: 011-2510 5324:  Mobile: 98110 48303

Dated:23rd June 2011

Dear Comrade,

We write this to solicit your support and solidarity for the postal workers of the country who are preparing to go on indefinite strike action from 5th July 2011 onwards.  The National Federation of Postal employees (NFPE), All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union (AIPEDEU), the two affiliates of the confederation has under the banner of the Joint Council of Action with the Federation of National Postal Organizations (affiliated to INTUC) and the National Union of Gramin Dak Sewak(affiliated to INTUC) have served the Strike notice on 14th June 2011 on the Postal Board.  The Strike action will commence on 5th July, 2011.

The Issues

1.       Some time back, the Department of Post, appointed the World (in)famous Transnational Corporation, Mckinzey Consultancy to make recommendations to it as to the manner and methodology to be adopted  to restructure the century old postal system of the country.  While the avowed objective was to modernize the system and make it a profit making venture, the real intent was to reorganize the department in such a manner so as to equip itself viable for privatization/corporatization. Earlier the Postal Department had made several attempts to privatize its functions and in the process large scale outsourcing was also resorted to. With the prime objective of eroding the efficacy of the Postal department, various steps were undertaken like, closure of sorting units, cutting down the staff strength despite widening business ventures, pegging down the overtime rates by linking it to pre-1986 pay scales etc. Thrice the Government made attempts to introduce legislation in the parliament to grant license to courier service providers.  The stubborn resistance of the M.Ps especially of the left parties and a few others in the parliament and the struggles organized by the  employees at the work spot thwarted it successfully till date.  However, systematically and meticulously the Department had been  creating conditions whereby the customers moved away to patronize the private courier services, run illegally without any licence whatsoever. Surprisingly even Government Departments, which are to communicate with large number of people often became customers  of such illegally run private courier service providers The Mckinzey consultancy who is yet to make its final  report, has however, suggested certain measures in the name of Mail Network optimization project  which the postal department has now  decided to implement without causing any discussions whatsoever  with any of the stake holders, especially the unions. Their suggestions include:

(a)     Closure/merger of about 9797 post offices in the urban area

(b)     Reduce the number of Speed Post Centre from 315 to 89.

(c)     Reduce the RMS sorting centres from 412 to 84

(d)     To redeploy the postman staff in the newly created "Delivery hubs"

2.       The major chunks of the postal workers are Gramin Dak Sewaks or Extra-departmental Agents.  The EDA was the system developed by the British Government to spread the postal communication system to far flung rural areas of the country . They were simply agents or franchisees and were appointed so for pittance of a remuneration.   Their cause was taken up by the unions of regular employees, the NFPE and its constituents and the FNPO, in the post-independent era and through sustained struggles fetched  them very many concessions, benefits and privileges and brought them nearly on par with the regular employees.  When the 5th CPC was set up in 1993, the Postal department was forced to appoint a Judicial Commission (The Talwar Commission) to go into the wage-structure and other service conditions of the Extra Departmental Agents, presently called the Gramin Dak Sewaks.  The committee made far reaching recommendations, a good number of which the Government had to accept and implement, (except civil servant status and pension) thereby improving the lot of these employees considerably.  However, the committee set up in the wake of the  6th CPC, the Natarajamurthy committee headed by a retired Postal bureaucrat, ensured that the EDAs were reduced to casual part time workers reversing in the process, decisions taken on the basis of Talwar Commission suggestions. Most of the committee's recommendations were in sync with the neo-liberal economic policies. The rules governing their service conditions have now been unilaterally amended whereby they may not be even termed as "employees" hereafter.  The very caption of the regulatory rules which was GDS-Conduct and Employment rules have now been changed to  GDS- Conduct and engagement rules,  reducing them  to the status of a Contract Worker.

In the negotiations which took place on 6th and 7th June, 2011 the Postal authorities have stuck to their stand of implementing the decision to create Speed Post and First Class mail hubs, despite their inability to contradict the fact presented by the  staff side that the creation of such hubs has resulted in abnormal delay in the delivery of articles benefiting the private operators.  It has,  therefore,  become unambiguously clear that without organizing sustained struggles and eliciting the support of the entire section of the  working people and garnering  public opinion,  the reversal of the decision would not come about.   The undeniable  fact that Government and the Postal department armed  with the recommendation of the Mckency  consultancy are determined  to demolish the existing postal system in the country to pave way for the unhindered  entry of private operators has to be defeated.

We therefore once again request you to extend your co-operation, support and solidarity to make the proposed indefinite strike successful to compel the Government to rescind their decision to act upon McKenzie recommendations in the Postal Department.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally

K K N Kutty.

Secretary General

 

 

 

 

Tuesday, June 7, 2011

confederation circular letter

Placed hereunder is the circular letter of confederation:
CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES AND WORKERS
A/2/95 Rajouri Garden, New Delhi. 110 027
Dated: 6th June, 2011
Dear Comrade,

              As you must have been informed by the West Bengal Comrades that ever since the election results were announced, a reign of terror has been unleashed by the activists of TMC party against the leaders and activists of various Trade Unions, which are not affiliated to INTTUC. We have now been informed by the W.B.  State Unit of Confederation that such an attack was planned and executed in the CPWD, whose office is located at Nizam Palace premises at Kolkata.

 

              CPWD Workers Union is affiliated to Confederation and the Eastern Regional Unit functions under the W.B. State Committee of Confederation. On 2nd June 2011, one of the activists of the Union was beaten up by a gang led by the leader of CPWD Mazdoor Union, an affiliate of the "Indian National Trinumal Trade Union Congress" for his alleged refusal to switch allegiance from Workers Union to Mazdoor Union under intimidation. In order to register the protest against this attrocious behavior, the State Committee of Confederation called upon the employees working in that Building to hold demonstration during lunch recess on 3rd. Even before the employees could be assembled, the Mazdoor Union activists with the assistance of outsiders and armed with Iron rods, bamboo sticks etc. attacked the Comrades, who were making arrangements for the meeting. Even the Pensioners who had come to that building were not spread. All of these were brutally beaten up. Over 14 Comrades were to be removed to hospital having suffered head injuries. Com. Swaraj Kumar Kar, the Regional Secretary of the CPWD Workers Union was dragged to a solitary room and was brutally beaten up  and he is struggling for his life at this hospital.

              Intimidated, our Comrades sent SOS to Com. Pijush Roy, General Secretary of the State Committee of Confederation and the Organising Secretary at CHQ., who rushed to the spot. On his arrival, the comrades in the building reassembled, which triggered another dastardly attack by the Trinamool union activists. Com.Pijush Roy and others were beaten up, the police being silent spectators, perhaps under orders to be so.  O ly when they sensed that Com. Swaraj Kumar Kar might become a martyr, they swung into operation to rescue him from the murderous attack.

Our comrades could not even file the FIR as they were not even permitted to enter the police station.  Instead they were charged for rioting.  It is ironically stated that in India, police charges the complainant as the accused so that nobody should have the courage to enter a police station premises.

The State Committee of the Confederation have rightly called upon its affiliates to organize protest demonstration all over West Bengal  The employees and all right thinking people will object to this reign of terror.

Unchecked , this will embolden them to go ahead with their annihilation plan.     We therefore appeal all our affiliates and State COC to organize protest demonstration in front of all offices immediately on seeing the Cricular letter on our website and send the following telegrams/savingrams, fax to the Hon`ble Prime Minister.

Central Govt. employees working in the …………………………..(Name of the Station) deplore the dastardly attacks on our colleagues and activists of Pensioners Association at Nizam Palaces, Kolkata on 3rd June 2011 and condemn the Police inaction. The forceful closure/capturing the Union Offices will be repulsed. Solicit your kind intervention to maintain law and order in the State of West Bengal.

 

With greetings,

Yours fraternally,

KKN Kutty

Secretary General

 

 

Monday, June 6, 2011

The state of affairs in West Bengal

CONFEDERATION OF CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES &
WORKERS.A-2/95,Manishinath Bhawan,Rajouri Garden, New Delhi-110 027
Website:www.confederationhq.blogspot.com.
Email:Confederation06@Yahoo.co.inTel: 011-2510 5324: Mobile: 98110
48303

Dear Comrade,

As you must have been informed by the West Bengal Comrades that ever
since the election results were announced, a reign of terror has been
unleashed by the activists of TMC party against the leaders and
activists of various Trade Unions, which are not affiliated to INTTUC.
We have now been informed by the W,B, State Unit of Confederation
that such an attack was planned and executed in the CPWD, whose office
is located at Nizam Palace premises at Kolkata.

CPWD Workers Union is affiliated to Confederation and the Eastern
Regional Unit functions under the W.B. State Committee of
Confederation. On 2nd June 2011, one of the activists of the Union was
beaten up by a gang led by the leader of CPWD Mazdoor Union, an
affiliate of the "Indian National Trinumal Trade Union Congress" for
his alleged refusal to switch allegiance from Workers Union to Mazdoor
Union under intimidation. In order to register the protest against
the attrocious behavior, the State Committee of Confederation called
upon the employees working in that Building to hold demonstration
during lunch recess on 3rd. Even before the employees could be
assembled, the Mazdoor Union activists with the assistance of
outsiders and armed with Iron rods, bamboo sticks etc. attacked the
Comrades, who were making arrangements for the meeting. Even the
Pensioners who had come to that building were not spread. All of then
were brutally beaten up. Over 14 Comrades were to be removed to
hospital having suffered head injuries. Com. Swaraj Kumar Kar, the
Regional Secretary of the CPWD Workers Union was dragged to a solitary
room and was brutally beaten up that he is struggling for his life at
this hospital.

Intimidated, our Comrades sent SOS to Com. Pijush Roy, General
Secretary of the State Committee of Confederation and the Organising
Secretary at CHQ., who rushed to the spot. On his arrival, the
comrades in the building re-assembled, which triggered another
dastardly attack by the Trinamool union activists. Com.Pijush Roy and
others were beaten up, the police being silent spectators, perhaps
under orders to be so. Only when they sensed that Com. Swaraj Kumar
Kar might become a martyr, they swung into operation to rescue him
from the murderous attack.

Our comrades could not even file the FIR as they were not even
permitted to enter the police station. Instead they were charged for
rioting. It is ironically stated that in India, police charges the
complainant as the accused so that nobody should have the courage to
enter a police station premises.

The State Committee of the Confederation have rightly called upon its
affiliates to organize protest demonstration all over West Bengal The
employees and all right thinking people will object to this reign of
terror.

Unchecked , this will embolden them to go ahead with the annihilation
and the subversion of democracy. therefore appeal all our affiliates
and State COCs to organize protest demonstration in front of all
offices immediately on seeing the Cricular letter on our website and
send the following telegrams/savingrams, fax to the Hon`ble Prime
Minister.

Central Govt. employees working in the …………………………..(Name of the
Station) deplores the dastardly attack on our colleagues and
activists of Pensioners Association at Nizam Palaces, Kolkata on 3rd
June 2011 and condemn the Police inaction. The forceful
closure/capturing the Union Officrs will be repulsed. Solicit your
kind intervention to maintain law and order in the State of West
Bengal.

With greetings,

Yours fraternally
K.K.N. Kutty
Secretary General