Monday, November 30, 2015
Thursday, November 26, 2015
DECEMBER 1st & 2nd , 2015 STRIKE DEFERRED
SECRETARY GENERAL AND ALL GENERAL SECRETARIES OF NFPE & AIPEU GDS (NFPE) WILL SIT ON TWO DAYS HUNGER FAST INFRONT OF DAK BHAWAN, NEW DELHI ON 1st & 2ndDECEMBER 2015.
ONE DAY MASS HUNGER FAST IN FRONT OF ALL CPMG / PMG & DIVISIONAL OFFICES ON 11th DECEMBER 2015.
TO EXPRESS OUR ANGER, RESENTMENT AND STRONG PROTEST AGAINST THE REJECTION OF THE LEGITIMATE DEMANDS OF THREE LAKHS GRAMIN DAK SEVAKS BY THE NDA GOVT.
The Federal Secretariat of NFPE held at NFPE Office, New Delhi on 26-11-2015, reviewed the whole situation prevailing among the postal employees in general and the Gramin Dak Sevaks (GDS) in particular after the submission of the 7th Central Pay Commission Report to the Govt and also after the appointment of a separate committee for GDS by the Govt, headed by a retired Postal Board Member as Chairman.
The Federal Secretariat further reviewed the proposed two days strike call given by NFPE and AIPEU GDS (NFPE) for realization of the legitimate demands of the Gramin Dak Sevaks, which include bringing the GDS also under the purview of 7th CPC treating them as Civil Servants.
The main demand of NFPE and AIPEU GDS (NFPE) in the charter of demands submitted to Govt and Postal Board is “inclusion of GDS under the purview of 7th CPC”. NFPE organized series of agitational programmes for the GDS demands including dharnas, hunger fast, GDS Parliament March, Parliament March under the banner of Postal JCA (NFPE & FNPO), one day strike on 12th December 2012 and 48 hours strike on 12th & 13th February 2014. Due to our agitational programmes the Postal Board was compelled to submit the proposal for inclusion of GDS under 7th CPC to Finance Ministry with favourable recommendations. But the Finance Ministry rejected the proposal three times and it is in this background NFPE & AIPEU GDS (NFPE) decided to go for two days strike on December 1st & 2nd demanding the Govt to include GDS under the 7th Pay Commission.
Even though the Govt refused to include the GDS under the 7th CPC, the 7th CPC has suo moto examined the main demand of the GDS ie., treating them as Civil Servants and extending them all the benefits of the departmental employees, ofcourse proportionately. It is most unfortunate that the Pay Commission headed by a retired Supreme Court Justice as Chairman, has considered our demand and categorically stated that Gramin Dak Sevaks are holders of Civil Posts but outside the regular civil service and hence can not be treated at par with other civilian employees. After this observation of the Seventh CPC even if the GDS are included in the 7th CPC they are not going to get a fair deal. This has compelled us to modify the demand placed by us before the Govt in the charter of demands.
NFPE, from the very beginning has opposed the appointment of an Officer Committee for GDS and NFPE & AIPEU GDS (NFPE) has tried their best to prevent appointment of an Officer Committee and compelled the department to make effort for inclusion of GDS under 7th CPC itself. But now NDA Govt rejected our demand and has unilaterally appointed GDS Committee with a retired Postal Board Member as Chairman and cheated three lakh GDS employees. From our past experiences we know that the retired officers of the Postal Department will never do justice to the Gramin Dak Sevaks.
In view of the fact that 7th CPC has rejected our demand for Civil Servant status and also the Govt has unilaterally imposed the officer committee on GDS, the Federal Secretariat felt that it is not appropriate to go for an immediate strike with the demands raised by us in the charter of demands, i.e., inclusion of GDS under 7th CPC. Now GDS can get justice only if NDA Govt take a policy decision to regularize the services of GDS treating them as Civil Servants. Federal Secretariat is fully aware that we can not expect such a decision without the change in the policy of the Government towards GDS. To make a change in the policy decision of the Govt., a bigger mobilization and strike of all postal employees including GDS with the active support and solidarity of other central Govt employees under the banner of Confederation of Central Govt Employees and workers and also the JCM National Council Staffside organizations is required.
The Federal Secretariat decided to explore all possibilities and wider consultations for such a united struggle. The Federal Secretariat felt that to pave way for wider consultations, the independent strike call of NFPE & AIPEU GDS (NFPE) need to be deferred and all likeminded organizations are to be brought under a common platform. Accordingly Federal Secretariat unanimously decided to defer the proposed two days strike scheduled to be held on 1st & 2ndDecember 2015.
The Secretary General and all General Secretaries of NFPE shall sit on two days hunger fast in front of Dak Bhawan, New Delhi on 1st & 2nd December 2015 expressing our strong protest to the Govt and also demanding regularization of Gramin Dak Sevaks by granting them civil servant status with all consequential benefits of regular employees.
The Federal Secretariat, while saluting the grass root level workers for their intensive campaign and preparation for the strike, calls upon them to organize one day hunger fast infront of all CPMG / PMG and Divisional Offices throughout the country on 11th December 2015 to ventilate our anger, resentment and strong protest against the callous and inhuman attitude of the NDA Govt towards three lakh Gramin Dak Sevaks who are the backbone of the Postal Department catering to the needs of the rural population of this country in postal sector.
Federal Executive of NFPE will meet shortly to review the situation and shall decide future course of action.
SECRETARY GENERAL
Saturday, November 21, 2015
7th PAY COMMISSION REPORT
TOTALLY DISAPPOINTING
POSTAL EMPLOYEES – ALL DEMANDS REGARDING ENHANCED WAGES AND SERVICE CONDITIONS REJECTED
HOLD PROTEST DEMONSTRATIONS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY
1. Commission is of the view that there is no justification of upgrading the pay of
(a) Postal Assistants/Sorting Assistants
(b) Postal Assistant (SBCO)
(c) Postal Assistant (CO)
(d) Postman cadre & Mailguard.
(e) PO & RMS accountants
(f) Despatch Rider (MMS)
(g) Multi-Tasking Staff (MTS) including Foreign Post
(h) Binders
(i) System Administrators (No separate cadre or pay)
(j) Marketing Executives (no separate cadre or Pay)
(k) Artisans
(l) Technical Supervisors (MMS) (in) Drivers
2. Gramin Dak Sevaks cannot be treated as Civil servants at par with Regular employees. As they are only holder of civil posts and not civilian employees, no recommendations with regard to GDS.
3. Recommended immediate merger of 33 Postal dispensaries in 10 Postal Circles with CGHS.
4. ADDITIONAL POST ALLOWANCE FOR POSTMAN
10% of Basic Pay if one shares the another Postmen duty. If it is shared by two Postmen, it will be 5% for both.
5. HOLIDAY MONETARY COMPENSATION
Supervisor, PA, Sorting Postman – Rs. 200/- per holiday.
MTS – Rs. 150/- per holiday
6. ADDITIONAL WORK ALLOWANCE
2% of the Basic Pay per month
10% of the Basic pay if period exceeds 45 days.
7. IP/ASP/SP SCALE UPGRADED
Commission has noted that the VI CPC had placed Inspector (Posts) at par with Inspector of CBDT/CBED. Subsequently the Inspector of CBDT/CBE were elevated to GP 4600. The Commission has further noted that the Inspector of Posts and Inspector of CBDT/CBED are recruited through the same combined graduate level examination. Therefore the commission recommended 4600 GP for IP and 4800 GP and 5400 GP for SPOs.
(R. N. Parashar)
Secretary General
NFPE
RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC (CONTINUED -- 3rd PART)
OBSERVE 'BLACK DAY' ON 27 NOVEMBER 2015 AGAINST THE RETROGRADE RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC ---- CALL OF JCM STAFF SIDE (NATIONAL COUNCIL)
Comrades, in two earlier posts in this blog we have given briefs of pay/pension related issues and cadre related recommendations and observations. Already our Federation, Confederation and NCJCM have reacted strongly against this worst-ever pay commission.
Please jump into action for massive gathering on 27.11.15 to hold BLACK DAY and wear black badge (prepare in your division/unit). For explaining and campaigning among all postal employees irrespective of membership, we now present some talking points, which will throw some light on the reality.
TALKING POINTS
1. The primary concern of this Pay Commission was to reduce financial pressure on Central Govt. In para 2.1.16 and 2.1.19 of the report, the 7thCPC proudly announced how their recommendation might exert pressure on Central Govt even less than 6th CPC. They took pride in noting that while the PAP-GDP ratio of 6th CPC was 0.77, that of 7th CPC recommendation is 0.65. [Full form of PAP=Pay-Allowance-Pension, GDP=Gross Domestic Product].
2. US Federal Govt seemed to be an ideal for the 7th CPC. In a comparison in para 3.28 & 3.33, the CPC has cited that in 2012, the number of non-postal civilian worker under US Fed. Govt. was 21.30 lakh, while in India in 2014 it was 17.96 lakh. Thus, Govt employee per lakh population in USA & India is 668 & 139 respectively (USA is 2.8 times larger in size than India, but only one-fourth population of India). Our 7th CPC identified this disparity, but did not recommend our Central Govt to open appointment for unemployed youth in full throttle. Even the 6th CPC was bold and advised the then Govt to appoint youngsters in place of aging bureaucracy (6th CPC report para 6.3.10).
3. The 7th CPC has found that entry level pays of lowest level Govt employee and highest level employee (Secretary to the Govt of Indua) 'is not appropriate' (para 5.1.40, 5.1.41). They seemed to be satisfied that their recommendation would make this appropriate by making the Compression Ratio 1: 3.12.
But in reality, they have hidden the fact that what this CPC has recommended, would make the ratio between minimum and maximum pay 1: 13.8 (lowest pay Rs.18000/-, highest pay Rs.2,25000/- for Secretary level officers and Rs.2,50,000/- for Cabinet Secretary).
4. Public is misled by statements of increase of 23.5% increase, while the increase actually is 14.29%, which is approximately equal to two D.As only.
5. Instead of removing anomalies of MACP, 7th CPC has recommended to make MACP harder. Benchmark recommended is 'very good' from existing 'good'. Introduction of examination or mandatory training is advised.
6. We are not even entitled to annual increment (as low as 3%) smoothly. After 20 years of service,'non-performers' will be identified. They will get no increment and may quit the job on VRS scheme. The administration will be at their free-will to identify such employees to satisfy their grudge. And we know our administration and their sense of rationality.
7. Many advances are recommended to be abolished. This not only covers Festival Advance or Family Planning Allowance, please note carefully, LTC Advance, Transfer TA Advance, TA (for tour or training) Advance will also be abolished, only final bill will be accepted for sanctioning for these items.
8. The recommended minimum pay is Rs.18000/-with no D.A. from 01.01.2016. Presently it is Rs.7000+D.A.Rs.8750/- (considering 125% D.A. from January 2016)=Rs.15750/-. So, the increase is only Rs.2250/-. Moreover, the deduction for Group Insurance (CGEGIS) has been proposed to be Rs.1500/-, New Pension Scheme deduction will be Rs.1800/- (10% of pay) or GPF deduction 6%. So, the actual increase for lowest level employees is very very low.
9. The Child Care Leave has been proposed to be allowed with 80% salary for the 2nd 365 days term. While any civilised society should feel proud in extending such benefits to mothers for nurturing our future citizens ideally, the 7th CPC curtailed the benefit and commented in para 9.2.9 that it is a'liberal measure unmatched anywhere else' as if it is a charity without justification. The mindset behind this does not need clarification.
10.Upgradation of pay has been recommended to many officers in various departments/Ministries including our Inspector (Posts) cadre. But from the clerical level downwards, consideration was withdrawn. In case of our department, no benefit has been extended cadres below IPO. Even no justification/argument is noted by the 7th CPC behind such rejection.
11. The 7th CPC has admitted the fact that over the period of 10 years house rent increases. So, in order to enable Govt employees support house rent from their salary, it should be increased. But instead of increasing the rate of our HRA straightway, the CPC has taken few steps back and reduced the slab to 8, 16 & 24 %. Naturally, even though it increases when DA reaches 50% & 100%, the actual increase remains low as we start lower.
12. The offensive comments of the 7th CPC on the GDS cadre has already been given in our earlier post. While denying any benefit to them, the CPC has tried to pave way to keep GDS distant from our departmental cadres even more by proposing to separate wage head.
We shall publish a brief of observation/recommendation the 7th CPC has made on Contractual Employment in Central Govt Department/Ministries.
Comrades, please carry on organising and uniting our employees to protest such derogatory recommendations. Only movement of extreme intensity can halt the Govt from implementing them. Prepare for the battle.
9. The Child Care Leave has been proposed to be allowed with 80% salary for the 2nd 365 days term. While any civilised society should feel proud in extending such benefits to mothers for nurturing our future citizens ideally, the 7th CPC curtailed the benefit and commented in para 9.2.9 that it is a'liberal measure unmatched anywhere else' as if it is a charity without justification. The mindset behind this does not need clarification.
10.Upgradation of pay has been recommended to many officers in various departments/Ministries including our Inspector (Posts) cadre. But from the clerical level downwards, consideration was withdrawn. In case of our department, no benefit has been extended cadres below IPO. Even no justification/argument is noted by the 7th CPC behind such rejection.
11. The 7th CPC has admitted the fact that over the period of 10 years house rent increases. So, in order to enable Govt employees support house rent from their salary, it should be increased. But instead of increasing the rate of our HRA straightway, the CPC has taken few steps back and reduced the slab to 8, 16 & 24 %. Naturally, even though it increases when DA reaches 50% & 100%, the actual increase remains low as we start lower.
12. The offensive comments of the 7th CPC on the GDS cadre has already been given in our earlier post. While denying any benefit to them, the CPC has tried to pave way to keep GDS distant from our departmental cadres even more by proposing to separate wage head.
We shall publish a brief of observation/recommendation the 7th CPC has made on Contractual Employment in Central Govt Department/Ministries.
Comrades, please carry on organising and uniting our employees to protest such derogatory recommendations. Only movement of extreme intensity can halt the Govt from implementing them. Prepare for the battle.
Friday, November 20, 2015
RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC (CONTINUED)
In continuation with our earlier post in this blog on salary and pension-related items, we are now presenting the observation and recommendations of the CPC on different cadres of our department. Comrades may please note the level of extreme apathy with which the case of Gramin Dak Sevaks are rejected and arguments are concocted.
Tomorrow we shall publish some interesting features of the 7th CPC report and some analysis.
Postmasters Cadre :
· No clear recommendation for appearing in IP exam. Recommended to allow to appear for 25% posts of Sr PM, along with remaining 75% by IPs.
Inspector Posts Cadre :
· Recommended one step higher pay band each for IP 4200 to 4600, ASPO 4600 to 4800, SPOs 4800 to 5400.
PA Cadre :
· Demand was to elevate entry level qualification to graduation and grade pay to 4200. Turned down saying ‘no justification’. No explanation or argument behind the decision.
PA(SBCO) :
· Demand was GP 4200 as they are more identical with audit staff, not Postal Assistants. It is turned down. No cash handling allowance is considered.
Postman Cadre :
· Demand of initial GP 2000 to 2800 turned down.
PO-RMS Accountant Cadre :
· Demand was for new cadre. No observation recorded as it is related to cadre restructuring which is beyond jurisdiction of this CPC. Replacement of Pay Level is suggested for unorganized accountants in various Central Govt Departments.
System Administrators and Marketing Executives :
· Demand of separate cadre has been turned down on the argument that 5th & 6th CPC did not see any reason to form separate cadre and likewise, this CPC also does not see any justification for separate cadre for them.
Postal Dispensaries :
· This CPC agrees with recommendation of 6th CPC and suggests immediate merger of remaining 33 Postal Dispensaries in 10 Postal Circles with CGHS and include all Postal employees and pensioners under the coverage of CGHS.
Gramin Dak Sevaks :
· The 7th CPC is self-contradictory in defining the position of GDS. In para 3.10 and 3.11, the 7th CPC has broadly agreed with 3rd CPC and defined Central Govt employees are ‘all persons in the civil services of the Central Govt or holding Civil Posts under that Govt and paid salaries out of consolidated fund of India’.
As per this definition, GDS officials also qualify to be Central Govt employee. But possibly, the 7th CPC has constraint not to deny the stand of Central Govt in rejecting claim of GDS officials to include under this CPC. So, in para 11.8.50, the CPC has quoted Supreme Court’s order that GD Sevaks are holder of ‘Civil Posts’ but not Civilian Posts. On this argument the CPC has denied any comment on them. Thus, in defining status of GDS employees, this CPC has contradicted itself in these paras.
· The effort of deprivation does not end here. In para 3.70, the Commission has recommended that as GD Sevaks are not reckoned as Central Govt personnel, their pay & allowances should not be given from head ‘Salaries’ and a distinct separate head should be created by Department of Posts’ budget and accounts. This is a straightway effort to push the demand of GDS status away further and set the Govt free from liability.
RECOMMENDATIONS OF 7th CPC : SALIENT POINTS RELATED TO PAY & ALLOWANCES, ADVANCE, PENSION
Most significant recommendations on the above items are given below. There will be some more points on different cadre related issued and other items which will follow shortly.
PAY
Ø The uniform Fitment formula is 2.57. Effect from 01.01.2016.
Ø Annual increment remains 3%.
Ø To emphasize on the culture of performance, the Commission has recommended that all the non-performers in the system should be phased out after 20 years. The Commission has recommended that Performance Related Pay should be introduced in the government and that all Bonus payments should necessarily be linked with productivity.
Ø The Commission has reached the minimum pay as Rs.18000/- from 01.01.2016 after some calculations having 15thILC norms at its core (JCM staff side demanded Rs.26000/-). It is 2.57 times of the minimum wage (Rs.7000/-) fixed by the Govt on 6th CPC’s recomm. Hence all other levels are multiplied by 2.57.
Ø Running Pay Band with Grade Pay has been proposed to be substituted by Pay Matrix with Pay Level (1 to 18).
Ø Demand of increasing frequency of MACP is turned down and it will continue to take place after 10/20/30 years of service. But benchmark is proposed to be made ‘very good’ from present ‘good’. More stringent criteria or passing deptl examination or mandatory training before granting MACP is proposed for consideration of Govt.
Ø Withholding annual increment for non-performers after 20 years of service is proposed, but not as a punishment, as an ‘efficiency bar’. Otherwise they may quit service with terms and conditions of VRS.
Ø The Commission, after its interaction with the authorities of Australia and New Zealand feels that India should also have a permanent Remuneration Authority that should review the pay structure in future.
Allowances
Out of 196 allowances, 52 proposed to be abolished. Another 36 is subsumed in some new proposed allowances.
Ø Cash Handling Allowance is proposed to be abolished.
Ø Cycle Allowance, Funeral Allowance abolished.
Ø D.A. status quo.
Ø Hard Area Allowance, retained and rationalized.
Ø HRA, LTC, mobile phone, newspaper retained and rationalized.
Ø OTA abolished, OSA not included in report.
Ø SB Allowance abolished.
Ø Sunderban Allowance --- Abolished as a separate allowance. Subsumed in Tough Location Allowance-III. To be paid as per Cell R3H3 of the newly proposed Risk and Hardship Matrix.
Ø Transfer TA, Transport Allowance retained, rationalized.
Ø Treasury Allowance abolished.
Ø Uniform & Washing Allowance abolished as separate allowance, Subsumed in new Dress Allowance (Rs.5000/- per year to be credited in July).
Ø FPA abolished.
HRA
· Recommended to be revised to 24, 16, 8 % now respectively for X, Y and Z class cities. After DA reaches 50% it will become 27, 18, 9%. After DA reaches 100% it will become 30, 20, 10%.
CEA :
· CEA is proposed Rs.2250/- p.m. When DA increases by 50%, it will increase by 25%.
· Hostel subsidy Rs.6750/- p.m. (ceiling). When DA increases by 50%, it will increase by 25%.
· Reimbursement once in a year after completion of financial year.
ADVANCE
· All interest-free advances are proposed to be abolished. This covers Cycle Adv, Festival Adv, Transfer TA Adv, LTC Adv, TA Adv, Advance of Medical Treatment etc.
· Car/Scooter Adv abolished.
· Computer Adv--- 50000/- or lower whichever is least maximum for 5 times in service life.
· HBA --- 34 times of basic pay / Rs.25 lakh / Actual price whichever is less.
LEAVE :
· CL same.
· CCL with 100% salary for 1st 365 days, 80% of salary for next 365 days.
· CCL for single male parent is recommended.
· Commuted leave same.
· EL – no change for us.
· EOL, HPL, LND, Maternity, Paternity, Study Leave, Gazetted, Restricted Holiday same.
· Spl CL --- not categorical, but restriction is suggested on purpose and number of days.
CGEGIS :
· Monthly deduction and insurance amount increased.
· Savings Fund to Insurance Fund ratio is recommended to make 75:25 from present 70:30.
GPF :
· Status quo.
CGHS / Health Benefits to Employees / Pensioners
· Introduction of new Health Insurance Scheme has been strongly recommended. Till then, for pensioners beyond CGHS area, it is suggested that CGHS should empanel all hospitals empanelled under CS(MA) Rules.
· Remaining 33 Postal Dispensaries are proposed to be merged with CGHS.
· Other Health Care Schemes in various Central Govt Dept be merged in one single new scheme.
Persons with disabilities :
· All existing facilities retained, some are made better.
· Suitable building architecture for easy access is suggested.
· Setting up a Welfare Committee in each Ministry is recommended.
Pension & Retirement Benefits :
· No increase in rate of pension/family pension.
· Ceiling of gratuity be made Rs.20 lakh from existing Rs.10 lakh. It will increase by 25% whenever DA rises by 50%. In case of death gratuity, new slab is introduced.
· No increase in Fixed Medical Allowance.
Training :
· The Commission has noted that training is a ‘low priority area’ suffering from lack of fund. Recommended 2.5% of salary budget for training through creating separate budget head.
Source : WB Circle Union
Thursday, November 19, 2015
Seventh Pay Commission to submit report on November 19 (Today 19.30 Hrs.)
“Once every ten years, the salaries and perks of Central Government employees are completely revised. The previous revision was implemented on 01.01.2006. The new set of salaries and benefits will come into effect from 01.01.2016 onwards.”
The 7th Pay Commission, under the chairmanship of Justice A.K.Mathur, will submit its 900-page report to the centre tomorrow at 19.30 Hrs.
A review of the 7th Central Pay Commission :-
25.09.2013 – P. Chidambaram, the then Minister of Finance, made headlines when he announced the proposal to constitute the 7th Pay Commission.
04.02.2014 – The then Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh gave approval for constituting the 7th Pay Commission. Under the chairmanship of Justice A.K.Mathur, a four-member Pay Commission committee was formed (1. Justice Ashok Kumar Mathur, Chairman; 2. Vivek Rae, Member; 3. Dr. Rathin Roy, Member; and 4. Mrs. Meena Agarwal, Secretary).
28.02.2014 – The Terms of Reference were issued to the Pay Commission, with the approval of the cabinet.
The Pay Commission was given 18 months time to complete its work. This time around, the commission managed to effectively complete its task, almost on time.
The Pay Commission visited various places in the country to personally inspect the work conditions and gather feedback from the workers associations and representatives.
Opinions were invited from all, and not just the NC JCM Staff Side, Confederations and major employees unions and associations.
The Pay Commission hosted its own website where it regularly updated its progress.
In a section called “Questionnaire,” the commission asked questions to the visitors and gathered online feedback from them.
24.06.2014 – the NC JCM Staff Side presented a Memorandum to the Pay Commission, containing the suggestions and proposed pay structure of nearly 45 lakh employees and also such demands for 50 lakh pensioners.
25.06.2015 – The Pay Commission made an important announcement on its website. It said that task on the report will end very soon and it will be submitted to the government on time.
The report, which was supposed to be submitted in August, was delayed when the Pay Commission, on 27.08.2015, asked for an extension of four months to complete its report.
The OROP protests and Bihar polls are believed to be the reasons for submitting the report much ahead of December. Initially, the Pay Commission was expected to submit its report on November 20 or 23. But, PTI announced yesterday that the report will be submitted on November 19.
And Today the official website of 7th CPC also published the date and time of submission of its report to the Central Government.
Experts and various sources expect 15 to 20 percent hike in the salaries. But, none has explained the basis on which the numbers were arrived at.
The employees are not just curious about the salary hikes. They are interested in other aspects, including Promotions, Retirement Age, DA merger, Increment, Grade Pay, HRA, Bonus, LTC, and the removal of certain pay anomalies of the 6th Pay Commission are some of the expectations.
By evening tomorrow, we will have most of the answers. Let’s all wait!
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