35th  BIENNIAL  CIRCLE  CONFERENCE  CONCLUDES  WITH  A  FIRM  RESOLVE

                                                                                       

The Martyr Column at Rittwik Sadan, Kalyani, venue of Open Session                                                                             

During the Open Session at Rittwik Sadan.

Suchetana, cultural team of Nadia South division performs.

    Vidyasagar Mancha, venue of Group-C conference.                                                                           

             

 Com. Shib Sankar Roy speaks to the delagation at subject session          







           
             The Circle Conference has come out with a grand success at Kalyani. Sincere but humble and disciplined arrangements made by the Reception Committee prepared the backdrop of the conference, and the determination of our secretaries and other delegates gave it the shape. Everywhere our organisers and activists are facing tremendous hostility and threat by political goons. But remarkably, that could not deter our comrades. The resolve was firm, and it was vouched clearly in the deliberations in our conference.

     The conference was inaugurated by Com. Tapan Sen, M.P. and General Secretary, CITU. Com. Pijush Roy, General Secretary, CGCC, West Bengal, Prof. Dr. Alok Bandopadhyay, Vice-Chancellor, Kalyani University, Sri Meghlal Seikh, Sabhadhipati, Nadia Jela Parishad, Sri A.K.Maity, SSPOs, North Kolkata Divn & Secretary, Officers' Association, West Bengal and many other prominent personalities of mass movement were present and shared their experiences and thoughts with the huge delegation in the open session on 16.09.2011 at Rittwik Sadan, Kalyani. 

         Our Chief Postmaster General was unable to attend due to his sudden illness, but through his message, he provided us the honour of choosing our platform to announce his decision to appoint all selected P.A. candidates but three, of 2005-08 batch, who won it at Hon'ble High Court few weeks back. Many of them were present in the session, they had a huge relief and the conference wished all of such candidates a luck of best prospect. 

         In the subject session at Vidyasagar Mancha (Com. M.K.Pandhe Nagar, Com. Jyotiprasad Chatterjee Mancha), Secretaries of 34 divisions/units have deliberated. 20 non-secretary delegates have also appropriately utilised the platform to deliver their thoughts, including 7 women delegates. It was an effort by the decision of the previous Circle Working Committee to focus on new speakers and leadership. Com. K.V.Sridharan, General Secretary (CHQ), Com. R.L.Bhattacharya, veteran leader and our revered teacher, Com. Shibsankar Roy, Jt. Convener, 12th July Committee and our beloved leader and teacher, Com. Partha Sarathi Das, our former Circle President and inimitable leader, were felicitated and laid down the roadmap to move ahead and inspired us. Com. Sanjay Chakraborty, Circle Secretary, R-IV, Com. Samir Bardhan, Circle Secretary, R-III, Com. Pranab Bhattacharjee, General Secretary, Administrative Union also visited the session and spoke to the delegates. Sri Sanjeev Ranjan, DPS (HQ), could make it in his busy schedule to be present on the third day and lay the true picture of the department and its toiling staffs. We are thankful to him.

                The conference has recorded a remarkable development in all divisions who have brought sets of young comrades under limelight. They are mostly below or around 30, their enthusiasm is sky-high, and did not amend even in front of threats to leave the banner of NFPE. We salute their spirit and also the secretaries, who are true carriers of the idealism and tradition of Babu Tarapada and Com. K.G.Bose.

        The conference has witnessed some rare moments with Com. Ashok Mondal, a devoted and dedicated leader of Postal movement and the Working President, Reception Committee. who is on the verge of retirement; with Com. Shib Sankar Roy, he has released the second volume of his book on the history of postal movement, 'Purano Sei Diner Katha' and gifted 100 copies for the emerging forces in the Reception Committee; with Com. Partha Sarathi Das, who would be always cited as an instance of sacrifice for the interest of postal movement all through his life. The Postal employees of past, present and future generations would always be grateful to the contributions of these great leaders.

             The new Circle Working Committee, elected unanimously, are as follows:

         President                :Com. Tapan Dasgupta (947324-55291).
        Vice-President        : Com. Debajyoti Gupta (98313-20498).
                                                   Com. Pranab Bhattacharjee(94340-14850)
                                         Com. Asim Deb (98303-12450)
       Circle Secretary      : Com. Janardan Majumder (94334-59963)
     Asst Circle Secretary: Com. Gouranga Deb Maity (94346-24100)
                                         Com. Somnath Goswamy (94331-67460)
                                                    Com. Nanda Sen (94340-73535)
                                                   Com. Bijan Chakraborty (98312-09684)
                                         Com. Asit Bangabas (94745-03392)
    Finance Secretary     :  Com. Manoj Shaw (94337-76200)
Asst Finance Secretary  :  Com. Anwesha Biswas (94345-06338)
   Organising Secretary  : Com. Samir Chakraborty (97326-88064)
                                        Com. Uttam Pal (94330-11925)
                                        Com. Sachchidananda Biswas (94772-32957)

                 The new committee seeks support and participation of all our members in the coming days to advance the history of glorious postal movement in West Bengal and India.

   

DEMONSTRATION  AT  CIRCLE  OFFICE & DIVISIONS  DEMANDING  WAGE  REVISION & HALT OF ATTACKS  ON  PART-TIME & CONTINGENT-PAID  WORKERS 

 Dear comrades,

                                   The Circle Unions have convened to demonstrate tomorrow at Circle Office against another series of attacks unleashed on the Part-time & Contingent-paid workers in our Circle. When the staff-side is continuously struggling to achieve the wage revision and other service benefit for these employees all over the country, the department is trying to reduce the number of such workers on many pleas. Recently, another order has been issued to put the Part-time Chowkidars out of job. 

                                   Standing on this backdrop, the circle unions are requesting all divisions in and around Kolkata to assemble at circle office demonstration, other divisions are to hold demonstration at their divisions and send an adopted resolution in the following format.

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Resolution Dated 02.09.2011.

              This demonstration of NFPE Group of unions, ___________________ division expresses its deep concern and anguish over the continuous deprivation and attacks on the Part-time and contingent-paid workers of our department. Instead of revising their wage justifiably after implementation of salary revision of all other sections of employees, the department is gradually taking the course to put them out of job on different pleas. This demonstration sternly protests the recent order to practically abolish the jobs of part-time chowkidars, although the reality shows increased need of their presence in more offices due to increased accumulation of cash and weak system of cash removal. This order is condemned detrimental to the interest of all sections of staffs.

                      This demonstration further resolves to send copies of this resolution to appropriate administrative authorities with the demand for immediate withdrawal of all such orders devised for oppressing the part-time & contingent-paid workers or to launch vehement trade union movement circle-wide.

                                                                 
                                                                     (To be signed by the President of to the demonstration)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

                    

OBSERVE   DEMONSTRATION  TOMORROW  AGAINST  ORDER  OF  DISENGAGEMENT  OF  PART-TIME  CHOWKIDARS

Dear comrades,

                              You have already learnt that the Chief Postmaster General, West Bengal Circle, has issued an order to all divisions to disengage all part-time chowkidars of the circle. In recent years, the organisation is continuously struggling for the due benefits and status of the part-time contingent-paid workers. We apprehended that the hidden intention of the department is to throw them out of job by arising different arguments. The order of the Circle Head has established the anti-worker attitude of the department and revealed the mentality of the Central Govt. to the working class.

                             The Circle Unions have called upon all divisional leadership to hold a demonstration tomorrow, 16.08.2011, and send a resolution to the Chief PMG, W.B.Circle, in the following text.

RESOLUTION  DATED  16.08.2011.

             

    Todays demonstration of NFPE Group of Unions, ____________________ division is deeply concerned about the recent order of the Chief Postmaster General, West Bengal Circle, to disengage the Part-time Chowkidars from work in our circle.

               The demonstration resolves to demand to the Circle Administration to repeal the order immediately to avoid serious staff resentment and trade union movements circle wide.

                                                  _____________________________

                                                  (sig. of the President of the meeting) 

     

MATTERS  TAKEN UP WITH THE C.O.

•     The Postmaster cadre Grade-I memo has been issued from Circle Office for the 49 new candidates who have qualified this year. Circle Union has been consistently pursuing the postings since the result was published. The officials have mostly been posted at their convenient places. We thank the Circle authorities for the positive consideration.
• On 12.7.11, a detailed discussion has been held with Sri Sanjeev Ranjan, DPS(HQ), on issuance of LSG memo. More than 350 PAs will be promoted to LSG. DPCs will be arranged shortly. Divl Secretaries are requested to please pursue.
• The matter of In-House Training for newly recruited PAs --- 2 each in Malda & Coochbehar Divisions and 1 in DInajpur Divn --- has also been discussed. Divl Supdts are to take the main initiatives, C.O. / R.O. will assist with providing place for training and trainer. Divl secretaries of these divisions are requested to follow up and intimate circle union the status.
• Some Rule-38 cases of officials having urgent family compulsions and mutual applications have been pursued.
•  With another meeting with the PMG(South Bengal) Com. Janardan Majumder, Com. Nirmal Dey & Com. Bijoy Gopal Sur have requested to resolve ongoing problems in South Hooghly Divn, mainly at Tarakeswar.
• Irregular activities of the Divl Supdt, Tamluk, have also been highlighted. It has been decided that another meeting will be held shortly in presence of the divl secretaries to solve the problems.
• On 13.7.11, a delegation of circle union comprising of Com. Janardan Majumder & Com. Asim Deb met the PMG(Kol. Rgn). Com. Abhijit Kundu & Com. Asit Das from Barasat Divn were also present to discuss numerous irregularities in recent PA tenure transfer memo of Barasat divn. The Divl Supdt has posted female employees to offices at the distance of 60-70 kms without any consideration. He has selected only members of NFPE to vindicate in this fashion. He even did not care to bother to the Dte. guideline of involving less transfer TA etc although nearby offices had the vacancies.Circle Union has handed over a letter to the PMG having the detail requesting for modification.She has assured to look into the matter.
• Recently, the Supdt, Birbhum Divn, has unilaterally removed Sri Jayanta Dey from the work of System Assistant, Santiniketan. The matter has been taken up with the C.O. This will again be discussed with the DPS(KR).

                      Divisional secretaries are requested to please intimate the circle union the development of these issues from time to time at their ends.  

AS  THE  INDEFINITE  STRIKE  HAS  BEEN  DEFERRED ......

      We have informed our divisional secretaries last night that the indefinite strike from 5th July has been deferred by the JCA after day-long discussion yesterday at the Directorate.

      NFPE has blogged in its website, so did the Gr-C CHQ, the gist of the discussion and the positive settlement reached between the Postal JCA & the Administration. Few orders have also been given. All points are not conclusive, but the unilateral attitude of the Directorate does not prevail. 

     We would like to make this point noted that the blog published by the staff-side is our understanding on the discussion. We have to cautiously wait for the Department's version to be notified and remain ready to react promptly over that if required.  

        Finally, the Circle Unions salute all postal employees of our circle for the sincere & diligent preparation for making the strike successful despite political attacks, threats, intervention on strike campaigns and reluctance by the leaderships of other service unions ignoring nationwide staff-unity.  
 

SERVE  STRIKE  INTIMATION  ON  14th

PROTEST  DETRIMENTAL  RECOMMENDATIONS  OF  GOPINATH  COMMITTEE  

ON  

SMALL  SAVINGS

Comrades,

                 As per the call of the Postal JCA comprising of NFPE, FNPO, AIPEDEU & NUGDS, we are preparing to launch indefinite strike from 5th July 2011. On 14th this month, strike notice will be served. We shall also demonstrate at all divisions and serve strike intimation to respective divisional heads.

                   The text of the letter to be submitted to the divisional heads is given below.

   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To,

   The SSPOs / SPOs

   ------------------- Division.

       Sub: Indefinite postal strike from 5th July  -----  intimation thereof.

Dear Sir,

              This is for your information that at the call of Postal JCA (comprising of NFPE, FNPO & GDS unions) all cross-sections of postal employees are going to an indefinite strike on & from 5th July 2011 on 25-point charter of demands.

                   So, all staffs of this division will act as per the call of Postal JCA on & from 05.07.11. Strike notice alongwith charter of demands have been served by the Postal JCA before the Secretary, Dept of Posts, New Delhi, a copy of which is attached herewith.

                      Thanking you,

                                                            Yours faithfully,

   Enclo: As above.

                                       ______________       _______________        ______________

                                        Secretary, P-ED    Secretary, P.man & MSE    Secretary. Gr-C

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

  Comrades are requested to download & print the copies of strike notice & CoD from the following links :

Strike Notice: https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bzr_fYaknLLzOTJlYzQ0MDktOTgwZi00M2ExLTg0NGMtNGU4YmQ5YzM0OWVk&hl=en_US&authkey=CKOdjIYJ&pli=1

Charter of Demands:https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0Bzr_fYaknLLzMjEyYTk3MTQtMmY1Ny00MWI2LWI5MDQtNTA1YjkwYzYwM2Jm&hl=en_US&authkey=CPCXtfoL&pli=1

                         Please incorporate the aspect of the report submitted on 7th June 2011 by the committee on National Small Savings Schemes headed by Smt. Shyamala Gopinath, Dy. Governor, RBI. 

                       The committee has recommended the Govt to abolish Kishan Vikas Patra on the plea that 'small savings' are targeted for investments of 'small' scales, not for lump investments like KVP. Also they have advised to again stop the 5% bonus on maturity of MIS and make it 5 years tenor instead of 6 years. These two recommendations, if accepted by the Finance Ministry, will be having disastrous effect on the work of Post Offices as a huge number of customers will move away. It is also a great threat to the middle class & pensioners as they will loose a good amount of interest from the secured window of post offices.

                             Though there are recommendations of raising interests slightly in POSB, RD, Time Deposits (obviously the latter is still not at par with the FDs in banks) and raising the ceiling of annual deposit of PPF, the blow that would hit our establishment through the recommendations narrated in the foregoing para, could not be healed.

                           So, we do not have any option but to protest vehemently against such conspiracy against the working class. We also have an imperative duty to make people aware of this during our strike campaign. 

                   Finally, the Circle Union requests all the organisers to prepare well before campaigning on the Charter of Demands. NFPE has blogged exhaustively on the activities of Mckinsey and other issues. The moment needs all loopholes to be eradicated, this fight is going to be a tough one.   

         

DEMONSTRATION  TOMORROW  AGAINST  THE  BRUTAL  ATTACK  ON  CENTRAL  GOVT  UNION  LEADERS  &  MEMBERS : SAVINGRAM  TO  PRIME  MINISTER  &  CHIEF  MINISTER

Com. Swaraj Kar, General Secretary, CPWD Workers' Union

Com. Tapas  Das

   

 During the incident

Comrades, 

          You are already aware that on 3rd June, Central Govt Employees' Coordination Committee convened a protest meeting at Nizam Palace, Kolkata, against the forceful occupation of the CPWD union's office room by the Trinamool Congress sheltered union.

           During the protest meeting, the TMC activists & miscreants with the connivance of their union suddenly attacked the assembled comrades including postal of Kolkata Divisions, with sticks & rods without any provocation. Many of the leaders & comrades were serious injured & bleeding profusely. Com. Pijush Roy, General Secretary, CGCC, was innjured.Com. Swaraj Kar, General Secretary, CPWD Workers' Union, Com. Tapas Das, Com. Goutam Pramanik, Com. Sunil Roy and many others were seen bleeding. They all were rushed to hospital hastily. Presently they are in stable condition and have been discharged.

              Police, no wonder, were present there, but did not take any action during the brutal attack. Later, local O.C. (Bhabanipore P.S.) appeared & arrested 4 TMC miscreants. But it is obvious that to please the present administration, they did not differentiate between the attackers & the attacked, and arrested 2 CPWD employees also.

               The NFPE Group of unions, West Bengal Circle, do not have adequate language to condemn the brutal attack and the violation of democratic right to protest, which the presently ruling political parties and their followers intend to reign with. We, also with the CGCC, convene a demonstration tomorrow at all Central Govt Department Branch/ Divisional Headquarters, from which a savingram has to be adopted and sent to the Prime Minister, India and the Chief Minister, West Bengal.

                                    The text of the savingram is given below :

==  Central Govt employees of West Bengal including BSNL express their serious concern over brutal attack on union functionaries of CPWD XXX  Protest forceful capturing of union office XXX Condemn the unprovoked attack causing serious injury to the General Secretary of CGCC and others including pensioners on 3^rd June at Nizam Palace Kolktata XXX Deplore on inaction of authorities of law & order equating the attackers & the attacked XXX  Urge upon your immediate intervention  ==

    ALL  COMRADES  ARE  REQUESTED  TO  EMPLOY THEIR MAXIMUM EFFORT TO MOBILISE MEMBERS  IN THIS PROGRAM & ITS PROPAGANDA TO  EXPOSE  THE  ATTACKERS  ACTUAL   AGENDA.

    

McKINSEY  REPRESENTATIVES  ARE  VISITING  SELECTED  OFFICES  WITH THEIR  AGENDA  :  

OUR  STAND 

 Dear Comrades,

                                                Representatives of the American multinational company Mckinsey, engaged to restructure our department, on their course to visit important offices in India, are presently touring different offices in West Bengal Circle. 

             Grievances already fumed in many Circles during their visit due to their authoritative attitude and giving dictates to staffs. Brave comrades of Chennai GPO protested them for a lesson. But the indulgence of the Directorate is encouraging them.

             
            They are presently visiting offices like Park Street H.O. (Central Kolkata), Ghughudanga S.O. (North Kolkata) etc. At Park Street H.O., shortly after their preliminary moments, they started behaving like authorities having full legitimacy of whatever they liked. For very proper reason, our comrades protested and they had to leave hurriedly amidst slogan shouting and demonstration. FNPO also joined us there.

             Soon, Circle Union took up the matter and intimated the Circle Head that the activity of this American MNC is the prime reason of our ensuing strike from 5th July 2011. So, we would not allow them to behave like owners of free state. The Chief PMG personally visited Park Street the next morning in presence of Com. Janardan Majumder, Circle Secretary & Com. Asit Das, Circle Secretary, AIPSBCOEA. He requested us to allow the representatives to visit the office as per Dte.'s instruction and assured that if their behaviour causes any conflict, he would personally settle it. We appreciated and thanked the initiative of the Chief PMG and has decided to allow them to see the office within limitation.

             Now, the Circle Union wishes to make it clear that our comrades may allow the representatives inside office to see and have some basic information. Any minor recommendation, if made humbly and if you consider it not to affect the interest of staff, customers or office adversely, may be implemented (like change of sorting cage or rearrangement of seats etc).  

        BUT PLEASE DO NOT ALLOW THEM TO INVADE OR INQUIRE IN POLICIES OF OFFICE FUNCTIONING OR INSTRUCT ANYONE ON ANYTHING. PLEASE REMEMBER THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE ANY LIABILITY OR ACCOUNTABILITY TO THE PEOPLE OF OUR COUNTRY OR TO THE STAFF. THEIR  AGENDA IS TO DOWNSIZE THE DEPARTMENT GROSSLY TO MAKE IT PROFITABLE TO CORPORATISE IRRESPECTIVE OF SERVICE QUALITY.

              PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO LAUNCH TRADE UNION PROTEST MAINTAINING DECORUM AND CONTACT THE CIRCLE LEADERSHIP INSTANTLY. IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO MAKE THEM FAIL IN THEIR MISSION. 

 

CONDEMN  POLITICAL  THREATS  &  ATTACKS  ON  OUR  CONTAI  DIVISIONAL  CONFERENCE  :  HOLD  DHIKKAR  SABHA  ON  MONDAY, 18th APRIL 2011.

  Dear Comrades,

                                 In our usual way, the Contai Divisional Unions were holding their biennial conference on 9th & 10th April 2011 at a local school. The conference commenced on 9th evening. In late evening, a gang of 300-350 local Trinalmul Congress hoodlums came to the conference site and gave a mandate to stop the Red Flag Program instantly. Our comrades, with the assistance of local ABTA members, tried to make them understand that it was a trade union conference according to approved constitution of the Central Govt.

      They left after giving warning only to come back again nearly the morning. This time they again tried to stop the conference, but being halted by our bold comrades, they departed but gave direction that no poilitical leader (belonging to Left idealism, of course) would be allowed to attend, no rally could hit the road and no LAAL JHANDA can be displayed outside the boundaries of the hosting school. 

       WE SALUTE OUR CONTAI DIVISIONAL COMRADES NOT TO GIVE UP AND FOR SUCCESFULL COMPLETION OF THE CONFERENCE AGAINST ALL ODDS.

          The Circle Unions have decided to condemn this hooliganism as it is a manifestation of TMC's undemocratic attitude and semi-fascist intolerance. To organise the entire postal fraternity against this attack, we call all members to hold DHIKKAR SABHA at prominent offices on Monday, 18.4.2011 at recess hours. You may contact Com. Tapan Dasgupta or Com. Janardan Majumder for any inquiry.

             It is high time to consider what would these people do to the common mass of the state if they ever had the scope to enjoy more power.

                      

COM.  MRINALKANTI  ROYCHOWDHURY, DIVL. SECRETARY, Gr-C, ALIPORE H.O.

PASSES  AWAY

         

              COMRADE MRINALKANTI ROY CHOWDHURY, OUR SECRETARY OF ALIPORE H.O. BRANCH AND A DEDICATED TRADE UNION SOLDIER, HAS BREATHED HIS LAST ON FEBRUARY 14, YESTERDAY,  AT 11-25 P.M. IN A SOUTH KOLKATA HOSPITAL. ALL CIRCLE UNIONS REQUEST TO WEAR BLACK BADGE ON THE NEXT WORKING DAY IN REMEMBRANCE AND MOURNING OF OUR BELOVED AND RESPECTED COMRADE.

           SOFT-SPOKEN, JOVIAL AND DEARLY COM. MRINAL DA ATTENDED THE PUNE ALL INDIA CONFERENCE WITH US WITH A HEALTHY CONDITION. BUT IMMEDIATELY AFTER COMING BACK, HE WAS DETECTED SUFFERING FROM CANCER AT THE TERMINAL STAGE. HE WAS TAKEN TO TATA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, MUMBAI, BUT THE DOCTORS GAVE UP. HE LOST HIS BATTLE AGAINST THE SILENT DISEASE LAST NIGHT, SURVIVED BY HIS WIFE, SON, DAUGHTER-IN-LAW, DAUGHTER AND GRAND DAUGHTER. WE HAVE NO WORDS TO CONVEY OUR CONDOLENCES TO THE BEREAVED FAMILY.

            
              Com. Mrinal Roychowdhury, born on 05.3.1953, started his career on 01.8.1970  as Boy Messenger at Basirhat In undivided South Presidency Division. He was promoted to clerical cadre on 24.11.1974.  Later, he preferred transfer to Alipore H.O. under Rule-38 and joined there as P.A.(Signaler) on 01.5.1993. He always remained a reliable activist of our organisation and finally, shouldered the responsibility of the Secretary of Alipore H.O. till his parting day. 

            Com. Mrinal Da, 58,  was one of the most-seen faces in all organisational programs at Circle & All India levels. He was also among the very few personalities around us in these days who could attract people on the first day with his soft,  cheerful and friendly approach. Despite being a Branch Secretary, he was far from any publicity or loudness. But his inert strength was manifested when under his leadership, the courageous comrades of Alipore H.O. time & again barricaded in front of the reactionist forces. In his last days, he actively contributed and helped other division's comrades to get different paper formalities completed from judicial authorities of Alipore. 

             With his untimely and unanticipated demise, we all have lost a selfless comrade with an everlasting smile on his lips.  

             RED  SALUTE  COMRADE  MRINAL  ROY CHOWDHURY.