RAISE  VOICE  OF  PROTEST  AGAINST  ADMINISTRATIVE  ATROCITIES  AT  KOLKATA G.P.O.  ---- DEMONSTRATION  AT  C.O.  AND  ALL  DIVISIONS  TOMORROW.

        The Circle and Kolkata GPO administration has issued transfer orders for two officials under Rule-37 of P & T Manual vol-IV, one to South Presidency and the other to South Nadia Divisions.

          These orders have been issued at such a time when the Circle Unions have interfered to clinch the complications between GPO staff-side & the administration. We do not think that there can be any issue which cannot be settled on the table of discussion. The complication originated when the administration deviated from their earlier assurance and made an effort to redeploy more posts from GPO to other divisions beyond justification and without taking any concrete workload. Unpleasant situation was invited by the administration in that way during a local demonstration by our branch unions of Kolkata GPO.

             Two officials of GPO have already been charge sheeted under Rule-14 of CCS (CCA) Rules, and now they are transferred under Rule-37 to far-flung divisions curbing their service conveniences. 

               The Circle Unions have called upon the branch & divisional secretaries of branches & divisions in Kolkata city to participate in a massive demonstration at the C.O. at 1:30 P.M. tomorrow. All other branch & divisional unions will also hold lunch-hour demonstration against the atrocity and send a savingram to the Chief Postmaster General in the following text :

Savingram  dated  31.12.2010.

 ======  Stop administrative attacks & vindication on staffs   XXX  Drop charge sheets under Rule-14 & withdraw transfer orders under Rule-37 at Kolkata GPO   XXX   else we shall be compelled to launch circlewide severe trade union action   =====

Please send the savingram to the Chief Postmaster General by fax from all divisions. 

 

REFLECTION  OF  REDEPLOYED  POSTS  IN  VACANCY  STATEMENTS ---- INFORMATION IS REQUIRED

            In last few years, a number of posts in different cadres have been redeployed / diverted to other divisions. Circle Unions have made it clear that in no case staff should be moved unless he / she is personally interested. On common understanding with the Circle Administration, only posts identified as surplus in one unit / division has been redeployed / diverted in other unit / division.

              But it has been pointed out by almost all divisions who have received such redeployed posts that as per the present norms and guidelines of preparing the vacancy statement for a year, such new posts cannot be shown, and thus, practically such redeployment becomes ineffective and just another tool for post abolition.

               The Circle Union has studied the case with some divisions and it appears that the complaint has definite material in it.  We need concrete statistics to proceed against this irregularity due to which we have lost posts in disguise of redeployment or diversion.

                  Therefore, all Divisional Secretaries under Kolkata Region (other regions will follow shortly as per our request) are requested to please prepare a report on factual position in the following format :

1. Year of receiving additional posts.
2. No. of redeployed / diverted posts received alongwith Circle Office memo. no. 
3. Vacancy statement for that year.
4. Whether number of redeployed posts received could be added to the normal vacancy.

               

CIRCLE  UNION  HOLDS  TALK  WITH  CHIEF PMG  ON  TRAINING  &  JOINING  OF  NEW  P.A.s

      A delegation of the Circle Union has met the Chief Postmaster General and discussed on the process of joining of new Postal Assistants as early as possible. 

            The matter of the selected P.A.s against the vacancies for the years 2006-2008 is not yet clear. Hon'ble Tribunal has concluded the hearing of their cases on 14th December last and yet not pronounced the verdict (order is under CAB). According to sources, the department will decide further course of action for them after vetting the judgement of the C.A.T. 

              For the candidates selected against the vacancies for the years 2009-10, the Circle Office is finalising a syllabus for an in-house training which would be provided to them for immediate joining even before the formal induction training. Actually, this has been instructed by the Postal Directorate through their circular dated 10.11.2010 (see the blog below). This syllabus will be sent to Directorate for approval and action will be taken consequentially. 

              
              The Circle Union has also placed a request in writing to exempt the candidates from further training who already completed induction training at Vadodara but not appointed (in the former batch) and again selected against the last vacancy. It is expected that this would be accepted by the department after due approval from competent authority. 

    

POSTAL  ASSISTANTS  SELECTED  FOR  THE  YEAR  2009-10  ARE  TO  BE  APPOINTED  WITH  AN  IN-HOUSE  TRAINING  BEFORE FORMAL  INDUCTION  TRAINING

         West Bengal Circle Office has circulated a decision of the Postal Directorate, New Delhi, to offer appointment to the selected Postal Assistants against the vacancies for the years 2009-10, with an in-house training without delaying for the formal induction training. 

          The excerpts from the order of the Directorate circulated under our Circle Office no. Rectt/ R-8/ Direct Quota/ 2009-10 dated 22.11.2010 are reproduced below.

 

'MOST IMMEDIATE

No. 60-9 / 2010-SPB-I

Government of India

Ministry of Communications & IT

Department of Posts

Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg

New Delhi - 110001

Dated 10 November, 2010 

To,

   All Chief Post Masters General.

 

   Sir / Madam,

                             .............. at present there is acute shortage of Postal Assistants/ Sorting Assistants (PAs/SAs) in the Circles with the result that many references are received from VIPs pointing out the shortage. Apart from it the issue of shortage of staff is raised in both the Houses of Parliament. ........

                             2. As per the procedure being followed the candidates selected for appointment of PA / SA after the completion of pre-appointment formalities viz. character and antecedents verification, medical examination and verification of their educational certificates are required to undergo training in PTCs before their services could be utilized. This often causes delay in making the offer of appointments because of nonavailability of seats with the result that they start looking for opportunities elsewhere and ultimately a good percentage of the selected candidates does not become available for appointment and the vacancies remain unfilled.

                            3. The matter has been considered in the Directorate and it has been decided by the competent authority that the Circles should take immediate action to ensure that the pre-appointment formalities of the candidates are completed at the earliest. In this regard following time-line may be followed :

1. Declaration of results                           --------------            by 21.11.2010.
2. Issue of offer of appointment ......        --------------            by 10.12.2010.
3. Completion of pre-appointment formalities ------     by  10.02.2011.
4. Issue of appointment order                  --------------       by 25.02.2011.

          ..................................

                              5. On completion of the pre-appointment formalities in respect of the candidates they may straight away be issued offer of appointment by the Circles.  This would motivate them to join as PA/SA immediately. Thereafter when they join they may be deputed for training as soon as the slots become available in the PTCs (Postal Training Center). Pending their training the Circle may issue their posting orders and commence their in house training by chalking out the course as far as possible based on PTC  syllabus depending on the resources available with them.   ........

           ................................. 

                                                                                                             Yours faithfully,

                                                                                                                     Sd.

                                                                                                             (V.C.KAJLA)

                                                                                                             Director (SPN)

Copy To:  DDG (Training)'

           As per the spirit of the above observation by the Directorate, the Circle Union requests all Divisional Secretaries and organisers to closely watch over the progress of the joining procedure so that it is not delayed at any stage. Circle Union will meet the Chief Postmaster General on Wednesday / Thursday with the request to instruct all Divisional Heads clearly and accurately, as some of them have made few correspondences seeking clarifications.

           Candidates and their guardians may please keep close contact with our secretaries and try to expedite the verification procedure by contacting respective authorities, if possible.

             

ON  CONFUSIONS  ARISEN  FROM  THE  'TECHNOLOGY  PRESENTATION'  BY  THE  DIRECTORATE  ON  23rd NOVEMBER 2010 

 

         

            The notice of the Circle Union has been attracted to few confusions and apprehensions arose after the announcements of the Postal Administration in the Presentation on Technology Implementation on 23.11.2010 in New Delhi in presence of All Secretary Generals and General Secretaries of affiliated organisations.

 

              Firstly, the news so far blogged or came into notice of all staffs by other means are very superficial and shallow. Comprehensive details have not been made available to us. Therefore, drawing a categorical conclusion is not possible at this stage.

 

              Apprehensions have mostly been concentrated due to the announcement of the Directorate that the responsibility of supply of software or hardware and their maintenance will be entirely entrusted to the vendors. Besides, news has also arrived that Project Managers and Program Executives would be hired by the department shortly. If these proposals are materialised, it would mean the end of the prospect for the staffs working for long as System Administrators or other technology related nomenclatures. Although in the same program Secretary (Posts) assured that their contribution will get positive consideration, but from our bitter experiences we know the credibility of the assurances of our administration.

 

               To clear the air, the Circle Union has instructed the Circle Technology Sub-Committee to hold a meeting and suggest appropriate actions, which the Circle Union would adopt and take the matter up with CHQ, if necessary, for more information. Meanwhile, all concerned may please keep contact with the member of the sub-committee of your zone and contribute.   

HEARING  OF  THE  C.A.T.  CASES  FILED  BY  THE  SELECTED  CANDIDATES  FOR  THE  YEARS  2006-08  SCHEDULED  ON  26th  NOVEMBER 2010 

    Hon'ble Central Administrative Tribunal, Kolkata Bench will kindly hear all the litigations filed by the successful candidates in P.A. cadre against the vacancies for the years 2006, 2007 & 2008 on 26th November 2010.   

        The Circle Union has requested our organisers of all levels to extend all possible cooperation from the very beginning. It is a fact that complaints were lodged against this batch's recruitment from different orgnisations, quarters and on personal initiative also. Complaints were sent to CBI by some guardians of unsuccessful candidates. We were very clear in our demand that appropriate inquiry should be conducted, culprits should be identified and punished instantaneously and only those appointments should be scrapped. But few interested people with oblique intentions projected the entire story as if it was only us who opposed the recruitment and fighting against corruption inside the department is a sin ! 

       However, on the eve of the hearing, we reiterate our request to our organisers, especially the Divisional Secretaries to maintain close contacts with the successful candidates and their requirements. As it appears that the department does not have much to say in reply or conduct the inquiry further, the cases of the fairly selected candidates deserve more attention for an early conclusive judgement from the Bench.

        If the order of the CAT comes in favour, please also prepare to fight for the service seniority of them over the new candidates for 2009 & 2010. 

        A delegation led by the Circle Secretary met the Chief PMG on the day before yesterday to discuss the issue of the cancelled panel only. Few candidates from the cancelled panel also appeared and came out successful in the examination for 2009-10. Circle Union has requested the Chief PMG not to send them for induction training if they completed that from the previous (cancelled) batch. But the Circle Administration could not reach a decision as the observation of CAT is still awaited, and the matter may need a nod from the Directorate.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

CIRCLE  UNION  DECIDES  TO  PURSUE  FOR  EARLY  JOINING  OF  NEWLY  SELECTED  POSTAL  ASSISTANTS

         Being the largest cadre union (Postal Assistant) in the department in West Bengal (as well as in All India level), the All India Postal Employees Union Group-C  (federated with NFPE), W.B.Circle, has decided to strongly pursue for earliest joining of the newly selected Postal Assistants against the vacancies for the years 2009 & 2010. 

                    Due to continuous abolition of vacant posts and non-recruitment under the Central Govt policy, the staff positions in all offices are in pretty bad shape. The cancellation of the panel of 207 candidates (for years 2006, 2007 & 2008) has already delayed the possibility of relief. Under this situation, the Circle Union is requesting the Circle Administration to ensure special arrangement so that the joining of the new candidates can be expedited. If the Induction Training cannot be provided immediately, they may be allowed to join provisionally before training. 

                     Few candidates from the cancelled panel have come out successful once again this time. Among them, some completed Induction Training at Vadodara and was waiting for joining order. The Circle Union demands for their joining without further training. The inquiry process should be completed fast and the fairly selected candidates for 2006-08 should also be absorbed. It is better if the administration realises the need for increasing the staff strength as early as possible to cope up with present workload.

RECRUITMENT  TO  P.A.  POSTS  FOR  THE YEARS  2009  &  2010  FINALISED  IN  OUR  CIRCLE  ----  A  FEW  PERTINENT  WORDS 

      AFTER A LOT OF TURMOIL, AT LAST OUR CIRCLE HAS FINALISED AND DECLARED  THE NAMES OF THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES FOR RECRUITMENT IN P.A. CADRE AGAINST THE VACANCIES FOR THE YEARS 2009 & 2010. THE CIRCLE UNION CONGRATULATES ALL THE CANDIDATES FOR THEIR SUCCESS, WISHES THEM A BRIGHT CAREER AND IS CALLING UPON ALL ORGANISERS TO JUMP INTO ACTION FOR COLLECTION OF MEMBERSHIP WITH OUR USUAL ENTHUSIASM, ZEAL & TRANSPARENCY. 

         DURING THE PROCESS AND INTERACTION WITH THE SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATES, THE CIRCLE UNION FEELS THAT OUR ORGANISERS SHOULD KEEP  CERTAIN POINTS IN MIND, WHICH MAY ENLIGHTEN THE ROLE AND SIGNIFICANCE OF NFPE ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE IN THE DEPARTMENT.

                  1. Since the Fifth Central Pay Commission, the staff side sustained a huge shortage of strength due to abolition of posts and non-recruitment. Along with introduction of new schemes, the shortage has presently become unbearable. Due to implementation of such anti-staff policy of the Central Govt, our staffs in all Head Offices and almost in all Sub-offices (especially after introduction of payment of NREGS --- 100 day's work wage system through post offices) have to work far beyond normal working hours to finish day's work.

                    2. Our organisation --- affiliated to National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) ---- being the largest union (representing more than 74% of the total staffs in the country) in the Department has been the only one to consistently struggle against the policy of abolition of posts and its effects on the staffs and the unemployed youth in the country. Apart from regular post abolition, due to inefficiency of the administration, many posts were abolished for wrong furnishing of statistics. We had to point out everything time to time through meetings, correspondences, demonstrations, hunger-fasts, stay-in programs, strikes etc., ---- as a result of which, finally the department stopped further abolition, and recruitment started in all the vacancies since 2009. This is the first batch which will fill up entire vacancy for 2009 & 2010. Without immense dedication, struggle and contribution of our members, this would not have been achieved.

                    3. Lack of transparency in recruitment is another issue that we are fighting against since long. From time to time department has changed recruitment procedure, but a section of dishonest officials continued to find loopholes and there had been sufficient reasons to believe that manipulations made ways to favour particular candidates. Just 3 months back, the entire panel of 207 candidates selected for P.A. vacancies for the years 2006, 2007 & 2008 has been cancelled due to corruption. We are fighting for severe punishment for responsible officials and cancellation of recruitment of only candidates involved in malpractices, everyone else should be appointed. 

                 
                 4. This recruitment may hurt the sentiment of the 207 terminated candidates. We have the serious responsibility to clarify that we are supporting the claim of the fairly selected candidates by all means. Relevant cases will be further heard by Hon'ble C.A.T. on 26.11.2010. But for the interest of public service and the department, recruitment process should go on. All vacancies have been earned very hard from the Govt, in which unemployed youth of our country dreams to be appointed, we cannot be an obstacle to that. But once their litigation is over at the Courts of Law, we shall also rise the demand for their service seniority over the candidates of the present batch, i.e., for the years 2009 & 2010.  

                                    APART FROM THESE REALITIES, OUR WOULD-BE COLLEAGUES ARE ALSO IN NEED TO KNOW THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND FUNCTIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE DEPARTMENT, WORK PERFORMED BY DIFFERENT TIERS OF POST OFFICES, STAFF ORGANISATIONS, SERVICE BENEFITS, LEAVE, PROMOTIONAL PROSPECTS AND OF COURSE THE SALARY THEY WOULD GET. OUR ORGANISERS ARE REQUESTED TO PLEASE SATISFY THEIR QUERIES PATIENTLY AND COMPREHENSIVELY. DIVISIONAL SECRETARIES MAY PLEASE CONTACT COM. BIJAN CHAKRABORTY AT 98312-09684  FOR HAVING A READY DOCUMENT WITH THE ABOVE DETAILS. SELECTED CANDIDATES MAY ALSO CONTACT TO HAVE THE COPY OVER E-MAIL. 

COM.  MILAN  BHATTACHARYA, EX-CIRCLE  SECRETARY  &  ALL  INDIA  PRESIDENT,  P-IV UNION,  AND COM.  DILIP PRATIHAR,  GDSMC  IN NORTH  HOOGHLY  DIVN ATTACKED  & INJURED  BY POLITICAL  MISCREANTS 

    The anarchist force which is trying to reign with terror and violence in West Bengal promising and demanding to bring about 'change', is continuing their attacks on the soldiers of the left democratic forces. In two more instances, our organisers and leaders have been brutally injured by them.

      Com. Milan Bhattacharya, former Circle Secretary, West Bengal Circle & All India President of Postmen & MS Employees Union, who went back to his paternal village at Kakdwip in the district of 24 Parganas(South)after retirement, has been attacked, beaten up severely on Thursday, 11.11.2010, by a group of political terrorists advocating for so-called  'change' in West Bengal at the cost of lives and democracy.

   Com. Bhattacharya, a sustained fighter for the cause of the oppressed who also spent his own life fighting poverty and class deprivation, got himself involved in different activities in the locality for restoration of peace and social justice. The process naturally went against the interest of few people who now-a-days are openly involved in malpractices in the name of paving way for the 'change' in favour of the political opposition in West Bengal.

     On Thursday, a group of these miscreants attacked Com. Milanda and his compatriots with rods, sticks, bombs and other arms in open daylight in Chandipur. They hit com. Milanda twice purposefully with rods, but other comrades physically covered him somehow. He thus survived the attack, but has to be brought to M.R.Bangur Hospital in Kolkata, where he is now admitted, very seriously injured, bruised and battered all over the body and head. 10 other local people have also been injured, 7 of which are admitted to same hospital, rest 4 in Kakdwip hospital.

    The people of the locality, supported by the democratic forces, is condemning the attack by these forces of violence and intolerance.  Entire Kakdwip Sub-Division observed protest day on Friday, protest meeting will be held in Chandipur on 19th November 2010.

     In another similar incident, Com. Dilip Pratihar, GDSMC, Hati B.O. in North Hooghly Divn was recently attacked and violently beaten by the counterparts of the same political goons. Com. Pratihar is presently totally bed-ridden.

     The NFPE Group of Circle Unions call upon all organisers to hold lunch-hour programs condemning these attacks and the effort of these criminals and their political patrons to take over power by means of terror.

     LET US VOUCH FROM THE PROGRAM THAT WE SHALL HOLD OUR FLAG HIGH IN FAVOUR OF DEMOCRACY AND PEOPLES' RIGHTS TILL WE BREATHE OUR LAST.   

  

DEMONSTRATION  ON  26.10.2010  AT  ALL  DIVISIONS  AGAINST  THE  DEPRIVATION  OF  SELECTED  P.A.  CANDIDATES  FOR THE YEARS  2006-08

        WE ARE ALL AWARE OF THE DECISION OF THE POSTAL DIRECTORATE, COMMUNICATED BY OUR CIRCLE OFFICE, TO CANCEL THE PANEL OF SELECTED P.A.s AGAINST THE VACANCIES FOR THE YEARS 2006, 2007 & 2008. IN AN EX-PARTE DECISION, DEPARTMENT HAS CANCELLED THE PANEL OF 207 SUCH CANDIDATES. IN THE CONTENTS OF THE ORDER THE DEPARTMENT HAS ELABORATELY CLARIFIED THE PROBABLE MANIPULATIONS WHILE MAKING THE RECRUITMENT.

        The Circle Unions have thoroughly discussed the situation. Already many candidates have resorted to the judiciary against their deprivation. In an order dated 22.10.2010 in OA no. 2129 of 2010, the Hon'ble CAT, Kolkata Bench has pronounced an interim order restricting the department from implementing the termination order in respect of 17 candidates who already joined in service after training in Circle Office and different RMS offices. In the order, Hon'ble Bench has also pointed out the lacunae of the department.

        We are of the opinion that for alleged irregularities in the process of appointment, especially in cases of 57 candidates out of 207 who are siblings of Postal officials, all the candidates have been subjected to unimaginable vindication. If there are strong prima facie cases of irregularities, the department should have pursued it to the end by probing it through appropriate probing agency. But without following it to identify and punish the moles inside the establishment, cancelling the entire panel is nothing but an effort to cover up the miscreants involved in such malpractice. More so, it is not the first time that allegations of manipulations in recruitment and other cases have come under light. The spirit of justice says that it is better to free many offenders rather to punish an innocent.  But the departmental action in this case, has gone against it.

        Therefore, we call upon all divisional organisations to hold a massive demonstration on 26.10.2010 at respective headquarters and adopt and send the following resolution to the Chief Postmaster General, West Bengal Circle. Please ensure participation of the candidates and maximum number of staffs in this demonstration. The program will be followed by Sit-In Demonstration at the Circle Office on 28.10.2010 from 1 P.M. to 4 P.M. as declared earlier.

Resolution  Dated  26.10.2010.         

         This mass demonstration of NFPE Group of Unions, .......................... Branch / Division univocally condemns the unilateral order of the Postal Directorate cancelling the panel of 207 P.A. candidates selected against the vacancies for the years 2006-2008. This demonstration is seriously worried over the corruption in recruitment process. At the same time, it expresses its serious resentment on the decision of the Directorate considering the fair unemployed youth at par with the unfair ones. This demonstration is of the firm opinion that had the department identified the moles and awarded instantaneous punishments to them, the image and trustworthiness of our department would increase among the staff and members of public.

          This mass demonstration further resolves to demand the following to uphold justice, humanity and transparency inside the department :

1. Immediate arrangement for the posting of fairly selected candidates in the panel.   
2. Neutralise the resentment of the staffs and candidates by cancellation of unilateral order of the Postal Directorate to terminate the entire selected panel.
3. Instantaneous punishment is to be awarded to the Postal officials / outsiders involved in irregularities in connection with recruitment of the department so that such incident is never repeated in future.

                                                                                                    (Signature of the President)
   

                       PLEASE ENSURE SINCERE EFFORTS OF ALL ORGANISERS TO MAKE THE PROGRAMS ON 26.10.2010 AND 28.10.2010 HUGE SUCCESSES.