Let's not sit silently:

Dear Comrades,

As you know, consequent on the settlement reached between Secretary, Department of Posts and the Staff Side the Central JCA unanimously decided to defer the indefinite strike from 5^th July 2011. Though some positive settlements are reached on major items of the Charter of demands, some items were agreed to be discussed further. Some items have been agreed to be finalized before 31.07.2011 or 31.08.2011.  The mail arrangements and formation of L 1 and L2 hubs are subject to review by a committee in which both the Secretary Generals of NEPE and FNPO are members. Discussion on GDS issues were not satisfactory with the reply  that Govt. level discussion is required to take a view on granting status of Central Govt. employees to GDS. Similarly restoration of  GDS Conduct & Employment Rules  was not agreed to and enhancement of bonus ceiling for GDS was replied to  be taken up once again  with Ministry of Finance. All postmen related issues will be finalized before 31.07.2011. Cadre Review proposals have been assured to be finalized before 31.08.2011. Thus, the decision and discussion on many important issues are not at all satisfactory except  a mutual understanding in between the Official Side and Staff Side to defer the indefinite strike.

So now, we have a month or two in our hands for adopting wait and watch policy to observe  the attitude of the Department and see  if the assurances given this time will actually be implemented in real sense within the time frame given or the same will remain as assurances only killing time on the plea of some reasons or other.  Should we do something during this period or sit silently ? If we sit silently we may not achieve anything for the logic  that a sleeping lion catches no deer. On the other hand, a running fox is better than a sleeping lion. We should not think that the struggle is over. The Mckinsey, the PFRDA Bill, the Post Office Bill, 2011 to amend Indian Post Office Act, 1898 with an aim to open the letter mail segment to private sector   etc are  still there over our heads like the sword of Damocles. The Confederation of Central Govt. Employees  & Workers  has already appealed the prime Minister of India  to withdraw the PFRDA Bill  from the Parliament both in the interest of the Civil Servants and the exchequer ? Similar work is barely necessary for Mckinsey and Post Office Bill, 2011. It is also our common responsibility to analyze and see if acceptance of Mckinsey dictated policies will anyway benefit the postal employees in particular and the citizen of India in general or it is meant for any definite purpose for pushing this venerable Department towards privatization. We have also to determine if the proposed amendment to Indian Post Office Act, 1898 is going to benefit some private companies or the common citizens of India and the employees of India Post as well.

It is needless to say that the Postal Board was compelled recently to have a series of discussion with the Staff Side to set aside the proposed Indefinite Strike from 05.07.2011 only due to our unity we showed in the nick of time through the Central J C A. Those unions and associations who have not yet joined with the Central J C A should now think twice before taking a final decision since there is no substitute to united struggle.  One platform is barely necessary for  our present struggle so that the members of all cadres and all wings can work in consonance with each other.  Team spirit and team work  is the need of the hour.

Comrades ! Time is very short. Let’s not sit silently and do something  to get rid of the situation. Action always speaks louder than voice. The shortest answer to all questions is doing.   So we should trust only movements since life happens at the level of events, not of words.  We should be taught not to wait for inspiration to start a thing.  Action always generates inspiration.  Inspiration seldom generates action. Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned. Thus, the smallest contribution of each individual employee can certainly make a definite difference to the struggle movement now in operation by the Central J C A to save India and India Post. People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do. We cannot do everything at once,  but  we can do something at once. 

Won’t you try a little without sitting silently to take ahead the struggle programmes of the Central J C A ?

B Samal

Secretary, AIPEU, Gr.-C

Bhubaneswar