1. We are proud to start this web marking dedications to the martyrs of the trade union movements who sacrificed their lives for the cause of workers in general and postal workers in particular.
2. Task Before JCA Meet 28.10.2009.
At the outset we go through the GDS system. GDS are worst cheated sections of central government employees kept away from the clutches/purview of various labour laws extending privileges and concessions to such deprived section of workers and enacted by the Government itself such as payment of minimum wages Act 1948,Hours of employment regulations, payment of bonus Act 1965. The contract labour (Regularisation and abolition) Act 1970,equal Remuneration Act 1976, Payment of Gratuity Act 1972 etc.
3. Social security scheme .
GDS are still kept out of social security schemes – pension and provident fund facilities even after this Natarajamoorthy committee recommendations implementation this year. This has remained a static reference in “ Terms of reference” in Gezatte Notification whenever the Government constituted administrative and judicial committees in the past decades but was taken for a rejection by finding it difficult for laborious work to maintain service book and related records and stating that it was not prepared to spend crores of rupees for the cause to accede to the recommendations of this committees.
4. An withdrawal of a strike Hon. ‘Minister of state for communication committed to remit of pension issue for GDS committee consideration and recommendation, accordingly member (D), Postal services Board had vide his letter No.39-13/93-93 SR dt 10-93,written to our federations leaders that the specific reference would be made on pension to GDS staff and inserted in terms of reference for consideration of the GDS (Thalwar) committee. Alas! There was a ridiculing in the term of reference to the committee to bear no a word “Pension to GDS”. I t was the GDS (Thalwar) committee to search afford them for a protection by giving then shelter with the historical Supreme Court Judgement within the purview by article 309 of the constitution which had been hitherto denied by the Government to treat the GDS as civil servants by citing artcle 311(2) of the constitution, that was considered to be applicable to only whole time regular employees.
5. It was worry some fact that the Dy. Director General (T&E) Dept of Posts in her letter No.19-28-93.ED & TRG dt26.12.95 addressed to the Justice committee, taking on ultimate stand with diversion of earlier commitments and assurances of the government the Federations stated that “ the extra departmental agents are employed on contract basis and being a class apart having noting in common with the casuals, part time casuals, departmental employees etc., the question of bringing them within the purview of CCS Pension Rules 1972 for the purpose of grant of pension does not arise”. This was the justice committee to liquitate the arguments of the government in this regard by placing reliance on sub rule (g) of rule 2of pension rules and kept the records straight finalizing it report in favour of granting pension to the GDS.
6. Having seen the findings of the Justice committee the Government felt discomfort that was why it had chosen for an administrative committee this time headed by Shri Natarajar, a retired postal board member for getting the report on its dik- tats taking a stand of aggressiveness to turn down plea of staff side leaders to continue to constitute a justice.
7. The Savoor committee in its report of eighty on social security to ED agents recommended that it is appropriate that some scheme in the nature of social security is provided for in the Employees provident fund and Family pension Act and is made available to the ED agents.
8. Our demand for a pension to GDS staff was formulated as back as six decades ago by our heroic leaders and there had been unique approach of the Federations and unions to win the demand. There was no doubt that there has been pressure upon the Government so as to make it to accept to make a special reference on pension to the GDS committees constituted. There were struggles under the umbrella of JCA in the past that were concluded with lessons for a success or a defeat but considered to be advancement in its consolidation of rank and files for developing a fighting tendency and strength to achieve its ultimate goal to win its demands.
9. This JCA formed with unique approach and might has brought out the GDS (Natarajmoorthy ) committee report approved, released and implemented, and it has a foundain duty to carry forward, it has to be in perennial existence to review negative aspects of the recommendations for its stall and droppage. The primary task rests with the JCA which meets on 28.10.2009 is to pay attention on social security to the GDS who are deprieved a lot for a pension on quitting service.
10. An upsurge should be created again among the workers to get pension to the GDS as they have been well mobilized with this demand, the JCA should evolve its ways, formulate it stralegies as may be appropriate for winning the demand. JCA partners are not for liquation after a struggle for a particular demands but for a history to bring the deprived under the ambit of variour labour laws that have been enacted by the Government for their welfare as a social security measure.
11 GDS are with fervent hope upon JCA and its decisions at this high time the recommendations of Natarajamoorthy committee came effective leaving their
demand of pension in a lurch once and again.
With struggle greetings
G. KANNAN
REGIONAL SECRETARY
P4-SR/KOVILPATTI.
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