JOIN THE TWO DAYS
STRIKE ON FEBRUARY 20 & 21
We, the Postal employees, have a proud and inspiring
history of participating in the freedom struggle of our country against the
British imperialism and in the post-independent India against
the onslaughts of the retrograde policies of the Government of India. Many of
our leaders and comrades have sacrificed their life for the cause of the coming
generation. Job security, wages, pension and other service benefits are all the
outcome of the struggle and sacrifice of hundreds and thousands of such
comrades. They faced dismissal, removal, suspension, increment cut, transfer to
remote places, break-in-service and other severe victimisations. Dies-non was
not at all a punishment for them. They never complained about wage-cut due to
dies-non. Not even a single benefit was given by the Government without
struggle and consequent heavy victimisations. 1st to 6th Pay Commissions were
appointed by the Government only after the united struggle of the employees,
each time.
Now we are facing a very crucial and critical situation. The ill-effects of the
neo-liberal economic policies of the Central Government has become the greatest
threat to the survival of the entire working class, especially Central
Government employees including five and a half lakhs Postal, R M S and Gramin
Dak Sevaks. The question before us is -Are we able to protect our job security
and hard-earned benefits? Are we ready to fight or are we going to surrender
before this attack? The answer is - No. We are not going to surrender. We will
continue our fight till the imperialist globalisation policies are thrown to
winds, just as we have thrown the British imperialism out of our country. We
are not alone, crores and crores of workers and employees are with us in this
fight. We are ready for sacrifice. We are not going to run away from our
responsibilities. We shall face the challenge and continue our fight to change
the system in our favour. Ultimate victory will be
ours.
It is this uncompromising spirit and the readiness for sacrifice, that made
National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) to join the two-days historic
strike of the working class on 2013 February 20, 21. The strike is being
organised by the entire trade unions including INTUC, BMS and the left trade
unions. In the Postal, the strike is organised by Central
JCA, including NFPE and the INTUC affiliated FNPO. This is the
first time in the history of India a cent per cent united strike
of 48 hours by all the Unions and Federtions is taking place. More than ten
crores workers will participate in the strike. The working class
of India, in one voice, demand the UPA
Government to change the imperialist globalisation
policies.
Central Government employees are the first victims of the neo-liberal economic
policies pursued by the Central Government from 1991 onwards. During the last
twenty years about eight lakhs posts are abolished. Still five lakhs posts are
lying vacant in various departments. Many departments are closed or
privatised. More and more casual and contract workers are engaged. Social
security schemes, including statutory Pension scheme are given a go-bye.
Instead, share market oriented contributory Pension scheme is introduced. Three
lakhs Gramin Dak Sevaks of the Postal department are denied of their legitimate
rights. Casual, Part-time, contingent employees are not given their due wage
revision. Even compassionate appointments are denied imposing arbitrary
restrictions. Bonus ceiling not raised. Further the Government has declared
the National Postal Policy 2012 which is nothing but a road-map to privatisation
of Postal Services by granting licences to the multi-national courier
services.
The demand for appointment of 7th Pay Commission is not yet accepted, inspite of
the thundering success of the 12th December 2012 strike organised by
Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers. As an impact of the
strike, all the Central Trade Unions have submitted a memorandum to the Finance
Minister to announce constitution of 7th CPC in the February 2013 budget
itself. Still the Government is silent on Pay Commission and merger of 50% DA.
February 20, 21 strike is a continuation of 12th December
strike.
The steep rise in prices of essential commodities, disbanding of the public
distribution system, deregulation of petrol and diesel prices , disinvestment of
public sector, rise in unemployment, shrinking of employment opportunities,
proposed move to amend the labour laws in favour of the employers, attack on
social security, denial of assured pension for all, introduction of contract and
casual labour system in all sectors, denial of minimum wage of Rs.10,000/- to
industrial workers, refusal to remove bonus and PF ceilings etc. are all due to
this neo-liberal economic policies.
The attack is all round. To save the Postal, to save the Central Govt.
departments, to save the public sector, to save the common people and workers of
our country including Postal employees the only way out is to fight back these
policies. Let us wholeheartedly join this struggle and make it a historic
success.
