The Strike called by the GDS Unions and Postal unions continues for the fifth day. The only demand raised is the favourable implementation of the Kailash Chandra Commission report on the service and wage conditions of the Gramin Dak Sevaks numbering about three lakhs and who are manning more than 1,29,500 Post Offices through out the country and providing yeomen services to the rural and urban population. The GDS have to work for the whole day, but are not paid even the minimum wages ordered by the Chief Labour Commissioner. Many of them are treated as part-time, although they are compelled to work whole day, because of the duty arrangements. They are denied pension. If the favourable recommendations of the Kailash Chandra Committee are implemented, they will get some benefits. But he BJP government is taking a negative attitude and despite the fact that the recommendations were submitted in November 2016,it is not implemented.

The strike is fully justified. National and International trade unions, including World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) have extended support and solidarity to the struggle and demanded the government of India to concede the demands and settle the strike.

We demand the central government to immediately discuss and settle the issues. We fully extend solidarity and support to the struggle of the GDS and Postal workers.

The GDS workers, the most exploited section in the Department of Posts are compelled to start an indefinite strike from 22-05-2018 against the treacherous approach of the central government . They constitute 60% of the total postal employees and 80 per cent of the post offices are manned by them. They are not granted civil servant status and was not included in the 7th Pay Commission and instead a committee, Kamalesh Chandra Committee, was appointed to recommend their wages and other service benefits. The committee submitted its reports many months ago but the government is delaying the implementation of the positive recommendations without any valid justification.

It is under these circumstances that all the unions, AIPEU-GDS, NUGDS,AIGDSU and BPEDU , gave a notice for indefinite strike from 22-05-2018. The central government, as in the case of other strikes, did not intervene to avert the strike through a meaningful discussion and has again shown its anti- worker face. So the GDS workers had no other option other than to start the strike and the reports received from all parts of the country indicate that the strike is a tremendous success.

AIBDPA wholeheartily supports the strike and extends our sincere solidarity to the striking heroes. AIBDPA requests all its units to go to their respective post offices and organise demonstrations in the coming days and help the striking workers by all means.

It is intimated by the Government to NFPE leaders that the decisions on the implementation of the GDS Committee report will be finalised within a month. NFPE and GDS Union have been on agitation for implementation of the favourable recommendations for the last many months. Government has been unnecessary delaying the decision.

Government has unleashed a sudden and most damaging attack on Post office Small Savings Schemes. Notifications are already issued permitting all Nationalised Banks and three Private Banks ( ICICI Bank , AXIS Bank and HDFC Bank) to accept deposits for all Small Savings Schemes viz ; Recurring Deposit (RD) , Time Deposits (TD) , Monthly Income Scheme (MIS) Senior Citizen Savings Scheme (SCSS) , Sukanya Samridhi Account (SSA) , Kisan Vikas Patra (KVP) and National Savings Certificate (NSC VIII issue) with effect from 10th October 2017.

This is a great blow to the Post office Small Savings Schemes and will be a threat to the job security of Postal Employees and also MPKBY /SAS Agents. About 40% of the Revenue and about 50% of the workload of Post office depends on the Post office Small Savings Schemes. Outsourcing of POSSS work to Banks will result in steady fall in Revenue and Workload of Postal Department.

GDS Committee Report , though submitted to Govt on 24th November 2016 , is still pending with Finance Ministry for approval. GDS Membership verification process has been suddenly stopped by the Government.

Overall situation in Postal Department is worsening day by day and resentment of the Employees is mounting.

NFPE CHQ views the above situation with grave concern and calls upon the entirety of Postal and RMS employees including GDS and Casual labourers to conduct mass protest demonstrations at all Centres and in front of all offices on 23rdOCTOBER 2017.

Urgent meeting of NFPE Federal Secretariat to be held shortly will announce further course of action. (Courtesy: NFPE Website)