Tag Archives: GDS Strike

Great Victory of GDS Workers – Congratulations!

06 Wednesday Jun 2018

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“BIG SALUTE TO ALL THE FIGHTING GDS  — HATS OFF

WE HAVE WON THE BATTLE

UNION CABINET APPROVED GDS COMMITTEE REPORT

FULL DETAILS WILL BE AVAILABLE LATER

GDS UNIONS HAVE COME OUT WITH FLYING COLOURS

16 DAYS INDEFINITE STRIKE CALLED OFF

IF ANY ADVERSE CONDITIONS ARE INCLUDED IN THE GOVT ORDERS,

IF MAJOR POSITIVE RECOMMENDATIONS ARE DILUTED,

GDS UNIONS SHALL RESORT TO NATIONWIDE AGITATIONAL PROGRAMME AGAIN

CONDUCT NATIONWIDE VICTORY RALLIES AND CELEBRATIONS”  (From NFPE Website)

Hearty Congratulations to the three lakh GDS workers, who were on strike for the last 16 days from 22nd May 2018 and who stood firm in their agitation without any wavering, which compelled the Central Government to come down from their unjustified stiff position and accept the fully justified demand of the workers to implement the Kamalesh Chandra Committee Report on GDS!

It was a battle, in which the government surrendered before the rock-like unity and determination of the workers. Its efforts to divide and confuse the workers did not fool the latter. The entire Postal regular workers gave solidarity and support to the strike. In Kerala, the regular workers joined the strike for 10 days in solidarity without raising any of their own demands, which is an unprecedented and heroic act. Their continued solidarity and support showed their highly developed camaraderie. All praise to them.

This was a struggle, which was focussed by the newspapers, social media, TV channels and even Doora Darshan. The people supported it, because they knew the pitiable condition of the GDS workers, how shabbily the government was dealing with them. It is a shame on the Government that it continues to treat the GDS, who serves the entire lakhs of common people in the country, mainly in the villages, in the same way as the colonial rulers (British) treated them.

All the Central trade Unions, irrespective of their political ideology supported the strike and gave all help. Many Members of Parliament wrote to the government demanding discussion and settlement of the demands. Service organisations also fully supported and extended solidarity.

As the Chairman of the Samara Sahaya Samithi (Strike Aid Committee) of the GDS Strike at Kozhikode, I could see how complete was the strike, how determined were the GDS comrades, how the regular Postal workers were extending full support, how the trade unions and service associations were standing with the striking workers. This was unprecedented. There was complete ban on public programmes etc. in Kozhikode District due to the deadly attack of Nipah Virus causing death of some patients and there were connected security and safety arrangements. Hence no public demonstration or rallies were held. But the striking GDS workers coming to about 200, majority of them women, reached the Head Post Office premises every day and sat on dharna till afternoon and sometimes evening. The Samara Sahaya Samithi ensured that every day, leaders of many organisations including the Central trade Unions visited the site and, addressed and inspired the workers. Financial assistance was provided by them to support the strike. Wide publicity was given in the dailies with photoes and write ups of the miserable state of the GDS and the injustice done to them by the government. Local TV channels showed the pictures of dharna etc. and gave daily reports.

On the 16th day the strike today, six GDS comrades, including two women, sat on hunger strike. By about 15.10 hours, the information was received that the Government has issued Press Release on the decision of the Government accepting wages, allowances, fitment etc. recommended by the Kamalesh Chandra Committee. Within an hour, information was received that the GDS All India Unions have met and decided to withdraw the strike on the basis of the decisions of the government.

Leaders of CITU, INTUC, AITUC were there as also many service associations including Postal and BSNL, which were all together in the undivided P and T Department. The decision of the All India Unions were announced which was accepted with great applause and slogan shouting. All the leaders who spoke thanked the Members of Parliament, who took up the issue with the Government, the Kerala Chief Minister and Labour Minister who raised the issue with the Central Government, and also all those who supported the strike.

This valiant struggle has once again shown, as in the case of the Kisan March in Maharashtra and the Electricity workers strike in UP against privatisation, that united and determined struggle with the support of the people will succeed, despite the arrogance and anti-worker policy of the central government.

Congratulations to the GDS workers for their magnificent strike and victory!

The GDS Strike continues on 14th Day – ‘Mouni’ Government

04 Monday Jun 2018

Posted by in General, TU News - India

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Almost the entire two and half lakhs Gramin Dak Sevak (GDS) workers, who  runs the Postal Services in the rural areas and partially in the cities, are completely on strike for the last two weeks since 22nd May 2018, demanding implementation of the Kamalesh Chandra Committee report on the wage and service conditions of the GDS. The report was submitted on November 2016 to the Government, which have some favorable recommendations.  While the government implemented the recommendations of the VII Central Pay Commission, which are mostly retrogressive, for the regular employees stating that the committee reports are treated as ‘Awards’, the GDS Committee report is not implemented.

The entire rural postal service is paralyzed. No letters, money orders, parcels, speed posts, registered articles delivered. About 1,30,000 Sub and branch Post Offices in the country closed due to strike. Still the government is silent and is not prepared to meet the unions, discuss and settle the  issues.

Despite their difficulties, the common people support the striking workers, well knowing under what conditions and negligent low wages they are working without any benefits that the workers are eligible. They understand the wage slavery imposed on the GDS workers.

All the trade unions in the country and political parties are supporting the poor underpaid GDS workers’ strike; But the government is still silent and unresponsive. It was in the same way when  it dealt with the demands of the kisans and other workers.

The GDS workers are firm in their decision to continue the indefinite strike till their fully justified demands are met. The regular employees, who withdrew from the strike after a few days,are fully in solidarity with the striking GDS comrades.

The central government should immediately discuss with the union leaders and concede the fully justified demands, so that the strike can be ended and the Postal services restored.

The Massive Strike by the Gramin Dak Sevaks – Central Government should concede the demand immediately

02 Saturday Jun 2018

Posted by in Postal Service, TU News - India

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About two and half lakhs of Gramin Dak Sevaks in the country are on an Indefinite strike from 22nd May 2018 demanding implementation of the favourable recommendations of the Kamalesh Chandra Committee, which was submitted in November 2016 to the government.

The exploitation of the GDS continues since the colonial days. At that time they were called EDAs ie. Extra Departments Agents. They were not treated as departmental or even a worker. Despite getting independence, the governments at the centre since 1947, have not conceded the genuine demands of the EDA/GDS for granting civilian status, minimum wage, gratuity as per government act, leave, allowances etc. It is almost wage slavery.

The GDS are on strike, because all other efforts have failed to move the government. The regular employees in Kerala joined the strike in solidarity and support for 10 days, a commitment which is appreciated by all. As per official report, more than 96% of the GDS in the country are on strike. They are determined to continue the struggle to achieve their long pending demands.

Almost all the newspapers, trade unions, mass organisations and the common people are fully supporting the demand of the GDS. Even the dailies and the media controlled by the corporates have not opposed the strike as is usual with them, but has written editorials and articles in support of the same. The people are supporting the GDS strike, despite the various difficulties faced by them because of the strike. M.P.s, MLAs, and other public figures are making their presence in the struggle premises and expressing their support to the strike. The entire central trade unions are supporting the strike.

The Modi government, which has to take the decision is SILENT! 12 days of strike and not even a discussion at the highest level and decision! It is a heartless and anti-worker government.
It is a government of the corporates, by the corporates and for the corporates! The people of the lakhs of villages, who are daily being served by these poor GDS, are watching the cruel deal and injustice of the government to their long-time friend, the GDS. There is no doubt that they will show their anger and revenge, when the time comes.

We demand the central government to immediately call the leaders, discuss their demand and settle the same amicably. The GDS workers are determined and will continue the indefinite strike till the sole demand is conceded. We seek the support of the entire country to this fully justified struggle of the GDS to be treated as a human being instead of a wage slave, as being exploited in the colonial days.