EDITORIAL POSTAL CRUSADER FEBRUARY-2013
WE ARE NOT GOING TO SURRENDER.
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.
