THE HISTORY OF P & T TRADE UNION MOVEMENT IN INDIA
Postal Service - An Introduction
The Postal System in India was first introduced by Lord
Clive in 1756 for official communication only. Bags used
to be sent to the District Magistrates and Collectors.
The first Post Office was opened in Calcutta during 1774,
for sending communication by private persons. Postal
Committee of 1852 recommended the introduction of
postage stamps and also dropped the practice of
charging the articles according to distance. During
October, 1854 the postage stamp was introduced for
use in Post offices, (i.e) quarter anna postcard and half
anna envelope.
The Railway system was first started in 1853
and thereafter expanded its linkage to all big Cities.
Along with Railways, the Postal system was also
expanded. Telegraph system was introduced in 1853.
Emerging Trade Unions
T. U. consciousness in India had first grown during the
later half of 19th Century, amongst the textile workers
of Bombay and Nagpur. The total strike observed by
the workers of Empress Mill Nagpur in 1877 over wage
rate was the first working class struggle in the country.
Between 1882 and 1890 about 25 strikes took place in
Madras & Bombay Presidencies. During 1905 to 1909
there were continuous strikes in Bombay textile mills
as well as other factories due to economic distress, ever
rising cost of living, without corresponding increase in
wages to the workers and the economic crisis caused
due to imports from Manchester, Sheffield which
created the total down fall of textile mills and also
created unemployment. T. U. consciousness was
emerging in the country in the back ground of many
workers struggle throughout the world.. The
amalgamated society of Railway workers of India and
Burma which was formed in 1897 by Anglo Indians and
domiciled Europeans had also contributed in developing
T. U. consciousness among the Govt. employees and
workers.
Beginning of P & T Movement
The discontentment was growing amongst the P & T
employees over their service conditions and ill
treatment. During 1880, there was a sporadic strike by
Postmen of Poona, over some grievances. The Strikers
were helped to a great extent by Late Bal Gangadhar
Tilak. Between 1886 to 1988 discontent was also
simmering amongst the Postal and RMS employees due
to the unhygenic working conditions, hard work, low
wages, oven like RMS Vans, long and inconvenient hours
of work and tyrannical discipline etc. as per the report
published in Amrit Bazar Patrika dated 4th March, 1886.
Postal club incognito Trade Union Merger of Postal of Telecom & its first achievement
In 1905 the Postal Club was formed at 18. Ganesh During 1912, the Government has consolidated the
T.U WORK SHOP/SEMINAR 1 TRIVANDRUM 04,05.Nov’2009
Chandra Avenue, Calcutta 13 incognito to the Trade
Union movement under the Leadership of Late Babu
Tarapada Mukherji who entered the service on
01.02.1895 as a postal employee. After the recognition
of Postal Club, it was organised 150 employees and
started sending memorials to the Government. The
Presidency Postmaster called the Secretary Com.
Ashwini Kumar and told him' Look here, Aswini, if you
do not give up your Secretaryship, I will transfer you to
Port Blair. He replied "I will carry my banner of the union
there too." One B. L. Advocate Sril Nirmal Sen Gupta
had joined the Postal Club and his oratory and
penmanship attracted everybody. Bombay Postal Club
was also formed in 1905 but it had started its working
in 1907, which also carried only the Trade union
activities. Postal League of Dacca was first started in
1909 by Sarat Chandra Sen. He prepared many
memorials and posted to all over India which had the
impact of organizing T.U. activities through out the
nation. Resultantly, the PMG had threatened him to
desist his activities or he will arrest him. But he never
cared. Then he was transferred to Imphal and had
worked till 1912. At the time of Bengal Bifurcation, he
was again sent back to Dacca.
10 Days Strike In 1908 - Com. Henry Barton, the
Pioneer.
Mr. Henry Barton, himself a telegraphist, working in
Burma, started focussing attention of the authorities
on the grievances of telegraph workers through the
columns of various news papers under a psendonym.
In 1906 he started a Magazine called as Telegraph
Recorder in name of a Chinese Gentleman. For the trade
Union activites and for the publication of 'Telegraph
Recorder', Com. Henry Barton was suspended from
service. He was proceeded for the publication of the
journal. But the Chineese gentlemen had accepted his
authorship and pleaded for Com. Henry Barton.
However the Department had transferred him from
Burma to Berhampur (Orissa). He had availed two years
leave and finally established the Indian Telegraph
Association in 1908 with the head quarters at Calcutta
and launched the first strike of telegraphists which
lasted for 10 days. This successful strike had resulted in
the revision of salaries to the telegraphists and defacto
recognition ensured by the method of collective
bargaining. Postal signallers who had worked in the
place of telegraphists during the strike did not get the
benefits. After the Strike, Com. Henry Barton was
dismissed from the service and he become the full time
worker of 'Indian Telegraph Association'.
Postal & Telecom and brought under one Department
and under the control of D. G P&T. Therefore Com.
Henry Barton, Sen Gupta & Babu Tarapada joined
together and led the mass of the P&T Workers. During
the first world war (1914 to 1918), their united
movement has brought the Dearness Allowance first
to Govt. employees as Rs.3/- & Rs.5/-in the name of
grain allowance.
145 days Bombay Strike in 1920
The Russion Revolution in 1917 has created a new
atmosphere and the working class movement had
emerged with a new spirit throughout the world. It had
its impact in India also. During post war period since
1918 onwards there were series of working class strikes
in the country and the discontent was due to post war
expenditure made the life miserable and intolerable.
The Postal employees are not in exemption but they
were in the forefront of working class struggle.
On 16th March 1918 Bombay City Postmen
Union was formed due to the efforts of Shri. V. G. Dalvi.
Bar-at-law and he was the first Secretary. The Postmen
of Bombay City conducted a glorious strike in September
1920 which lasted for 145 days. The telegraph
messangers had also joined the strike later. Ultimately
discussions were held with the Presidency Postmaster
and Chief Supdt. of Central Telegraph office Bombay and
an agreement was reached resulting in redressal of
many grievances of the Postmen. The Postmen Union,
thereafter was formed at Poona, Ahemedabad and
other places. Ultimately the Bombay Presidency
Postmen and Lower Grade staff Union had been formed
and it carried the T.U. activities.
Bihar Dhoti Strike
The Postal Clerk was paid Rs.20/- only as pay in the year
1916. Most of the officials were retired with the
maximum of Rs.30/- or Rs.40/- atmost. Their repeated
representations yielded with no results. The staff of
Muzzaffarpur H.O. had decided to come in Dhoti for duty
from 2/2/1919 to record the protest and anger. It spread
to other cities in Bihar. The Viceroy had no other
alternative except to announce an increase of Rs.10/-
per head and the Dhoti agitation had ended in 4 or 5
days with successful results.
Formation of Postal Union & others from 1920 to 1932
The All India Post office and R.M.S union was formed in
the year 1920 under the Leadership of Babu Tarapada
Mukherji. During the post war period on account of the
mounting pressure of the workers, the Government had
appointed a Telegraph Enquiry committee and a
separate committee for Postal Employees under the
Chairmanship of Mr. H. H. Haseltine C.I.E. Mr. Barton
was nominated as a member of the Telegraph Enquiry
Committee. But in the Postal committee, no union
T.U WORK SHOP/SEMINAR
representative was nominated and particularly, they
denied the right to Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, being
nominated as the member of the committee.
Based on the recommendations of these
committees, time scale of pay was introduced in the
place of grade system in the year 1927. As the report
was unsatisfactory, there were serious protests among
the Postal employees. Babu Tarapada demanded that
pay of the clerk should be enhanced from Rs.60/- to
Rs.200/- and end the discrimination to the staff working
in R.M.S. & D.L.O as the benefit of pay revision was not
extended to them. A separate R. M.S. Union was then
formed at Gorakhpur and one more union named as
"The Association of Town Inspectors and Inspector of
Post Offices' also sprang up during 1926-27 to project
their cadre interest. Between 1920 to 1932 some more
unions were formed. The Circle Offices Staff Association
was recognized by the Government in April 1930. Thus
from 2 unions in 1920, it mounted to 20 by 1930. But
the degree of unionization increased consistently from
19% in 1920 to 43.75% in 1932. This rise and fall in the
P & T Trade Union movement during this period was
due to the fact that the entire movement was in the
hands of few leaders & mass of the workers were not
properly trained on Trade Union lines.
Babu Tarapada demise - A blow to P & T movement
Babu Tarapada had gone to Simla to discuss about the
selection grade problems in clerical cadre. A bogus
telegram was issued in the name of Profulla (his
nephew) that "Biren attacked with small fox. Come
immediately," Biren way his elder son. Tarapada
returned only after discussion of the issue. Babu
Tarapada died on 20.09.1929 which gave a blow to the
P&T movement. Com. N. C. Sengupta was elected as
General Secretary and thereafter he led the movement.
In 1931, Government has decided upon the
policy of retrenchment and decided 10% cut in salaries.
This could not be resisted effectively due to splinter
groups of unions which had not come together to launch
any struggle. This stalmate was continued upto 1934,
In 1934 the Government appointed the Postal Enquiry
Committee known as Pasricha Committee which
recommended new scales of pay from July 31, 1934.
1939 to 1946 - 3 week Postmen strike
During 1939 to 1945, no significant movement took
place due the Second World War. But the movement
under went a qualitative change. The membership in
this year touched a new height of 51%. The
discontentment amongst the employees increased by
leaps and bounds as the Government did not implement
the adjudicator's award (Justice Rajadhakaya). All these
resulted in Postmen strike of 1946. This was also joined
by A. I. Postal and R.M.S. Employees Union. This was
called off after three weeks when the agreement was
2 TRIVANDRUM 04,05.Nov’2009
signed. As a result of implementation of the award, the
P & T Employees were paid 15% of pay (i.e) Rs.3.75 as
Grain Compensation Allowance and Good Conduct Pay
was raised to Rs.10/-. This strike also shook the
Government completely and to some extent helped the
independence struggle of the country.
1947 to 1954
With the dawn of Independence the T.U. movement
gained further momentum and U P T W (Union of P & T
workers) was formed on 13th August 1947 by merger
of All India Postal & RMS Union, the Indian P&T Union
led by Com. M. A. Jabbar and the Indian Telegraph
Association led by Dr. G. Noronha. The major union of
the All India Postmen & L. G. Staff union (lead by com.
G. Dalvi) however kept out. The membership swelled
from 61% in 1947 to 67% in 1950. On the eve of
Independence, 1st pay commission was appointed to
set down some principles for wage determination and
rationalization of pay scales. The recommendations of
First pay commission acquired national significance as
it replaced regional scales. Within 2 years of the
acceptance of recommendation of the 1st pay
commission Report, a dispute arose on the question of
Dearness allowance as the Government refused to
implement the recommendations of the Commission.
The threat of strike in 1949 and later in 1951 brought
some adhoc relief. The threatened strike of 1949 had
resulted in long term imprisonment of Com. O. P. Gupta,
then General Secretary U P T W and other leading
comrades all over the country. Com. Khushal Singh,
Postmen, Com. Janak Gupta T. O. and a few others were
dismissed in the year 1949.
Realignment and Formation of NFPTE
The question of the Realignment of all the existing P&T
Unions was mooted as early as 1948 and was even
discussed in a conference. Again in 1952 the issue came
to the fore but agreement was not arrived at. In 1954 a
scheme of Realignment was circulated to elicit opinion
from all those concerned. The Govt. approved scheme
for the realignment of Unions in full was released
through a special circular by the then Director General,
Posts and Telegraphs Shri. H. L. Jerath (No. SPA- 351/
20/47 dt. 2nd July, 1954)
The scheme envisaged nine All India Unions (for
the Class - IV and allied cadres - 4 for the class III and
allied cadre-4, one for the Class III and Class IV cadres).
The unions will be formed section wise i.e. Postal, RMS
Engineering and Traffic (two in each one for Class III and
another for Class IV) and in the Administrative Offices
the service Association will represent both the Class III
and Class IV cadre. The nine unions will be federated as
a body. These are the technical aspects.
The welcome feature was the right of sole
representation of the P&T employees was vested with
T.U WORK SHOP/SEMINAR
the Federation of these nine Unions. The special
features are the nine unions will be compulsorily
affiliated to the Federation and the Federation has also
no right to expel its affiliates. The All India Unions will
however, be autonomous so far as the questions relating
only to its members are concerned. The All India Unions
will also be separately recognized by the Government.
The membership enrolment be through the respective
All India Unions only.
After the coming into being of the Federation
those unions/Associations which do not join the scheme
of Realignment and opt for retaining their distinct
recognition as a different body will not have the right
to enrol any new members. They will be permitted to
retain their original membership.
This scheme was accepted by the Unions of P&T
Workers, All India P.M. & L.G. Staff Union, All India Postal
& RMS Union, Telegraph Workmen's Union, Telegraph
& Telephone Engineering Union and Telegraph Line Staff
Union,
The Union which accepted the scheme
established the All India Ad-hoc Committee of the
respective unions (9) and issued instructions in
September 1954 for implementing the scheme. The
time schedule for holding the All India Conferences in
7-10 November, 1954 at Delhi was also drawn up. The
joint session of the Nine All India unions were held at
Vinaynagar New Delhi at 6 PM on Sunday the 24th
November 1954. The nine All India conferences held
their open sessions on the 22nd November, 1954 and
continued up to 24th November 1954. The Federal
Councilors of the nine All Indian Unions (realigned) who
met at 4.30 P.M. on 24th November. 1954 adopted a
resolution which stated inter alia that the National
Federation of P&T Employees is established on this day
the 24th November, 1954.
The elections were held in the most democratic
manner. Contests did take place for the important posts
including that of the Secretary General. Decision on
crucial issues were taken at different levels and stages
by the representatives and in appropriate forums.
Since 1954 the NFPTE has chequered history
and a glorious record of services to the membership
and the Central Government Employees movement.
1957 Strike Call Led To Setting Up of Second Pay
Commission
The economic conditions drifted from bad to worst and
the inflation has hit the employees worse. The NFPTE
therefore demanded for setting up of a Second Pay
Commission and immediate grant of interim Relief and
served strike notice in August 1957. The other
organizations of Central Government employees under
the aegis of Confederation of Central Government
Employees and workers also gave the strike notices. This
has resulted the Government in announcement of
3 TRIVANDRUM 04,05.Nov’2009
appointment of 2nd Pay Commission.
July 1960 Strike
The report of the Second Pay Commission caused deep
disappointment and resentment amongst the
employees. The norms of D.A. were slashed. Need based
minimum wage as per the norms of 15th I.L.C. was
denied on the plea of flexibility pay scales. The
employees were depressed due to incremental rates
which were either not improved or in some cases
reduced. These retrograde recommendations of Second
Pay Commission led to 5 days strike in Central
Government Employees from 12th July 1960
spearheaded by NFPTE. The Government let loose a
reign of terror and adopted severe repressive measures.
Thousands of workers all over the country were
arrested, suspended, removed from service and faced
trials in the courts of law. 17780 P&T employees were
arrested and put behind the bar. NFPTE was
derecognized, which was subsequently restored in 1962.
But inspite of derecognition, NFPTE continued to
function and all the disabilities of 1960 strike were got
nullified and none amongst the rank of NFPTE remained
out of job.
Appointment of Das Body & Gajendragadkar
Commission on D.A. Issue
The employees were unable to accept the dying wage.
The D.A. issue remained the main focal point of dispute.
The Chinese aggression in 1962 and Pakistan aggression
in 1965 delayed the settlement of the genuine issues
of Government employees. However Government has
appointed Das Body for consideration of D.A. in 1964.
It had recommended to grant additional D.A. and also
to revise the D.A. formula but the Government rejected
its recommendations. The Government through mass
pressure was again compelled to appoint another
commission headed by justice P. B. Gajendrgadkar in
1967. This commission as well as National Commission
on labour recommended the appointment of 3rd pay
commission. But this was not done.
Introduction of the Scheme of Joint Consultative
Machinery and compulsory arbitration scheme
The 1960 glorious strike although failed but it forced
the Government to concede many demands bit by bit
later on. The Government in its anxiety to avert such
catastrophe conceived the scheme of Joint Consultation
and Arbitration Scheme in 1963. The scheme was finally
accepted by the recognized unions in the year 1966 after
seeking improvements in the scheme. The important
feature got introduced in the scheme was that no new
union in any department would be recognized where a
union representing all the categories of staff broadly
and adequately existed.
1968 Strike
Under the leadership of NFPTE, the P & T workers
T.U WORK SHOP/SEMINAR 4 TRIVANDRUM 04,05.Nov’2009
acquired lot of gains and settled many of their long
standing demands. The maximum settlement was
reached in the year 1967. In 1968, the Staff side National
Council of JCM raised the demand for need based
minimum wage according to 15th I.L.C. norms. The
Government refused to settle it and therefore a
disagreement was signed. The Government thereafter
refused to refer the demand to Board of Arbitration
under the Scheme. This compelled the Central
Government Employees to go on one day token strike
on 19.09.68. In P & T, the strike was massive and very
wide spread. The Government has adopted the same
repressive measures, like mass scale arrests,
termination, suspension and derecognition of Unions.
There was human loss of strikers who had been shot by
the police. Several leaders were arrested and put behind
the bar. There was heavy victimizations throughout the
nation. The NFPTE was derecognized immediately. The
NFPTE could be recognized again in 1970 only through
court order.
Formation of Rival Unions
In the wake of one day token strike and derecognition
of NFPTE w.e.f. 21.09.68, the P & T Department gave
recognition to a rival federation on paper without
membership throwing overboard all the norms of
recognition of unions and unilaterally breaking the
realignment scheme. The FNPO was formed and
extended all patronage by the ruling Congress
Government then.
Most of the disgruntled elements joined the
rival unions. Lately the Janata Government has given
recognition to a third Federation based on political
consideration against the avowed principle of one union
in one Industry as outlined in the manifesto of Janata
Party. Thus the Bhartiya Postal Federation was formed
on 17.11.78.
Historic & Glorious Strike of P4 - 19.09.1984
The P4 Union under the leadership of Com. Adinarayana
had called upon one day token strike on 19.09.1994
exclusively for the ED demands. Eventhough the strike
was a great and historic success, the non participation
of other wings under NFPTE and the role of the
Federation has raised several debates aftermath of the
strike. However, this strike has revived the strength of
the movement and cut the ice in the long silence of
strike action since 1968 in the P&T movement.
Bifurcation of P&T and Formation of NFPE
The bifurcation of the P&T Department took place on
1.1.1985. Resultantly, there was no alternative except
to bifurcate the NFPTE also and accordingly by in the
18th Federal council of NFPTE held at Kolkata from
17.03.86 to 21.03.86, the separate federation for Postal
Unions was formed under the name of 'National
Federation of Postal Employees’. Com. N. J. Iyer, Com.
K. L. Moza and Com. Des Raj Sharma were duly elected
as the first President. Secretary General, and Treasurer
respectively for the newly formed 'NFPE. Com.
Adinarayana was elected as Deputy Secretary General
of the Federation.
Eventhough an arrangement to continue the
NFPTE as the co ordinating body for Postal & Telecom
was decided in the council, it was not implemented
whole heartedly after the bifurcation. NFPE is nothing
but the replica of NFPTE.
First Attack on RMS
During the period between 1982-85, Sorting work in
running trains in Railway Mail Service in about 285
sections all over India was abolished. This has rendered
surplus of nearly 4500 posts of sorting Assistants and
about 3000 van peons (Group D). Night sets have been
abolished at many places.
Jabalpur conference of R3 union decided to
organize one day token strike which took place on
06.06.1985 for the exclusive demands of R3.
Participation of mass movement
Dharwar Federal Council held in 1992 has resolved to
join all the workers movement of the nation whenever
the mass platform organisation called upon for direct
action. Since then, the NFPE is involving its all cadres
for all such programmes.
Local Struggles
The NFPTE & NFPE being the mass movement have
already encouraged the local struggles and extended
its support to the local agitations. Few examples of local
struggles are furnished just for information.
1. 5000 Postmen of Bombay city struck work from
01.06.92 to protest against the combination of beats
and curtailment of deliveries. NFPE intervened on
04.06.92. The Chief PMG was forced to sit with the Circle
union leaders and agreement was signed to keep all the
orders under abeyance and there was no victimization
for the participation of the strike.
2. The Postmen of Chandigarh and Ludhiana conducted
total strike from 01.06.92 to 07.06.92 to protest against
the curtailment of deliveries and combination of beats.
The strike was called off on 07.06.02 after holding a
special meeting with the circle union leaders where all
the orders were kept under abeyance and there was
no victimization.
3. Glorious Strike of Kerala: Against abolition of Mail
offices and change in the pattern of sorting in the shape
of outward and inward, the RMS employees of Kerala
Circle started strike from 08.06.92. the Strike started
T.U WORK SHOP/SEMINAR
from Changanacherry which was spread to the entire
circle including post offices. The entire state was
paralised. The authorities efforts to shift the RMS work
to Post offices was effectively resisted and defeated.
The strike was called off on 18.06.92 after an agreement
with Circle union leaders was reached.
4. Against abolition of 56 posts of Postmen & thier
redeployment, New Delhi GPO & New Delhi Central
Division have served strike notice on 07.11.94 and
complained to Regional Labour Commissioner. Other
division had also served strike notice on 26.11.94.
5. North East Region: - The officials working in Telecom
& 34 others Departments of C. G. were drawing the
special Duty Allowance and only in the postal it was
denied. The Department of Posts appealed against the
CAT, Guwahati decision allowing SDA to all C. G.
Employees working in the region and obtained a stay
order. In case of other Departments, either stay was
not granted or the Departments did not appeal. This
has resulted a total strike from 02.06.91 to 08.06.91 in
the region.
The Federations advised the Circle unions of
North East regions to suspend the agitation in view of
the general elections and make it as one of the demand
in the proposed All India Strike to be held from 15.07.01.
Accordingly, the circle unions called off the strike on
09.06.91.
Thereafter, as there was no improvement in the
demand, the Circle unions of Assam & North East Region
went on Strike for 38 days from 15.11.91 to 22.12.91.
This was called off on 22.12.91 after reaching the
agreement on the following.
(i) No victimization
(ii) Pay advance to all & will be adjusted in three
monthly installments
(iii) Strike period will be adjusted against EL.
The Government assured that the issue will be
resolved at the earliest. Hon'ble Supreme Court
delivered its judgment on 20.09.94 setting aside the
judgment of the Guwahati of Cuttack CAT. Two sitting
judges Hon Kuldeep Singh & V. D. L. H. while setting
aside the judgment however granted no recovery from
the officials who have been paid the SDA. This causes
another kind of discrimination between Postal &
Telecom in the same Ministry.
The comrades of Assam & NE again went on
one day token strike again on 19.02.95 and there was
heavy victimization. Several Rule 37 transfers were
ordered. Leaders were punished on flimsy reasons.
However the issue was settled only after the
implementation of Sixth CPC. Our CHQ had a role in
demandings SDA to Postal Employees of the region
through our memorandum and also in oral evidence.
6. Tamilnadu: - While the Government has caused
5 TRIVANDRUM 04,05.Nov’2009
orders to treat the Bonus strike period as eligible leave
to regular employees, the ED employees were denied
and depressed. The P3 circle union of Tamilnadu Circle
in order to register protest over the arbitrary treatment
to EDAS has conducted one day to the strike on
30.04.1995 which was a total success in the circle.
There were many such local struggles
conducted by the circles/divisions. However, the
particulars of these actions are not available on
records. If the circle secretaries/divisional Secretaries
consolidate the particulars of local struggles conducted
in their area, its achievements and victimization etc.
the CHQ will compile all these items and publish in
the Bhartiya Post or publish a separate book on local
struggles. Opinions/suggestions among the
participants of the workshop is also invited.
December 1993 Strike
On 18.09.83, the union cabinet has agreed for
appointment of 5th CPC as a consequence of
negotiation held in the wake of C. G. Employees from
decision for General Strike which was scheduled to
commence from 12.10.93. 5th CPC was appointed on
09.04.94 with Chairman Justice S. R. Pandian, member
Prof. Suresh Tendulkar and Member Secretary, M. K.
Khan. NFPTE directed the Staff Side Secretary National
council (JCM) to include the demand of formation of
independent ED Committee & scrapping of New
Recognition Rules. Justice Talwar Committee on EDAs
was appointed on 31.03.95 due to the Four days strike
the Postal JCA launced from 07.12.93 to 10.12.93.
New Recognition Rules 1993
The revised Recognition rules were notified by
Government vide Mo 2/10/80-JCA (Vol. IV) dt. 05.11.93.
NFPE protested the rules since Federations & GDS are
not covered by this rules. Filed a case in Delhi High Court.
The Court dismissed the petition. During the first
verification held in 1995, NFPE boycotted. However no
union could be recognized as no one had secured 35%
in that verification. However, NFPE has made to
participate the verification held in 1997 after the
formation of separate set of rules for GDS as 'EDA (RS)
Rules 1995 for the verification of membership.
Achievements & Gains
The significant achievement of NFPTE is the agreement
LET US BE PROUD TO THE MEMBER OF THE GREATEST ORGANIZATION.
LET US STRENGTHEN OUR MIGHTY NFPE & ITS UNIONS.
T.U WORK SHOP/SEMINAR
reached in 1974 with the P&T Board on 20%
promotional avenue for the P & T workers. It has been
successful in getting 16 holidays plus two restricted
holidays for the P & T operative staff. The Bonus strike
has compelled the Government to grant bonus to postal
employees at par with Railway. The Two promotions
(TBOP & BCR) was its achievement where no such
provision of automatic promotion was available in any
other Central Government Departments.
Conclusion
NFPE is still the premier organization of Postal workers
even in the midst and emergence of rival federation
and unions. It has today having 70% and more
membership of Postal employees. It is an independent
organization and not affiliated to any Central Trade
Union or organization. It comprises of all shades of
opinions.
There has been an unfortunate period of
serious infighting for some years. But despite this and
the serious attack on it by the Government during the
black days of emergency, when the duly elected office
bearers were not recognized, journals were burnt,
leaders were arrested and put behind the bars and
unleashed all forms of repressive measures to crush the
organization, the NFPTE (NFPE) has survived and
emerged more united and stronger.
Thus, the NFPE with its glorious history and
tradition has committed and determined to serve the
Postal Workers to improve their economic and service
conditions and continue to serve as the vanguard of
the Central Government employees movement as a
whole.
The innate faith of the P&T works to the NFPTE/
NFPE and their loyalty to the organsation cuts across
all kinds of barriers primarily because the links and
communion between the rank and file and the Central
Leadership is continuous true and real.
The Postal workers by their own experience and
wisdom thus acquired have identified and accepted the
NFPE as the only organization which can spearhead the
struggle body at the Centre. Its message and mandate
are honoured by nearly five lakh employees who
constitute the NFPE.
The NFPE is a movement and no power can halt this
force on its onward March.
- K. V. Sridharan, General Secretary
6 TRIVANDRUM 04,05.Nov’2009