Tuesday, September 27, 2011

U.S. Postal Service workers plan local rally

September 27, 2011
 
U.S. Postal Service employees upset about being required to contribute to an retirees health benefits account they say is over-funded will rally today in Marietta.
The employees say that over-funding has led to financial problems for the postal service, that is leading to layoffs and post office closings.
The rally is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. in front of Congressman Bill Johnson's Marietta office.
Similar rallies will be held in all 435 congressional districts across the country today. Members of four of the U.S. Postal Service's unions will participate in the rallies, including the American Postal Workers Union, National Association of Letter Carriers, National Postal Mail Handlers Union and National Rural Letter Carriers' Association.
"We're not looking for huge crowds - it's not a protest - we're just there to ask for the congressman's help," said John Dyce, president of the Ohio State Association of Letter Carriers.
John Harding, a letter carrier for the Marietta Post Office and president of branch 154 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, said the account in question has been over-funded by almost $75 billion.
"Had we been refunded the money that's rightfully ours, we would've been profitable or broke even over the four years we've supposedly lost money," Harding said.
U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson, R-Ohio, said Monday he will not be at his office during the rally today but he is well aware of the concerns.
"I've written a couple of letters to the postal service to not only express my concern about how some of their reorganization is going to affect rural post offices throughout eastern and southeastern Ohio, but asking that big question, 'How did we wind up with a pension program that is so over-funded and what do they plan to do to make that right with the postal service employees?,'" he said.
Dyce explained that the Postal Reorganization Act, passed by Congress in 2006, requires that the U.S. Postal Service pay into the future employees' retirement health benefits account.
"It's $5.5 billion due Sept. 30 of each year - that's a substantial amount of money," Dyce said. "When that was passed, the economy was in quite a different place and the postal service had no trouble making those payments (but) with the downturn (in the economy) the postal service has notified the government they will not be able to make that payment."
Dyce said the requirement "places a great burden on the (U.S.) Postal Service."
"They're pre-paying for employees that have not been born yet - 75 years out is what they're pre-funding," he said. "There's no other company in America that does such a thing and no other government agency that does such a thing."
Johnson called the act passed in 2006 a "burdensome provision."
"Requiring the postal service to continue to fully pre-fund the retirement account that is already fully funded at the expense of customer service does not make sense," he said. "That's one of the reasons I supported the Continuing Resolution last week that would delay the postal service from making another $5.5 billion payment into the fund by the end of the month."
House Bill 1351, the United States Postal Service's Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011, is meant to recover the money that has been overpaid and U.S. Postal Service employees are trying to get it pushed through Congress.
The bill was introduced by U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Massachusetts, on April 5.
"What we're going to be there on Tuesday for is to encourage Bill Johnson to co- sponsor and help pass H.R. 1351," Dyce said.
Johnson said he hasn't yet decided whether the bill is one that he wants to co-sponsor.
"We are taking a look at 1351 (and) I have not finished our analysis of that but we certainly want to do what's right by the people, so we're going to be taking a strong look at that," he said.
Other legislators have said they don't support stopping the payment in order to solve the postal service's financial woes.
Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California has proposed legislation that would eliminate Saturday delivery and close post offices instead.

Monday, September 19, 2011

     WE DIP OUR FLAG IN THE EVENT OF SUDDEN DEMISE OF OUR COMRADE  BALAKRISHNAN A K THE DIVISIONAL        SECRETARY AIPEDEU PATHANAMTHITTA DIVISION

   THE  MOTTO HE UPHELD THROUGHOUT HIS TRADE UNION AND PUBLIC LIFE WILL ALWAYS BE A LIGHTBEARING TORCH WHICH WILL LEAD US IN THE DARKNESS.

     RED SALUTE RED SALUTE  RED SALUTE
LAL SALAM  LAL SALAM LAL SALAM COM BALAKRISHNAN .


   COM.BALAKRISHNAN MET AN ACCIDENT ON 16TH SEPTEMBER 2011, 3.00 PM WHILE GOING TO ATTEND AN RPLI MEETING AT RANNI. WE PAY OUR HEARTFELT HOMAGE IN THE UNTIMELY SAD DEMISE OF OUR COMRADE BALAN.   

Monday, September 12, 2011


STEERING COMMITTEE OF GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEES ORGANISATIONSONS ON PFRDA BILL

            11th September 2011

Dear Comrades

PARLIAMENT MARCH ON 25TH NOVEMBER 2011

            Please refer to Circular Dt 29th August 2011.

            It was conveyed there-in that the March to Parliament would be held on 29th November 2011.

            It has now been decided to pre-pone the March to Parliament to 25thNovember 2011.

            All the participant organisations are requested to note the change and guide/direct their field formations accordingly.

           With greetings
           Sd/-
          (SK Vyas)
          Convener


            Mere registration of an FIR or filing of a charge sheet under the Prevention of Corruption Act is not enough to withhold the release of pension benefits due to a government servant. The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has ruled that final pension, gratuity, leave encashment or other such benefits due to a government servant on retirement cannot be held back in the event of a criminal complaint against him/her.

            The ruling came from a bench of CAT chairman VK Bali and member Ramesh Chandra Panda, which ordered the ministry of finance and the Central Board of Direct Taxes to restore forthwith the full pension of VB Bansal, Assistant Commissioner of Income Tax, and make payment of all arrears due within six weeks. Invoking rule 69 of the Central Civil Service (Pension) Rules 1972, the government had withheld Bansal's final pension, gratuity, leave encashment and some other post-retirement benefits on the ground that a case of disproportionate assets registered against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation on February 2005 was still pending.

            Bansal had contended that after investigation, the CBI sent a report to the court for cancellation of the FIR in 2007, and he could not be made to suffer if the court had not taken any decision even after four years. The government argued that if no decision had been taken by the Magistrate concerned, on the cancellation report sent by CBI, it shall be deemed that judicial proceedings were pending.

            But the CAT rejected the government's arguments, saying: "It is only after the Magistrate may not accept the cancellation report and may order further investigation in the matter, and on such investigation, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) collects sufficient evidence, which may sustain conviction and the Magistrate may take cognisance, that judicial proceedings can be said to be pending against the applicant (Bansal)."While ordering payment of full pension and post-retirement benefits to Bansal, the bench did not agree to payment of interest on the amount due."However, if the arrears as mentioned above and the withheld post-retiral dues are not released to the applicant within the time mentioned above, the applicant will be entitled to interest thereon at the rate of 9% per annum from that date till the date of actual payment," it added.

- Hindustan Times, 11.09.2011


            Mere retirement will not be a ground for dropping proceedings against corrupt government servants who will now face a 10 per cent cut in pension in case of minor penalty.

            The present major penalty of compulsory retirement with full benefits will be changed hereafter with a cut of 20 per cent in pension.

            The new rules will be effective under decisions made in the first report of the group of ministers oncorruption headed by finance minister Pranab Mukherjee.

            In a bid to tackle corruption and to fast track cases of public servants accused of graft, the GoM has decided to eliminate certain tiers in consultation process.
These steps are part of a series of measures accepted by the government for immediate implementation following the recommendations made.

            The government's decisions come in the wake of Anna Hazare's anti-corruption campaign for a Lokpal Bill that would also cover bureaucratic graft.

            Until now, a government servant on the verge of retirement can escape proceedings for minor penalty. The GoM has now decided mere superannuation should not be a ground for dropping proceedings for minor penalty.

            A cut in pension upto 10 per cent may be imposed in case of minor penalty. This cut will have a ceiling of five years as a life-long reduction in pension would come under the category of major penalty.

            The existing major penalty of compulsory retirement with full benefits may be changed to compulsory retirement along with a provision that the competent authority may impose upto 20 per cent cut in pension.

            However, there would be no cut in pension in those cases of compulsory retirement of officers being weeded out for non-performance.

            The GoM has also decided to make the departments and ministries to primarily use serving officers as Inquiry and Presenting Officers in one of the steps towards speeding up the inquiry proceedings.

In important cases, the officers may request the central vigilance commission to appoint their commissioner of direct inquiries as IO.

The GoM is also of the opinion that CVC may also maintain a panel of IOs and POs from among retired officers after screening and empanelment. They could also be engaged on the advice of the CVC.

            Taking into account that delays in sanction of prosecution of public servants, the GoM says that it was imperative that sanction should be decided expeditiously and within the prescribed time-frame of three months.

            The GoM has recommended that in all cases where the investigating agency has sought sanction for prosecution and submitted a charge sheet along with it, the competent authority will have to take a decision within three months from the receipt of the request and pass a 'speaking order' with reasons.

            If the permission is refused by the competent authority, the request should go to the next higher authority and if it is the minister and he too refuses he should submit the order within seven days to the Prime Minister.

            The secretary of each ministry and department will monitor all cases where a request has been made for permission to prosecute and submit a certificate every month to the Cabinet Secretary to the effect that no case is pending for more than 3 months. Reasons for pendency of a case for more than three months should be explained.

Times of India, 11.09.2011

Mail Network Optimization Project

Our Federation has submitted a detailed note on 29.08.2011 containing 44 pages to the department about our view & position on MNOP for discussion.
Interest views can download the following link and offer their comments & suggestions if any immediately to us that we can discuss the same also in the meeting scheduled to be held soon exclusively for this purpose.
Please download the following link

Friday, September 9, 2011

HOLDING OF LIMITED DEPARTMENTAL COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION (LGO), 2011 AND IP EXAMINATION 2011.

D.G. Posts No. A-34012/04/2011-DE dated 07.09.2011

            I am directed to refer to this office letter No. A-34012/02/2010-DE dated 30.08.2011wherein Limited Departmental Competitive Examination for LGO and IP Examination 2011 were postponed.

2.         The revised dates for LGO Examination and IP Examination 2011 have been fixed as 15th October for LGO and 15th & 16th October 2011 for IP Examination.

3.         Accordingly the revised schedule for conducting both the Examination are enclosed at Annexure –I & II.

4.         It is requested to take further necessary action strictly as per the enclosed schedule. Receipt of this letter may kindly be acknowledged.

            Annexure – I

                 Schedule for conducting the Limited Departmental Competitive    
            Examination     for        promotion to the cadre of Inspector of Posts
            for the year 2011


S. No.
Activity
Schedule
1.
Receipt of application from willing candidates on plain paper with his service details to decide his eligibility to Divisional/Regional Office/Circle Office/Controlling Unit






Already Processed.
2.
Receipt of Application Form Kits by Nodal Officer (DPS HQrs) of Circle from CMS
3.
Receipt of Application Form Kits by Divisional Office/Regional Office/Circle Office /Controlling Unit from Nodal Officer (DPS HQrs) of Circle for making available to the eligible candidates.
4.
Last date for receipt of Application Form (duly filled in) at Divisional Office/Regional Office/Circle Office/Controlling Unit from the candidates.


09.09.2011
5.
Receipt of duly filled in application Form by Nodal Office(DPS HQrs) of Circle sent by the Divisional Office/Regional Office/Circle Office/Controlling Unit


20.09.2011
6.
Forwarding duly filled in Application Forms by Nodal Officer (DPS HQrs) of Circle to CMC.
26.09.2011
7.
Issue of Hall Permits by CMC to eligible candidates.
05.10.2011

Date of Examination
15th & 16th October,2011

           


            Annexure –II

              Schedule for conducting the Limited Departmental Competitive       
              Examination for promotion to the cadre of LGO for the year 2011


S. No.
Activity
Schedule
1.
Receipt of application from willing candidates on plain paper with his service details to decide his eligibility to Divisional/Regional Office/Circle Office/Controlling Unit






Already Processed.
2.
Receipt of Application Form Kits by Nodal Officer (DPS HQrs) of Circle from CMS
3.
Receipt of Application Form Kits by Divisional Office/Regional Office/Circle Office /Controlling Unit from Nodal Officer (DPS HQrs) of Circle for making available to the eligible candidates.
4.
Last date for receipt of Application Form (duly filled in) at Divisional Office/Regional Office/Circle Office/Controlling Unit from the candidates.


09.09.2011
5.
Receipt of duly filled in application Form by Nodal Office(DPS HQrs) of Circle sent by the Divisional Office/Regional Office/Circle Office/Controlling Unit


20.09.2011
6.
Forwarding duly filled in Application Forms by Nodal Officer (DPS HQrs) of Circle to CMC.
26.09.2011
7.
Issue of Hall Permits by CMC to eligible candidates.
05.10.2011

Date of Examination
15th October,2011





--

            The property of corrupt public servant is confiscated under the provisions of Criminal Law (Amendment) Ordinance, 1944 and Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. However, to make the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 self contained and comprehensive the Government is considering incorporating the provisions for confiscation/forfeiture of property of corrupt public servants in the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988.

            On 8th June, 2011, the media had reported that the Hon'ble Supreme Court has sought amendment to the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. These observations were reportedly made by the Supreme Court while dismissing an appeal filed by an Assistant Commissioner, Central Excise, against his conviction. However, the formal order passed by the Hon'ble Supreme Court on 8.6.2011 in the case, i.e. Criminal Appeal No. 945 of 2006 (Sat Paul vs. State of West Bengal & Anr.) does not contain any such observations.

            A Committee headed by the Chairman, CBDT has been constituted to examine ways to strengthen laws to curb generation of black money in India, its illegal transfer abroad and its recovery. The Committee shall examine the existing legal and administrative framework to deal with the menace of generation of black money through illegal means including inter-alia (i) declaring wealth generated illegally as national asset; (ii) enacting/amending laws to confiscate and recover such assets; and (iii) providing for exemplary punishment against its perpetrators. The Committee is required to consult all stakeholders and submit its report within a period of six months.

            As per information provided by the CBI, it has not unearthed any case wherein benami properties of more than Rs.100 Crore have been unearthed against any officer in any case.

            This information was given by Minister of State in the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions and the Prime Minister's Office, Shri V. Naraynasamy in written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha today.

Source : PIB Release, September 7, 2011

--
M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE
MARCH TO PARLIAMENT – AGAINST PFRDA BILL.

No. PF-01(e)/2011(III)     Dated: 08th September, 2011
To
                All General Secretaries
            CHQ Office Bearers/Circle Secretaries,
            All affiliated Unions/Associations.

Sub:            March to Parliament – against PFRDA Bill.
Dear Comrades,
                It has been decided by the Steering Committee of Central and State Government Employees & Teachers Organizations on PFRDA Bill to organize March to Parliament on 29th Nov-2011 against the PFRDA Bill.

            The Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and workers has allotted quota to NFPE to participate in the March to Parliament as 7500 delegates.
The quota allotted to the affiliated unions is given below:
 P-III                              =          3000
P-IV                              =            3000
R-III                               =             700
 R-IV                             =            300
Admn.                          =            200
Postal Accounts                        =             200
SBCO                           =               50
Civil Wing                     =               50

                All General Secretaries are requested to allot Circle wise quota to each circle and instruct the concerned circle union to ensure participation as per quota without fail. Delhi Circle and nearby circles may be allotted more quota.

            All Circle Secretaries may be instructed to book the up and down tickets of the participants immediately. It should not be delayed.

            Regarding accommodation at Delhi for delegates coming far of circle NFPE Federal Secretariat will discuss and finalize it later.

            Please treat it as Most Urgent and Important.

            Copies of the circulars issued by the General Secretaries fixing quota each circle may be endorsed to Federation also.
   With greetings   YourComradely                                                                                                  
                                             

--
M.Krishnan
Secretary General NFPE