Postal strike disrupts work

MUMBAI, December 3: Homes and offices in south and central Mumbai have, since the past three days, been missing out on mail, as postmen h...

MUMBAI, December 3: Homes and offices in south and central Mumbai have, since the past three days, been missing out on mail, as postmen have been on strike since December 1. Around 2,600 of the 3,800 postmen in the city have followed a strike call given by the National Federation of Postal Employees NFPE opposing redeployment of excess work force in post offices in south Mumbai to other parts in the city where there is a paucity of postmen.

Only around 1,200 postmen reported for work this morning. Nearly 15 lakh of the 28 lakh articles that trickle into Mumbai8217;s 800 post offices every day are yet to be delivered. Not one of over 1.8 lakh letters that arrive at General Post Office every day have reached their destinations, said postal sources.

A review conducted by the postal department last year found that the Kalbadevi post office, which has 180 postmen, attached to it, had 72 postmen in excess. Hence, orders for redeployment of this excess workforce to places like Kandivli and Vashi have been issued.According to the union, the administration has been arbritrary in fixing the number of excess personnel in each post office.

8220;Last year, the post office had just 21 postmen excess. From where did the rest of the postmen crop up in a year?,8221; asked assistant circle secretary of NFPE, Janardan Bane. However, the Chief Postmaster General Maharashtra D S Bhalchandra claimed that the previous review had not conducted properly. 8220;In the last eight years, business at Kalbadevi has fallen from 11,000 registered articles daily to 2,500 today. This does not warrant the existing workforce there, especially since places like Kandivli require at least 25 more postmen,8221; he pointed out.

Meanwhile, the National Union of Postal Employees, the only other recognised union in the postal sector, has come out openly against the strike. 8220;Our postmen are willing to work, but they are not provided enough security,8221; said P S Shivalkar, leader of the union. He claimed that the demands of the striking postmen had already beendiscussed and decided upon in earlier meetings.

However, the NFPE has decided to go ahead with its agitation. Since the administration does not have a plan of action, the situation is likely to worsen in the next few days. 8220;Till the issue is resolved, the services will remain skeletal,8221; admitted Bhalchandra.