Postal unions to stage protest

KOCHI: The postal unions of the Kerala Central Postal region will come together on Tuesday to voice the grievances of the postal employees and officials of the region.Members of National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE), Federation of National Postal Organisation (FNPO), Postal Officers Association and the Association of Inspectors and Assistant Superintendents will stage a protest in front of the Regional Postmaster General Office in Kochi.The office-bearers of the unions alleged that the protest was a reaction to various actions and comments of the Regional PMG. “The major issues that we have against the regional PMG include his initiative to stop Speed-Post services in rural post offices, his plan to close down several post offices stating irrelevant reasons (with the one on Banerjee Road already closed) and his disrespectful behaviour towards other employees,” said O C Joy, district secretary, NFPE.Another issue pointed out is the lapse in conducting maintenance work at various post offices which has lead to problems ranging from leaking ceilings to electric shocks there. “In the post offices on Shanmugham Road at SNP Colony, and Njarakkal, the walls are damp all the time leading to short circuits and electric shock if one sits anywhere near the wall. We have been requesting permission to repair these buildings and construct truss work over the roof to avoid rain water from seeping in, but the PMG has been baselessly denying permission,” said K Ravikkuttan, president of (Group C), NFPE. “The regional PMG is planning to stop the Speed-Post service provided at small rural post offices. This will not only create trouble to the postal employees but also the public,” said a highly placed postal official. “When there is a dearth of staff in some post offices, employees from other offices are redeployed instead of new employees being appointed,” he said. However the regional PMG did not respond to the allegations.