June 09, 2008	Monday	Jamadi-us-Sani 04, 1429

KARACHI, June 8: Postal workers have requested the federal finance ministry to accept the proposals prepared and sent by the postal management after negotiations with workers.

Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, the representatives of the All-Pakistan Postal DMO’s Employees and Workers’ Union (CBA) said that the management after negotiations with the union had agreed to provide various benefits to the employees and sent a proposal to the federal finance ministry to get a formal approval.

They said though the management had agreed to enhance extra duty allowance and out-station allowance besides other benefits from its own resources, these could be provided only after the federal finance ministry gave its approval.

Giving details of the benefits the management and workers had agreed upon, they said that the good conduct pay that was abolished in the budget 2006-07 would be restored.

The government had also agreed to upgrade the employees but the facility was not extended to MST employees.

The amount of burial expenses, which was paid in case an employee’s or his family member’s death, would also be enhanced. Besides, the postal operational allowance, which was given to the MST employees, would be raised.

The management had also agreed to restore the move-over facility. The promotion to the selection grade, which had been suspended in the organization, had been restored by the management.

The rest and recreation allowance would also be increased after the finance ministry’s approval.

They said that after negotiations with the union though the management had agreed to provide the facilities and benefits, these could not be provided to the workers unless the finance ministry gave its formal approval.

They warned that the workers would be forced to launch a protest movement to get their rights if the ministry did not approve the proposals.

Union representatives Asadullah Khan, Arif Jaferry, Naseer Ahmed and others also spoke.

Probe demanded

The Sajjan Union of the city district government alleging that unfair promotions were given in different departments on a mass scale has demanded a high-level probe to sort out the matter.

The union leaders, Zulfiqar Shah, Sardar Yunus, Aslam Baloch, Aftab Alam and others, in a statement issued here on Sunday, said when the city government system was introduced and the KMC and KDA were merged mass scale promotions were given to the favourite employees while deserving staffers were neglected.

A representative of the United Workers Union (KMC) Fire Brigade Unit, Nisar Ahmad, has pointed out that a similar exercise was under way to promote the favourite employees in fire department. Fire brigade was a very sensitive department, he said, suggesting that promotions be made only on merit. He warned that the promotion of inefficient people in fire department could be disastrous for the city.