Indian postal unions plan “indefinite” national strike

Indian postal workers unions have called for an “indefinite” national strike from 6th May. The unions, including the National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE), the Federation of National Postal Organisations (FNPO), the All India Postal Employees’ Union and the National Union of Gramin Dak Sewaks (rural postal workers), have issued an extensive 40-point Charter of Demands. Their key concerns are focused on the demand that should be “no corporatisation and privatisation in Postal Services”, as well as issues over pay and pensions.

Union members and their supporters have been organising mass rallies and meeting in the run-up to their planned strike.

The leaders of the postal unions say they are acting in response to “anti-worker, anti-employees, anti-people policies” of India’s National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government, which returned to power in last year’s elections on a ticket of more privatisation.

“Postal department is not the only organization that suffers. The existence of each and every government organization is now at stake,’ claimed union spokesperson, Janardan Pati.