Com.O.P.Gupta passes away

We are extremely saddened to learn that Com. O.P. Gupta has passed away on 06-01-2013. He was 92 years old. Com. O.P. Gupta was involved in P&T Trade Union movement for more than 66 years. In 1946, he started as the General Secretary of Union of P&T Workers (UPTW). He played lead role in the 1949 agitation, in which his wife, Smt. Janak Gupta was dismissed from service. In 1954, when Government initiated unity was achieved to form one single Trade Union under the banner of NFPTE, Com. O.P. Gupta played major role in these efforts. He played vital roles in formation of JCM National Council and JCM Departmental Council in 1964. He also served as Secretary, Staff Side in the JCM National Council once. In 1978, he organized Patna Convention, marking return of unity in NFPTE. In Patna Convention, he set agenda for Two Promotions, Bonus, Pro-rata Payment to Casual Labours in Telecom and Extra Departmental Agents in Postal Wings. Due to this, P&T Employees started getting Bonus since 1980. In November 1983, OTBP (One Time Bound Promotion after 16 years) Scheme was implemented in P&T Department, followed by BCR (Biennial Cadre Review after 26 years) in 1990. Com. O.P. Gupta was the symbol of unity and united struggles. NFPTE under his leadership was the vanguard in the historic Central Government Employees’ Total Strike in July 1960 and Token Strike on 19^th September 1968 for Need Based Minimum Wages. He spent his entire life in improvement of status, working condition and wages of the Group C and Group D employees as well as casual labourers. He was also instrumental in Group “C” employees being promoted to officer cadre after quota was fixed for departmental candidates to become JEs or JTOs. Time bound Two promotions, Regularisation of Casual labour, restructuring of cadres through which thousands and thousands of Group “C” & “D” employees became Phone Mechanics or TTAs and most importantly securing Rule 37-A of Pension Rules for continued Government Pension even after absorption in BSNL are a few examples of feathers in his cap. Com. O.P. Gupta, along with the then Home Minister in Shri. Deve Gowda’ Government, Com. Indrajit Gupta was instrumental in improving 5^th Central Pay Commission’s fitment formula from 20% to 40%, benefitting lakhs and lakhs of Central Government including MTNL employees as well as various State Government employees. He has been the inspiring force to most of the trade unions leaders in the P&T Trade Union movement. His ruthlessness in planning and executing his proposals had brought both bouquets and brickbats on numerous occasions. His demise marks the end of a Great Era and loss to the entire working class in general and Telecom sector Trade Unions in particular.  TEAM joins lakhs of Posts & Telecom employees in their mourning and salutes the great visionary leader for his tireless services to the Trade Union movement.

On behalf of TEAM, Com. Bagchi, Founder General Secretary and Com. V.P. Bhardwaj, Joint General Secretary attended the Funeral at 12.00 Noon on 07-01-2013