Canada Post Freezes Community Mailbox Program
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| big victory for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers |
In a big victory for the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, Canada Post has announced it will freeze the implementation of its community mailbox program. The controversial program was begun by Canada Post earlier this year in an effort to end door-to-door mail delivery to most Canadian households. The CUPW has campaigned vigorously against the cuts in the service, criss-crossing the country in a caravan, mobilising members against the plans, and building support for their position in local and provincial governments. The unions succeeded in making the postal cuts an issue in the recent parliamentary campaigns, and the new Liberal government had promised to put a halt to the community mailbox program and issue a study reviewing its impacts.
CUPW President Mike Palacek said in an interview that the union's members are "ecstatic" about the news. The union has argued that rather than focus on cuts in service, Canada Post should instead be focusing on growing in other areas, such as postal banking and financial services.
With the news of the moratoriam on future cuts, the union will now focus on restoring door-to-door delivery to the one million addresses that have already been converted to community mailboxes.
Source: http://www.uniglobalunion.org/news/
Expected DA from January 2016 which is crucial for 7th CPC Pay
Expected DA from January 2016 is 125% after release of AICPI (IW) for September 2015 – Estimation of Dearness Allowance applicable to Central Government Employees and Pensioners
Ministry of Labour and Employment has released All India Consumer Price Index for the month of September 2015. It has reached 266 which is two point increase over the previous month. Unlike penultimate DA Installment estimation, the pattern of Consumer Price Indices that are available for arriving at expected Dearness Allowances from January 2016 provides us precise idea on expected DA from January 2016. Hence, we thought of making a prediction analysis a bit earlier this time.
In fact, the quantum of DA with effect from 1st January 2016, is very crucial for Central Government Employees and Pensioners, as it is going to determine the DA merged Pay and increase in allowances after implementation of 7th Pay Commission.
As a first step let us list the Actual AICPI – IW which are available as on date, for estimating DA from January 2016.
| Month | Actual AICPI-IW |
| Jan-2015 | 254 |
| Feb-2015 | 253 |
| Mar-2015 | 254 |
| Apr-2015 | 256 |
| May-2015 | 258 |
| Jun-2015 | 261 |
| July-2015 | 263 |
| Aug-2015 | 264 |
| Sep-2015 | 266 |
| Oct-2015 | Not released |
| Nov-2015 | Not released |
| Dec-2015 | Not released |
Out of 12 Consumer Price Indices which are required to determine DA with effect from January 2016, nineindices are already available. So, consumer price indices for remaining three months will have to be assumed.
We have taken three possible assumptions this time, such that each assumption gives different quantum of increase in DA from January 2016.
Assumption 1: (Assumption of CPI for getting least possible increase in DA from January 2016)
The least increase in DA from January 2016 will be 5% (i.e., DA from January will be 124% ). Under this assumption, DA from January 2016 will be 124% only if CPI falls below the present level of 266 in at least two of three coming months. Though Chances for this scenario coming to reality is possible but the increasing trend in consumer price index from February 2015 negates this possibility.
| DA from Jan 2016= | [(254+253+254+256+258+261+263+264+266+265+265+266)-115.76]*100/115.76 |
| = | 124 % (5% increase in DA from Jan 2016) |
Assumption 2: (Assumption of CPI for getting maximum possible DA from January 2016):
DA from January 2016 is calculated to be 126%, only if CPI touches 272 from the present level of 266, at least two times in the coming three months with at least one point increase in the remaining month. We feel that this scenario is remotely possible considering the trend of CPI, which shows only moderate inflation.
| DA from Jan 2016= | [(254+253+254+256+258+261+263+264+266+267+272+272)-115.76]*100/115.76 |
| = | 126 % (7% increase in DA from Jan 2016) |
Assumption 3: (Assumption of Most Possible Consumer Indices ):
Steady increase in AICPI-IW could be found from February 2015 at the rate of one to two point increase over previous month.
Even if CPI from October 2015 to December 2015 remains at 266 , DA from January 2016 will be 125%. Considering the trend in CPI in the recent months, it could be safely presumed that indices would increase one or two points in the coming months or at least remains in the same level. In both of these cases, DA from January 2016 will be 125%.
| DA from Jan 2016= | [(254+253+254+256+258+261+263+264+266+267+272+272)-115.76]*100/115.76 |
| = | 125 % (6% increase in DA from Jan 2016) |
It is apparent that Assumption 3 has got better chances out of these three assumptions. Hence we can safely bet that DA from January 2016 will be 125%.
Source: www.gconnect.in
