Mangalore has always been a strong hold of the BSNLEU. In fact, it was one of the centres of the progressive forces in the union in NFPTE and NFTE. The Divisional Conference of the Mangalore SSA was held on 4th May at Managalore with the District Executive committee meeting on 3rd May. The conference was well attended and new office bearers were elected unanimously with Venugopalan Nambiar and Balakrishnan Nair as President and Dist. Secretary respectively. There was a very good seminar on ‘Financial viability of BSNL’ adressed by the union leaders and officers.
Inaugurating the seminar CK Gundanna, Circle Secretary and myself spoke about the need to revitalise the services and our tasks on that front. This was appreciated by everybody. The administration representatives also echoed the same opinions. It was a good seminar.

Today, on 4th May, 212 years back, Tippu Sultan, the Tiger of Mysore fell down in the battle of Srirangapatam, his last battle against the British. Tippu Sultan was the arch enemy and obstruction for the British in increasing their territory. Many battles were won by Tippu Sultan with and without the help of the French. And the British with their superior arms and striking power defeated and killed Sultan in the last encounter. His family including children were taken captive and killed. The treasures and all valuables were looted by the victors and taken to Britain. You can see a lot of these in the British Museum.

The history is written by the victor. And here it was the British. They twisted the history and put the sultan in bad light. BUt now every Indian has understood how this great ruler fought to keep his domain free with out surrendering to the foreigners.

India should demand to the UK government to send back all the items of Tippu Sultan they have looted from India. It is part of the historic fight of the Indian people for independance of their country.

Today I got an opportunity to meet an old comrade who has been sick and confined to his home. I am really happy that I could meet him and talk for some time.

I reached Mangalore today (4th Many 2011) morning from Banagalore. I was invited to participate and inaugurate the District Conference of BSNLEU at Managalore. After the morning session was over I got the opportunity to go and meet P.Appaji, who was the Asst. General Secretary of AITEE Union Class III(N) and is now retired from service. He was suffering from some rare disease and was hospitalised for a few months. He had to take many very costly injections ( one injection costing more than one lakh rupee) and is now at his home about 80 kms from Mangalore. Along with my wife and GB Salakki, AGS BSNLEU and P.Mukundan, Circle Org. Secretary, we went to this place near Brahmavaram after Udupi, about eighty kms from Mangalore. The place was forest earlier and now people have started staying clearing the forest.

We reached the residence of Appaji after enquiring to many people. Appaji aftr retirement has purchased some land with the retirement money and has shifted there. He is interested in agriculture and has started a small rubber plantation, some arecanuts, coconuts etc. When we reached there he was sitting in a chair outside the house. He was lean and pale due to illness. He was so happy to see all of us. His wife and elder son was also there. After the injection course and treatment he is better, but still very weak. He wanted to know about many things connected with union activities. We talked for a long time and had tea and idly. I honourd him by putting a shawl on his shoulders. And we came back quickly.

I was happy to meet him after a very long time. He had worked in HQ and sacrificed much for the organisation. Even now he wants to know about union matters and other developments. Many of our comrades are dedicated like that. They love the union above all things. This is the stregth of our union. Thousands of such dedicated workers and leaders we have got. I thank them and greet them for their concern for the union and their selfless service in the cause of the workers.

As desired by the JAC, a meeting was held between the JAC leaders and the R.K.Upadhyay, new CMD BSNL along with other Directors and top management. The JAC programme of “Customer Delight Month” was much appreciated by the management and the CMD assured full co-operation with the JAC in improving the services. Details of the discussion will be published in BSNLEU website: http://www.bsnleuchq.com

The Air India Management, instead of discussing and coming to an understanding with their own employees, the pilots, who are on strike has approached the court and has proceeded for contempt of court against the pilots for not withdrawing the strike. The present pathetic condition of the Air India has arisen only due to the pro-private favouritism of the government and the management as also corruption at high levels. Instead of sorting those issues as also discussion with the unions, proceeding with contempt proceedings is a shameful act to divert the attention of the public.

Today it may be the Air India management; tomorrow any management can go to the court and try for contempt of court. The UPA government is repeating the mistake the congress government had done in 1968 and 1974 to suppress the Central Government and Railway strike respectively. They had to pay the price for their anti-democratic and dictactorial actions.

With May 1st, the call of the JAC to observe one month as Customer Delight Month has started. Some reports have already received from Kerala, Punjab etc. about the excellent propaganda, holding of Committee meetings, meetings with management etc. for implementing the programme in right earnest. We hope to receive similar reports of activities from other circles also.

This is the time we have to decide. It is either Perform or Perish. We want not only to perform but also to shine in the pleasure of giving a good service to the people and strengthening the BSNL. The three lakh workers can certainly do.

The terrorist and fundamentalist Osama Bin Laden is killed in Pakistan by the US army. Pakistan’s stand that it is not supporting terrorism stands exposed.
The world can have relief that one more scourge is finished.

On this May Day, my thoughts go to the pathetic condition of the contract workers engaged in BSNL for day to day activities. Their number comes to about one lakh.
These contract workers are engaged to attend certain regular works for which posts are available but no recruitment is made. They are also engaged for other works.
The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 has clearly stipulated about the conditions under which the contract labour are to be employed, about wages, social security etc. After much persuasion from the Union, BSNL management has also issued orders fixing the minimum wages and other conditions of payment, implementation of social securities like EPF, ESI etc.
But unfortunately, except in very few circles like W.Bengal, Kolkatta, T.Nadu, Kerala etc., where the Contract Workers Unions are strong, neither the minimum wages are paid nor the social security measures are implemented. When struggles take place demanding minimum wages, the management-contractor alliance ensures that the leading workers are retrenched. In many places, a large number of workers have been retrenched. The argument of the management that there is no work has no meaning. There were work all these ten to twenty years when only meagre wages were paid, and there is no work all of a sudden when the minimum wages are to be paid! How much these workers have been exploited all these years by not giving them the due wages while the BSNL has spent the entire money . Where all these money have gone?

The contract workers organisation is weak today and requires the assistance of the unions of the regular workers. In almost each and every SSA, the struggle for minimum wages and social security measures are going to happen. It is the responsibility of the unions to support and lead the struggles of these unorganised workers in BSNL who are cheated of their rights and wages.

This May Day is very important for the BSNL workers. Their Unions jointly under the banner of Joint Action Committee have given a call to organise, observe the month as Customer Delight Month by making all efforts, in fact extra efforts, for settling the issues of the customers, for a better service and for the development of the company.
The JAC has approached the BSNL Management and the latter has assured full co-operation and issued directions to the field officers to co-ordinate with the workers and do whatever is possible to improve the services. The JAC Circular and the targets indicated have already been published by the unions in their websites etc.
The NFTE which has not participated in the JAC meeting has also now agreed and had given call to its members to observe the month as Customer Care Month. This is an appropriate decision.
I had made a note on the important issues to be tackled for the strengthening and development of the company which has not been discussed in detail in the JAC. However, I would like to get the valuable opinions of the viewers of this blog in this matter. A draft copy of the same is given below:

SAVE BSNL TO SERVE THE PEOPLE BETTER
BSNL is facing a serious crisis and is gradually moving towards downfall. The anti-PSU policy of the government, the lacklustre management, the deterioration in the customer care as also the cut-throat competition has resulted in the present unenviable situation. But BSNL is not beyond revitalisation. It has got infrastructure, committed workforce and the support of the people. A well planned strategy, effective implementation, support of the government and full commitment and determination on the part of the workforce from the top executive to the lowest level worker can certainly bring BSNL to its original stature and strength.
What is to be done?
1. Government should give financial assistance by restoring ADC, additional grant from USOF, refund the spectrum charges to BSNL as also exemption from the Licence Fee/reimbursement of Licence Fee.
2. Necessary rules/policy to be implemented making it mandatory for the Central/State governments and PSUs making it mandatory to take services from BSNL.
3. Change the present cumbersome procurement process of equipments. Equipments to be of high quality.
4. At least 60% of the staff at all levels to be utilised for sales & marketing. Special training to be given to them. Incentives be provided for motivation.
5. Timely availability of high quality materials including phones, cables, drop wire, tools, modem etc.
6. Accountability and necessary check at all levels.
7. Zero toleration against corruption. BSNL to be made corruption free.
8. Modernise Telecom Factories. New and modern products to be manufactured. High technical engineers to be recruited.
9. Improve quality of service and customer care. Human touch required in dealing with customers. One window system to be introduced.
10. Unnecessary expenditure to be strictly curtailed. Rented buildings to be vacated by accommodating all offices in BSNL buildings. Vehicles on rent to be reduced to the minimum requirement. Sharing of vehicles.
11. Tour to be reduced by arranging video-conferences etc. Air journeys in ordinary class only.
12. Vacant quarters and buildings to be effectively used by renting out to Central/State governments as also PSUs. Retired DOT/BSNL pensioners be given quarters on rent/lease.
13. Works Committee to be effectively used for interaction between management and improvement of services. This should be geld regularly, say once in a week.
14. Ensure quick settlement of staff grievances.
15. Continued training to all staff to upgrade their level of knowledge for better efficiency and customer care.
16. Better staff relations. More involvement of unions/associations in development,expansion, customer service etc.

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The Air India Pilots’ strike has entered the 5th day.Thousands of people who have plans to travel are affected and are having a very difficult time.Hundreds of passengers are stranded in the air-ports. Both the Air India Management as also the Union have taken strong position and so far there is no effective discussion.

The Union has brought serious charges against the management is scuttling the development of Air India/Indian airlines. Merger, demerger and remerger drama of Air India/Indian Air Lines have been disasters. Private carriers were favoured by granting better routes, better schedule etc. Large number of planes were purchased at heavy costs when there was no urgency to purchase so much planes. The Unions allege a lot of corruption by the management which has adversely affected the finances of the company.

The management is not responding on these matters. It has started victimising the leaders by suspension etc. They have approached the Court against the strike. They have refused to talk with the Unions. The Delhi High Court has banned the strike.

The Civil Aviation Minister has given a free hand to the management to do whatever they want. In a democracy, the workers have got the right to strike. It is the responsibility of the Government to discuss the issues with the striking workers and come to an understanding to end the travails of the people and travellers.

Vayalar Ravi, Civil Aviation Minister, himself a trade unionist, should take initiative, discuss the matter with the Central Trade Unions and settle the strike.