Monthly Archives: June 2011

Transfer of Spectrum from Defence to DOT in trouble

30 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in BSNL News, Politics India

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The Defence Minister A.K.Antony has told the Communications Minister that it will not be possible to vacate any additional spectrum from Defnce to DOT. He has mentioned two reasons, one that the spectrum is required for the Defence and second that the spectrum transfer and laying of cable network by BSNL as promised earlier have not taken place.
Any way, a serious issue is developing which may adversely affect the growth of telecom services.

Massive protests in Greece against austerity measures.

30 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in Left News

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The Greek Government is being rocked by the massive protests of students and workers against the austerity measures being implemented in Greece. Labour Unions have organised a 48 hours strike in the country. The protesters organised several demonstrations and rallies in important places.
The Government yesterday ( 29th June ) passed a five year package of austerity measures of spending cuts, increase in taxes and sale of government assets by 155 votes against 138. This will severely and adversely affects the people. The protest is going to increase as per media reports.

New IMF Chief is Christine Lagarde from France

30 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in News

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There is not much change by the change in the head of IMF. Another European has been elected to the post of the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund. As expected Christine Lagarde, French Finance Minister has been elected to the top post. Of course, it is good that a woman has been elected for the first time.
Unless there is a clear change in the equations in the IMF and also a policy change in support of the developing and under developed countries, the IMF will continue to function in favour of the developed countries like USA.

25 paise coin no more valid

30 Thursday Jun 2011

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Central government has notified instructions that from 30th June 2011 the 25 paise coin has become invalid. The government was indicating earlier itself that it will become out of circulation shortly. The increase in the cost of living and massive price rise has resulted in such a situation that 25 paise and even 50 paise coin will not be able to purchase anything.
So the 25 paise coin has gone to the coin collectors. It will not be long before the 50 paise coin also will follow.

Casual Contract Labour exploitation – Memorandum to Prime Minister, Labour and Communications Minister.

30 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in News, TU News - India

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The BSNL Casual and Contract Labour Federation has today submitted a memorandum to Shri Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, Kapil Sibal, Communications Minister and Mallikarjun Kharge, Labour Minister regarding the non-implementation of social security measures, non-payment of minimum wages etc. The exploitation of casual contract labour is well known to all.

Will the Prime Minister and other ministers ensure the basic rights of the workers in BSNL?

NO Increase in IDA from July 2011!

30 Thursday Jun 2011

Posted by in BSNL News

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This time, there is no increase of IDA w.e.f. 1st July 2011. According to the CPI released by the Labour Bureau there is no increase in the Cost of Living Index and hence there will be no increase in IDA w.e.f. 1st July 2011. It is applicable for the revised as well as pre-revised scales.

Through out the country, the cost of all essential commodities are increasing substantially. Then how there is no increae in cost of living index? Is there any manipulation ?

BSNL Management should be pro-active

28 Tuesday Jun 2011

Posted by in BSNL News

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The financial viability as well as the market share of BSNL has been declining continuously after 2006-2007, mainly due to non-procurement of mobile equipments which were drastically required in expand the services. The 45 million lines tender which was very much necessary was cancelled by the government without any justification and with malafide intentions to help the private companies.
Again the 95 million line tender was also cancelled. Now 4.5 million lines also cancelled. In fact after 2007, there has not been any major procurement of lines which resulted in the present tracgic situation.

Whether the new CMD, R.K.Upadhyay will change the situation by being pro-active and dynamic? Let us see.

Left Parties decide struggles against Corruption

27 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in Corruption, India Left

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The four left parties viz. CPI(M), CPI, AIFB and RSP has jointly called upon the people to continue the struggle against the rampant corruption. The demands raised by the Left Parties are:
1. Adoption of an effective Lok Pal Bill.
2. There should be a National Judicial Commission to curb corruption in high judiciary.
3. Stringent action against the rampant corruption fostered by the big business-politician-bureaucratic nexus which has led to scandal such as 2G Spectrum case.
4. Implementation of electoral reforms including introduction of proportional representation system to check money power in lections.
5. Steps to unearth black money stashed abroad.
The Left parties have called upon the people to participate massively in the anti-corruption movement programmes being organised from 15th to 21st July. A Parliament March during the coming session is also decided.

28th June 2000 Strike against corporatisation

27 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in TU News - India

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BSNL is going to complete 11 years in 1st October 2011. The question of corporatisation of DOT/DTS was taken up seriously by the Government in 2000. Immediately, the National Action Committee of Telecom Unions consisting of All India Telecom Employees Union class III (Namboodiri) All India P&T Industrial Workers Union,All India Telegraph Traffic Employees Union, All India Telecom Administrative Offices Employees Union, Indian Telecom Employees Union, All India Telecom Civil Wing Employees Union and All India Telecom Employees Union LS and Group D ( Mishra ) strongly opposed the same and went on sustained agitation. It was as part of this agitation that a One Day Strike was organised on 28th June 2000.
I was the Convener of the National Action Committee. Our leaders toured the important centres all over the country and organised the strike. Maximum propaganda was given through pamphlets, press statements etc.The recognised Federations, NFTE, FNTO and BTEF did not join. But the strike was a good success with a lot of workers belonging to even the Federations participated.
The agitation did not stop with this.In continuation, the following programmes were organised:
1. 09-08-2000 Serving Strike Notice for 24-25 August 2000
2. 15=-08-2000 ” Save Telecom – Save Nation Day” by organising massive dharna.
3. 21-08-2000 to 23-08-2000 – Lunch Hour Demonstrations
4. 24-25 August 2000 – 2 Days Strike
All the programmes were successfully organised. The agitation against Corporatisation continued. But on 29th September 2000 the major Federations agreed for the corporatisation. We opposed till the last.
And on 01-10-2000, BSNL was formed.
Once it was formed despite our opposition, the task became to save it and improve. The National Action Committee Unions in their All India Convention held at Vishakhapatnam on 22-23 March 2001 formed BSNLEU. BSNLEU became the Recognised Union in December 2004 and till now the position continues. BSNLEU with its alliance in the United Forum as also the Joint Action Committee consisting of all BSNL Unins /Associations are jointly opposing disinvestment and privatisation. To stop disinvestment and privatisation serious struggle will be necessary. Let us be prepared for the same.

2G Scam – JPC calls Telecom Secretaries and TRAI Chairmen to give evidence

27 Monday Jun 2011

Posted by in 2G Scam Corruption

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The Joint Parliamentary Committee enquiring in to the 2G Scam will call the previous Secretaries of Telecom as also the Chairmen of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ( TRAI ) to give evidence before it in connection with the 2G scam. As far as the UPA II overnment is concerned, its plan is to shift the scam burden on the earlier BJP Government going through the earlier issues also.
There is no doubt that since the reforms in Telecom has started with granting of licences to the private operators in the 1990s, there have been continuous irregularities and illegal activities to favour the private companies with kickback to those in power. 2G Scam is only part of that, pobably the biggest.
The sufferers of these have been the people of this country and the BSNL and its workers. BSNL Workers and their unions have a grat responsiblity in exposing these scams.