As per the call of the JAC, massive rallies are to be organised on 8th December in preparation and propagation of the One Day Strike on 15th December 2011.  The main demands include ‘No VRS’, ITS absorption issue, Bonus, procurement of equipments etc.etc.

Management has not so far even called the JAC for discussion in the matter. Let us organise the rally on 8th in a massive way.

I am at Chennai today, 3rd December 2011, attending the Circle Executive Committee of BSNLEU T.Nadu Circle. When I spoke, I mainly dwelt upon the decision of the Central Trade Unions calling the workers to go on strike on 28th February 2012 on the major demands of the Indian working class. I also touched upon the 15th December one-day strike decided by the JAC.

Comrade P.Abhimanyu, GS, S.Chellappa, Circle Secretary T.Nadu Circle, Punitha Udaya Kumar, All india Vice-President. K.Govindaraj, Circle Secretary, C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, Murugaiah, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF  and other leaders were there.

T.Nadu Circle Union is a circle union functioning systematically, holding regular CEC meetings, issuing circulars, taking up cases with the management etc. Its website is daily updated with latest information.

I could not stay till the end of the CEC since I had to urgently return to Delhi. My Greetings to the T.Nadu comrades.

Inordinate delay has occurred in the waiver of the spectrum by the Defence which can be used for providing services to the people. It was agreed between the Departments of Defence and Telecommunications that a portion of the spectrum now with the Defence will be transferred to DOT after creating a net work for the Defence by DOT which is entrusted to the BSNL. Is it not over so far?

Is it the fault of the DOT, Defence or BSNL? Any way delay has taken place. Unless things move fast there will be further delay in transfer. this is to be avoided.

There are about 47.1 million subscribers to EPF with a corpus of more than Rs. 3.5 lakh crore. Now there is no fixed minimum pension for the subscribers  to the EPF.There are pensioners getting even Rs.20 only per month. About 7 lakh workers are only getting about Rs. 1,000. In contrast, many states are paying minimum pension @ Rs. 500 to Rs.1000, without any contribution from the senior citizen.

The Central trade unions have been demanding a minimum of Rs. 2,000 as pension to the EPF contributors. Although consensus have been reached at Rs.1000 as minimum pension between the employer and the employees representatives, no decision has been taken so far. It is reported that the Central Board of Trustees  of the EPFO, in its meeting to be held on 23rd December is expected to take a decision in this matter.

It is only appropriate and need-based to fix a minimum of Rs. 2000 at least as the minimum pension. This is what the government has to do for justice to the pensioners.

Almost every thing is settled for the purchase of the own building of the BSNLEU. It is expected that the registration will take place on 8th December 2011.

It is utmost necessary that the building fund collected by the Branches/Districts are sent to CHQ urgently.

The Central Working Committee meeting of FNTO at Chennai is over by today, 2nd December. I have earlier requested on behalf of the JAC that a decision be taken to join the strike on 15th December, called for by the JAC and joined by the NFTE with its allies.

I hope that they have taken a correct decision to join the strike.

The Central Trade Unions including INTUC, AITUC, CITU, BMS, HMS, UTUC etc. has called for one day strike on 28th February 2012 on 10 point demands on which rail / rasta roko was organised on 8th November 2011, which was a great success. Despite sustained agitations, the government has not taken any action to stop the high price rise, anti-worker decisions, settle issues of the unorganised workers etc., the major demands of the workers.

The details of the decisions will be posted later. Let us be prepared for s successful strike on 28th February 2012.

There was some delay in forming AIBDPA in Chennai Circle. The Association has been formed in Chennai on 17th November 2011. When I came to Chennai to attend the CEC meeting of T.Nadu Circle BSNLEU, the Chennai AIBDPA leaders came and met me today, 2nd December under the leadership of Coms. C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary, T.Nadu and  K. Arumugham, Convener, Chennai. Com. K.Govindarajan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Chennai was also present.

The comrades who came were very interested in strengthening the Association. I spoke about the latest developments and the struggles undertaken to settle the issues of the pensioners and they were very much enthused. All of them paid subscription to the ‘Tele Pensioner’ for three years. Certain doubts raised were explained. Comrades assured that AIBDPA will gain strength in the next few months and will become a strong force.

It was a pleasure to interact with these comrades.

While I was returning from Agartala to Kolkata on Thursday, 1st December, the flight was a bit delayed. We were in the lounge after security check and was awaiting boarding announcement. The flight landed, the passengers came out and started their way to go out. Within a few minutes, two sets of the seat rows in the flight was taken outside. I was surprised why the seats are taken out. An ambulance reached near the plane, a wounded army personnel was taken out on a stretcher and was taken inside the plane. All became clear. The army personnel was being taken to Kolkata for better treatment.  On the flight he was crying and shouting with severe pain.

My friend told me this is a usual sight. Due to the lack of sufficient better hospitals in the North Eastern States, patients have to be taken to Kolkata for treatment. The road route is very long curving through the hills and may take one or two days or more. There can be landslides all of a sudden. So, even poor people somehow manage to go by flight to save their dear ones.

This speaks much about the unequal development in the country. The Government is always announcing special packages for North East, but still the area is completely neglected. And the health concerns are completely neglected. The central and state governments have to act. There can not be any delay.

As expected, the Congress Party is trying to evade any strong anti-corruption mechanism in the Lok Pal Bill. Even after the Parliamentary Standing Committee has unanimously recommended inclusion of Group C officials in the Lok Pal Bill and also included the appointment of CBI, the Congress members called for an urgent meeting of the Committee and changed its stance, resulting in changing the already agreed recommendations. This is clear that the change has been made as per the directions of the Congress leadership.

Once again it is made clear to the people that Congress will fight till the last to avoid a strong Lok Pal Bill. And the reason is also well understood.