The BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation has been continuously writing letters to the Corporate Office and also to the CMD BSNL for settlement of the issues of the Casual and Contract workers engaged in BSNL, mainly implementation of minimum wage, social security measures like EPF and ESI and also reinstate the retrenched workers and stop harassment of trade union leaders etc.  There has been a complete silence from the corporate office, including the CMD. Neither any action is taken to implement the law of the land on the payment of minimum wage or social security measures.

Are the workers to understand that the management has nothing to do ? Or is the silence an admission of guilt that top management can not get the government of India and its own orders got implemented by its field offices. It is a shame on the BSNL itself that it is part of the exploitation of the lowest paid worker who has been toiling for the DOT/BSNL for the last so many years. It is not for promotion, it is not for pension, it is not for other benefits that these workers are demanding; It is only to get the minimum wage decided by the government so that they can feed their family. Will the CMD and top management open their eyes?

All over India, you can see the magnificent forts and palaces the Emperors, Kings, Nawabs, Sultans and other have built  for their use. Many of them are tourist centres and some of them are converted to Five Star Hotels. Those forts and palaces, on one side show the architectural and cultural tradition of the land, but on the other side is story of the exploitation of labour of the thousands of slaves and the ordinary work force who were compelled to work  without payment for their labour.

Now, new palaces and forts are being built, not by kings and emperors but by the rich and crorepatis. They include businessmen, super stars, cricket players etc.  The media has reported today that for much cover they have insured these palaces. It will show how much costly the buildings are.

Mukesh Ambani – ‘Antilla’ in Mumbai – Insured for Rs. 150 crore

Sha Rukh Khan –  ‘Mannat’ in Mumbai – Insured for Rs. 110 crore.

Amitabh Bhachan –                Mumbai-   Insured for Rs. 100 crore

Sachin Tendulkar-                 Mumbai-   Insured for Rs. 100 crore

There may be hundreds of such new palaces unknown. Crore and crore are spent for such places and luxuries of life. But what about the many crore of poor people in the country who don’t even have a shed to live in. What about the lakhs of poor in Delhi who are shivering in the extreme cold in the unsatisfactory  shelters provided for them? Is this discrimination and inequality going down or will increase? The Government is certainly bound to answer these inconvenient questions!

Life Insurance Corporation, the No.1 brand in the country, has once again shown its high credentials in customer service. It has far surpassed the private insurance companies not only in market share but also in settling more % of claims, earlier settlement and better customer service.

According to the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority, LIC has performed better in terms of claim settlement ratio compared to private insurance companies.  Settlement of claims increased from 96.54% from 2009-10 to 97.03% in 2010-11 by LIC while the settlement ratio for private companies stood at 86.04% only in 2010-11, a differnece of more than 10%.  The % of claims rejected y LIC stood at a meagre 0.01% only in 2010-11, while for the private companies it is 8.90% in the same period. The pending claims in LIC are only 0.3%, while for private companies it is a big 5.36%.

This is the picture in the Insurance Sector, the Public Sector LIC shining with its better customer service, leaving the private companies far behind. Can’t the BSNL management and workers together strive hard to achieve the market leader position as also have a better customer service? It is not impossible but hard. We will have to fight against the anti-PSU policy of the government which is part of the neo-liberal policy. But, for the existence of BSNL, such a fight is unavoidable. The telecom workers and management are capable but the determination and committment are required in abundance.

Indian National Congress formed in 1885 at Bombay is completing 126 long years of its existence on today, 28th December 2011.   The limited aim was to get more benefit for the Indians under the British rule. It was not a confrontationalist  line, but to get the maximum benefits in a given situation.

But gradually it developed in to a national organisation fighting for freedom for the country. After Mahatma Gandhi came to the scene it expanded and reached to the far corners of the country. After sustained struggles,  Indian people got independence in 1947. In the first elections, Congress  won with big majority and became the rulers of India.

What happened afterwards is well-known. Now no party can rule on its own. Only coalition government can survive, whether UPA or NDA. But the Congress has changed after the initial years of Independence. Now it has become a party of the haves and the big business. The neo-liberalisation policy that it is implementing is not for the poor but for the rich. The working class are antagonized.

186 years of Congress Party has resulted in the distance of the party from the masses. If the present anti-people policy continues, further alienation is sure to come.

Who said that the UPA government is slow on the ‘reforms’? As assured to the USA government several times by the Indian Government, the latter is pushing through ‘reforms’ in all sectors. Even  Defence sector is being opened up to the private big business and corporates. Telecom had already been opened up and the private companies are in a comfortable position, thanks to the undue favours given to them by the government. Now the government is helping them to consolidate and form cartels, who can control the entire industry. The Telecom Commission has accepted merger of private telecom companies up to 35% of market share by both merging companies. There is still proposal to increase it up to 60%.

BSNL will naturally suffer. More than that the people will suffer if this crucial sector is controlled by the cartels being formed. The trade unions and political parties also have to take up the issue with the government.

BSNL Casual and contract Workers Federation has filed a petition to the Chief Labour Commissioner, New Delhi today, 28th December 2011 on the issues of the Casual and Contract workers in BSNL. It includes the demand for regularisation of left out casual labour / TSM, wages of casual and contract labour, implementation of social security measures like EPF, ESI etc. Since the CLC was on leave, the petition was handed over to the Dy. Chief Labour Commissioner. The main issues were briefly told to the Dy. CLC and requested for a personal hearing with the CLC. The issue was eonce discussed with the CLC, who asked us to submit the details.

In this connection, all the district /Circle Secretaries are requested to intimate whether the minimum wage is being paid, EPF-ESI  are implemented etc. The number of the contract workers also may be intimated along with whether any casual/contract worker is being retrenched. This is urgently required to discuss the case.

Regular workers as well as casual/contract workers together have ensure that the right s of the casual/contract workers are implemented and not denied.

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December 15 th to January 14th is the time for enrolling new members for the purpose of deduction of union membership for  the non-executive employees. It is the time when all the unions approach the workers and try to get more and more membership.

BSNL Employees Union, during its recognition since 2005, have been continuously taking up the issues of the workers and have   settled a large number of issues. The good wage revision and the Promotion Policy negotiated and settled by the BSNLEU /United Forum have been much appreciated by the workers, even belonging to other unions as  the best agreements in the annals of the Telecom/BSNL employees history. A very good number of new members have also joined BSNLEU. This is the time once again to approach the workers and campaigning for getting additional membership. This is the time for propagating our issues and our approach to settlement of problems.

Our workers, especially at Branch and District level are requested to immediately start the campaign, if already not started and increase the membership. In the past, we have been able to increase our membership, even when more than 10,000 workers were retiring every year. We have to continue that process.

Let BSNLEU become more and more stronger, so that BSNL and its workers can be saved!

The Parliament starts debate on the Lok Pal Bill today amidst confusions and conflicts of interests. Though compelled by pressure from the successful fast of Anna Hazare and opposition parties, government was compelled to move, but it has cleverly brought the Lok Pal Bill o suit its requirements. The opposition parties are not happy and want amendments.

Anna Hazare is again on fast demanding a strong Lok Pal Bill.

What will be the outcome ? The people want a strong Lok Pal and also effective implementation so that the day-to-day harassment they face  at the corrupt babus and officers are stopped. The people want a corruption free governance.

To day is a happy day for BSNLEU and its workers.   The CHQ building is registered in the name of  KG Bose Memorial Trust today, 27th December 2011. It is a big achievement of the BSNLEU and a long dream fulfilled. My hearty Congratulations to the CHQ office-bearers as also the circle Secretaries, District Secretaries, Branch Secretaries and all members who have helped in collecting the money and making it possible to purchase the building.

But one more thing. The donations collected were not sufficient and bank loans to the tune of Rupees one and half crore has been taken. This has to be returned as early as possible  to avoid the high interests. I call upon all our workers to ensure that the appeal of the CHQ for additional collection is done and sent to CHQ at the earliest. Our members were always positive to the call of the CHQ and I hope for the same this time also.

Happy News! The inauguration of BSNLEU new building, which is proposed to be named ” K.G.Bose Bhawan” in memory of the revolutionary leader, Comrade K.G.Bose, will be inaugurated on 22nd March 2012, the 11th anniversary of BSNLEU formation at New Delhi. The Central Secretariat of the Union has also decided to hold a meeting of the Central Executive Committee at New Delhi on that date so that all the Central Executive Committee members can be present on the august occasion.