Parliament Members from Left, AIADMK, Asom Gana Parishad and some other parties strongly protested in the Parliament against the move of the EPF to reduce the interest rate to its subscribers from 9.5% to 8.25%.  In a letter to the government they pointed out that while the bank interests are increasing now and then, how the EPF rate can be reduced? The EPF is part of the social security to the workers and how their hard-earned money can be curtailed by the EPF? They pointed out that EPF is a long-term fixed fund and it should ge given more interest than the regular fixed deposit etc. they wrote.

The government should act immediately and ensure that the EPF rate is increased from 9.5% or at least it should not be reduced.

While the government has been claiming of growth and GDP increase (it is not so also), the rupee has gone down to Rs.53.21 for US dollar.  This is one of the worst hit for rupee. What is the UPA government going to take to save rupee?

The emergent meeting of the Joint Action committee of BSNL Unions/Associations in its meeting today, 13 December 2011, has once again affirmed its historic decision to go on one day strike on 15th December 2011. It called upon all BSNL workers to go on strike making  15th December strike a complete success.

NFTE and its alliance partners have also decided to join the strike.

Though the Expert Committee on Pension has recommended that the minimum pension for all EPF contributors should be Rs. 1000, both the Government as well as the employers are reluctant to implement the same. They want that the workers should contribute more for getting this minimum pension. This is a wrong and impracticable argument.

In many states pension is being given to senior citizens and other categories of people without any contribution at all, as part of the social responsibility of the government.  In the case of workers who contribute to EPF, how can the government take another line. Rs. 1000/- is not much and contribution is also there.

A sensible government have to ensure and implement this genuine demand of the workers without any further delay.

The Unions have given strike notice on the important demands of the workers as well as the company. The responsibility of the management is to discuss and find out ways and means to setle the issues. Instead, it is only requesting the workers to call of the strike citing the financial condition of the company. How the present unviable condition has come. It is only due to the anti-PSU policy of the government and the mismanagement. Workers can not be held responsible for the same.

Denial of the genuine demands of the workers will bring more struggles only. Let he management be positive in settling the issues.

Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/Unions  has approached Members of Parliament of various political parties to raise the issues of financial viability of BSNL and the discriminatory attitude of the government to BSNL and MTNL. On behalf of JAC, I have sent detailed notes on the matter to S/Shri Basudev Acharya, Brinda Karat, Tapan Sen (CPIM), Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI), Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy (INC) and other MPs. I have also requested that in connection with the 15th December Strike, the issue may be raised in the Parliament. I hope they will seriously take up the issue with government.

Two out of the 7  demands in the 15th December Strike are 1) Payment of Bonus and 2) 78.2% IDA fixation for BSNL Employees. BSNL management is denying both stating there is no money.he denial justified?

No. There is no justification to deny the demands. As far as Bonus is concerned, it is given in the government and the PSUs? It is a right won by the workers. On a scheme decided by the DOT, BSNL and MTNL managements without participation of the workers’ representatives, Bonus can not be denied.

78.2% is granted by Government and PSUs? Why it is denied to BSNL workers alone.

The negative attitude of the BSNL management by denying the rights of the workers is the reason for the BSNL workers strike. They are fully responsible for the same.

Make the strike a big success!

On the death of an employee, an amount of Rs. 15,000/ is given immediately by BSNL to the family  of the deceased towards funeral expenses. The All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association has demanded that the same  may be given on the death of the BSNL Pensioner also. This is a very justified demand. After serving the DOT/BSNL for a long period of 35 to 40 years, why the pensioner also can not be granted the same.  He/she had also contributed to the Welfare Fund all along his service, and this right can not be denied to him/her.

The BSNL management should take immediate decision. After all death is only once, whether in service or afterwards.

The Meeting   Director (HR) held today with the JAC leaders did not settle important issues  raised in the strike notice. Hence prepare fully for the strike. A meeting of JAC will be held tomorrow, 13th December,  to plan and make the strike a good success. NFTE has agreed to join with the strike decision.

On the strike issue, two write ups are published 1) in the Pioneer dated 9th December and 2) in the Peoples Democracy dated 5-11.

UPA government and Congress leaders are very unhappy with the large participation of people in the programmes organised by Anna Hazare. The latest is the one day hunger strike by Anna at Jantar Mantar, New Delhi on 12 December 2011. Thousands of people attended the site in support of the hunger strike. This time there was another added attraction that many political leaders including BJP, CPI, CPI(M), JD(U) and others participated and expressed their view points for a strong Lokpal Bill.

This has naturally infuriated the UPA and especially Congress. They have again started attacking and ridiculing the movement for a strong Lokpal Bill. But the fact is that the Congress is worried and will have to change certain decisions.

Better do it at the earliest before another hunger strike. The elections in UP are coming!