Monthly Archives: February 2012

Red Salute to the first Martyrs of 28th February 2012 strike !

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in TU News

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In many of the well fought struggles, workers have been killed by bullets, lathis and brutal attacks. In the historic strike of the of the Central Government Employees in 1960, an employee was beaten to death by police in Indraprastha building in New Delhi. Comrade Ekambaram, a telephone operator in Palghat committed suicide unable to face the severe victimisation, termination from service. In the 1968 one day token strike Railway workers were mowed down by Railway engines at Pathankot and Bikaner for blocking the trains. This is some incidents from the past.

But the present situation is also not much differenct. Massive propaganda and programmes are being organised to ensure the success of the 28th February strike called by 11 Central Trade Unions. In addition, the Shiv Sena trade union BKSM has  declared that they will also join the strike. But the Trinamool  in W.Bengal can not tolerate the strike. They are preparing black legs for torpedoing  the strike. Seeing the massive programmes in support of the strike, they are enraged.

Yesterday, the Trinamool goons murdered two trade union leaders belonging to the CPI(M) who were leading procession in support of the 28th February Strike. Many others were wounded in the planned attack with sharp weapons. Comrades Pradeep Ta ( a former MLA from Burdwan) and CPI(M) District leader Kamal Gayen was murdered on the spot. They have become the first martyrs of the 28 February strike.

If anybody thinks that the trade union and progressive forces can be defeated by killing its leaders, they are grossly mistaken. The trade union movement has grown facing such assaults and murders in its progressive march and will continue its march forward.

My Red Salutes to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the advancement of the working class in the struggle field !

I am reproducing the CITU press statement issued in this connection:

CITU Press Statement

CITU strongly condemns the cold blooded murder of Comrade Pradip Ta, CITU National General Council Member and a former CPI(M), MLA and Comrade Kamal Gayen, a senior leader of democratic movement when they were leading a rally in Dewandighi area in Burdwan in support of 28th February All India General Strike called by Central Trade Unions and federations. The murderous preplanned brutal attack was made by Trinamool Congress sheltered goons and criminals. Comrade Ta and Gayen were hacked to death and number of rallyists were injured. CITU deeply mourns the death of their martyred comrades and pledges itself to intensify further its fight against the “Jungle Raj” perpetrated by TMC government in West Bengal. Their martyrdom will inspire the working class movement for bigger struggle in days ahead including 28th February strike.
CITU calls upon the working class, the trade unions and other democratic minded people in the country to raise their voice of protest against such violence and terror against trade union and democratic movement

Etisalat DB closes its business in India

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Telecom

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Consequent to the Supreme Court Judgement cancelling the 112 licences granted illegally in 2008, Etislat DB, whose licences have also been cancelled, has decided to close its business in India. All the 15 licences of the company were cancelled and as per the judgement, they have to cease the operations by 2nd June 2012, within 4 months of the judgement.  It is reported that the company has decided to stop operations as per judgement.

Some other companies have decided to appeal against the judgement. TRAI and DOT have so far not finalised their plan of action based on the judgment so far.

 

Difference between DOT and Finance Ministry delay freeing of defence spectrum

23 Thursday Feb 2012

Posted by in Telecom

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Additional spectrum to be released by the Defence Ministry depends upon the fact that an alternate optical fibre cable is provided to them by the DOT. The government will be able to get a lot of funds by auctioning these released spectrum. In the last spectrum auction, the government has got thousands of crore of rupees. Now DOT requires funds for constructing the alternate network for defence. BSNL is entrusted with the work. As per DOT at least Rs. 6,767 crore for the year 2012-13 alone is required. Further funds also will be required. But the finance ministry is allotting very less amount for the programme. As such the DOT has told the government that it will be difficult to complete the network in time.

In fact, the finance ministry wants to put the DOT and BSNL in trouble. If the full fund is allotted, BSNL will be able to complete it in time and get benefit out of it. Lack of funds will delay the project as also release of the spectrum from Defence Ministry.

The Government should immediatley allot the required funds for the project.

CBT fails to take decision on minimum pension

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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The CBT failed to take decision on the minimum pension which the employees representatives wanted to be Rs. 1,000. The employers representatives did not agree to the proposal and hence no decision. While the full details could not be collected from the union participants, a report from Hindu is reproduced below:

Differences among representatives of employers and employees at the EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) board meeting on Wednesday forced the retirement fund body to defer decision on fixing the minimum monthly pension of Rs.1,000 for PF subscribers. The Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision-making body of the EPFO, could not approve the proposal to benefit its 4.72 crore subscribers, as neither the employers’ representatives nor the union leaders were willing to share any extra load, sources said. “We have decided to form a committee to suggest modalities for implementing the proposal. The committee will give its report within a month,” Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also Chairman of the CBT said, after the meeting. However, this committee would be an informal arrangement among the trade unionists, he said. Of the 35 lakh EPFO pensionDifferences among representatives of employers and employees at the EPFO (Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation) board meeting on Wednesday forced the retirement fund body to defer decision on fixing the minimum monthly pension of Rs.1,000 for PF subscribers. The Central Board of Trustees (CBT), the apex decision-making body of the EPFO, could not approve the proposal to benefit its 4.72 crore subscribers, as neither the employers’ representatives nor the union leaders were willing to share any extra load, sources said. “We have decided to form a committee to suggest modalities for implementing the proposal. The committee will give its report within a month,” Labour Minister Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also Chairman of the CBT said, after the meeting. However, this committee would be an informal arrangement among the trade unionists, he said. Of the 35 lakh EPFO pensioners, 14 lakh get a monthly payment of less than Rs.500. Only seven lakh of them get above Rs.1,000 or more as monthly pension and there are cases where pensioners are getting as low as Rs.12-38 a month. At present, both an employer and his employee contribute 12 per cent of the basic pay plus dearness allowance (BPDA), each towards the PF fund ers, 14 lakh get a monthly payment of less than Rs.500. Only seven lakh of them get above Rs.1,000 or more as monthly pension and there are cases where pensioners are getting as low as Rs.12-38 a month. At present, both an employer and his employee contribute 12 per cent of the basic pay plus dearness allowance (BPDA), each towards the PF fund.

Remove unnecessary conditions on allotment of staff quarters to Pensioners.

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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In the Standing Committee meeting of the National Council held today, the staff side members expressed their happiness that orders have been issued allowing vacant staff quarters to be allotted to Pensioners, which was a long pending demand of BSNLEU. But at the same time, the union pointed out that unnecessary conditions have been put in the order. The pensioners will have to pay the usual rent as also a serving employees should stand guarantee. The union demanded that these unnecessary conditions be removed. It was agreed by the management side to re-examine the same after prolonged discussion. Both BSNLEU and AIBDPA had written with details on the matter to the corporate office earlier.

The union pointed out undue delay in settling pension cases. Management side stated that if the particulars of the pension cases with the name of the circle are furnished to the Corporate office, necessary action to speed up the process can be taken.

Issues of casual /contract labour raised in the Standing Committee of National Council.

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The meeting of the Standing Committee of National Council was held today. A large number of issues were discussed, a brief note of which may be posted in the BSNLEU website. But two most important issues of the Casual and Contract workers were also raised in the Committee.

1. IDA wages for the casual labour, instead of CDA wages – The Union strongly reiterated its demand that the casual labour working in BSNL should be given daily wage of 1/30th of the minimum scale of the lowest pay scale (in the case of unskilled workers). The management is now paying 1/30th of the group D in the government. This should be changed to IDA wages. The management side agreed to examine the issue positively.

2. Implementation of minimum wage and social security measures to the contract workers – The management assured that the orders on the above issues will be implemented. Circle heads have already been instructed to implement them.

I met the GM (Admn), Shri Neeraj Verma, who also assured that strict instructions have been issued to all circles to implement the minimum wage, social security measures etc. However, unless the workers and the unions continuously pressurise, the situation will not improve.

British MPs demand to kick out Dow Chemicals from Olympics sponsorship on Bhopal tragedy

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Corruption, General

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One good news coming from the British Parliament. Members of British Parliament, irrespective of political affiliation have sharply criticised  the London Olympics Committee for accepting the sponsorship of Dow Chemicals, which is linked with the 1984 Bhopal Tragedy, the biggest gas disaster in the world, which resulted in the death of thousands of people and the life long maiming and illness of many more thousands. The MPs alleged that the sponsorship was done in a shoddy way and should be cancelled forthwith.

Trade unions and many NGOs in India had already demanded that the sponsorship of Dow Chemicals should be cancelled. Many sportsmen and sports institutions in the country have said they will not participate in the Olympics if the sponsorship is not cancelled. Now, in British Parliament itself, the protest have arisen.

The London Olympics Committee should act immediately and kick out the anti-people MNC, Dow Chemicals from the Olympics Sponsorship. .

 

Working for Labour – Editorial by Hindu dated 22nd February 2012

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

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I am reproducing below the Editorial of Hindu dated 22nd February 2012 titled ‘Working for Labour’ which raises some important points with regard to the demands of the workers and the negative role of the government

WORKING FOR LABOUR

If the country’s trade unions expected progress on the vexed question of a minimum wage guarantee at the 44th Indian Labour Conference, their hopes may have been dashed by the United Progressive Alliance government. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s inaugural address last week made no mention of implementing a National Floor Level Minimum Wage (NFLMW). Never mind that the application of the 1948 law to all establishments irrespective of the number of workers engaged was uppermost on the conference agenda. The current NFLMW fixed by the Centre in April 2011 is Rs.115 a day. But under the 1948 law, States are free to set their own minimum. As a result, the rates range from a maximum of Rs.203 a day in the National Capital Region of Delhi, to a meagre 68.96 in Andhra Pradesh as on March 2011. Significantly, as many as 21 States still fall below the national minimum, whereas 14 pay wages above that amount. Amendments to the Minimum Wages Act are thus critical to a guaranteed subsistence income for millions of unskilled labourers, including women, who fall well below the standard human development indicators.

Similarly, the Prime Minister’s statements on social security for employees amount to an endorsement of the erroneous view that the protections currently available to the organised sector are coming in the way of job creation. “We must periodically take a critical look [at] whether our regulatory framework has some parts which unnecessarily hamper the growth of employment, enterprise and industry without really contributing significantly to labour welfare,” said Dr. Singh. There is a particularly hollow ring to these remarks made in the context of a country where employment in the organised sector constitutes barely seven per cent of the total workforce. Implicit in this is the reasoning that expenditure on the workforce is a burden, rather than a necessary investment to enhance value and raise the productivity of enterprises. It is necessary to emphasise here that in countries that have embarked upon the deregulation of labour markets, social and welfare protection mechanisms exist which provide a society-wide cushion to the unemployed or indigent. Moreover, attempts to dismantle these protections have met with strong public protests, particularly in Europe. India’s trade unions have had a considerable and highly constructive presence in the banking, insurance and telecommunications industries in the public sector for some decades now. While they have time and again opposed the divestment of government stakes in these enterprises, an inability to organise the workforce in the information and communications technology sector has been a singular failure. It is time the concerns of this segment were also addressed.

 

DOT yet to finalise the 2G auction, NTP

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in Telecom

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It seems that the Government is unable to finalise its plan for 2G auction as per the time limit given by the Supreme Court. The SC had given 4 months time for finalising the same.

There are a lot of issues interlinked with the same. The Government is preparing its National Telecom Policy-2012, which will have to spell out its method of allotting the spectrum and issue of licences. The 2G auction is connected with the same. Another issue is that the TRAI will have to give its suggestions/recommendations. Whether to cancel all the  licences issued after 2001 and before 2008 other than the 122 licences cancelled by the SC is to be considered. The government is also thinking about returning the licence fee also to the companies whose licences have been cancelled. In addition, there may be appeals against the SC verdict cancelling the licences.

The government itself is fully responsible to the present chaos in the telecom sector. In order to support the private players, all rules have been bent or discarded. Deep rooted corruption has taken place. To wriggle out is not easy.

The best way for the government is to have a transparent and correct policy. In that policy, the public sector and indigenous manufacturing should get priority along with the interest of the customers.

Meeting of CBT of EPFO today – Will minimum pension be decided?

22 Wednesday Feb 2012

Posted by in TU News - India

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The meeting of the Central Board of Trustees (CBT) of the Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will meet today to discuss the various issues in its agenda.

One issue is the minimum pension under the Employees Pension Scheme (EPS).  At present, there is no rule regarding minimum pension. Many pensioners are getting only Rs. 200 or 300 with less than 10% getting more than Rs, 1,000. The Unions have been demanding that the at least a minimum pension of Rs. 1,000 should be ensured to all. Considering the present high cost of essential commodities, it should be much more. But even the demand for Rs. 1,000 has not been accepted so far. The meeting today should take a favourable decision in the matter.

Another issue is the interest rate for EPF for the year 2012-13. The unions have been demanding that it should be 9.5% as last year. But the employers are prepared only for 8.5%. This cannot be accepted. When the interest rates have been increased by the banks and other financial institutions, how the employees can be denied the same for their Provident Fund Accounts?  The government should come forward to maintain the interest rate as in last year.