Monthly Archives: May 2012

Vasco Da Gama – the messenger of doom

21 Monday May 2012

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It is more than five centuries after Vasco Da Gama reached India. It was on 20th May 1498 that he reached Kappad, near Calicut. Within days, he met the King Zamorin of Calicut and requested for doing business and exchange of commodities.

History has it that it was the starting point of the British and other European countries reaching the fertile India and not only capturing the markets, but capturing the country through treachery, making kings fight each other, and also by using force with their advanced military power. The European dominance, mainly the British, ruled the Country for about two centuries.

Vasco da Gama was one of the visitors of doom for the country. After getting Independence in 1947, even now such messengers of doom are visiting the country. The US and its MNCs are trying to subjugate India financially and  on  policy matters. Unless we resist such attempts and take our own decisions in the interest of the country, the future will not be bright. It should be our endeavour for an independent policy based on co-operation and mutual trust.

NE – 12 payscale approved by the BSNL Board

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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At last the NE-12 pay scale has been approved by the BSNL Board. In fact, it would have been approved very much earlier, but the bureaucratic system of functioning makes every decision delayed much more than necessary. Once an agreement is made with the Union on the NEPP, the management would have taken immediate measures to get it implemented. At least, it seems that there are more than 6 to 7 seven stages for any decision to be taken. Then most of the issues are sent to the DOT on various pleas. Naturally there is avoidable delay.

In a PSU like BSNL, this delay has to be curtailed and some method to be adopted for the same. Once a decision or agreement is made, there should be implementation without any delay.

We expect the management to issue immediate orders with effect from February when the same was approved by the DOT. With this a long demand of the employees is going to be fulfilled.

20,000 demonstrates in Germany against capitalism

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by in TU News - International

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Some 20,000 activists took part in a major rally of the local Occupy movement in Frankfurt on Saturday, German police said. Protesters peacefully filled the city center of continental Europe’s biggest financial hub in their protest against the dominance of banks and what they perceive to be untamed capitalism, Frankfurt police spokesman Ruediger Regis said. Police revised the initial turnout estimate of 10,000 quickly upward to 20,000 as protesters jammed Frankfurt’s downtown business district on what was a warm and sunny Saturday afternoon. A spokesman for the organizers, Roland Suess, said turnout has already reached 25,000. Organizers had told authorities that they expect between 10,000 and 40,000 participants. The protest group calling itself Blockupy has called for blocking the access to the European Central Bank, which is located in Frankfurt’s business district. Last year, thousands in Germany took to the streets in rallies during the worldwide Occupy movement. But as Germany’s economy is proving to be robust and unemployment at a record-low those protests have mostly fizzled out. But Europe’s lingering debt crisis has given new fuel to some protests, even though Germany Europe’s biggest economy suffers none of the austerity measures now heavily affecting some southern European nations such as Greece, Portugal and Spain

All BSNL Unions meeting on 23rd May

21 Monday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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It has been decided to call for an all unions meeting at New Delhi at 1500 hours on 23rd May to discuss about the serious issues facing the BSNL and its workers. NFTE and FNTO have agreed to attend the meeting. We expect that all unions/associations will attend the meeting and take important decisions.

Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, an organiser par excellence

20 Sunday May 2012

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Comrade P.V.Chandrasekharan, the Chief Patron of All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) and the President of its Kerala unit, is an organiser par excellence. The holding of the Kerala Circle Conference of AIBDPA has once again proved the same.

Comrade P.V.Chandrasekharan is a product of the highly political sensitive land of Kannur District from where many leaders like Coms. AKG , EK Nayanar etc. have arisen. Even from his student days Com. PVC was connected with the progressive movement and the Student Federation. Com. AK Padmanabhan, President  CITU and  PVC were classmates.

Within days of joining the P&T Department in 1963 at Telephone Exchange Alapuzha, he was fully engaged with the union activities. After getting transfer to Kannur, as the Branch Secretary of the union, he organised many struggles for settlement of local issues. The Baliapatnam agitation is well-known by the P&T comrades. He was victimised several times and transferred from place  to place for his union activities.

During the 1968 strike, he organised it atKkannur in a very effective way. For the correct approach and ideological struggle in the P&T movementat All India and Circle levels, Com. PVC had a pivotal role. He was elected as the Circle Secretary of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III for about two decades from 1981 after me. He worked as President of the BSNL Employees Union also.

In organising and strengthening BSNLEU in Kerala, Com.PVC has done the pivotal role. Loved and respected by all, though he do not have any post in BSNLEU, he is its guide and philosopher. A number of young comrades were brought to the leadership by him. After retirement he has taken over the leadership of AIBDPA and CGPA. He is still connected with all the progressive  organisations in thestate.

I had the opportunity to work with him for the last 5 decades   and  always got support and advice from him. I wish  him a long period of service to the people.

Kelu Ettan remembered

20 Sunday May 2012

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I am at Calicut today after attending the AIBDPA CEC and Kerala Circle Conference at Kochi day in the last two days. I got the opportunity to attend the Kelu Ettan death anniversary seminar today, 20 th May.

Com. Kelu Ettan (dada) as he was respectfully called by all, was a leader of the earlier years. His entire life was spent for the uplifting of the poor and needy.He was the District Secretary of the CPI(M) at Kozhikode till his death. He was simple, a comrade who mingled with the common people and loved by all.

The seminar in his memory was organised with the idea of strengthening the party and making it capable to face the present onslaughts and attacks on the party and its workers by the police and the government machinery as also the media.

I could meet many senior comrades who worked with me while I was at Calicut.

AIBDPA Circle Conference Kerala

20 Sunday May 2012

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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Circle Conference of AIBDPA was held at Kochi on 19th May. It was presided over by Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, the beloved leader of P&T employees unions in Kerala. More than 500 delegates from all over the state participated. In addition, some of the central Executive committee members who have come to attend the CEC meeting of AIBDPA also attended. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.P.Rajeeve M.P. who lambasted the anti-worker policies of the central government and the move of the government in taking away the statutory pension to the state and central government employees. Coms.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President, BSNLEU, A.K.Bhattacharjee, All India President, AIBDPA and  leaders of various sister organisations addressed the session.

The delegates session was inaugurated by Com. K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA. The report presented by Circle Secretary, Com. N.Ramesh was approved after discussion by the  delegates. The new office-bearers were re-elected with Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan as President and Com. N.Ramesh as Circle Secretary.

My congratulations to the comrades of Kerala who have organised the AIBDPA in to a very strong and effective organisation. They have increased the membership substantially. I could meet a lost of senior comrades who were fighters in the early period as regular employees.

Homage to Com.Moni Bose on his 2nd death anniversary

20 Sunday May 2012

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19th May is the second death anniversary of Com. Moni Bose, the veteran leader of the telecom workers and the Central Government employees. It was under his leadership that the revisionist leadership was defeated in the historic Bhopal All India Conference of All India Telecom Employees Union. That started a new awakening in the telecom movement. After formation of BSNLEU in 2001, he was elected as one of the Patrons of the union. He toured all over the country and mobilised the workers for sustained struggles against the anti-worker policies of the government. He left us on 19th of May 2010.

My respectful homage to Com.Moni Bose on his second death anniversary. I personally conveyed my homage to Com. Gautam Bose (Pappan) and requested him to convey to his mother  and family.

In Kolkatta meetings with large attendance was  held in memory of Com. Moni Bose.

AIBDPA meet calls for struggle

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The Central Executive Committee of the AIBDPA met at Ernakulam on 18th May has given call for agitational programmes to get settled the important issues of the Pensioners. Details will be posted.

Delhi High Court grants time up to 30th Sept. for ITS repatriation

18 Friday May 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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Hon’ble High Court,  Delhi outrightly dismissed the modification application filed by BSNL seeking 25 months time for repatriation of unabsorbed ITS officers working in BSNL.Even desperate plea made by the BSNL counsel to give time upto 31st December, 2012 was rejected by the Hon’ble Court. Hon’ble HC while dismissing the application of BSNL directed it to complete repatriation process by 30th Sept, 2012.

Intervention application was filed by AIBSNLEA, BSNLEU and SNEA(I). Even though the intervention application was also dismissed, yet counsel appearing for these Associations/unions strongly opposed the move of ITS controlled BSNL Management for extension of time. Intervention application was not admitted on technical grounds since we are not party in the original application.

Further course of legal action is being discussed with our counsel.