The  VI  All India Conference of BSNL Employees Union, the recognised and representative union of non-executive employees numbering about 2,28,000 is scheduled to be held at Ludhiana, Punjab from 25th to 28th of September 2012. The Reception Committee has started its preparatory work in right earnest to make all arrangements for holding the same in an effective manner.

The All India Conference is the forum where hundreds of elected delegates from the thousands of branches all over the country meet and discuss the problems of the workers, assess the work done during the last two years after the last AIC, adopt resolutions on policy as well as issues and also elect the office-bearers for the next term. Since the formation of the BSNLEU in 2001, regular AICs had been held within the stipulated time, which many other unions could not do. The decisions were unanimous, including the election of office-bearers. These unanimity is arrived at after discussion of the various point of views and mutual consultations. Democratic values have always been upheld in  the conferences. The present conference will not be different.

The challenges before the trade union movement are many. More and more attacks are coming on the workers and the trade union movement as part of the implementation of the neo-liberal policy by the government. Jobs have been reduced. The hard-won gains of the workers are being curtailed or reduced one after another. Trade union rights are being curbed. This is fully applicable to the telecom/BSNL workers also.

BSNL has its own problems. The pro-MNC and anti-PSU policy of the government has created many problems for the BSNL resulting in its revenue and marketing share. The management has been far below expectations. The government has almost withdrawn from all its commitments to act to improve the financial viability of the company which it assured at the time of formation of BSNL.

BSNL Employees Union has been in the forefront of the struggles for the advancement of the workers and to save the BSNL and strengthen it. Whether it is in the formation of the Joint Forum, Joint Action Committee or Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, it has taken a pivotal role in uniting the workers and organising struggles. It will continue to do so.

As the recognised and representative union for the last 7 years or more, it worked in unison with the United Forum for improving the condition of the workers and achieving more and more demands. The Wage revision of 2007 and the New Promotion Policy for Non-Executives have been /path-breaking and appreciated by the entire workers, especially in the challenging times when the company is in financial difficulties. Even those few who opposed the above on their own compulsions had to agree the benefits of the above, when they were implemented and the benefits were actually experienced. BSNLEU will continue its efforts to improve the benefits of the workers.

BSNLEU is connected with the main trade union stream of the country. It has been a party to all the struggles organised by the Central Trade Unions, Platform of Mass Organisations etc. in the past. It will continue to do so. BSNLEU is also connected with the Trade Union International and the World federation of Trade Unions (WFTU).  It has to take more and more effective role in the above.

All these and more will be discussed in the next AIC and necessary decisions taken. For that everybody including the CHQ, Circles, SSAs, Branches and all the workers have to prepare and come with their suggestions and opinions for the better.

Let us make the Ludhiana AIC another milestone in the progress of our Forward March!