The BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) in its CEC Meeting has finalised a Charter of Demands and also chalked out agitational programmes for achieving the demands. The same is given below:Bhubaneswar CEC calls for sustained struggles against Exploitation and for settlement of Long Pending Demands. The details are given below:

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) held at Bhubaneswar on 18-19 January, 2014 has called upon the workers to prepare for sustained struggles against brutal exploitation of Casual & Contract Workers and for achievement of long pending demands. It has also called upon the workers to observe 2014 as the “Casual & Contract Workers Year” – by organizing massive campaign and wide publicity to the fully justified demands of the brutally exploited workers.

The CEC was held at the BSNL RTTC Seminar Hall. Accommodation was arranged at nearby BSNL Quarters. All comrades appreciated the arrangements made for holding the CEC by the Reception Committee headed by Coms. Janardan Pati (CITU), Sahdeb Biswal (Circle Secretary, BSNL CCWF), P.R. Das (Circle Secretary, BSNLEU) and other leaders and workers.

Flag Hoisting

The CEC started with hoisting of the union flag by Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, BSNL CCWF at about 0930 hrs. on 18th January, 2014.

Homage at Martyrs Column

All the comrades paid homage and tributes at the Martyrs column led by Com. Janardhan Pati, Chairman Reception Committee and V.A.N. Namboodiri, President.

Inaugural Session

The CEC meeting started at about 1100 hrs. Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri presided. Com. Janardhan Pati, Reception Committee, Chairman and President CITU Odisha in his inaugural speech welcomed all participants who have come from all parts of the country and mentioned about the rich history of struggles waged by the people of Odisha since last 2500 years. But now, Odisha is the poorest state in the country as per the report of Raghuram Rajan Committee.

He mentioned about the blatant corruption in telecom sector by government and Corporates, including the 2G scam. Both are interested in disinvesting and privatizing BSNL. Unemployment has become a worldwide phenomen and corruption has become rampant.

It was only through prolonged and sustained struggles the people of Odisha was able to stop privatization of the PSU, NALCO. Our natural resources are being handed over to corporates as in the case of POSCO. He called upon the workers to continue the struggle for achievement of their demands.

Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, BSNL CCWF in his presidential speech, appreciated the Reception Committee for the excellent arrangements for CEC. He congratulated the people of Odisha for their continued struggle against privatization and success.

Com. Namboodiri narrated the developments which resulted in the formation of BSNL CCWF and the struggles organized by it during the last few years which have improved the condition of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers. All efforts were made and all platforms utilized to get the minimum wage, social security measures like EPF, ESI etc. implemented. But, despite, clear orders, these are still not being implemented in many SSAs.

The President mentioned about the agitations continuing in Jamshedpur, Hazaribad, Belgaum, Hissar etc. on demands and against victimization including retrenchment.

He explained some of the demands like regularization of casual labour and stated that this CEC has to discuss both organizational matters as also the demands and chalk out our future programme.

Com. P.R. Das, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Odisha Circle greeted the CEC and spoke about how BSNL CCWF was organized in Odisha and its growth.

The inaugural session ended with vote of thanks by com. Sahadeb Biswal, Convenor, Reception Committee.

CEC meeting

The Subject Committee stared by about 1230 hrs. with Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri in the chair. The agenda notified earlier was read out and approved by the house.

Report by Secretary General

The Report of activities during the period since the last CEC meeting held at Hazaribad, Jharkhand, was presented by the Secretary General, BSNLCCWF, Com. Tapas Ghosh. It touched upon the International and National Scenario, the Working Class agitations, the demands of BSNL CC workers and also organizational activities conducted during the period.

Subjects Committee

Com. Tapas Banerjee, All India Treasurer, presented the accounts of the Federation for 2012 and 2013. Coms. Pradeep Sharma (Assam), Com. Vinod Kumar (Tamil Nadu), R.K. Borghain (NE-II), Surinder Singh (Punjab), Sudama Pal (Jharkhand), N.R. Somasekharan Nair (Kerala), Arup Sarkar (Kolkata), Akhilesh Banerjee (West Bengal), Jeet Lal Mourya (UP), Cheluvaraju (Karnataka), C. Kumar (Tamil Nadu), N. Suresh (Kerala), Santosh Kumar (UPE), Sahdev Biswal (Odisha), M.B. Singh (NE-II), A. Dhupal (Odisha), Kapurchand Bag (Odisha) Geetanjali Swain (Odisha) and K.R. Yadav (UPE) and other comrades participated in the discussion.

Com. Tapas Kumar Ghosh, Secretary General, spoke in detail and explained the points raised by the speakers. He also reported about the progress made on the issues. He proposed that sustained struggles are necessary to achieve the demands.

After the speech by SG, the Report and Accounts were adopted unanimously.

The following decisions were taken after detailed discussion.

(1) The CEC unanimous by adopted the following resolution on the Charter of Demands and Action Programme.

Resolution on Demands and Action Programme.

This Central Executive Committee of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation held at Bhubaneswar on 18-19 January 2014 expresses its deep anguish as also strong protest at the undue delay in regularisation of the left-out casual labours/contract workers, non-implementation of the labour laws with regard to the payment of minimum wages and social security measures etc. for the contract workers. It strongly opposes victimisation/retrenchment of the contract workers for their genuine trade union activities. Instead of implementing the government/BSNL Corporate office orders on the above, they are being completely dishonoured by the contractors and field level officers of the BSNL Management. The casual, contract workers engaged in BSNL are inhumanly exploited. Despite many representations, discussions and agitations, the situation continues more or less the same. This Central Executive Committee held at Bhubaneswar after serious discussion feels that the present unhappy situation can not continue and that serious agitational programme are required to achieve the minimum basic demands of the casual, contract workers. It, therefore, resolves to organise the following agitational programmes on the fully justified and long pending demands of the workers:

Action Programme

1. Demonstration in front of SSA office on 26th February, 2014.
2. Dharna in front of SSA office on 26th March, 2014.
3. March to CGM office on 23rd April 2014.
4. March to CMD BSNL Office (date will be fixed later).
5. One Day Strike (date will be fixed later).

Demands

1) Regularisation of Left-out Casual labours and Contract workers.
2) Casual labour wage to be the same as the lowest wage in BSNL, instead of that of DOT.
3) Minimum Wage as per Government Orders to be implemented to the contract workers, including higher wages for semi-skilled, skilled and highly skilled and as per A,B and C class cities. Wages to be paid through account/cheque in time. Even if contractor changes, the same workers should continue.
4) Implementation of Social Security measures like EPF, ESI, Gratuity, Bonus.
5) HRA / Quarters to be allotted to casual contract workers.
6) EPF Account to be opened by the Principal Employer instead of by contractor.
7) Issue of Identity Cards by BSNL Management.
8) BSNL Management should take necessary steps to improve the services by procuring sufficient equipment to enable expansion and development.
9) Equal Pay for Equal work for contract workers.
10) Vacate Victimisation- Reinstate all the retrenched workers.
11) Recognise BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation.

The CEC calls upon all the units of the BSNLCCWF to organise the programme effectively and successfully with massive participation.

The CEC also demands the BSNL Management to come forward to discuss the issues raised by the Federation and settle the same.

(2) The CEC decided that 2014 will be observed as “BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Year”. Maximum propaganda and all efforts will be made to settle the issue of Casual/Contract Workers.

It was also decided to approach all Central Trade Unions, Federations of Central/State Govt. Employees, PSU Unions, all Unions/Associations in BSNL etc. for solidarity and support in the action programmes.

(3) A resolution to participate in all the programmes of the 11 Central Trade Unions on the 10 points charter was adopted.

Resolution for Participation in the Action Programmes of the Central Trade Unions.

The Central Executive Committee Meeting of the BSNLCCWF held at Bhubaneswar on 18-19 January, 2014 expresses its full support and solidarity to the programmes adopted by the Central Trade Unions on the 10 Point demands opposing steep price rise, anti-workers decisions of the government as also demanding minimum wage of Rs.10,000/- to unorganised workers etc. BSNLCCWF had participated in all the programmes organised by the CTUs including the 48 Hours Strike on 20-21 February, 2013 and the Massive Parliament March held on 12th December, 2013.

This CEC meeting held at Bhubaneswar declares that this organisation will continue to participate in all the programmes being organised on the common demands of the people and the toiling masses by the Central Trade Unions.

(4) The CEC accepted the invitation of Tamil Nadu Circle to hold the next All India Conference in Tamil Nadu.

(5) An appeal was made to financially help the ailing Circle Secretary of UP (East) Com. S.P. Tiwari.

Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, President in his concluding speech thanked all for taking important decisions for strengthening the organisation and action programmes for settlement of issues. He called upon the workers to actively implement the same. He called upon the regular workers to fully support the genuine demands of Casual & Contract Workers.

The house unanimously adopted a resolution expressing thanks to the Reception Committee for the excellent arrangements.

Procession

A well attended procession was organized which walked through the main roads of the city and reached the CTO Office where the open session was held.

Open Session

The well attended open session held near CTO was presided by Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, All India President. Com. Janardan Pati, President, CITU Odisha inaugurated. Com. Tapas Ghosh, SG, BSNL CCWF, Mohin Samal, Convener, Confederation of CG Employees & Workers, P.R. Das, CS, BSNLEU and Suresh Panigrahi, Vice-President, BSNL CCWF and CITU addressed. Com. Sahdeb Biswal, CS, BSNL CCWF and Convener, Reception Committee welcomed and proposed vote of thanks.

The Odisha CEC was a very fruitful experience which has taken important decisions to strengthen the organisation and formulated action programmes for achieving the demands of workers. We have to implement the same effectively.

BSNLCCWF Zindabad !
Workers Unity Zindabad !
Unity for Struggle,
Struggle for Unity and
Unity & Struggle for Progress!