Monthly Archives: March 2014

Remember Paris Commune?

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

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About one half centuries back, in 1871 on 18th March, the workers revolted against the French Government and formed the Paris Commune. It had got inspiration from the French Revolution of 1789 to 1799 and wanted to completely to change the system in favour of the workers. But it was crushed by the Government by 21 May of the same year. 20,000 were killed, 38,000 jailed and 7,000 deported.
But the memory of that great uprising of the French people will inspire the working class all over the world.

what the BSNL Board is contemplating?

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

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The BSNL Management has invited the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations for a presentation of its decision to form a Tower Company out of BSNL. Good that the Unions / associations are called for briefing.

But one serious question come to the fore. Why the BSNL Management or BSNL Board discuss the issue with Forum/Unions/Associations which are important stake holders of the BSNL, before taking any decision?

When the Forum knew about the arbitrary decision of the Board, it has strongly protested against this anti-BSNL, anti-worker decision. The 2.5 lakh of workers are putting their best to improve the services and financial position of the company and is fully co-operating with the Management on the strengthening and efficiency. Employees are fully convinced that forming a separate tower company will be completely against the interest of BSNL and its workers and hence strong protest.

Dropping the decision of the Board to form the Tower Company will be best decision. That is our demand to the BSNL Management/Board.

P and T House Trivandrum, the Centre of TU Activities

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

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After some time, today, 18th March 2014, I got an opportunity to be at P and T House, Thiruvananthapuram, the citadel of service trade unions in Kerala.
P and T House is the Union office of NFPTE/NFPE/BSNLEU for the last more than 50 years. It was inaugurated in 1961 after the formation of the Circle Co-Ordinating Committee of P and T Unions (NFPTE) to accommodate all the 9 unions of NFPTE in Kerala.At that time onwards it became a place where not only P and T Unions, but various unions/associations of Central / State government employees met and discussed various issues and prepared for struggles.
As the Circle Secretary of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III, I stayed at Trivandrum and functioned from the P and T House for about 4 years. All the 9 NFPTE unions functioned from there.
After formation of BSNL and BSNLEU, the latter is also functioning from P and T house which continues till today.
The rented house was purchased by NFPTE and constructed a new building in the 1980s. In this connection it is to be noted that all the District (SSA) headquarters in Kerala have their own buildings to accommodate the NFPE / BSNL union offices.
It was a joy to meet many senior comrades there. It was indeed an inspiration to me at P and T House, cherishing the memories of sustained struggles and organising the Union.

Crimea now part of Russia

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

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MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty making Crimea part of Russia, in a historic redrawing of Russia’s borders after he declared that the Black Sea region has always been “in the hearts” of his countrymen.

In a fast-moving sequence of events following Crimea’s secession referendum on Sunday, the Kremlin said Crimea was now considered part of Russia and no longer Ukrainian territory, shrugging off strong international objections. (Times of India)

AIBDPA Convention at Thiruvananthapuram

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The massive convention of the AIBDPA held at Thiruvananthapuram on 18th March has called upon the BSNL_DOT Pensioners to prepare for a serious and sustained struggle for settlement of the long pending issues of the Pensioners.

The Convention was held at P and T House premises. Com.K.Arjunan, SSA President presided. The Convention was inaugurated by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA who explained the demands of the Pensioners in General and that of BSNL-DOT Pensioners in particulars.
The struggles organised by BSNLEU and AIBDPA on the demands were explained, with specific reference to Pension Revisions. He strongly protested against the undue delay in settlement of 78.2% IDA fixation for BSNL pensioners. The efforts made by CHQ were also briefed.Comrades M.Krishnan, SG Confederation, R.Muralidharan Nair, AGS, BSNLEU, K.Mohan, Circle secretary, BSNLEU, P.V.Chandrasekharan, President, AIBDPA Kerala Circle, N.Ramesh, Circle secretary, AIBDPA, V.Kesavan, Circle Vice-President, M.C.Nair, Vice-President, Kerala CGPA and other leaders addressed. Com. Padmanabha Pillai, District Secretary AIBDPA Trivandrum welcomed all comrades.
The Circle Executive Committee of AIBDPA was held in the evening of the same day presided over by Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan. The CEC discussed the report presented by Circle Secretary Com.N.Ramesh and discussed about organisational matters and pensioners issues.

Crimea votes to join Russia

17 Monday Mar 2014

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The latest reports from the press stated that Crimea’s Parliament on Monday declared the region an independent state, after its residents voted overwhelmingly to break off from Ukraine and seek to join Russia.
US has already stated that it will push sanctions against Russia.

Further news are awaited.

Where is the MH 370 Flight? It is incredible!

17 Monday Mar 2014

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Even after two weeks, there is no information about the missing Malaysian plane MH 370 with its 239 travellers including staff. 25 Nations including India are searching about the whereabout of the plane and its occupants. But no result except some opinions of experts.
Not only relations and friends of the travellers of the flight, but the entire humanity is worried what has happened. It is incredible that with all the latest technologies, satellite watch and other sources, why the whereabout of the plane is not known.
Let us hope that the search will bear results without further delay.

Why Delay in Erection of Mobile Towers in naxalite areas?

16 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Telecom

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Last year, immediately after the naxalite attack and brutal murder of 27 Congress leaders in Chhattisgarh in June 2013, the Central Government had announced that 2,199 towers (BTS) will be erected in the naxalite areas of 9 states viz. M.P., Chhattisgarh, A.P.,Bihar, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, W.Bengal, Odisha and U.P. It was also stated that BSNL will be entrusted with the task and the project will be completed within one year.
But so far only 363 towers have been erected by BSNL though one year is going to be completed by June 2014.
The matter was discussed by the Forum both with the Secretary, DOT and also with the CMD BSNL. The information received is that the amount approved by the DOT on the proposal submitted by BSNL is Rs.789 less and hence the delay. Now there is a chance for increasing the amount also due to increase in cost of materials.
Now again, there was a brutal attack by the naxalites in which 15 persons including Policemen have been killed.
The Government, DOT and BSNL should understand that the project is intended to save the lives of the people and requires most immediate attention. They should discuss immediately and find out a solution to this problem.
It is reported that the Telecom Commission will meet and discuss this issue by the month end. Why so much delay when the election is already announced and the candidates and parties will have to go interior places for campaign. The earlier the better.

AIBDPA Convention at Thiruvananthapuram

16 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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A state level Convention of All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) will be held at Thiruvananthapuram on 18th March 2014. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA and other leaders will be addressing the Convention.

Rs.30,000 crore Expenditure for 16th General Elections

16 Sunday Mar 2014

Posted by in General Elections 2014

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It is estimated that about Rs.60,000 crore will be the expenditure for the 16th Lok Sabha elections as per the study conducted by the Centre for Media Studies. This will be biggest expenditure for the general elections so far. Out of this, about Rs.7,000 to Rs. 8,000 crore will be the expenditure of the government, including Election Commission, various Departments of government like Railway.

The increase in the maximum of the election expenditure by a candidate by the Election Commission will be one reason for the increase.

In addition to the recorded expenditure, there will be almost an equal amount being spent by gifts, tours etc. which are carefully hidden. In fact, the elections have become a ‘big money’ affair, with the collaboration of corporates and big business. It is almost becoming like the Presidential Election in US, where the corporates, MNCs, Finance houses spends billions of dollars in the elections to get elected those who will favour them and provide all benefits.