Monthly Archives: April 2014

Red Salute to Vietnam Comrades on Freedom day !

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

30th April 1975 saw the end of the colonialist war against Vietnam after the ignoble defeat of US attackers and their henchmen in the battlefield at Saigon. Vietnam was unified and liberated.

The sustained struggles and war by the Vietnam army and people against the French and then the US army is a saga of courage, sacrifice, determination and military strategy. US fielded its military directly in large numbers, used all latest arsenal including Napalm Bombs, mobilised all anti-communist forces and brutally attacked Vietnam.
But after years, the US met its Waterloo. The Vietnam won but lost lakhs of the soldiers and people. The loss on the US side was also significant.

Vietnam is continuing with its Socialist Government. On this Freedom Day of vietnam, My Warm Greetings to the people of Vietnam !
Red Salute Comrades !

State Bank Attacked, Most works being hand over to Reliance Company

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in General, Neo-liberal policy, PSU

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

The papers have reported a shocking news ! An agreement is made between the Public Sector State Bank of India and the big corporate Reliance Money Infra,an Anil Ambani Company, through which most of the works of SBI are being transferred / outsourced to the latter. Although the agreement is signed on 25th February 2014, it is with retrospective effect from 5th October 2013. It is unbelievable.

SBI is one of the best run Public Sector Bank with good profit and with a best customer service. Its service is appreciated much. I have my own experience to that. Then why the services of the SBI are being handed over to a private corporates whose credentials are doubtful.

Is it because that the reliance could not get the licence to start a bank, that the government is making this gift to Reliance? Is it because not to recruit more employees to SBI? Or is it to maximise profit for Reliance? And this agreement is reported to have been made more than one month earlier, but with out any publicity. No discussion in the Parliament, no debate in the country, every move was secret. Even otherwise is it ethical to take such a decision when a new government is going to come and the General elections are going on.

The ruling UPA government owes an explanation to the people of this country for such an unwanted and hasty decision. I am sure the Bank workers and for that matter the Central and other trade unions will strongly react to this anti-people decision.

Organise May Day Celebrations!

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

1st May is the International Day of the Working Class. It is celebrated all over the world. in many countries it declared holiday so that the workers can celebrate. Unfortunately India is not one of them. But many institutions declare the same as holiday.

Rallies, Processions, Meetings etc. are organised on May Day. Mostly these are jointly held by all the Central and other trade unions. Unions flags are hoisted on the day.

We call upon all the BSNL Employees to jointly organise the day along with other trade unions, wherever possible. Otherwise organise the same by yourselves.

My Revolutionary Greetings to all on May Day! Let us pledge to continue our struggle for a better life to the toiling masses all over the world. We shall fight for a better world.

Wish You All the Best – Welcome to AIBDPA Comrades !

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

Hundreds of BSNL employees are retiring every month on superannuation. These comrades have given life-long service to the nation and the people. Though the Government made all efforts to disinvest and later privatise BSNL, it is these comrades who stood fast and thick with the union and stopped both in BSNL. Through the sustained struggles organised under the leadership of BSNLEU, all these comrades have benefitted also through a good wage revision, Promotion Policy etc. Now these comrades are retiring.

On behalf of BSNLEU and AIBDPA and on my behalf I salute all the retiring comrades and wish them all the best in their future life.

The thinking that there is no valuable life after retirement is no more valid. There IS a life after retirement and that too precious. The world require your service as senior citizens. Your valuable experience should benefit the society. You are getting a somewhat good pension. But there is threat to it from the neo-liberalisation-privatisation policy.

To protect yourself and your family, to protect the pension and pensionary benefits, you require an organisation. Yes, fortunately it is there. It is the All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association, which has been organising struggles on behalf of the pensioners and retirees. You should be part of this great family of pensioners. Whether you are executive or Non-Executive, whether you have been member of any union while in service – it does not matter. All are members in the AIBDPA.

We welcome all of you to become members of this mighty association of Pensioners. We Heartily welcome you!

With Best Wishes to you and your family.

V.A.N.Namboodiri Advisor AIBDPA and
President BSNLEU

Why BSNL Management is reluctant to implement Government Orders on Minimum Wage, EPF, ESI etc. for contract labours?

30 Wednesday Apr 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, ,

Almost every day, the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation as well as BSNLEU are getting complaints from their units that the contract workers are not being paid the Minimum Wage as per the government orders, EPF and ESI are not implemented, wages are not paid through cheques or to the SB accounts of the worker etc.

The BSNL C.O. has issued clear orders on 5th november 2008 itself regarding payment of minimum wages and on EPF, ESI etc.after the issue was taken up by BSNLEU. Even after five years of the issue of the order and regular reminders by the C.O., the field units are not implementing the same. It seems that the CMD and other Directors and top management have no control over their GMs.Otherwise why they are blatantly violating the orders of the C.O.?

Or is there a secret understanding between the top management and SSA heads that though orders are issued by C.O., the field level officers need not implement them? Or is it an understanding between the field level officers and the contractors ?

The brutal exploitation of the tens of thousands of contract workers by the BSNL Management-Contractor nexus has resulted in loss of more than Rs. 50 crores to the contract workers. The BSNL Management should be ashamed that such exploitation is continuing in BSNL, a Public Sector Unit, with out any change.

The only way seems to be to organise mighty struggles to put an end to this exploitation and get justice to the toiling contract workers. Their due wages can not be allowed to be cheated by the nexus of some corrupt officers and the contractors.

Let us prepare for a serious struggle for getting justice to the contract workers engaged in BSNL.

London’s Tube Workers on Strike

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in TU News - International

≈ Leave a comment

The Underground Railway (Tube) workers in London are on a 48 hours strike from 29th April protesting against the proposal to close the ticket offices across the tube net work causing loss of hundreds of jobs. As per reports, many of the tube stations were closed due to the strike.

Underground trains ( Tube) are the main travel mode in London and nearby places. It is just like the local trains of Mumbai. If the tubes are stopped, then London will almost be at a standstill.

The strike has started since the management was not prepared to concede the demands or even discuss with the union.

Govt. submits partial list of black money account holders in German bank.

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Corruption, General

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

,

After much criticism by the Supreme Court for not submitting the list of black money holders in foreign banks, the UPA government furnished to the court the names of 18 people, who are all businessmen in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Gujarat etc.and who have accounts in LGT Bank, Germany.

What is more important is that the Government did not release the names of other 8 persons, which are in the list given to the Government by the German Government.

The doubt is only natural. Are these 8 names include top political leaders of the ruling party?

TDSAT allows roaming by sharing of spectrum

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

The Telecom Dispute Settlement Appellate tribunal (TDSAT) has allowed 3G roaming services to the private operators, even though they do not have spectrum licence for those circles. The TDSAT has also cancelled the penalty imposed on these private companies who were illegally providing roaming services in areas where they have no spectrum licence, by sharing agreements with other private companies who have spectrum in those circles.

We feel that this decision of the TDSAT is to be challenged since this is in violation of the licence conditions. Further this decision will give undue favour to the private companies comparing with BSNL, which was compelled to pay for all the circles in full.

Secretary DOT asks BSNL to expedite Projects

29 Tuesday Apr 2014

Posted by in BSNL News

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , ,

It is reported that Shri M.F.Farooqui, Secretary, DOT has directed BSNL to expedite its projects. As per Secretary DOT, many projects are much behind the time schedule which adversely affect the services.
During the meeting of the Forum with Secretary, DOT and other top officers of the DOT, the same point was mentioned by them.
There may be many reasons and justifications for delay, but it has to be dealt with and the projects completed in time. Then only BSNL will survive.
One top official told the Forum that the Rs.1,500 crore in lieu of ADC approved for BSNL is not being paid because BSNL is not able maintain the level of standard of service required and also lacking in completion of projects entrusted with it.

I will quote the old saying : PERFORM OR PERISH !