27 Friday Jun 2014
Posted in Telecom
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It is reported that the Reliance Jio of Mukesh Ambani and Reliance Communications of Anil Ambani may join together in providing telecom services to the people. They are expected to connect together in roaming, spectrum sharing as also tower and optical fibre cable. They will have common network, data centres, outlets etc.
This may help both the companies in a very big way.
27 Friday Jun 2014
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Shr A.N.Rai, Director (HR), BSNL will be meeting the Joint Action Committee of BSNL Non-Executive unions today, 27th June, to discuss about the 30 Point Charter of Demands presented by the JAC in April 2014. The JAC includes the Non-Executive Unions in BSNL including the recognised unions, BSNLEU and NFTE. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri and P.Abhimanyu, President and General secretary respectively will represent BSNLEU.
The JAC had met yesterday and decided to utilise the discussion today effectively so that the long pending issues of the workers could be settled.
27 Friday Jun 2014
Posted in TU News, TU News - India
As expected, the NDA government has kick started for amendment of the labour laws, which was one of the major demands of the corporates and employers. It is reported that the Labour Ministry is preparing proposals for amendment of Factories Act, Labour laws, Minimum Wages Act, Child Labour Act etc. The corporates have been continuously demanding to end the ‘Inspector Raj’, meaning the inspection by labour officers regarding the condition of the workers, implementation of the labour rules etc.
The Central Trade Union leaders who met the Labour Minister Naresh Singh Tomar a few days back have already expressed their strong opposition to any anti-worker amendments to the labour laws.
When even the labour acts are not being implemented by the corporates and even PSUs like BSNL, any liberalisation will doom the future of the low paid and unorganised workers who form 90% workers in the country. Such ‘liberalisation’ to maximise the profit of the corporates and big business has to be opposed and defeated.
27 Friday Jun 2014
Posted in Telecom
The DOT has started the process for collection of fines from the private telecom companies which continued to use 2G even after the supreme Court Order date 2, February 2012. It is based on the order of the SC to collect fee from the companies for the use after the court order. Altogether DOT is expected to get Rs. 2,451 crores.
Of course, the private companies may go to the court, or better will influence the government to get the charges cancelled in the name of giving the ‘right signals’ to the industry.
27 Friday Jun 2014
The project for providing broadband connectivity to one lakh Panchayats in the country through NOFN will not be fulfilled by 2014-15 as declared earlier. There has been much delay in implementing the project. Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), which is funding the project which is to be implemented by BSNL, Railtel and Powergrid , has informed the Communications Minister that only 50,000 Panchayats can be covered during the period as most of the cable-laying , trenching and ducting work is incomplete.
This raises important questions. Whether it is the BSNL etc. which is delaying the matter or whether there is delay in sanctioning the funds by USOF or whether there are problems in the tenders, or whether there is no co-ordination between BSNL, Railtel and Powergrid etc. But one thing is clear. Neither the DOT, USOF, BSNL or others connected with the project have not taken the matter seriously. There may be some delay but the fact that only 50% can be completed during the period is completely unacceptable.
25 Wednesday Jun 2014
It is only with dread and anger that we can remember the ‘Emergency’, declared by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on 25th June 1975, after her election was declared as invalid.
Terror was let loose. All the opposition party leaders were arrested and put in jail. Democracy was thrown to winds. Workers rights were trampled. Many Central Government Employees’leaders, including that of P and T were arrested and jailed. The press was completely censured and any opposition was subdued with iron hands. It was something more than dictatorship.
But the people will not tolerate such dictatorship. In the next elections in 1977, the Congress under the leadership of Indira Gandhi bit dust. It took many more years for the Congress to come back.
Today is the 39th anniversary of that dreaded day on which the Emergency was declared. We have to ensure that such an eventuality will never happen again.
25 Wednesday Jun 2014
Posted in General
The Government has deferred the proposed gas price rise for three months.
The Cabinet Committee for Economic Affairs on Wednesday decided to defer the gas price hike by 3 months, said Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. The cabinet has decided that there is need for more consultation on gas price hike, said Pradhan.
It is only but a temporary relief. The price rise might have been deferred in view of the coming assembly elections in Maharashtra etc.
25 Wednesday Jun 2014
Posted in BSNL News
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Meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations held on 25th June 2014.
A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives was held on 25th June 2014 at the Local Council Room, NTR, New Delhi at 16.30 hours. Com. Islam Ahmed, President, NFTE, presided.
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, welcomed all the participants and briefed the house about the developments after the last meeting. After detailed discussion, the following decisions were taken:
1. Revival of BSNL: The Forum had submitted a Memorandum on the subject to the Communications Minister last month with a request for a meeting for presenting our issues. So far, no invitation has been received. A reminder has been sent today requesting for an early meeting. Efforts should be made in this connection.
2. Pension issues to be presented before the VII Central Pay Commission: Convener briefed about the Draft Memorandum prepared by the Central Pensioners Organisations, in which the issues of the BSNL Pensioners (absorbed from DOT) are to be included. The Convener was entrusted to attend to the matter.
3. 78.2% IDA merger for Pensioners: The issue is to be vigorously pursued at DOT level for early orders.
V.A.N.Namboodiri New Delhi
Convener, Forum 24th June 2014
25 Wednesday Jun 2014
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Telecom
The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations have given a memorandum to Communications Minister on 26th June and requested for a meeting to discuss the issues of Revival of BSNL and a few other issues. So far no meeting has been held.
Today, 24th June, the Convener Forum has written another letter seeking an early meeting.
25 Wednesday Jun 2014
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, TU News - India
The Labour Minister Shri Narendra Singh Tomar assured the central trade union leaders who met him on 24th June that on the issue of increase in minimum pension and also raising the ceiling on Provident Fund Scheme to Rs 15000/-, decision will be taken by the Govt within two weeks time. Labour Minister also stated that his ministry’s priority will be to protect the interests of workers and he sought cooperation and help from all the central trade unions.
So far so good. The UPA government also assured the same earlier, but did not implement. Hope the new Minister will implement the same as assured. This decision will benefit lakhs of workers. At present many pensioners are getting below Rs. 100.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 