Monthly Archives: August 2014

Insurance Bill to Select Committee

14 Thursday Aug 2014

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The BJP Government had no other go but to send the Insurance (Amendment) Bill to the Select Committee due to the strong opposition of Left and other parties. What stand the congress members in the committee will take? It was they who brought the bill earlier. Anyway, there is some time before any final decision is taken. A very strong movement has to be built up against the bill, which is intended to weaken the PSU LIC and favour the foreign private insurers.The time has to be effectively used.

Karnataka Casual /Contract Workers on the forward March

14 Thursday Aug 2014

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While I was attending the District Conference of BSNLEU Bangalore Circle Conference, BSNLCCWF Circle Secretary, Com. Mahantesh, Com.Cheluvaraj, All India Vice-President and a few other leaders of the BSNLCCWF came and met me. We discussed about the issues and the organisation.
Karnataka unit, through continuous struggles have advanced much and the management and the contractors have been compelled to concede the rights of the workers and implement minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. The victimised workers have been taken back. There are still some more issues to be settled and those are being attended to by the union. Com.C.K.Gundanna, Circle Secretary BSNLEU is the Circle President of BSNLCCWF and all help is being given for the settlement of the issues. My Hearty Congratulations to the Karnataka Comrades!
Com.Mahantesh remitted Rs. 15,000/- towards the CHQ quota of membership. CHQ is financial difficulty and this remittance has come in time of need.
We hope other units also will remit their quota without delay.

BSNLEU Bangalore District Conference started.

13 Wednesday Aug 2014

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The District Conference of BSNLEU Bangalore started today, 13th August, with an inspiring Inaugural session participated by more than 600 workers. The Varadachariar Memorial Hall, where the conference is being held, was overflowing and many comrades had to stand crowding near the entrance.As usual for Bangalore, a large number of women comrades were also present.
Com.B.T.M.Giri,District President, presided. Com.H.V.Sudarshan, Dist. Secretary, welcomed all the participants.All the leaders in the dais were honoured by shawls, bouquet etc.
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President, BSNLEU, inaugurated the Conference.In his speech, he mentioned about issues of the workers and the Charter of Demands presented by the JAC and the negotiations,the agitations proposed etc. He also spoke on the urgency for the revival of BSNL, issues of pensioners and contract workers, the joint struggles initiated by the Central Trade Unions, VII Central Pay Commission etc.
Shri K.L.Jairam, PGM BSNL, Bangalore, who is also a BSNL absorbed ITS officer, explained the necessity of reviving the BSNL and suggested certain points. Dr.S.R.Keshav, Faculty,Bangalore University addressed and pointed out the need for motivation of the workers.

Coms. S.Prasannakumar, General Secretary, CITU, Karnataka, Prema Prakash, founder member of the union, B.P.Narayana, Circle President, C.K.Gundanna, Circle secretary, BSNLEU and other leaders were present in the dais.
The inaugural session was over by 14.00 hours.
The Annual Report and Accounts were presented and adopted after discussion.The Conference will continue tomorrow:

Massive Lunch Hour Demonstrations on 12th August.

13 Wednesday Aug 2014

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

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BSNL workers have responded to the call of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations in a magnificent way. Reports have been received from many centres about the massive participation protesting against the retrograde and anti-BSNL recommendations of the m/s Deloittee committee. Tens of thousands of employees have participated all over India. The photos are published in the BSNLEU website and also website of other unions.
We are happy to note that the workers have understood the bitter attack that is going on against the BSNL and its employees. The recommendations of the committee should be thrown to the dustbin.Our hearty congratulations to the workers.

Next programme is the Lunch Hour demonstration in front of BSNL Corporate office on 21st August when the meeting of the Circle Heads is going to take place. We request all the unions to mobilise the maximum numbers in the demonstration.

Meeting with the CMD BSNL

11 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU, Uncategorized

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Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, President BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF and Animesh Mitra Dy.GS BSNLEU and Vice-President, BSNLCCWF met Shri A.N.Rai, CMD BSNL on 11th August and discussed with him about the serious concern of the employees on the M/s Deloittee Committee recommendations on retrenchment of about 70,000 employees, engaging of executives on contract basis, centralising the SSA activities to circle, reducing 330 SSAs to a mere 167, discontinuing Sr.TOA cadre etc. A letter by Forum demanding a detailed discussion on the full report as also intimating the Forum decision to organise Lunch Hour Demonstration on 12th and 21st August was handed over to CMD. Another letter demanding immediate collection of Rs. 41 crore due from the private telecom companies for sharing of BSNL towers.
The issue of non-implementation of labour laws like minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. to the contract labour engaged in various SSAs was also raised with the CMD.
CMD assured to look in to all the matters and take necessary action.

Unable to reply to comments due to some technical snag

11 Monday Aug 2014

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While posting of comments is done, I am unable to post my reply to the comments due to some technical snag. I am trying to rectify the same. My regrets for the inability to reply to the comments.

Meeting with GM (Admn) BSNL on Casual and Contract Workers issues

11 Monday Aug 2014

Posted by in BSNL News, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF, Animesh Mitra, Dy.GS BSNLEU and Vice-President BSNLCCWF and Lalan Sah met Shri A.K.Sanghal, GM (Admn) and discussed about the non-implementation of labour rules with regard to minimum wages, EPF, ESI etc. in many SSAs. Several letters were also given to the GM(Admn), indicating the violation of the orders in various SSAs. GM(Admn) assured to take action in the matter.
The question of office for BSNLEU in Corporate office, holding of the Circle Council in C.O.,selection of coach, Manager etc. for the sports, holding of the Welfare and Sports Committee etc. were also discussed. GM(Admn) assured early action in all these matters.

Recover the Rs.41 crore arrears from private telecom companies

11 Monday Aug 2014

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Press note issued by V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations

Recover the Rs.41 crore arrears from private telecom companies

While BSNL is in loss, there are huge arrears on rent to be recovered
from the private telecom companies for sharing of the BSNL Towers. The total
amount as on May 2014 is Rs.41.04 crore. Airtel have to pay Rs.10.68 crore
followed by Idea (Rs.6.01 crore), Vodafone (5.48 crore) RIL (5.33 crore) Aircel
(4.95 crore) TTSL (3.90 crore) etc.
The arrears have been increasing months after months. Altogether about
3000 towers have been provided for sharing.
The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations demands BSNL and the govt.
to ensure that the due arrears are collected without any further delay.

Mysore Contract Labour win their Demands

10 Sunday Aug 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The contract labour under the leadership of the BSNLCCWF went on a strike in Mysore demanding that clarification should be given on the nature of work ( unskilled, skilled etc) in the tender itself so that the worker on cable work etc. will get higher wages. After five days of the strike the management agreed and after discussion with the union issued the required clarifications. Accordingly the contract workers engaged in cable work will get higher wages.
My Hearty Congratulations to the workers and leaders of BSNLCCWF at Mysore for their struggle and success.

Protest Demonstrations on 12th and 21st August 2014

10 Sunday Aug 2014

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

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FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS
ORGANISE PROTEST DEMONSTRATION ON 12TH / 21ST AUGUST
The meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations held on 4th August 2012 has called upon the BSNL employees to organise massive lunch hour demonstrations at Circle and SSA levels on 12th August 2014 to express their mighty protest against the recommendations of M/s Deloittee Consultants, which includes retrenchment of about 70,000 non-executives, recruitment of executives on contract basis, reducing the 330 SSAs to 167 without any scientific basis, concentrating the powers on services, maintenance etc. at Circle from the SSAs etc. which are neither in the interests of the BSNL, its employees nor the customers.
It is to be noted that neither the BSNL Management who appointed the Consultant, nor the consultant itself, has taken the employees and their organisations, who are also important stake-holders, in to confidence before finalising the report. The Forum, the Unions and Associations, who are making all out efforts to improve the services and co-operating with the BSNL Management for improving the financial viability of the PSU have been completely sidelined, unlike in the past. Despite seeking for a copy of the report of the consultant and also a meeting with the CMD to discuss the matter, no response has been received from the management. Sorry to state, this is unbecoming of a management which wants the co-operation of the employees in running the company successfully.
Under the circumstances, the Forum has called upon the employees to organise protest demonstration on 12th August in SSAs and also Circles. The Protest Demonstration at BSNL C.O. will be held on 21st August, on which date the meeting of the Circle Heads will be held at Corporate Office to take decisions on the recommendations of the Consultant.
In the past, the united actions of the unions/associations had compelled the Government and the BSNL Management to scrap their proposals for disinvestment and also retrenchment through VRS, thus saving from deterioration as happened in some other PSUs. If the recommendations of the present consultant are accepted and implemented, BSNL and its employees will be in peril. Hence it is necessary that all the employees and their organisations should stand and protest as one, making the government and BSNL Management to understand that the employees are not to prepared to accept any anti-BSNL decisions.
• Organise Massive Demonstration on 12th August at Circle / SSA with massive participation.
• Organise Massive Demonstration at Corporate Office on 21st August.
• Let each and every employee participate in the Protest demonstrations to ensure success.
To General Secretaries of unions / Associations of BSNL. They are requested to direct their Circle/District Secretaries to jointly organise the programme successfully.
V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum.