Monthly Archives: May 2015

Book on “Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL” released

25 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Forum, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom

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The book ” Struggles by workers to defend and Save BSNL”, on the sustained struggle by the Joint Forum/Joint Action Committee/Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives from 2004 to 2015, written by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder Convener of JF/JAC/Forum was released today, 25th May 2015, by Com. C.Singh, President of Forum by handing over the same to Com.P.Abhimanyu, Convener Forum.

It details the continuous struggles waged under the Forum for the last 11 years, including 5 successful strikes, 5 parliament Marches, three All India Conventions, discussions with the Prime Minister, Communication Minister, Secretary DOT, CMD BSNL etc. The united strength of the BSNL Employees could stop disinvestment of BSNL. VRS in BSNL, unbundling etc. Its effort to improve the services is also mentioned. It is the fighting history of the BSNL workers for the last 11 years.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri was appreciated by the meeting of the Forum held today for preparing and publishing the book, which is part of history of the BSNL and its workers. The book is priced at Rs.50/- and will be dispatched on requisition.

BSNL instructions for opening of Monsoon Control Rooms

25 Monday May 2015

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BSNL Corporate Office has issued orders asking the Circle/SSAs to open Monsoon Control Rooms in preparation for the coming rainy season. It is usual that a lot of faults and breaks etc. will result at the time of monsoon. Preparations have to be made for the same. This is a good step taken by the BSNL Management.

Communications Minister warns Telecom Companies about call drops

25 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom

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Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad has warned the telecom companies that they have to urgently attend to the problems like call dropping which is putting difficulty for the customers.

This warning is appropriate. The subscribers are actually being harassed by such problems as call drops, no coverage etc. These should be urgently attended to by the companies.

Why PMO is not disclosing Tour expenditures of PM

24 Sunday May 2015

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The refusal of Prime Minister’s Office to divulge the details of expenditure of the foreign tour of the Prime Minister is  not only a mockery of RTI but also indicates something fishy.
The PM should direct his office to divulge the details on RTI. The Chief Information Commissioner is also reported to have stated that these infornation are to be supplied.

National Convention of Workers on 26th May 2015 at New Delhi

24 Sunday May 2015

Posted by in General, Neo-liberal policy, TU News - India

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As per the decision of the 11 Central Trade Unions, a National Convention of Workers will be held at Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi. In addition to the representatives/delegates from the CTUs, delegates from the All India Federations of employees from many sectors like Central/State government employees, Railways, Defence, Postal, BSNL, Banks etc. will participate. It will be addressed by the leaders of the Central Trade Unions.

The Convention will review the programmes of action organised in the past on the 10 Points Demands raised by  the CTUs covering almost all major issues of the working Class and against the attack on them. It is also expected that the Convention will declare the next programme of action, probably a strike,  against the anti-working class policy of the Modi Government.

It is commendable that despite different ideologies and political background, all the Central trade Unions have been jointly continuing with sustained struggles for the cause of the working class, irrespective of which government is in power. This should continue.

 

5555 Posts completed in my blog.

24 Sunday May 2015

Posted by in General

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I have completed 5555 posts in my blog. The number is not significant. If the posts have been beneficial to our comrades, friends and well wishers, I am satisfied. I have posted on issues, which I thought will be useful. It is for the visitors to comment, suggest, express their opinions. Appreciation or criticism –  both are welcome.

Modi Government completes one year

24 Sunday May 2015

Posted by in General

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Modi-BJP-NDA government is completing one year. What are the gains and the losses?

Briefly it can be said that gains are there for the corporates and loss for the common people and the toiling masses.

There much propaganda about good governance, but nothing has reached the aam aadmi.

Which government it can be compared? The best comparison will be with the Nazi Government of Germany headed by Adolf Hitler.

SAVE BSNL – Motivate the employees for better service.

24 Sunday May 2015

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

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The 2,25,000 and odd employees of BSNL under the banner of Forum are making all out efforts to improve the services to the customers. Out of these, it is mostly the low paid employees like TM, RM, Sr.TOA, TTA and casual and Contract workers who are interacting with the customers. What is the motivation they are getting from the management for better performance?

The pay of most of the RMs is  stagnated and they are not getting even normal increment. The Sr. TOA , TTA etc.who are appointed after 01-01-2007 are getting less pay than before. The agreed E1 pay scale for non-executives have not been so far. The contract workers are denied the minimum wage as per government orders.

For all employees and officers, there is no Bonus for the last 5 years. Allowances have not increased. LTC is restricted. Medical Allowance is taken away.

No discussion has yet started for the next wage revision. The DPE has not started any process for the Pay Revision Committee for the PSU executives.

The progress of the company is connected with the progress of the employees and officers. Both will have to go together. The entire employees and officers are dedicated to the improvement of the company. BSNL also have to start thinking about the rights/benefits of the workers.Both have to go together. The motivation thus initiated will go along way in strengthening BSNL.

BSNL Management and Government have  to seriously consider these issues.

 

DOT should immediately pay USO Fund and reimbursement of Charges for spectrum surrendered

24 Sunday May 2015

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

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BSNL is in financial difficulty to purchase equipment for providing new connections, for which requests are coming in large numbers all over the country after the scheme for free night calls has been announced by BSNL. But the connections could not be given due to shortage of equipment like cable, drop wires etc.

It is the time for the government to assist BSNL. The refund of spectrum charges for the spectrum surrendered coming to more than Rs. 4,700 crores ( it is stated by the DOT that Rs.2000 crore out of Rs. 6,700 crores have been adjusted in the licence fee to be paid by BSNL) should be paid to BSNL without any adjustment. In the same way Rs. 1,250 crore allotted  from USO Fund for 2012-13 should also be immediately paid so that BSNL can buy necessary equipment. Any adjustment can be made later, but not now, when BSNL is in urgent requirement of funds.

The Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and the Government are continuously declaring that BSNL will not be allowed to die and that it will be strengthened. This is the time  for the same.

The Forum of BSNL unions/associations should unitedly make the government to pay the above dues immediately, which the DOT has agreed to pay in the strike discussions on 1st May 2015.

Local struggles for development, expansion and improvement of BSNL services

24 Sunday May 2015

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

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Many comrades spoke to me and wrote stating that the recent schemes of the BSNL, like free calls in the night from BSNL land lines, have resulted in a good flow of applications for new land line connections. However, BSNL is not equipped to provide these connections due to shortage of cables, telephone equipment, drop wire etc. They told that a great opportunity is being missed. BSNL employees have no other way but to apologise to the applicants, stating that there are no equipment.

How to improve the situation? The BSNL Management at all levels should be approached for providing equipment immediately.

In case, the equipment ate not made available by the management as required, the workers can not sit idle and accept the same saying it is the fate. The workers and their unions/associations have to act and act immediately.

What is to be done? Give wide publicity among the people through Press Release, pamphlet etc. that the connections are unable to be given due to shortage of equipment and the management is not providing the same even after request. Meet / address to the MLA, MP, Municipal Corporation / Panchayat, NGOs, prominent citizens, Central trade unions, other service organisations and make the same a very big issue. Utilise every opportunity to focus the issue among the people. This will certainly create a situation  where the management will be compelled to act.  This is a method successfully utilised against victimisation and other issues in Kerala Circle earlier. This will get support from the people and will also raise the status of the workers amongst the public and customers.

Start from today. The result will come tomorrow!