Monthly Archives: January 2016

VII Membership Verification in BSNL- Certain changes required

08 Friday Jan 2016

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VII Membership Verification of non-executive unions is going to take place in April 2016, probably on 26th April and the counting on 28th instant.  Meeting is called by the management to discuss the matter with the participating/applicant unions.

From the past experience and also from a democratic point of view, certain changes are required in the process, adopted from the last Membership Verification, when a new system was introduced with the recognition of two unions, instead of the earlier one. BSNL Employees Union, which was the lone recognised union in the earlier 4 verifications, need to be congratulated for pressurising the management to agree for recognising the first two unions and getting it approved. It was a correct decision and was in vogue in the government departments, including DOT. But some undue restrictions have been made arbitrarily by the management, which needs to be modified. They are:

  1. The calculation of the % of votes received by the unions should be on the basis of the total polled votes. This is the system in the general elections viz. Parliament and Assembly elections. At present in BSNL, the % is calculated on the basis of the total eligible voters, which is not correct.
  2. The election for the posts of Leader and Secretary for Councils at all levels should be by the democratic verdict of the total council members. At present, the posts of Leader and Secretary are arbitrarily fixed for BSNLEU and NFTE respectively. This should be changed.
  3. The Recognised Union/s should have the right to nominate any employee to the council, limited to the number in their quota. At present, only a member of the recognised union can be nominated. This restriction is fully unjustified.
  4. One post of Director in the Board of Directors of BSNL should be reserved for the recognised union/s. This is as part of the union’s representation in the Management. This will not only improve the functioning of the management, but also the co-ordination between the management and the unions. This system is functioning  in Nepal Telecom which has paid much dividend.
  5. Periodicity of the National Council and other councils should be strictly maintained as also that of the Standing Committee.
  6. On those items in the council for which no agreement could be reached, should be arbitrated.
  7. Periodic meeting with Secretary DOT and Communications Minister to be part of the Scheme.

Govt. Squeezes Profitable PSUs

08 Friday Jan 2016

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The central government has decided to ask the profitable PSUs to pay more dividends this year. It has told these PSUs to pay 30% dividend, instead of the usual 20%.

Whether UPA or NDA government, both of them want to squeeze the PSUs and make them loss making. But they will never help the PSUs in distress or loss.

The central government is the killer of the PSUs. It is only interested in the growth of the MNCs and private companies. Of course, it’s motto is “Business is not the business of the Government.” Expose this anti-people policy of the government.

United Forum of MTNL Unions/Associations organise rally

08 Friday Jan 2016

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Thousands of MTNL employees joined the demonstration programme at the MTNL C.O. premises in Eastern Court protesting against the delay in settling 78.2% IDA fixation, option for pro-rata pension, implementation of CGHS service etc. Com. Mange Ram Sharma, Chairman of the United Forum of MTNL Unions/Associations presided and Com. M.K.Bagchi, Convener welcomed all. The leaders of the Unions and Associations addressed.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, former Convener of the BSNL/MTNL Joint Forum of Unions/Associations addressed the rally, spoke about the united action of the workers  and supported the struggle. He reminded about the workers about the united struggles organised by the United Forum earlier, including the Parliament March and strike. He fully supported the struggle of the MTNL workers. He also spoke about the need to improve the services.

Government orders Closure of HMT units

08 Friday Jan 2016

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The Government issued orders for closure of three units of HMT viz. HMT Watches Ltd. (HMTW), HMT Chinar Watches Ltd. (HMTCW) and HMT Bearings Ltd. (HMTB). These companies have been running on loss for some time. Thousands of workers will either be given VRS or retrenched.

These were all running on profit for a very long time. Only due to the anti-PSU policy of the government, they have become loss making. Now the workers are losing the jobs and the companies are being closed. This anti-PSU policy of the government has to be resisted and defeated.

Meeting with Director (HR) on Kerala CCLU issues

07 Thursday Jan 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF met Smt. Sujata Ray, Director (HR) BSNL and pointed out the delay in settlement of the issues of wages etc. of Contract workers in Kerala. The CGM has not so far discussed the matter with the Federation leaders although the Committee Report by ED (CN) has been sent to him.

Director (HR) assured that necessary action will be taken in the matter and that CGM will be directed for the same.

Government to hand over small airports to private

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

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Finance Minister Arun Jaitely has stated in the meeting of the India Infrastructure Finance Company(IIFCL) that the government is proposing to hand over management of small airports to the private sector for ‘improving efficiency.’ This is nothing but privatisation of airports.

The NDA government is handing over the government properties to the private sector in a big way. And the private companies will increase all the rates in the name of modernisation. The common people are the sufferers.

Defence to vacate extra spectrum for DOT

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

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Department of Defence is expected to hand over the extra spectrum in 1700-2000 Mhzband to DOT within three months, after DOT set up an exclusive defence network for its communication services. This issue has been pending for many years.

The vacated spectrum can be auctioned to the telecom companies for additional spectrum for providing services.

Railway Development Authority – A preliminary for Railway Privatisation

06 Wednesday Jan 2016

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The move of the Government and the Railway Ministry to form a Railway Development Authority (RDA) is the next step for privatisation of the Railways. According to reports in Business Line, the government has prepared a concept paper on the matter and has invited stake holders’ comments.

Another report says that the Government is proposing to hand over 400 Railway Stations to private for modernisation as has been done in the case of Airports earlier. This is stated by Finance Minister Arun jaitely. They will be allowed to utilise the lands of the Railways for constructing buildings etc.

It is to be remembered here that the formation of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) was done in connection with the privatisation of telecom sector. Now it is the Railways!

Telecom TU Movement (18) – National Convention on 21 June 1994

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by in BSNL News, Telecom TU Movement 1991-2015

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Federations withdraw the strike

On the basis of a letter from the Chairman, Telecom Commission, NFTE, FNTO and BTEF withdrew the strike, once again betraying the interests of the telecom workers. E.III Union strongly protested. Branches all over the country sent protest telegrams. Massive Dharnas were organized at all major centres protesting at the betrayal of the Federations.

National Convention on 21st June 1994

The National Convention  on 21st June 1994 called by the National Platform of Mass Organisations  held at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi against the IMF prescribed economic policies of the government and the Dunkel draft was participated by thousands of workers from various parts of India. It severely criticized the neo-liberal policies being implemented by the government and decided for protest actions. It decided for one day country wide General Strike and Hartal on September 29, 1994.  E.III Union delegates, including General Secretary, participated in the Convention.

Sustained Struggles against privatization

The government was moving fast on privatization. Letter of intent was given to US WEST company for pilot projects in 4 districts of T.Nadu. This was vehemently opposed by telecom workers.

V Central Pay Commission – Memorandum submitted

The Staff Side of the National Council in its meeting on 24-05-1994 appointed a Drafting Committee with S.K.Vyas, S.Madhusudan and K.Ramamurthi to draft the I Part the  Memorandum to the V CPC. The separate federations/ unions will have to prepare the memorandums on their departmental issues. It was also decided to demand interim relief and merger of DA. E.III CWC had formed a committee to prepare the sectional demands. The Main Memorandum was submitted by the Staff Side. The E.III Union Memorandum was submitted on 31st August 1994 to the V CPC.

General strike on 29th September 1994

The General Strike called for by the National Platform of Mass Organisations was a big success. E.III Union also gave the call and it was a big success in the telecom also.

Red Carpet to Private Sector to telecom

Communications Minister, Sukh Ram in his Press statement  outlined the method of granting licence to the private companies for operating telecom services. It mentioned how to give licences, regulatory authority , pilot project, period of licencing etc. It was a red carpet welcome for the private operators to enter the lucrative sector.

Minister also announced the companies elected for cellular services as follows:

Delhi: Bharti Cellular and Sterling Cellular

Bombay: Max Hutchinson Ltd and BPL Systems and & Project Ltd.

Calcutta: Usha martin Telecom and Indian Telecom Private Ltd.

Madras: Sky Cell Communications and Mobile Telecom Services.

A large number of companies were proposed for private participation in basic telecom services. Thus the map was drawn for the entry of the private companies both in Cellular and basic services.

New Technology Workshop at Calcutta

In continuation of the Workshop conducted at Haldia last year, another Workshop was organized at Calcutta by the Commonwealth Trade union and CITU together on 25-27 October 1994. The main topic was New Technology in various sectors. In both the workshops V.A.N.Namboodiri attended and submitted papers on the Telecom Sector.

Interim Relief, DA Merger

As per call of the Confederation demonstrations were organized in telecom also on 19th January 1995 demanding Interim Relief and DA Merger. The programme was a grand success.

Tenders called for telecom services.

The government was moving fast on privatization. Tenders were called for providing cellular and basic telecom services from private operators. Letter of Intent was given to US WEST company for pilot projects in four districts of T.Nadu. This was strongly opposed by the workers. As per the call of the  federations/unions, telecom workers organized demonstration on 17-01-1995. (To be continued)

Ensure Minimum Wage of Rs. 18,000 to contract workers – Central Trade Unions

05 Tuesday Jan 2016

Posted by in CITU, CTU

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The Central Trade Unions, including BMS, INTUC, HMS, AITUC, CITU have demanded to the central government that the minimum wage for the contract workers should be Rs. 18,000, as calculated and recommended by the VII Central Pay Commission. They submitted a 14 Point Memorandum to the Finance Minister Arun Jaitely on 4th January 2016, when the latter met them for pre-budget consultations.

The CTUs demanded to the Finance Minister that the ‘Hire and Fire’policy should be abandoned and there should be job-security for the workers. They strongly opposed the policy of arbitrarily amending the labour acts without consulting the CTUs. They pointed out that no labour amendment law should be moved with out consultation with and consent of the unions.

Further they demanded that the ‘ease of doing business’ should not be connected with the labour laws.

The meeting was participated by Tapan Sen(CITU), Vrijesh Upadhyay (BMS), Ashok Singh (INTUC), D.L.Sachdeva(AITUC), Harbhajan Sidhu (HMS) and leaders of other Central Trade Unions.