Monthly Archives: June 2017

Pension Revision in BSNL – Illusions and Realities – Article by Com.K.G.Jayaraj, GS, AIBDPA

19 Monday Jun 2017

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Dear Comrades,
I am herewith posting the full text of the Article published in the ‘Telepensioner’ June issue, written by Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA. It is educative and gives the correct approach to the issue of Pension for BSNL employees.

Pension Revision in BSNL – Illusions and Realities.

K.G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA

When BSNL was formed as a fully government owned PSU under Company Act on 01.10.2000, the employees were offered pension from the consolidated fund of the government. And for this, rule 37 A was incorporated in CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. The pay scales of BSNL employees were also upgraded from CDA to IDA scales. There was a strong argument during this time from certain union leadership, particularly Com. O.P. Gupta that pension should be paid on CDA scales. This argument was unitedly resisted and defeated under the leadership of Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri and the progressive section with the all round support of the other unions. If the argument of Com. O.P. Gupta was agreed to, there would have been huge loss in the pension of BSNL pensioners.

The issue of pension revision arose after the pay revision in BSNL and other CPSEs w.e.f. 01.01.2007. The DoT as well as the government refused to revise the pension for the pre-2007 BSNL pensioners on the plea that there is no provision for pension revision in the Rule 37 A. This was fought tooth and nail by not only the pensioners organisation but all the serving employees unions and succeeded in getting pension revision.

Then came the issue of pension revision on 78.2% IDA or benefit of the merger of 50% IDA with pay. The BSNL employees were granted this benefit notionally from 01.01.2007 with financial effect from 10.06.2013. But the government was not prepared to implement it to those retired before 10.06.2013. The main hurdle pointed out was 60:40 condition for payment of pensionary benefits. Still, with the serious intervention of the employees organisations, powered with two strikes, compelled the government to scrap the 60:40 condition and granted the 78.2% IDA fixation to BSNL pensioners.

During the course of this long and sustained struggle, some people advocated the idea of 7th Pay Commission fixation formula for the BSNL pensioners. What made these people to prefer such a demand was the continuous loss incurring of BSNL. It is more or less the same demand Com. Gupta had put ward and rejected by all. So now these people say that 7th Pay Commission fixation should be implemented on IDA scale. The justification for such a demand is that BSNL pensioners are covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972. Yes CCS (Pension) Rules ensures BSNL pensioners, all the pensionary benefits being granted to central government pensioners, but barring pension, and medical facilities (IDA pattern). As far as pension is concerned, BSNL retirees are governed by Rule 37 A, amended during formation of BSNL. Even if, the government agrees for fixation formula on 7th Pay Commission recommendation, it would become imperative to be downgraded to CDA scales as per existing rule.

It was just a couple of years ago that MTNL retirees were granted pension and other benefits at par with BSNL pensioners, but only after downgrading the pay scales to BSNL pay scales.

Let us come back to BSNL. These people had written off BSNL stating that even ‘God’ cannot revive BSNL and bring it to profits. And on an occasion CMD BSNL said that there will be no pay revision in BSNL w.e.f. 01.01.2017, these people became very jubilant and were in a celebrating mood. But the continued efforts of the employees, spearheaded by all the unions and the Management brought out a wonderful turn around posting operational profits of Rs.672 crore in 2014-15 and Rs.3,856 crore in 2015-16. This made the CMD BSNL to change his earlier stand and assured a decent pay revision in BSNL. The survival of BSNL as a government PSU is very much warranted to ensure telecom services to the people at affordable rates and save them from the sheer exploitation of the greedy private telecom companies.

After the 3rd PRC submitted it’s report, both BSNL Management and DoT had taken a positive stand on pay revision in BSNL, despite the affordability condition in the PRC report. However, it is reported that in the Secretaries meeting under the chairmanship of the Cabinet Secretary held on 12.05.2017, the Additional Secretary of Department of Telecom took a passive stand. All the unions and associations under the leadership of BSNLEU therefore has decided for a phased program of agitation, culminating in a strike on 27.07.2017, demanding pay revision and pension revision. Affordability conditions are nothing new. There had been such affordability condition in the 1st and 2nd PRC also. The 3rd PRC in its report itself has reproduced the operational portion put forward by the 1st and 2nd PRC.

Ist PRC – 2.4.8(a) Affordability.

CPSEs which did not make profit during the last three years would also be allowed to adopt the same recommended pay scales, but with the approval of the administrative ministries in consultation with DPE.

IInd PRC – 2.4.10(a) Affordability.

The parameter for deciding affordability was that by implementing the pay package, the dip in the profit of CPSEs for the year 2007-08 should not exceed 20% in respect of executives. If the dip is more than 20%, then the pay package would not be implemented in full, but in different part stages.

As for scoring, the CPSEs were categorised into five groups. A+, A, B, C and D. The 2nd PRC recommended 5 sets of pay scales for five categories. It also recommended different fitment method.

But after the struggle of the workers, the government was compelled to reject the categorisation and a uniform pay scales was prescribed.

Fitment was also made uniform with @ 30% of BP + DA. The 3rd PRC in it’s executive summary, para 5, has recommended that “Affordability condition shall not be applicable to such CPSEs which are formed to perform specific agenda of the government”.

The CMD BSNL in his DO letter dated 07.06.2017 to Secretary, DoT, with copy to Secretary, DPE has quoted the above recommendation and has effectively pleaded that it is very much applicable to BSNL. BSNL is committed to implement the Telecom Policy, 1999. BSNL is incurring loss for keeping up the social obligation of the government by giving landlines in rural areas. And it is no private telecom company but BSNL alone restoring the telecom services where national calamities strikes the country. Also it is the BSNL which is extending telecom services in the terrorist / naxal affected areas by installing sufficient number of towers. CMD also has specifically mentioned about the urgency of pension revision of 2 lakh BSNL pensioners along with the wage revision.

Pay Revision is very much possible, so also pension revision.

Therefore, there is nothing to be disappointed but to be confident that we shall achieve pay revision and pension revision through united and sustained struggle of the workers and whole heartily supported by the pensioners. There would not be much difficulty in the pension revision, once the pay revision is implemented, as there is no 60:40 condition. On the contrary 100% liability is with the Central Government.

Those who have no faith in organization and the struggles, through which only, we have achieved all the genuine demands of both workers and pensioners, may continue to spread rumours and half truths to confuse the pensioners. The legacy of Com. O.P. Gupta was “it is not the responsibility of unions to fight against government policies and that is the job of political parties.”

These people are least concerned about the continuance of BSNL as a government PSU to ensure telecom services at affordable rates to the common people. They are also not concerned about two lakh BSNL employees. And their mindset has narrowed down to ‘let the BSNL and it’s employees go to the hell but give us our pension revision at any cost’.

Let us focus on the programme of struggle already chalked out by all the unions and associations for pay revision and pension revision so that it is made a grand success.

And definitely victory will be ours.

Conferences, Meetings and Classes – What should be the time limit?

19 Monday Jun 2017

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While participating / attending Conferences, Classes, meetings, debates etc. a question used to come to my mind. What exactly should be the time for the speeches, debates etc.  by the various participants.

In these functions, there will usually be a President/ Chairman, a person inaugurating, other speakers and the persons welcoming and proposing vote of thanks etc. Some times, the meeting continues for hours together. All the speakers take maximum time, putting the audience in to inconvenience. They may not express it in words, but the expression on their faces will be a clear indication.

It is the responsibility of the organisers to plan how much time it will take for the programme and how the time is to be divided for the various speeches etc. The main speaker may take 45 minutes to one hour at the most. It is quite sufficient to express the major points and the full attention of the house will be there. If notes are prepared in advance, the time can be well adjusted. Most of our speakers are capable of speaking continuously for two or three hours covering each and every aspect of the subject, but that is not required. There are other speakers, who will add the additional points.

Repeating the same points by raised by the earlier speakers is not necessary. If unavoidable mention the point briefly only. Each speaker has to remember about the speakers who are yet to speak and give time to them.

It will be advisable if the programme along with the name of the speakers and the time allotted is circulated in advance to all the speakers. There is nothing wrong in it and is a good system.

In the case of classes or a single speech, the time can be more than one hour and even up to two hours. All aspects of the issue are presented by the same speaker.

Another aspect is the starting and ending of the programme as planned. Organizers as well as the speakers have to take care of the same.

The audience will appreciate a well arranged and conducted programme.

 

Stop Privatisation of HLL (Life Care) Ltd.

19 Monday Jun 2017

Posted by in PSU, Uncategorized

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The Central government’s move to privatise the HLL (Life Care ) Ltd. (former Hindustan Latex Ltd.) is ill-advised and against the interests of the country. This is the PSU which manufactures contraceptives and which has been effectively used for the last many years. The company is profitable. Thousands of workers are employed there.

In its eagerness to satisfy the  greed of the private corporates, this well running profitable PSU is being sold to the private. The workers and their unions have strongly opposed privatisation. Kerala M.P.s  have written to the Prime Minister demanding to keep the company as PSU.

The Central Government should drop the anti-people, anti-PSU move.

 

Prime Minister praises Kerala for full literacy – But what about other states?

18 Sunday Jun 2017

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent visit to Kerala, has congratulated the Kerala people for the full literacy of the state. Well and good and thanks for the same.

But people want to know what action, the BJP governments are taking to spread literacy in its own states? If the reports are correct, many of these states are having more than 30-40% illiteracy.

The conclusion is clear. The BJP governments at the centre as well as states are not serious about improving literacy. They only want a facial makeup. They very well know that the people, the workers, the Dalits, the under-privileged – their voices will become stronger and fights will become mightier, which the government don’t want.

A great movement for literacy in the entire country is the need of the hour to empower the weaker sections of the society. The workers, students, teachers, employees, educationalists – all have got the responsibility in this task, in addition to the Government.

Dangerous moves of Donald Trump

18 Sunday Jun 2017

Posted by in WORLD NEWS

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Donald Trump after his election as the President of United States, is creating conflicts after conflicts which are danger to the peaceful relations between nations. The attack on Syria, the new immigration policy, withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on emission of greenhouse gases – the list is continuing.

The latest is the cancellation of agreement with Cuba, which was signed during the period of President Barack Obama resulting in better relations between US and Cuba, ending the economic blockade of about 6 decades.

As the most powerful country in the country, it is the responsibility of US and its President not to create hurdles in maintaining world peace. But what Trump is doing is on the contrary. The United Nations and the world opinion should put a stop to these acts of Trump, in the interest of world peace.

 

United Action a Must to Defend and Save BSNL

17 Saturday Jun 2017

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BSNL. the telecom PSU, fully owned by the government of India, is in one of the worst crisis, it had to face till now. Though NITI Ayog has denied that it has recommended strategic sale / closure of BSNL, the fact remains that something is moving in the corridors of power against the survival of BSNL.

All the earlier attacks like disinvestment, unbundling, VRS etc. could be defeated with the united strength of the organisations of the executives and non-executives with the full support of the workers and executives. Another such attack is in the offing now. In addition, in the name of loss, the government is trying to deny wage revision to the workers.

This is the moment to unite all the forces available at our command and to defeat the conspiracies and attacks against BSNL and ensure wage revision. Nobody can keep aloof from this historic task.

In the past we had done it. In future also we will fight unitedly to sava BSNL and its workforce.

 

‘Com. S.R.Nayak Memorial Hall’ in KG Bose Bhawan, New Delhi

17 Saturday Jun 2017

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The decision of the Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU held at  Thiruvananthapuram to name the hall in K.G.Bose Bhawan, New Delhi as ‘Com.S.R.Nayak Memorial Hall’ is appropriate and appreciable. It is not only to respect the feeling of the M.P.Circle who gave Rs. 15 lakh donation, but also is a tribute to the great leader, who spent his entire life for the organisation and defending the rights of the telecom workers.

Since the latter half of the 1970s, I had close contact with Com. S.R.Nayak, the rebel leader of the M.P.Telecom circle. In the various all India Conferences of the AITEE Union Class III ( E.III Union in short), we were part of the same group fighting for correct policy and democratic functioning in the union, under the leadership of Com.K.G.Bose and later Com. Moni Bose. He had to face severe harassment and punishments both  from the circle union as well as the Department for his union activities.

In the historic Bhopal All India Conference of E.III Union in 1991, he was elected as the Asst General Secretary. He was elected as the Circle Secretary of E.III Union and later as Circle Secretary of the BSNLEU M.P.Circle, in which post he continued for years.

In all the struggles he was in the forefront. He was a fighter and continued as such. He organised and brought many  active workers and leaders for the organisation. I have close connection with him for more than four decades. We have toured the undivided M.P.Circle more than once in connection with the membership Verification in the early period.

He left us forever on 8th August 2013 at a Delhi Hospital, where he was under treatment for some weeks.

It is a real tribute to Com. SR Nayak to name the Hall in the K.G.Bose Bhawan as ‘Com.S.R.Nayak Memorial Hall’.

 

Wage Revision is a Right – Nobody can stop it!

16 Friday Jun 2017

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More than two lakh BSNL Employees have got the right to get wage revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017. It can not be denied on the basis of no-profit or loss. BSNL is a fully government owned company and its activities are based on the government decisions. It is implementing the social objectives of Connecting India, providing connections in lakhs of villages, where no private companies will dare to come since the connections are provided causing huge losses.

Further due to the efforts of the workforce and the management, the losses has gone down. For the last two years, there is operational profit. Loss accounted due to depreciation of the large assets of the company can not be a reason for the denial of wage revision.

BSNL Management has already brought these and other points to the notice of the DOT. But no guidance has been recived so far to start wage negotiations. There is no doubt that serious united struggles will have to be organised for achieving results. The agitational programmes, including the One Day Strike on 27-07-2017  called for by Unions/Associations has to be fully participated and made successful as the answer to the delay in wage revision.

‘K.G.Bose Bhavan’ inaugurated at Manjeri, Kerala.

16 Friday Jun 2017

Posted by in P&T TU Movement

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A newly constructed building for the office of the NFPE at Manjeri,’K.G.Bose Bhawan’ was inaugurated by Com. Pinarayi Vijayan, Chief Minister, Kerala on 13th June 2017.  A large number of employees and public were present in the function. Many of the union offices of NFPE/BSNLEU in  Kerala are named in the memory of the great Revolutionary leader Com.K.G.Bose, who showed the correct path for forward march. It is worth mentioning here that the first Memorial to Com. KG Bose was constructed in Kozhikode as the office of the P&T Co-ordinating Committee which was named ‘KG Bose Mandiram’ and inaugurated by Com. Parul Bose, wife of Com.K.G.

Our hearty congratulations to comrades of Manjeri for their great effort!

WFTU solidarity statement with the people of Bangladesh

16 Friday Jun 2017

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WFTU solidarity statement with the people of Bangladesh
13 Jun 2017ASIA, BANGLADESH
Once again the working class and the poor people of Bangladesh pay with their lives the criminal lack of protection measures at the workplace as well as at the county’ districts where the popular strata live.

During the last week, 2 new incidents add tens of people in the never-ending list of victims. At least 25 people were killed during the daylong rainfall and the following landslide. Also 3 construction workers were killed as their platform collapsed.

The World Federation of Trade Unions, representing 92 million workers in the 5 continents, expresses its solidarity with the Bangladesh working class and supports their fair demands for protective measures in all aspects of life.

However, while the protection of the workers’ lives is just an additional cost for the bourgeoisie’s budget, the workers have to satisfy their demands through militant, class oriented and relentless struggles.

The WFTU expresses its sincere condolences to the families and friends. The WFTU supports the fair demands of the working class for more than 70 years and calls the workers in every corner of the world to continue the daily struggle for the abolition of the exploitation of man by man.