Monthly Archives: December 2017

BSNL Management should allot funds for payment of wages for contract workers.

29 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, General

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Reports have been received from many circles about non-payment of wages to contract workers for months together. How can the poor workers manage their households, if no wages are not paid? The workers are in real distress. Circle heads are stating that they have not received funds. Nonpayment of wages for months together is cruel and inhuman. BSNL which can pay salaries to its employees and officers should be able to pay wages to the contract workers also who are doing their work well for the company.

We demand the BSNL Management to urgently allot sufficient funds for the payment of the wages with arrears.

Why DOT and BSNL is keeping silence?

29 Friday Dec 2017

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, General

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The one lakh eighty thousand executives and non-executives working in the BSNL as also the one lakh casual-contract labourers have gone on two-days strike on 12th and 13th December 2017 as per the call of the All Unions & Associations in BSNL and also BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation. The strike has been completely successful with almost all the employees on strike and the 30,000 or more BSNL offices almost closed. The demands are fully justified and do not need any further explanation.

In such a situation, why the DOT, BSNL and the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) keeping silence? Of course, the pressure from the BJP government will be there to ignore the struggle of the workers as seen in the case of CG employees, GDS etc. But workers will not keep silence. More and more struggle will erupt.

We demand that DOT and BSNL start discussion with the Unions and associations and settle the issues.

War veterans ignored and insulted by Central Government – Delay is denial

28 Thursday Dec 2017

Posted by in CG Employees, General

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We are reproducing below the relevant portion of the reply given by the Defense Minister on anomalies in implementation of One Rank One Pension to the war veterans. It may be remembered that the government was compelled to implement the OROP after pro-long and sacrificing struggle by the ex-servicemen. There were lot of complaints after implementation of OROP from the war veterans and the main complaint was that what is implemented is not at all OROP. But the Modi government was not prepared to look into the complaints and the war veterans had to launch another sustained struggle. There after the government agreed to appoint a Judicial Committee to examine the complaints and to make necessary recommendions . The Judicial Committee was appointed on 14-12-2015 and the report was submitted after 10 months, 0n 26-10-2016.
And the government slept over the report for 9 months and appointed another committee, called the internal committee on 19-07-2017, presumably after getting the question from the MP in this regard. The “sincerity and eagerness” of the government on such vital issue is thoroughly exposed.
Excerpts of reply by the Defense Minister in Parliament.

Some Ex-Servicemen Associations have been demanding changes in methodology for fixation of pension,periodicity of its revision, coverage of future Pre-mature retirees (PMR) cases, etc. The Government appointed One Member Judicial Committee (OMJC) onOROP to look into anomalies, if any arising out of implementation of OROP on 14.12.2015. The Terms of Reference of the Committee was as under:-

To examine and make recommendations on references received from the Central Government on the following matters:-

(i) Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in implementation of the OROP Letter No.12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)/Part-II, dated 7.11.2015.

(ii) Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-service issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP order ibid.

(iii) Implications on service matters.

(iv) Any other matter referred by the Central Government on implementation of the OROP or related issues.

In making its recommendations, the Committee shall take into account the financial impact of its recommendations.

Around 3200 representations for addressing the anomalies on OROP were received from individuals / Associations which were examined and issues referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP for its recommendations. The Committee submitted its report on 26.10.2016. An Internal Committee has been constituted by the Government on 19.07.2017 to examine the recommendations of OMJC with respect to feasibility and financial aspects.

Indian National Congress turns 137

27 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by in General

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“First Session of the Congress:
On 28 December 1885, 72 social reformers, journalists and lawyers congregated for the first session of the Indian National Union at Gokuldas Tejpal Sanskrit College, Bombay; the conference was renamed as the Indian National Congress.” (Congress website).

The party, Indian National Congress, which took over the rule of India from the British on 15th August 1947, has completed 137 years of existence since its formation in 1885. The ruling party for many decades, it was completely sidelined in the last Parliamentary elections, paving for a BJP dominated NDA rule. Rahul Gandhi has become the All India President after his mother Sonia Gandhi vacated the post. What is the future of this grand national Party? Let us wait and see.

3515 farmers in Karnataka committed suicide between 2013 and 2017

27 Wednesday Dec 2017

Posted by in General

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As many as 3,515 farmers in Karnataka committed suicide between April 2013 and November 2017, out of which 2,525 were due to drought and farm failure, statistics provided by the State Agriculture Department said.”3,515 farmers were reported to have committed suicide from April 2013 to November 2017, and from April 2008 to April 2012, as many as 1,125 farmers were reported to have committed suicide,” it said.
Out of the 3,515 suicide cases reported, agriculture department accepted 2,525 cases which were due to drought and crop failure. (Courtesy: PTI)

Both the Central and state Governments are responsible for this tragedy. They can not wash away the blood of the kisans on their hand. At least implement now the poll assurance of waiving their loans and providing minimum price so that further suicides can be stopped.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

Posted by in BSNL

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As per the reply given in the Parliament, process for merger of BSNL and MTNL has already started. BSNL and MTNL were part of DOT and government service, till they were separated from DOT and made two separate companies. Workers were against the separation, but government implemented it. Now it is almost two decades after the separation and much waters have flown. MTNL is divested to the extend of more than 46%, while BSNL is 100% government owned. MTNL is having heavy loans on its head, while BSNL is managing and is on operational profit. The wage differential is there. These issues have to be got settled, before any merger can take place. All Unions and Associations in BSNL have demanded that the divested shares of the MTNL should be bought back, the heavy loans should be written off and the wages should be equalised. Till that time, merger is not to be implemented.

It is well understood that the government uses merger and bifurcation in order to weaken the PSUs. This has been done in the case of Banks, Airlines and even in telecom itself. The workers are determined to ensure the future of BSNL and MTNL and any move to destroy the same will not be allowed.

Kerala BSNL Casual Contract Workers on Indefinite Strike from 5th January 2018

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The Unions representing the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers in Kerala has jointly issued a call for indefinite strike with effect from 5th January 2018 on the following demands:
1. Payment of bonus
2. Payment of wages latest by 7th of every month.
3. Fixing duty hours on the basis of 4 hours and 8 hours as agreed in the meeting on 11.7.2017.
4. No reduction in the number of labourers
5. Completion of categorization work
6. Implementation of minimum wage notified by the Central Labour Ministry
7. Service weightage
8. Issue of Identity cards
9. Equal wage for equal work
10. Payment of 26 days’ wages including that of second Saturdays
11. Implementation of the agreement signed on 11.7.2017
12. Ending of corruption and unholy nexus between officers and contractors.

The strike has been compelled on the workers due to the completely negative attitude of the management and the denial of the fully justified and rule -based rights of the workers. Extend full support to the strike.

Comrade N.M.Sundaram passed away.

26 Tuesday Dec 2017

Posted by in Uncategorized

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With profound sorrow, it is intimated that Comrade N.M.Sundaram, former General Secretary of AIIEA and  veteran trade union leader, has passed away at 08.20 AM today, 26th December 2017, at his residence, Chennai. He suffered a massive heart attack.

Com.NMS, as he was fondly called, was the General Secretary of AIIEA for long years. He is the author of many books on trade union etc. He was a powerful speaker and led the movement for  years. My connection with him dates back since 1980s and continued till the last. I met him last when he came to Kozhikode to attend the inauguration of the Saroj Bhawan and attending the meeting in the NGO Union hall.

BSNLEU has got close relation with AIIEA and its leaders. It is pertinent to mention that it was Com.NMS, who inaugurated the formation Conference of BSNLEU at Visakhapatanam on 22nd March 2001. I had attended almost all the AICs of AIIEA for many years.

The passing away of Com. NM Sundaram is a great loss to the TU movement  in India.

My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades!

Red Salute to Com. NMS!