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Monthly Archives: December 2019

Happy New Year 2020

31 Tuesday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Uncategorized

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BEST WISHES FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL OUR COMRADES, FRIENDS AND WELL WISHERS!

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Happy New year! Welcome to AIBDPA!

31 Tuesday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, AUAB, BSNLEU

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78569 BSNL officers and employees will be leaving their dear institution taking Voluntary retirement under VRS by 31st January 2020. Thus BSNL will lose a large number of employees who have steadfastly worked for long years and served the people. In addition, there will be some more employees who will be retiring on superannuation now.

Probably this will be the VRS, in which such a large number of employees have opted. It will seem that they have opted voluntarily, out of their own willingness and pleasure. But such is not the case. An examination of the various issues will give a different picture. It was one of most cunning plot, planned and implemented by the government and BSNL to send workers out of the company.

All these employees joined the Posts and Telegraphs Department / Department of Telecommunications (DOT) with great hopes for a better job, good remuneration and service conditions. A large number have joined as Reserve trained Pool (RTP), which was a scheme initiated at the time of Minister C.M.Stephen. The intention of the scheme was engaging trained personnel on hourly basis as reserve staff paying them a pittance of rupees. There was no intention to give them permanent job. They were to be kept as reserve trained pool. But once they joined, they understood that there is a strong Federation, NFPTE, and its affiliated Unions to take up their issues and organise struggle for them. Within a few years, through sustained struggles, all these comrades were regularised. It was a great achievement. Once they were regularised, they hoped that they will be able to continue their full term and retire on superannuation. The retirement age was increased from 58 to 60 by 1996. This means two more years of service.

Despite strong agitation and strike by the entire workers, Telecom Services were corporatised in to BSNL. The recognised federations, NFTE,FNTO and BTEF agreed for corporatisation after obtaining certain assurances. Unions like E.III(N), T.III etc. resisted till the last, well knowing that corporatisation is the first step towards privatisation.

But once BSNL was constituted, the above unions took up on themselves to ensure that the BSNL workers get justice and that BSNL is improved and strengthened. The conversion from CDA pay scales to IDA wef 01-10-2000 benefitted the entire employees, including officers. The role of BSNLEU in this was appreciated by all. BSNLEU became the sole recognised union in 2004 getting more than 50% of votes in the II Membership verification. BSNL strengthened and with an annual revenue of Rs.40,000 crore and a profit of an average of Rs. 6,000 crore became one of the biggest PSUs in the country. Govt. was worried that the private companies will be backtracked. It wanted to introduce VRS for 1 lakh workers, disinvestment of about 10% to 20% shares, unbundle the valuable copper cables spread all over India etc. to ensure that the company is weakened and is made ready for privatisation. The VRS draft Scheme was circulated.

BSNLEU, the recognised union, took initiative and brought all the unions under the Forum/Joint Forum and fought against these attacks. It clearly understood that VRS is neither beneficial to the company nor the workers. Massive propaganda was done. Many strikes and struggles were organised. 20th April 2010 strike was spectacular. The government was compelled to discuss and agree that there will be no VRS, no disinvestment, no unbundling of copper cables etc. etc. It was also agreed that wage revision w.e.f. 2007 will be finalised and that Pension Revision will be taken with the cabinet. Thus the govt could not even finalise the VRS and not a single official was sent out through VRS. It was a great victory against the govt’s anti-worker policy.

The struggle was not over. Pay Revision for executives was ordered as per recommendations of the II Pay Revision Committee. But BSNL took a tough stand on the pay revision of the non-executives. It took about three years to finalise the wage revision for employees and many agitations had to be organised. But at last the wage agreement was reached with 30% fitment, the highest at that time. Four Promotion Scheme (NEPP) was also got signed. Till that time non-executives were eligible for one or two promotions. Certain cadres had no promotion at all. The value of increments were increased. The telecom employees never in their life got such a better pay revision. This was done by BSNLEU through continuous struggles. Of course our allies were also there. The yearly wage bill increased from Rs. 10,000 crore to Rs. 14,000 crore because of the Pay/Wage revision.

Almost every year since 2004, there has been strikes, either done or withdrawn after settlement. Many of these struggles were for better service and allotment of spectrum etc.

Modi govt. is hell bound on favouring Reliance Jio, the new entrant owned by Mukesh Ambani, and wanted BSNL to be closed or privatised. But as long as the workers who fought continuously are there, it was not possible. A well planned attack was started on BSNL and its workers. 4G spectrum was denied to BSNL even after all others were given the same. BSNL was not allowed to purchase required equipment. All funds available with BSNL was taken over by DOT on one pretext or other. BSNL punged in to loss.

Next came the non-payment of wages to contract workers for about 10 months. The workers wages were delayed in many months. Govt and media always presented BSNL as a loss making company which can not be revived and has to be closed or privatised. The wage bill of the company was made a big issue. Propaganda was made that the retirement age will be reduced to 58 from the present 60. Insecurity was created in the minds of the employees. Due to the agitations of the AUAB, govt was compelled to state that BSNL will not be closed or privatised and that a Revival Plan will be implemented. It included VRS for 80,000 workers, allotment of 4G Spectrum, sovereign guarantee, locan etc. But the main plan was VRS.
In order to compel workers to opt for VRS all tricks were adopted by DOT and BSNL management including threats of transfer, work up to 12 hours etc. etc. And the result was that more than 78,000 employees opted for VRS. There are many gray areas in the VRS, which may create problems in future. But the workers felt so insecure that they opted for VRS.

There are two important issues in the present scenario. One is about the benefits and pension settlement etc of the employees opted for VRS. AIBDPA has already taken up the matter with DOT and the Member (Finance) agreed to our demand that all the retirees should get the pension by end of the month itself. In case, there is any delay, he agreed to pay provisional pension, so that all VRS retirees will get the pension without delay. AIBDPA has also demanded that all the settlements should be done without delay. Now that these workers will be pensioners from February, it becomes the duty of AIBDPA to settle their demands.

As far Revival of BSNL is considered the AUAB has already demanded for early allotment of 4G Spectrum, loan etc.

It is in this situation that the New Year 2020 is arriving. AIBDPA welcomes all the VRS retirees and requests them to become members of AIBDPA. All are pensioners and difference and division of the workers are not there. AIBDPA has got members from those retired from the BSNL Board as also other top officers. It has branches and circles all over the country. It is the biggest Pensioners Association in the Central govt. employees. It is affiliated to the National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners (NCCPA) which is headed by Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra (AIRF) and Com. K.K.N.Kutty , both Members of the JCM National Council. AIBDPA is also affiliated to the Trade Union International (Pensioners and retirees) and its General Secretary Com. K.G.Jayaraj is one of the Executive committee Members.

AIBDPA has been formed 10 years back and had organised several agitational programmes for getting 78.2% IDA fixation for pensioners, Pension revision w.e.f. 2017,delinking of pension revision from pay revision etc. and also has presented the major demands of the DOT/BSNL pensioners before the VII CPC. Continuous efforts are being made for the grant of Pension revision.
The new pensioners on VRS can also get assured that their problems will be effectively taken by AIBDPA.

In fact, AIBDPA is in struggle path at present for the Pension Revision, Medical reimbursement, medical allowance etc. The programme includes meeting all M.P.s through out the country and forwarded our Memorandum of demands to the Prime Minister, Dharna on 12th February 2020 all over India and Parliament March on March 12.

AIBDPA is the organisation of the veterans of the struggles. We welcome all the new pensioners to its fold and assure that it will make out all efforts to settle the issues of the new pensioners.

We Wish a Happy and Fruitful New Year to all comrades, friends and wellwishers!

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High Level Group of Ministers formed for Revival of BSNL. What about the assurances?

30 Monday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL News

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NEW DELHI: A seven-member Group of Ministers (GoM) has been constituted to fast-track and oversee the implementation of the Rs 69,000 crore revival plan for state-owned telecom corporations BSNL and MTNL, sources said.

The high-level group will expedite smooth implementation of recent decisions taken on revival of BSNL and MTNL that includes crucial elements like allocation of 4G spectrum and asset monetisation, official sources told .

The GoM includes Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, IT and Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, they added.

“There are crucial elements like business viability, workforce, issue of bonds, monetisation and 4G spectrum allotment in the revival package. The GoM will expedite and oversee the plans,” the sources said. (Press Report).

High level Committees / Group of Ministers are formed. But where is the 4 G Spectrum and Sovereign Guarantee and loans for expansion? Govt. and DOT should implement its assurances.

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AIBDPA- Agitational programmes for Pension Revision

30 Monday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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Remembering Com.K.G.Bose on his 45th death anniversary

10 Tuesday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Uncategorized

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11th December 2019 is the 45th death anniversary of Com.K.G.Bose, the revolutionary leader of the central government and P and T employees. He left us on 11th December 1974 at the comparatively young age of 54 at a London hospital, where he was getting treated for cancer, an incurable disease at that time.

Krishna Gopal Basu, born on 7th July 1921, entered the Posts and Telegraph Department in 1941 as a clerk in the Divisional Engineer, Telegraphs office at Calcutta at a salary of Rs. 45 per month. Father having passed away early, as the eldest son of the family, he has to look after the family and getting a government job was a relief. From the start he was connected with the trade union movement and became an active worker of the then Indian Telegraph Association, formed by Mr. Henry Barton, one of the pioneers of the P and T trade union movement.

In the historic 1946 Postmen strike organised by Com.V.G.Dalvi, Coms. Dada Ghosh and K.G.Bose organised the entire P and T employees in Bengal and Assam making it a complete success. KG was arrested and jailed for months in connection with the declared 1949 strike. He was later dismissed from service and was never taken back. His younger brother, Com.Moni Bose who was working in the same department was terminated in connection with the same strike and never taken back.

K.G.Bose, took an important role in formation of Union of P and T Workers (UPTW) formed in 1947, uniting most of the existing various unions in the department and later National Federation of P and T Unions (NFPTE) on 24th November 1954, with 9 all India Unions affiliated to it. He worked as Circle Secretary of Engg. III and Postal III unions in W.Bengal for a long time. He was also President of the Postal Class Union. His prominent role in the struggle for introduction of Festival Advance for employees along with Dada Ghosh and Sisir Bhattacharjee was well appreciated.He played a vital role in organising the historic strikes central government employees in 1960 and 1968.

K.G.Bose was leader of the progressive section in NFPTE, along with Comrades N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and others. He was elected as the President of NFPTE in 1970 defeating the revisionist leadership led by Com.O.P.Gupta. He toured all over India and organised the workers for struggles. During these years I could meet him several times and his advices were carried out by me.

Continuous journey and hard work resulted in deterioration of his health. He was sent to London for better treatment and passed away there on 11th December 1974. The first building in his memory, “K.G.Bose Bhavan” was constructed in Calicut.

The memory of Com.K.G.Bose will continue to inspire many generations of CG and and P and T workers.

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1,047 scientists and scholars write open letter against Citizenship Amendment Bill..

10 Tuesday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in General

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1,047 scientists and scholars from India and abroad, have signed an open letter, condemning the Citizenship Amendment Bill and asking for it’s withdrawal. It is written in the letter that,
“the idea of India that emerged from the independence movement, and as enshrined in our Constitution, is that of a country that aspires to treat people of all faiths equally. The use of religion as a criterion would be inconsistent with the basic structure of the Constitution.”

Signatories of the letter include Rajesh Gopakumar (International Centre for Theoretical Sciences), Sandip Trivedi (Tata Institute of Fundamental Research), Sandeep Pandey (Magsaysay Award Recipient), S.S. Bhatnagar (Atish Dabholkar Awardee), etc. The letter ends with an appeal to withdraw the bill in it’s current form.

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BSNL provides 14.96 lakh new mobile connections in November, 2019.

07 Saturday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Uncategorized

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As per the letter issued by the Director (CM) BSNL, to the CGMs, BSNL has provided 14,96,016 new mobile connections in November, 2019. J&K, Maharashtra, Odisha and Assam circles have achieved more than 100% of their targets. BSNLEU heartily congratulates all these circles.

[Date : 07 – Dec – 2019]

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Remembering Com.K.G.Bose, the Revolutionary leader.

06 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI in Uncategorized

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11th December 2019 is the 45th death anniversary of Com.K.G.Bose, the revolutionary leader of the central government and P and T employees. He left us on 11th December 1974 at the comparatively young age of 54 at a London hospital, where he was getting treated for cancer, an incurable disease at that time.

Krishna Gopal Basu, born on 7th July 1921, entered the Posts and Telegraph Department in 1941 as a clerk in the Divisional Engineer, Telegraphs office at Calcutta at a salary of Rs. 45 per month. Father having passed away early, as the eldest son of the family, he has to look after the family and getting a government job was a relief. From the start he was connected with the trade union movement and became an active worker of the then Indian Telegraph Association, formed by Mr. Henry Barton, one of the pioneers of the P and T trade union movement.

In the historic 1946 Postmen strike organised by Com.V.G.Dalvi, Coms. Dada Ghosh and K.G.Bose organised the entire P and T employees in Bengal and Assam making it a complete success. KG was arrested and jailed for months in connection with the declared 1949 strike. He was later dismissed from service and was never taken back. His younger brother, Com.Moni Bose who was working in the same department was terminated in connection with the same strike and never taken back.

K.G.Bose, took an important role in formation of Union of P and T Workers (UPTW) formed in 1947, uniting most of the existing various unions in the department and later National Federation of P and T Unions (NFPTE) on 24th November 1954, with 9 all India Unions affiliated to it. He worked as Circle Secretary of Engg. III and Postal III unions in W.Bengal for a long time. He was also President of the Postal Class Union. His prominent role in the struggle for introduction of Festival Advance for employees along with Dada Ghosh and Sisir Bhattacharjee was well appreciated.He played a vital role in organising the historic strikes central government employees in 1960 and 1968.

K.G.Bose was leader of the progressive section in NFPTE, along with Comrades N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and others. He was elected as the President of NFPTE in 1970 defeating the revisionist leadership led by Com.O.P.Gupta. He toured all over India and organised the workers for struggles. During these years I could meet him several times and his advices were carried out by me.

Continuous journey and hard work resulted in deterioration of his health. He was sent to London for better treatment and passed away there on 11th December 1974. The first building in his memory, “K.G.Bose Bhavan” was constructed in Calicut.

The memory of Com.K.G.Bose will continue to inspire many generations of CG and P and T employees.

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