29 Friday Apr 2016
The government is moving for appointing a 10 Member Committee to identify the merger of PSU Banks. It will include senior bank executives and representatives from Government, RBI etc.
Proposal for PSU Bank mergers are wholly unjustified and is intended to close large number of PSU bank branches and reduce the employees. The merger move has been strongly opposed by the bank unions.
29 Friday Apr 2016
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The new financial year has started. So also the spree of selling the PSU shares! The latest is the proposed disinvestment of 5% shares of Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilisers (RCF), 10% of National Fertilisers Limited (NFL), 10% in NMDC, 10% in HUDCO and 10% in Oil India. The government has already sold 11.36% shares NHPC a few days back.
If this trend goes, within a few years, the control of all PSUs will be in the hands of the private corporates. Mighty united struggles by the working class are required to save the PSUs. The Central Trade Unions in their strike decision for 2nd September 2016 have included ‘No Disinvestment of PSUs’ as one of the main demands.
The government should be compelled retract from these anti-PSU decisions.
29 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in PSU
29 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in Corruption, General
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The Public Accounts Committee of the Parliament has criticised the method in the contract of Public Private Participation (PPP) both in the GVK controlled Mumbai Airport and also in the case of DIAL controlled Delhi Airport.
The cost of the Mumbai Project was estimated first at Rs. 5,826 crore initially, but the cost rose to more than 100% to Rs.12,380 crore. The PAC also stated that this is similar to the PPP implemented in the DIAL controlled Delhi Airport.
What the trade unions and Left Parties have been telling is proved true. The PPP is nothing short of privatisation to ensure that the private companies reap huge profit out of the government properties and assets.
The case of the VVIP Chopper purchase from Augusta Westland by the Government of India has once again come to the focus after the Italian Court has jailed the officers of the company for bribing Indian officials and politicians.
Who are these persons who received benefit out of these deals? It is doubtful whether any disclosure will be made since the people behind are powerful people of politics, bureaucracy and intermediaries.
29 Friday Apr 2016
Posted in BSNLEU, General, TU News - India, TU News - International
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1st May, May Day, the International Day of Working Class, is here again. The May Day is being observed and celebrated through out the world by the workers and other toiling masses. The World federation of Trade unions and the Central trade Unions have given call to observe the day. The memory of the Chicago workers who were hanged for demanding and agitating for the 8 hours working day inspire the working class. It is through such struggles and strikes that the working class have been able to achieve many gains and victories.
May Day 2016 comes at a time when the working class is facing many challenges. The neo-liberal policies being implemented by the imperialist and capitalist class has created misery and heavy burden on the people. For maximising their profits, the corporates and financiers can go to any length, as we have seen. At the same time struggles are going on in many countries against these anti-people policies.
It is not different in India. The Central Trade Unions are unitedly fighting against the neo-liberal policies of the government. The workers rights are being attacked by the NDA government. The hard won gains of the working class are being snatched away. The struggle to defend the already achieved rights and for further improvement will continue.
The struggle to save BSNL has started and many things are to be done in this respect. We have to make BSNL stronger and give far better service to the people.
BSNLEU has to be strengthened and converted in to a militant organisation to fight and achieve the demands of the workers. The organisations of the Pensioners, viz. AIBDPA and that of casual-contract workers viz. BSNLCCWF, have to be strengthened and their issues focussed and exploitation ended.
Let us pledge to march forward with determination and dedication. Organise May Day and participate in the joint programmes being organised on the trade unions.
Unity for Struggle! Struggle for Unity !
Unity and Struggle for Progress !
Revolutionary Greetings on May Day!
28 Thursday Apr 2016
Posted in CG Employees
The Diamond Jubilee Conference of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will be held at Chennai from 16 to 18 August 2016.
Confederation was formed on 16 August 1956. During its 60 years of existence, it has organised continuous struggles on the issues of the workers, mobilised and strengthened the central government employees unions. Confederation continues its crusade under the present leadership of President Com. K.K.N.Kutty and Secretary General Com. M.Krishnan.
28 Thursday Apr 2016
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Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated in Parliament on 27th April 2016 that BSNL will be increasing its market share from 9.43% in December 2015 to 10% in March 2016. Good News! The initiative of the workers andmanagement are getting results
Along with making statements, the Minister should ensure that the refund of spectrum charges (Rs. 6,000 crore), USOF assistance (Rs. 1,250 crore) and Income Tax Refund (about Rs. 8,000 – 10,000) to enable it to purchase equipment, upgrading etc.
27 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in BSNL, Uncategorized
According to the data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on 26-04-2016, number of telecom subscribers increased to1051.88 million as on February 29, 2016 from 1043.29 million in January, 2016.
Tele density in the country registered a growth of 0.82%; increased from 1530.2 to 1539.3 million. In the wireless segment increased to 1026.66 from 1017.97 million in January, 2016. Market share of various companies are as follows;
Bharti Airtel-24.22%, Vodafone- 19.16%, Idea- 17.01%, Reliance- 9.93%, Aircel- 8.44%, BSNL-8.26%, Tata– 5.87%, Telenor- 5.03%, Sistema- 0.75%, Videocon- 0.66%, MTNL- 0.35%.
Growth in wireless subscribers in February, 2016
BSNL- 1.67, Bharti- 1.18, Vodafone- 1.04, Quadrant- 0.94, Idea- 0.85, Aircel- 0.71, Reliance- 0.69, Telenor- 0.49 and MTNL- 0.30
Videocon, Tata and Sistema however registered a reduction during the period.
Circle wise it is Assam with 2.03% growth topped the list while Karnataka and Delhi showed a decline.
In MNP, there were 5.10 million requests in February, 2016 and the total stands to be 204.73 million.
Wireline declined by 0.10 million from 25.32 million in January to 25.22 million in February, 2016. The market share of the two PSUs is 72.54% (BSNL- 58.63 + MTNL- 13.91). Among the private companies Bharti Airtel topped with 14.43%. BSNL lost 1,34,160 connections in February while MTNL lost 4,423 connections.
The broadband segment registerd a growth of 3.40%; to reach 144.87 million from 140.10 million. The market share is as follows;
Bharti-25.49%, Vodafone- 18.25%, Idea- 15.32%, BSNL- 13.74%, Reliance- 10.8% and others- 16.40%.
27 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in Uncategorized
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA, met Shri Samir Gupta, Dir(Estt.) today, 27th April 2016 and enquired about the latest position of the 78.2% IDA pension fixation issue of BSNL etirees. Dir(Estt.) stated that the files are almost ready and will be forwarded to Cabinet Secretary after signing by the Secretary DOT. It is expected by this or next week that the Cabinet Note will be forwarded to Cabinet Secretary.
27 Wednesday Apr 2016
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, General
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The State Minister for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya stated in the Parliament on 25th April 2016 that the minimum wage for the contract workers has been fixed at Rs. 10,000. The central trade unions have been demanding for a minimum wage of Rs.18,000, but the same was not accepted by the government. The CTUs have also decided to go on strike on 2nd September 2016, on a Charter of Demands including this.
The Minister also stated that the minimum wage has been fixed considering the cost of living and the judgment of the Supreme Court.
The minimum wage is fixed at Rs.10,000. Now another struggle will have to be fought to get it implemented for the contract workers. Workers are waiting for the order to be issued.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 