Eid Mubarak – Warm Greetings to all comrades, well wishers and friends on Eid day!
Eid Mubarak – Greetings!
18 Saturday Jul 2015
Posted in General
Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI
Prime Minister invites trade union leaders for tea
18 Saturday Jul 2015
It is reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited trade union leaders for tea on 19th July at his residence. Well and good! The moot question is whether the invitation is to convince them about the justification of the anti-labour laws that is being brought to be enacted or to hear the justified demands of the workers and consider them favourably. The invitation has been made on the eve of the Indian Labour conference is to be noted.
Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 ( 31 )
18 Saturday Jul 2015
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLEU, Forum
2015
Notice for two days strike on 21-22 April 2015 served on 12-03-2015
The notice for strike from 21 to 22 April 2015 was served on the BSNL Management and Secretary, DOT, on 12-03-2015 after a mighty demonstration in front of the Corporate Office. Demonstrations were held in Circles/SSAs also on the same day.
The Strike notice was signed by Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, P.Abhimanyu(BSNLEU), C.Singh (NFTE & President Forum), K.Sebastin (SNEA(I), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), K.Jayaprakash(NUBSNLW(FNTO), R.C.Pandey (BTEU), Suresh Kumar(BSNLMS), R.Venkatraman(TEPU), H.P.Singh(BSNLOA), Anoop Mukherjee(SNATTA), R.P.Sahu(AIGETOA), Rakesh Sethi(AIBSNLOA), R.K.Ram(BTUBSNL), Rana Pratap (BEA BSNL) and R.Raveendran (SEWA BSNL).
Parliament March on 25th March 2015 on Revival of BSNL
The Parliament March which was decided to be held on 19th December 2014 has been postponed to 25th March 2015. Almost all the state level conventions were held effectively and with massive participation of employees and addressed by Forum all India leaders. Lakhs of signatures from the people were collected demanding the government to take necessary action for Revival of BSNL.
The Parliament March on 25th March 2015 started from the BSNL Corporate Office premises. The leaders of the Forum walked behind the big banner of FORUM with Parliament March printed on it. Thousands of workers participated with banners and flags of all the unions/associations. Though the police had denied permission, the March went through Janpath, Tolstoy Marg and Jantar Mantar. When it reached near the Parliament Street, the march was stopped by the police with barricades, where a rally was held.
The rally was presided by Com. C.Singh GS NFTE & President Forum. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum welcomed all and congratulated the workers and leaders for the massive participation and presented the demands of the workers. The Meeting was addressed by Com. Tapan Sen, MP & General secretary CITU, Shri Vrijesh Upadhyay, General Secretary, BMS, Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, AIRF, Com. Amarjit Kaur, Secretary, AITUC and Dr. Dharam Vir Gandhi, M.P. (AAP). The rally was also addressed by Coms.P.Abhimanyu(BSNLEU), Prahlad Rai(AIBSNLEA), K.Sebastin(SNEA(I), R.C.Pandey (BTEU), K.Jayaprakash(NUBSNLW(FNTO), Suresh Kumar(BSNLMS), R.Venkatraman(TEPU), Hari Singh(BTU) and others.
A Delegation consisting of Comrades C.Singh, President Forum and GS NFTE, V.A.N.Nambodiri Convener Forum, P.Abhimanyu(BSNLEU), K.Sebastin(SNEA(I) and Prahlad Rai(AIBSNLEA) went and submitted the Memorandum to the Prime Minister’s office.
The Parliament March was a big success in all respects. The workers and leaders of BSNL Unions/Associations deserved much appreciation for the same.
Meeting with CMD BSNL was held on 17th April 2015. Since most of the items were to be decided to be settled by the DOT no agreement could be reached in the meeting.
Mighty Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015
The discussion with CMD BSNL could not result in any settlement since most of the issues were to be settled with the DOT. The Secretary DOT did not call the Forum for a meeting to discuss the strike issues. Though a call was received in the late evening of 20th April for a meeting immediately, it could not take place since the General Secretaries were not available since all were in strike preparation.
The strike started from 00.00 hours on 20/21st April and continued till 00.00 hours on 22/23 April 2015. The strike was a complete success with almost 100% in many places. In many circles the entire offices and exchanges stood closed and deserted without any employee attending. Huge demonstrations were organized in front of offices by the striking employees. The Casual and contract workers as per the call of the BSNLCCWF also struck work on both the days. As per call of AIBDPA, BSNL – DOT Pensioners participated in the demonstrations and gave solidarity and support. Central Trade Unions like CITU, AITUC, BMS, INTUC and others also supported. AIRF, AIIEA, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, BEFI, NFPE, AISGEF and other Federations of employees also gave full support and extended solidarity.
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, met many Members of Parliament and briefed them about the demands raised in the strike and requested that these may be raised in the Parliament. The Forum is much thankful that the following Members of Parliament, Comrades Sankar Prasad Datta, Jitendra Choudhary ( both from Tripura), P.Karunakaran (leader of CPI(M) in Lok Sabha), P.K.Biju, A.Sampath, P.K.Sreemathi(all from Kerala) who raised in the zero hour in the Parliament on 22st April the issues of strike by the BSNL workers and the demands and demanded intervention by the government. Some of these M.P.s addressed letters to the Communications Minister. (To be continued)
Veteran Communist Com. K.R.Gouri Amma come back to CPI(M)
17 Friday Jul 2015
Posted in Uncategorized
All Communists will be glad that veteran communist leader Com.K.R.Gouri Amma will return to CPI(M), which she left earlier and formed her own party.
Appropriate decision! The home coming will be on 19th August 2015, the death anniversary of Com.P.Krishna Pillai.
Anti-Farmer Land Bill – The Government may stall it for the present?
17 Friday Jul 2015
Posted in General
Tags
It is reported that in the face of strong protests and the entire opposition coming together on the issue as also the massive protest among the farmers, the BJP government may stall the Amendment to the Land Bill for the present. While the industry and business corporates are exerting their full pressure for the passing of the bill, the government does not have the right numbers in the Rajya Sabha. The government hs also been put on the defensive by the aggressive propaganda by the opposition.
The ensuing session of the Parliament will reveal the strategy of the government.
Hunger Strike by AIBDPA on 21-22 July on 78.2% IDA Pension Fixation and other demands
17 Friday Jul 2015
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
Tags
BSNL-DOT Pensioners, as per the call of the All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association, (AIBDPA) will be organising two days Hunger Strike in front of CCAs all over the country on 21-22 July 2015 protesting against the non-settlement of 78.2% IDA pension fixation for the BSNL pensioners and other demands included in the Charter of Demands presented by the AIBDPA to the BSNL Management and the government. In the Parliament March organised by the AIBDPA and participated by more than one thousand pensioners, the Charter of Demands was presented to the Secretary, DOT. Thousands of Post Cards were sent to the Prime Minister demanding settlement of the genuine demands of the pensioners who have loyally and efficiently served the nation. The government can not withdraw from its responsibility of meting out justice to the senior citizens.
AIBDPA has called upon all the BSNL-DOT Pensioners to massively participate in the Hunger Strike on 21-22 July and make it a complete success! We call upon the BSNL employees to extend solidarity and support to the fully justified struggle.
BSNLEU and BSNL CCLU continue struggle in Kerala
17 Friday Jul 2015
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU
Due to the adamant and antagonistic attitude of the BSNL Circle Management, both the CCLU and BSNLEU in Kerala is continuing the agitation on the demands of the casual and contract workers for increase in the wages, upgradation of workers from unskilled to skilled etc. Though three times discussion have taken place, settlement could not be reached due to the adamant stand of the management. Further the management is victimising the workers. Circle office bearers of BSNLEU, including Circle Secretary have been issued with show cause notice for supporting the agitation. The Circle office-bearers of the BSNL CCLU are on hunger strike and many of them have been forcefully hospitalised.
It is in this context that the Action Committee has decided to strengthen the agitation. A broad based Solidarity and Aid committee is being formed with political, trade union leaders as also service organisations. BSNLEU will organise 48 hours continuous dharna on 22, 23 July. A massive March to the CGM Office will be organised on 28th July at Thiruvananthapuram.
BSNLCCWF demands the BSNL Corporate Office to direct the Kerala Circle Management to immediately discuss with the Unions and settle the issues failing which the struggle will be widened and strengthened.
State Bank to offer 3% profit to employees
17 Friday Jul 2015
Posted in General
“State Bank of India (SBI) on Friday said it plans to offer up to 3 per cent of annual profit to employees as part a talent retention and motivation initiative.
The bank has sought permission from the Finance Ministry in this regard, said Chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya.” (TOI)
Whether this will be to all the employees or to the top level officers only, to keep the high talent with the bank? It should certainly to all the employees. Otherwise it will be total discrimination.
Do not neglect problems of Working Women – Com. BTR
17 Friday Jul 2015
Posted in General
Tags
“Neglect of working women and their problems indicate the feudal male outlook. This is nothing but a projection of the neglect of woman and her inferiour status in Indian society.”
Private Entry in Naval Armament Industry.
17 Friday Jul 2015
Posted in Disinvestment, Neo-liberal policy
More private entry in government. Now the government has allowed private entry in naval armament industry also as per the following report in the Economic Times. As every body knows, this is part of the privatisation of armament industry. The NDA government is busy with its privatisation agenda.
“NEW DELHI: Government has issued industrial licences for naval armament business to large public and private sector companies including Larsen & Tubro, Pipavav and BHELBSE 2.36 %. Industrial licences have also been awarded to ABG ShipyardBSE -0.11 % and Alpha Design Technologies.
These licences have been given for works relating to warships, sub-marines, weapon platforms, high-speed boats and patrol research vessels. ” (Economic Times)
