04 Tuesday Sep 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
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In the meeting today of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, it has been decided to organise a lunch hour dharna on 18th September 2012 to be followed by more programmes demanding completion of the repatriation of ITS.
The details of the meeting including decisions on other issues will be published later. The Lunch hour programme should be jointly held every where. Make it a complete success.
04 Tuesday Sep 2012
Posted in TU News - India, Uncategorized
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NATIONAL CONVENTION OF WORKERS AT NEW DELHI
The National Convention of Workers organised under the auspices of the 11 Central Trade Unions at Talkatora Stadium, New Delhi on 4th September 2012 has chalked out agitational programmes including a two-days General Strike on 20th and 21st February 2013.
The Talkatora Stadium was filled up and was overflowing to outside the stadium by the massive participation of workers who have come from all the states, especially from the nearby Haryana, Rajasthan, UP, Bihar, Punjab etc. More than 5,000 delegates must have attended. The entire compound and the outside of the stadium was decorated and there were large number of flags and banners of the Central Trade Unions and the various Independent federations of workers in various sectors like Central-State governments, Postal, BSNL, Banks, Electricity, Coal, Transport, Insurance etc.
A big colourful banner was displayed in the back of the decorated stage with the name of the convention and of the Central Trade Unions. The Presidium consisting of the Presidents or senior leaders of each central trade union sat in the front row. It included Coms. A.K.Padmanabhan (CITU), Amarjit Kaur (AITUC) and others. The General Secretaries and other senior leaders sat in the second row.
The Convention was addressed by Shri Baidya Nath Rai, General Secretary, BMS, Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, General Secretary, INTUC, Com. Gurudas Dasgupta, GS AITUC, Com. Tapan Sen, GS CITU and other leaders. All of them strongly opposed the anti-worker policies of the government and called upon the workers to continue the struggle against the neo-liberal policies which is causing more and more misery to the toiling masses. They impressed upon the workers the need for complete unity amongst the workers, not only at the leadership level but at all levels. Each speaker was enthusiastically applauded by the house by clapping of hands.
After the speeches were over, the Presidium moved the Resolution on programmes, which was already circulated to the delegates. The Resolution cited the various agitational programme conducted earlier on the demands raised by the CTUs and the good support received from the workers at all levels. It was reported that more than 10 crore workers participated in the last one day strike organised on 28th February 2012. The following demands were reiterated in the resolution:
Demands:
1) Contract measures to contain price rise. 2). Concrete measures for employment generation. 3) Strict enforcement of Labour Laws. 4) Universal social security cover for organised and unorganised workers and creation of National Security Fund and 5) Stoppage of disinvestment in Central PSUs and undertakings.
On the above issues, the Convention demanded immediate action by the Government of India to ensure:
The National convention also adopted the following action programme to press for once again the above burning issues facing the working people:
1. State/District/Sector level Joint Conventions during September, October and November 2012.
2. Satyagraha, Jail Bharao/Court Arrest on 18th / 19th December 2012 in all states throughout the country.
3. March to Parliament of 20th December 2012 ( mobilisation by the unions from the states adjoining Delhi)
4. Countrywide Two Days General Strike on 20th and 21st February 2013.
The resolution was supported/signed by BMS, INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, AIUTUC, TUCC, AICCTU, UTUC, LPF, SEWA and Independent Federations of Workers and Employees.
The programmes should be effectively organised and there should be maximum propaganda.
The National Convention was not only a show of strength and Unity but also one more historical milestone in the fight for the cause of the workers.
03 Monday Sep 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
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BSNLEU has been continuously demanding that at least Rs. 2,000 crore which was being given from the USOF to BSNL should be continued since the large number of landlines, which are loss making, are maintained by BSNL in accordance with the government policy of universal service. Now the DOT has sought Rs. 1500 crore for this year and Rs.1250 for next year. Although not sufficient, at least this is something which will help BSNL to tide over its woes. A news from Business Line in this connection is posted below.
The Department of Telecom has sought more money from the Universal Service Obligation (USO) Fund to be given to BSNL for rural telephone lines.
This is based on the recommendations of Telecom Regulatory Authority of India. TRAI observed that BSNL is maintaining a network with a large footprint and providing services in remote and far-flung areas.
The fixed line rural network that existed prior to April 2002 was primarily set-up with Government funding at high cost and always supported by USO or access deficit charges (ADC) since inception of these regimes.
TRAI put the subsidies payable for eligible rural wireline connections, installed before April 2002, at Rs 1,593 crore for 2011-12. It put the figure at Rs 1,265 crore for 2012-13.
“Accordingly, TRAI has recommended the support of Rs 1,500 crore for the first year (2011-12) and Rs 1,250 crore for the second year (2012-13),” sources in the know of developments said.
The ADC compensates a service provider, mainly the incumbent, for rental or local call charges and any other below cost tariffs to make the basic telecom services affordable to the common man and promote both universal service and universal access.
“TRAI suggested that some form of assistance would be needed to support incumbent in sustaining their non-remunerative operation and this should be given from the USO Fund to BSNL,” TRAI said in its communication to DoT.
The wire-lines, installed by BSNL prior to April 2002, were supported by USO Fund for the period April 2002 to February 2004 on the basis of the difference between regulated rental and actual rental.
But, USO support for these lines were withdrawn from February 2004 since the scope of ADC was increased to take care of the deficit arising out of cost based rental and prevailing rental in rural areas.
However, in view of the TRAI recommendations in 2008 to the Ministry of Communications and IT, BSNL had accordingly been given the subsidy of Rs 2,000 crore a year from USO Fund for the period July 2008 to July 2011.
03 Monday Sep 2012
Posted in Corruption
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The government is again in trouble with the allotment of coal blocks to private companies. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Steel and Coal has asked the government why the coal blocks were allotted to the private companies, when the Coal India Limited, the biggest coal company in the world, has to go to foreign countries for mining coal for the requirement of the country. And further the private companies, even after years of allotment, had not started the operations for minim coal. The report of the committee is going to be a further head ache for the government. A report in this connection from the Ganashakti is given below:
“New Delhi, Sept 3 : A parliamentary committee has expressed unhappiness over allocation of coal blocks to private firms – most of which have failed to develop them – instead of Coal India Ltd (CIL), prompting the government to state that 116 mines will be allotted to the state-owned firm. “A paradoxical situation is arising in the country wherein the coal blocks are being allocated to private parties most of which are failing to develop coal blocks in stipulated time frame, whereas CIL, is vying with foreign players in international market to acquire coal assets abroad to meet its requirements,” said the panel in its report tabled in the Rajya Sabha today. The remarks of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Steel and Coal comes at a time when government auditor CAG has estimated undue benefits of Rs 1.86 lakh crore to private firms on account of such allocations and uproar over it refuses to die down. Coal India and its subsidiaries should be accorded top priority in allocation of identified 138 coal blocks, the panel said. To this, the government has said that it has identified 116 blocks to be given to the PSU. “The proposal of CIL has been examined in detail by the Ministry of Coal. After examining the revised proposal of CIL, it has been decided to tentatively assign 116 coal blocks to CIL,” the government said in its reply. The Committee said it is of the opinion that CIL, which is the country’s biggest coal organisation, responsible for meeting the coal demand of various sectors, “has to play a vital role in ensuring energy security of the country at a time where there has been continuous increase in the sector wise as well as overall demand for coal over the years.” Battling low production, CIL has earmarked Rs 6,000 crore for acquisition of mines overseas and has also formed a subsidiary Coal India Africana Ltd for the such acquisitions. CIL is the largest coal producer in the world and accounts for over 80 per cent of the domestic coal output. It had recorded about 432 million tonne production in 2011-12, as against a revised down target of 447 MT.”
03 Monday Sep 2012
Posted in TU News - India, Uncategorized
An All India Convention of workers called by the 11 All India Central Trade Unions including BMS, INTUC, HMS, AITUC, CITU etc. will beheld at Talkatora Stadium New Delhi on 4th September 2012. BSNLEU and other all India independent federations are also participating.
The Convention will be addressed by leaders of all the Central TUs. The convention is expected to take stock of the struggles conducted earlier including the one day strike on 28th February 2012, in which more than 10 crore workers participated, and take decision for organising further struggles on the major demands raised by the unions. The demands include controlling of the price rise, stop anti-worker policies, implement the demands of the casual-contract labours, drop the PFRDA bill etc.
02 Sunday Sep 2012
Posted in History
Today, 3rd September 2012, is the 43rd death anniversary of the great revolutionary and father of the Viet-nam nation, Comrade Ho-Chi-Minh. He not only led the people towards freedom, but also gave a crushing defeat to the US imperialists who attacked the nation and even used napalm bombs against the people of Viet-nam. The defence by the Viet-nam army and people was one of the greatest saga of courage and determination against the mighty army of the US.
I pay revolutionary homage to the great leader Comrade Ho-Chi-Minh!
02 Sunday Sep 2012
My Hearty Greetings and Best Wishes to the people of Vietnam on their 57th Anniversary of the declaration of Republic of Vietnam!
02 Sunday Sep 2012
Posted in PSU
Life Insurance Corporation of India, one of the jewel PSU, has completed 56 years of glorious service to the nation. It was formed on 1st August 1956 by nationalising certain private insurance companies for better service to the people.
During these 56 years, it has grown as the biggest life insurance company in the country with more than 70% market share. So far, even multi-national companies could not compete with LIC. The company with its 80,000 or so workers and lakhs of insurance agents through out the country gives about 98% satisfaction level to its subscribers.
In strengthening the LIC, the workers and their organisation, All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) has contributed a lot. AIIEA is also one of the most militant union having waged glorious struggles to defend the LIC and the interests of the workers.
I convey my Best Wishes for continued historic growth for both LIC and AIIEA!
01 Saturday Sep 2012
More than one thousand contract workers staged a massive dharna in front of the Maharashtra CGM Office at Mumbai on 1st September 2012 demanding payment of minimum wage, implementation of social security measures like EPF, ESI etc. The workers reached the spot from different districts with the red flags and placards with the demands. The dharna was organised by the Maharashtra Circle union of BSNL Labour and Contract Labour Union, affiliated to CITU and BSNLCCWF.
The dharna was addressed by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF who congratulated the workers for the massive gathering and their determination to settle the issues. He spoke briefly about the position of the demands and what the BSNLCCWF and BSNLEU have done to settle the issues. Com. K.L.Bajaj, All India Vice-President CITU, Dr. Vivek Monteiro, Secretary Maharashtra CITU, Com. G.Mathpati, President, Com.Nana Chavan, Secretary Maharashtra BSNL Labour and Contract Labour Union and other leaders.
The leaders later met Shri Jayaraman, Sr.GM(HR) Maharashtra Circle in the absence of the CGM and demanded that the orders of the government and BSNL corporate office with regard to the payment of minimum wage, implementation of social security measures etc. be implemented without delay. He assured the delegation that these will be implemented.
The massive dharna has given confidence to the workers and they are determined to strengthen the organisation with forming the union wherever it has not been formed so far.
31 Friday Aug 2012
Today I got the opportunity to meet Shri Gunahari, Asst. Labour Commissioner, Mumbai and discuss about the non-implementation of labour laws and denial of minimum wages to the contract labour engaged in BSNL Maharashtra circle. He was sympathetic on the issue. Coms. G.Mathpati, President and Nana Chavan, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF, Maharashtra Circle were with me.
