06 Wednesday Jun 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
The Anomaly Committee will be meeting today in preparation for finalising the report. It is already long delayed and can not be allowed to delay further.
06 Wednesday Jun 2012
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
The ruling party, Congress, has in its apex committee decided to aggressively to press for reforms in the name of improving the economy. But what actually happening is the surrender of the government to the demands of the corporates, MNCs and the super rich. Approval of the PFRDA in the parliament is one of the main agenda.
What is Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) Bill? It is for utilising the hard-earned money of the workers in the Provident Fund to be diverted to the business houses for infusion of capital and do their business. The Pension Fund coming to lakhs of crores of rupees will be placed at the disposal of selected Fund Managers who will put in the stock market or for business. If something untoward happens, the entire pension find is gone. This actually has happened in the West and US.
Are we going to allow this. It is a big NO! The workers will continue their strong protests and struggles against this attack on the workers.
05 Tuesday Jun 2012
BSNL management has issued orders today suspending the new/additional increased allowances to the non-optee ITS officers. It is issued after the executives and non-executives decided to organise struggles for restoration of the allowances/benefits cut and grant of 78.2% etc. The decision to organise massive dharna on 6th June and for going on Indefinite Strike w.e.f. 13th June has un-nerved the management. The Management fully knows that the immediate grant of about 15 allowances to non-optee ITS oficers had irritated the workers.
The Forum and Unions/Associations are very clear on the subject. Whether you cancel or not the allowances given to the non-optee ITS officers, it is your decision. Our demands stand and we will organise struggle if the same are not accepted and implemented.
The workers should not be misguided by the BSNL order. Please organise the Dharna on 6th and the Indefinite Strike with effect from 13th June in a very successful way. Further details will be posted in the union websites.
05 Tuesday Jun 2012
Posted in TU News - India
All India General Council of CITU meeting at Coimbatore from 2nd to 5th June has decided:
To organize a wave of massive and militant campaigns and struggles in the country against the regime of loot and plunder on workers and the mass of the people let loose by the neo-liberal policies of the government of India and on the pressing demands of the working people in various sectors. These campaigns with a countrywide campaign week from 2nd to 8th July 2012 raising issues like price rise, leading the exploitative system of contractorisation prevailing in all sectors in the country, equal wage for equal work, minimum wages of at least Rs. 10,000 per month and ensured pension for all. Campaigns will be organized at workplaces and residential areas. General council reviewed the 28th February 2012 General strike and decided to continue the joint struggles against the polices of the government as the Government of India has failed to look into any demands raised by the unions during the struggles in the last 3 years. CITU along with other central trade unions and national federations will go for countrywide campaigns and struggles culminating in multiple days of countrywide strike as to be decided jointly by the Central Trade Unions. Protesting against the cruel exploitation of millions of workers especially women in the name of honorarium, workers in various schemes of the government of India like anganwadi, mid-day meals and Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA), CITU will organize countrywide struggles demanding regularization of these scheme workers with proper wage scales and social security benefits. The programme will include state level campaigns and mobilizations culminating in a ‘Mahapadav’ (massive mobilization) in front of the Parliament during November 2012. CITU will organize struggles of various sections of unorganized sector workers on issues like minimum wages of at least Rs. 10,000, social security benefits, welfare board and other statutory benefits as part of these struggles. Construction workers will organize a countrywide strike on 6th November 2012. CITU will organize solidarity actions with the workers in central PSUs, who are struggling against privatization. CITU extends solidarity with the steel workers’ united strike in Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (RINL) on 27th and 28th June against disinvestment. CITU expressed solidarity with the struggles of various sections of workers in Tamilnadu who are demanding end to victimizations, ensuring trade union rights, wage increases and proper functioning of the welfare boards of unorganized sector workers. CITU General Council has decided to conduct movements and campaigns on issues of social and gender oppressions in different parts of the country. General Council has decided to conduct its 14th National Conference by the end of March 2013 and will be preceded by state conferences. Working Women Co-ordination Committees of CITU will also organise state and national conventions of working women before March 2013.
05 Tuesday Jun 2012
Posted in TU News - India
If the discussions and the directions given by the leaders in the CITU General Council is any indication, there is going to be serious struggles being organised in the near future on the 10 points demands on which a major and successful strike has already been taken place on 28th February 2012 in which BSNL employees have also effectively participated. This is necessary since the government is yet to realise the gravity and seriousness of the situation as also the anger amongst the common people and workers against the anti-people policies and decisions of the goveernment.
05 Tuesday Jun 2012
Posted in General
Probably fed up with the continued corruption cases erupting and exposed through the CAG reports and also the charges levelled by Anna Team, there seems to be suggestion arising in the Congress for another ‘Kamaraj Plan’ of sending out senior ministers for organisational work and inducing younger non-corrupt ministers. If so, well and good for the party.
04 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in BSNL News
It really was a very grand function participated by a large number of BSNL workers and people of Bijapur. Comrade Gangappa Basappa SalakkI , Asst.General Secretary of BSNLEU and veteran leader of Karnataka Circle and specially Bijapur, where he was the District Secretary for a very long period, was given a warm and affectionate reception today at Bijapur. The Circle Executive Committee of BSNLEU was also organised at the same venue, yesterday and today.
The hall was full of those comrades, friends and relatives who came for the function. Com. B.P.Narayana, Circle President, BSNLEU presided. The National flag was hoisted by CirclePresident and the Union flag by me, All India President. Homage was paid to the martyrs. In the tradition of Karnataka, Com. Salakki was honoured along with his wife Smt. Prameela. Hundreds of comrades and friends garlanded him including trade union leaders and important personalities of Bijapur including the local M.P., Shri Ramesh Jigaijini and Shri Appu Patel Shetty, MLA . He was honoured with shawls and gifts. In my speech felicitation him, I mentioned about the dedicated work he has done for the union in his capacity as the District Secretary and AGS as also the social services. Many other comrades and the GM BSNL also spoke. Comrades P.Asokababbu, Dy. GS, J.Sampath Rao, Circle Secretary. AP Circle and many other leaders were present. Comrade CK Gundanna, Circle Secretary, Karnataka Circle welcomed all and honoured Com. Salakki. Representatives of all the unions including NFTE, FNTO, SEWA BSNL, AIBSNLEA, SNEA, CITU, AIBDPA, BSNLCCWF and other unions garlanded Com. Salakki. The book on Com. KG Bose, Veteran P&T leader, translated by Com. Salakki was released in the session. It was a special moment when his mother was brought to the stage and was honoured.
I was happy that I could participate and was able to personally honour Com. GBS. A very good occasion to remember for a long period.
I Wish Com. GB Salakki a lot of good and active work for many years both for BSNLEU and also for the society.
04 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in General
It is usual or rather a made a system for any Minister to meet the industry or business barons connected with that ministry at the earliest opportunity after they resume office. It is the same way with the Communications Minister also. The Tatas, Ambanis, Mittals are all called for meetings by the Minister. In addition, the Minister does not miss any meetings of the COAI or other organisations of the telecom companies.
But what about the unions and associations which represents thousands and lakhs of workers. The Ministers do not have time to meet them. They do not find time to attend their conferences. Although the workers are also serious stakeholders, they are not at all taken in to consideration by them. It is only when an agitation or strike call is organised, that the Minister becomes aware of the workers. Appeal is made to them to withdraw. In the recent case of Air India, the concerned Minister even put the condition that he will meet the striking pilots only after they resume duty.
There should be a change to this sad pattern. The Ministers should understand that the workers are an important part of the system. Regular meetings are required to be held and issues sorted out. A lot of issues could be sorted out if the Ministers take the initiative. Will they be prepared for the same ?
04 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in General
I always like the rail travel better than other modes. It has got to be much improved, still it is more interesting. If you want to go to distant places without delay, the flight is the only alternative.
My train journey starts seriously after 1960, when I had to go to the All India Conferences of the Union, Conventions etc. From, Kerala, it was a three day journey to New Delhi; first to Madras (Chennai) and from there to Delhi by the GT Express. No other train to Delhi from South. I think I posted some time back a detailed account of certain train journeys of that time. Though it was very difficult and tiresome, thinkig about those days is nostalgic.
A good portion of my time after shifting to Delhi as General Secretary of the E.III Union was spent in travelling mainly by trains. Sometimes days together. There were pleasant journeys and also hard and difficult journeys. But always there were our comrades to help. It was a time when we fought for the correct policy in the union and the recognised federations at that time used all methods to marginalise and harass us. Of course that period is over after the formation of BSNL and membership verification process.
And now I am going in train to Bijapur from Bengaluru. Com.Girish from BG is accompanying me. The train journey is more convenient than earlier. It is a 15 hours journey, but it seems that it will become an 18 hours journey, with much delay as usual with the Indian Railways. I may reach the Bijapur function after almost two hours later. But, of course, this is part of life. To avoid further delay, I had already taken bath etc. and is ready to directly go to the function.
What will be the future of the great Indian Railway? If the government continues with its neo-liberalisation policies it is certain that this may be corporatised and privatised unless there is stiff opposition from the people and political parties.
04 Monday Jun 2012
Posted in General
Widespread opposition notwithstanding, Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council Chairman C Rangarajan has strongly favoured an immediate increase in prices of diesel and cooking gas to contain government expenditure. “It (increase in prices of diesel and LPG) should be done, as early as possible…We need to take action…. howsoever unpleasant it may be,” he said in an interview .
