Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Sustained Struggles to save BSNL – 28 Discussion with CMD BSNL and agreement

19 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLEU

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After receipt of the strike notice, a meeting was called by CMD BSNL on 11-06-202 continued on 12-06-2012. All the General Secretaries were present. After protracted discussions, the following agreement was reached between the Forum and the management:

Agreement on 12-06-2012
1. Revision of pay is agreed as per fitment benefit @ 78.2% wef from 01-01-2007 subject to approval by the competent authority. However, actual payment will be made prospectively and the arrears will be deferred for the time being and will be paid only when the financial position of the company improves. This will be applicable for the pensioners also.
2. Medical reimbursement with voucher for out-door treatment, Professional Upgradation Allowance and HRA will continue to be paid at basic pay with 68.8% fitment. Payment of these allowances will be reviewed on 01-04-2013, subject to the financial position of the company.
3. All other allowances ie. Children Education Allowance, Tution Fee, Hostel Subsidy, Family Planning Allowance etc. will continue to be paid at the present rates.
4. The issue of implementation of Child Care Leave will be taken up with BSNL Board for re-consideration.
5. For the purpose of provision of superannuation benefits to directly recruited employees, as per the DPE guide lines, a committee will be constituted to re-examine the issues and give its recommendations.

With the signing of this agreement, the Forum of BSNL Unions/ Associations and FNTO decided to defer their proposed indefinite strike from 13th June 2012.
The agreement was signed by Shri N.K.Narang GM(SR) on behalf of the management. The following signed on behalf of the Forum: Coms. P.Abhimanyu (BSNLEU),Prahlad Rai(AIBSNLEA), Islam Ahmed(NFTE), S.V.S.Subramaniam (BTEU BSNL), Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), N.D.Ram (SEWA BSNL), K.Sebastin (SNEA), Zile Singh (NTSU), H.P.Singh (BSNLOA), R.P.Sahu(AIGETOA), K.Jayaprakash (FNTO), S.P.Sharma(WRU), Hari Singh (BTU) and D.P.Patwa (AIBCTES).

The agreement was a great success in the situation when the company was in loss. The struggle of the workers was not in vain. The large mobilisation of the workers, their preparation for strike to ensure justice – all created a situation where the management was compelled to discuss and agree to the reasonable demands of the workers.
The meeting of the Forum on 4th September 2012 discussed in detail about the pending issues and also full implementation of the agreement signed on 12-06-2012. It was understood that the BSNL Board has approved 78.2% IDA fixation, but he same will have to be approved by DOT. No decision has been taken about the child care Leave. (To be continued)

BSNL CCWF gives call for two day relay hunger strike on 25-26th August 2020.

17 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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BSNL CCWF gives call for two day relay hunger strike.
The BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) has given a call for a two day relay hunger strike on 25th & 26th August, 2020. This programme is to demand immediate payment of the wage arrears of the contract workers and also against the retrenchment of contract workers, which is being done through outsourcing. CHQ requests all the circle and district unions to take immediate steps for successfully organising the two day relay hunger strike successfully at all levels, together with the BSNL CCWF.

[Date : 17 – Aug – 2020](BSNLEU Website)

Journeys 32 – Loss of suit case at Kolkata

17 Monday Aug 2020

Posted by in Train Journeys

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Journeys 32 – Loss of suit case at Kolkata

August 2005. Full preparations for 29th September 2005 Strike called by Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions against anti-people, anti-worker policies of central government. Continuous tours all over India, including Kerala, M.P., UP West, Punjab, Orissa and W.Bengal.

Strike Convention jointly organized by four circles of W.Bengal viz. Kolkata Telephones, T and D, Telecom Stores and W.Bengal on 18th August. Reached Kolkata early morning by train. Bath and break-fast at Salt Lake City IQ. Somewhat far away from city. Com.J.N.Mishra, All India President, BSNLEU with me. We had to reach Telephone Bhawan by noon to attend a meeting before Convention. Hired taxi from IQ. Proceeded to Telephone Bhawan with luggage since had to catch flight scheduled at 20.00 hours to Bangalore. Ticket booked. After reaching Bangalore, we – my wife, daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter – will proceed early next morning to Kabani resort to spend 2-3 days there.
Heavy traffic. Taxi reached Telephone Bhawan late. Comrades waiting impatiently. As soon as we stepped down from car, were carried over to meeting place by large number of comrades, with shouting of slogans. Were provided tea and snacks. Meeting started in CTO Conference Hall by 17.00 hours. Senior leaders Comrades Moni Bose, Ananta Bhattacharya, others present. Com. Mishra and I addressed and explained matters.

After meeting, I was directly to go to airport to catch the flight. When asked for my suit case, comrades told that I got down from taxi with nothing in my hands. I realized with shock that I had forgotten to take suitcase from car- dickey. Driver also did not remind me. Neither Mishraji. Usually our comrades will be arranging their own cars, they will take the luggage also and I will be getting the same only when I return. As usual, I had thought that our comrades have taken care of the suit case.
What to do? Since I will be on tour for five-six days, I have taken half a dozen pants, shirts etc. There were some gifts to my granddaughter. There were two bank cheques for about Rs. 90,000/- from a friend which I was to hand over to my daughter. Books and union papers were also there. Fortunately, the flight ticket was in my pocket. I had not noted the number of the taxi. In a city like Kolkata, it is impossible to find the taxi without registration number.
I had to start for airport immediately to catch the flight. Otherwise, I may miss it. But, Com. Moni Bose and others advised to file a complaint to the police. We went to a nearby police station and gave written complaint. They started asking so many questions for filing FIR. I was worried about my flight. I was almost certain that I may not get the suit case back. Had the driver wanted, he could have come to Telephone Bhawan where I had got down and handed over. Com.Moni Bose contacted some senior police officers and FIR was ready without further delay.

Com. Dilip Das, Asst. General Secretary, arranged a taxi to airport. Usually I go alone, but comrades insisted that in case I do not get the flight it is better that some body is there. Heavy traffic on the road. Fortunately strict instructions that the passenger should reach before 40 minutes of the departure of the flight by which time the issue of boarding pass will be closed, have not been issued at that time. I called airport from the taxi and told that I am on the way, that it was an emergency and they have to wait for me. The reply was, ‘Come immediately’. I reached the airport after the scheduled time of the flight. I rushed inside, asking Com.Dilip Das to wait for me, in case the flight already left. Looking in to departure board I was relieved. The flight was late; I got the boarding pass, informed Dilip Das and moved to boarding gate.

Reached Bangalore, then to my daughter’s residence. Told them what happened at Kolkata. I always used to have one or two sets of dresses at Bangalore and that problem was solved. But what about the checques? I was not sure whether it was crossed or not. If the taxi driver encashes them, the money will be lost forever.
Early next morning we started for Kabani. After reaching there, my daughter called her bank, told about the loss and requested to issue directions so that the checques are not encashed in any of its branches. The bank told that only the person who issued the checque has the authority for that. I contacted my friend who issued the checque and he immediately did the needful. The money was now safe. Only suitcase and other things were lost. After reaching Calicut from the Kabani , I directly went to the State Hantex shop and purchased half a dozen shirts, costing Rs. 150 per each. That problem also was over.

This was a lesson. But it did not help much. I was always forgetting things. The famous poet has put the situation correctly, ‘I have never forgotten to carry the bag of forgettfulness.’

Journey 31 – Necklace stolen.

15 Saturday Aug 2020

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It was during my stay at Trivandrum as Circle Secretary of E.III Union. I used to come to Calicut as many times as possible, since my wife and small children at Calicut only.

That day I started for Calicut by Trivandrum Mangalore Malabar Express by sleeper coach. Just before train started a young Muslim couple boarded. Side berths. Family friends outside the window to send off. Wedding dress, heavy shining golden jewelleries  – neck chains, bangles, ear-rings – all indicated, a newly wed couple. Probably just after marriage. Train started.

Passengers like me were worried, but could not say anything since they were strangers and enjoying their journey, viewing outside scenery. Just before reaching Quilon, the train stopped in a very small station. It was almost 20.00 hours, the platform was dimly lighted. It was not a regular stop for Malabar Express.

All of a sudden, the girl cried with pain. The young man was running to the door and got down in the platform shouting ‘thief, thief’. We all went to the door. The young man was running towards the back side of the train to catch the thief. Yes, a person from outside the window has broken one or more chains from her neck, and ran away with it.

The train started moving. But the young man has not returned. All of us were worried. The girl started crying. She lost her chain. But where was her husband? We pulled the train-chain. Train slowly stopped. The young man came running back and boarded. The station master came and the matter was reported to him.

The thief has gone with the neck chain/s. Could not be caught. Then somebody spoke in general. The thief might have boarded from Trivandrum it self  and watched for a chance to snatch the chain. Going after such persons in darkness will be dangerous, since they may be daredevils, will be armed and will attack in order to escape. Everybody understood the seriousness of the situation. We all were very sad,  for the couple. It was not only  loss of chain, but much more than that immediately after a happy marriage.

It was a  lesson not only for the young couple, but for all of us.

Journey 30 – CWC, Indian Coffee House and Loss of suit case

14 Friday Aug 2020

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The Central Working Committee meeting of E.III N Union held at Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, from 5th to 7th April 2000 was very important organizationally as it took various decisions including to publish a Hindi journal by name BSNL Swar, prepare for the membership verification, participate in the strike on 11th May 2000 called by the National Platform of Mass Organisations and holding a Joint CWC of like minded unions.The CWC was inaugurated by Com.Basudeb Acharya M.P., who is always a well wisher of the union.

After a well attended Press Conference, we went to the Indian Coffee House which was nearby in the State Government building complex. Wherever I go on tour, our comrades take us to Indian Coffee House, where you will get south Indian meals, iddli-sambar etc. Though I am not very particular, the local comrades make it a point feeling that it is my choice. Of course there is the pleasure of meeting some Keralites and talking to them in Malayalam, since most of the ICH workers including managers are from Kerala. In almost all the India Coffee Houses you will see a big photo of Comrade A.K.Gopalan  on the wall with a garland. It has got a background. The Coffee Board which was running the Coffee Houses all over India, decided to close them. Com. AKG, then an M.P., took up the issue with then Prime Minister Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru and decision was taken to hand over the same to the workers. The workers formed co-operative societies and operated the Indian Coffee Houses efficiently charging only reasonable prices. I went to the Manager who was a Malayalee, spoke to him and some of the workers. One of them was from Calicut itself. Had tasty meals.

Then started to Delhi by train with other Delhi comrades including Coms. R.S.Chauhan, H.L.Makkar as also some other comrades going to Ujjain, Agra etc. At Nagpur Railway Station we got down for a cup of tea. When we returned, Com. R.S.Fauzdar, Circle secretary UP West, found that his suit case was missing. We all searched here and there, enquired with other passengers. But the suit case was gone. Stolen. There was some money  in the suitcase in addition to dress etc. When you are alone in a journey, you are careful to look after your luggage and other things. But when you are in a company, you become careless.

Com.Fauzdar was much worried. Others discussed together and found out a way. Some money was collected and gave the same to Com.Fauzdar for his own-ward journey from the station, though he protested. I had two suit cases with me. I gave one to him. At least we were able to console him, though his loss was much more. Still, it was only when getting down at Agra and parting from us that we could see a smile on his face, though a sad smile of embarrassment. I hope Com.Fauzdar will excuse me for narrating the story.

 

Sustained Struggles to save BSNL – 27 Forum decides agitational programmes

14 Friday Aug 2020

Posted by in Sustained struggles

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Affiliation of Unions to JAC

The meeting of the Joint Action Committee held on 25th April 2012 discussed the requests of NFTE and FNTO for affiliation to the JAC and the same were accepted.

JAC renamed as Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations.

The meeting of JAC held on 28th May 2012 was attended by NFTE, In order to include all the new unions and to have no embarrassment to any union, it was decided to rename Joint Action Committee as Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations of Non-Executives and Executives. Comrades C.Singh and V.A.N.Namboodiri were unanimously elected as Chairman and Convener of the Forum.

Forum decides agitational programmes

The meeting of the newly constituted Forum met on 29th May and discussed about the pending issues of the BSNL employees. It was a surprise to find out that while the Management has denied 78.2% to executives, it has fully implemented the VI CPC recommendations for the ITS Officers who are on deputation and who have already opted for DOT. This is a stark discrimination towards BSNL absorbed employees.

As such, the Forum decided to organise agitational programmes immediately. The following programme of action was finalised:

1. Massive demonstrations at Circle / SSA HQs and day long dharna at BSNL Corporate office on 31st May 2012.
2. Mass Dharna at BSNL Corporate Office / Circle / SSA on 6th June 2012.
3. Indefinite Strike from 13th June 2012.
The following were the demands:
1. Immediate implementation of DPE OM No. 2(70)/08-DPE(WC)/09 dated 26th November 2008 and OM No. 2(70)/09-DPE(WC)-GL-VII/09 dated 2nd April 2009 ie.
(a) Revision of Pay as per fitment benefit @ 78.2% wef 01-01-2007.
(b) Revision of Perks and Allowances after revision of pay scales.
(i) Transport Allowance (ii) Children Education Allowance (iii) Family Planning Allowance (iv) Professional Upgradation Allowance (v) Payment of Medical Allowances on quarterly basis as per BSNLMRS (vi) Restoration of All India LTC/ Leave encashment (vii) Implement Child Care Leave (viii) Provision of superannuation benefits to direct recruited employees as per DPE guidelines.

The Strike Notice was served on 29th May 2012 and was signed by V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), P.Abhimanyu (BSNLEU), Raj Moulie (NFTE), V.Subburaman (TEPU), S.P.Sharma (BSNLWRU), Hari Singh (BTU BSNL), R.S.Yadav (ATM), R.K.Kohli (NFTBE),Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), H.P.Singh (BSNLOA), Gajendra Kumar (BTEU), (AIGETOA), K.Sebastin (SNEA) and D.P.Patwa (AIBCTES).
A circular signed by the Convener and all General Secretaries was issued by the Forum on 7th June 2012 calling upon the employees to fully participate in the ensuing indefinite strike from 13th June. Wall posters well designed were put in the websites and all circle conveners of Forum were asked to print the same in local languages. A press statement was issued by the Convener on the strike. An effort was made to meet the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Communications. Circle were asked to form the Forum, wherever it was not formed so that co-ordinated efforts could be made. ( to be continued).

Com.K.K.Ragesh M.P. Kerala writes to Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications Minister on Medical Allowance, Medical Reimbursements to BSNL Pensioners.

12 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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 Com.K.K.Ragesh, M.P. Kerala has written a detailed letter to the Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, on the difficulties faced by the BSNL pensioners due  to non-receipt of Medical reimbursement and medical allowance. He has demanded that the payment be made at the earliest. Copy of letter given below. 

AIBDPA CONDEMNS AND STRONGLY PROTEST THE IRRESPONSIBLE AND BASELESS ALLEGATIONS OF SHRI. ANANTHAKUMAR HEGDE MP AGAINST BSNL EMPLOYEES

12 Wednesday Aug 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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AIBDPA CONDEMNS AND STRONGLY PROTEST THE IRRESPONSIBLE AND BASELESS ALLEGATIONS OF SHRI. ANANTHAKUMAR HEGDE MP AGAINST BSNL EMPLOYEES.
BJP MP, Shri. Ananthakumar Hegde from Karnataka has made some most condemnable and baseless allegations against BSNL and its employees. It is reported that while participating in a public function at Uttara Kannada, Shri.Ananthakumar Hegde has stated that all BSNL employees are Desh Dhrohis and BSNL has become a black mark for the entire country and the government will finish it. He continued his utterances and further stated that despite Prime Minister providing fund and technology, the employees are not willing to work. So the government has decided to fire the entire employees and privatise BSNL.

It is well known to the people of the country that it is BSNL alone for their rescue by restoring communication facilities swiftly when natural calamities hit and how selflessly the BSNL employees rise to the occasion. The government has always tried to weaken BSNL by promoting the private telecom companies unduely. The revival package declared by the government in October, 2019 is yet to be implemented barring the retrenchement of 78,569 BSNL employees in the name of VRS. Starting of 4G service by BSNL has become uncertain with the cancellation of tender by BSNL on the intervention of the government. Inspite of all these attacks and hurdles, it is the commitment of the employees that BSNL is still sustaining.

AIBDPA STRONGLY CONDEMNS AND PROTESTS THE BASELESS AND IRRESPONSIBLE STATEMENT OF SHRI. ANANTHAKUMAR HEGDE MP. (AIBDPA Website)

Unjustified outbursts of Shri Anantkumar Hegde, BJP M.P. from Karnataka against BSNL employees.

11 Tuesday Aug 2020

Posted by in BSNL News

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The outbursts of Shri Anantkumar Hegde, BJP M.P. from Karnataka in a public function that ‘BSNL employees are traitors’,’BSNL employees are not willing to work’ and that ‘ all the 88,000 BSNL employees will be fired and the government will privatise BSNL’ are atrocious. The All Unions and Associations of BSNL(AUAB) has already strongly protested.

The statement of the M.P. is condemnable. There is no base for the venom-spitting. Since formation of BSNL, its employees have been continuously championing for a better and cheaper service to the people. Of course the workers have strongly protested and defeated the government move to disinvest, privatise and liquidate it. That may be the reason for his outburst. But no one expects such unjustified outbursts from a representative of the people.

BSNL and its workers have always been at the service of the nation. It is only BSNL which always came to the rescue of the people in time of natural calamities and such tragedies. Private companies are interested only in garnering profits. This has been proved several times.

If the statement was made by a lunatic, it can be understood; But not from an M.P. We strongly condemn the unjustified accusation against the workers and demands the Central government and the BJP leadership to take necessary action.