Category Archives: AIBDPA – BSNL DOT Pensioners

AIBDPA (All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association ) is the organisation of the Pensioners retired from DOT and BSNL. The posting in this category are connected with their issues as also that of other pensioners. It is affiliated to NCCPA and BCPC, umbrella organisations of pensioners.

1st October – International Pensioners Day

28 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, Pension, Uncategorized

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1st October is the International Pensioners’ Day. Observe the same with meetings, rallies, demonstrations etc. The theme of this years’ International Day is: “Stepping in to the Future: Tapping of the talents, contributions and participation of older persons in the society. Promoting and strengthening the participation of older persons in various aspects of social, cultural, economic and civic and political life.”

Pensioners are part of the society. They have served the people well. Ensure their health, safety and social relations!

How Option I / III will be implemented for BSNL Pensioners’?

28 Thursday Sep 2017

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Option I and III recommended by the VII Central Pay Commission has slight differences between them, but it is somewhat similar to the One Rank One Pension Scheme partly implemented for the defence pensioners. In simple language, the pension of the present pensioners will be revised and refixed on the basis of the pay of the official in the same post/grade who is retiring now and getting pension on the basis of the present pay scale. This decision is to remove/reduce the discrimination between the present pensioner and the earlier pensioner who have retired from the same post/grade.

In such a case, how Option I/ III can be fully implemented for BSNL pensioners, if pay revision is not implemented for BSNL employees? The cadres in government and BSNL are different and pay scales are different. How comparison can be made between BSNL pension and government pay scale?

The only solution is pension revision of BSNL retirees on the basis of the III PRC with 15% fitment. Give support and solidarity to the struggle of the employees for a good wage settlement, which will benefit the pensioners in implementing Option I / III.

III PRC approved with 15% Fitment by BSNL Management Committee

21 Thursday Sep 2017

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It is understood that the BSNL Management Committee has approved the proposal of 3rd Pay Revision Committee with full 15% fitment for the executives w.e.f 01.01.2017. However this will have to be approved by the full BSNL Board with DOT Director/s.

In the above case, the Management should start wage negotiation immediately with the recognised unions of the non-executives in BSNL. As for the BSNL absorbed DOT Pensioners, the government should take necessary action to implement wage revision with 15% fitment, since the pension is to be paid by the government itself. Pensioners are senior citizens and their case needs immediate attention.

III PRC and 15% Fitment to employees and Pensioners

14 Thursday Sep 2017

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The BSNL executive associations are demanding fixation of pay with 15% fitment as recommended by the III PRC. The non-executive unions have demanded for early wage negotiations, which will also be based on the guidance of the III PRC report. Both have not been accepted so far.

National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association(NCCPA) as also AIBDPA has demanded to the government that the pension revision of BSNL pensioners also be granted 15% fitment, but without waiting for the implementation of the same for employees. Pensioners are senior citizens, who can not wait like the employees. Just like in the case of medical allowance, which was restored to the pensioners first, let the pension revision be made without waiting for the wage settlement. There may be financial difficulty for the BSNL, but no such issues are with the government, as it is committed to give pension from consolidated funds.

NCCPA calls for Parliament March on 25th October 2017 on Pension issues

12 Tuesday Sep 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, CG Employees, Pension

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The Meeting of the NCCPA (National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association )held at Nagpur has decided to organise a massive Parliament March /Dharna of pensioners on 25th October 2017 demanding settlement of the following demands.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS.
1. Implement Option No. 1. Recommended by the 7th CPC .
2. Revise the pension of all BSNL Pensioners on IDA pay scale with 15% fixation benefit.
3. Revise the pension of all pensioners of the Central Autonomous bodies.
4. (a) Notional fixation of pay under Option No. 3. Must be based on the pay scales/Pay levels of the cadre or grade from which an employee retired.
(b) Implement the judgements of the Courts in the case of all pre-2006 pensioners, whose notional pay for the purpose of pension must be on the basis of the pay level/Grade Pay or pay scale of the grade/cadre from which he/she has retired.
5. (a) Extend the benefit of the CCS(MA) Rules to all pensioners who are not covered by the CGHS (b) Do not discriminate the pensioners of the Union Territory; bring all pensioners under the coverage of CGHS.
6. Increase the FMA to Rs. 2000/- as has been granted to the PF pensioners w.e.f 1.1.2016
7. Raise the minimum pension to Rs. 12,000/- (2/3rd of the minimum wage) and make pension net of income tax.
8. Restore the commutation loss of pension after 10 years
9. Provide increased rates of pension on attainment of the age of 70 years
10. Restore the Defined benefit pension scheme as was in vogue prior to 1.1.2004 in respect of all Central Government employees by scrapping the Defined contributory pension scheme.

All affiliate organisations have been asked to mobilise maximum pensioners from their organisation to the March/Dharna.

BSNLEU and AIBDPA – Crusaders of DOT/BSNL Pensioners

07 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLEU, Pension

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BSNLEU and AIBDPA – Crusaders of DOT/BSNL Pensioners
• Though the III PRC has put the affordability clause for the wage revision of employees, the case is different for the BSNL pensioners. It is not BSNL which pays the pension and the affordability clause cannot be applicable to government. 60:40 condition has been removed and the entire pension is to be paid by the government. In this situation, the 15% fitment as recommended by the III PRC for PSUs should be made applicable for the BSNL retirees and pension revision made accordingly. This demand has already been placed by AIBDPA. This has got full justification. It is also a continuation in IDA pension fixation as before. This is a better and more justified demand than the demand for 14.29% fixation recommended by VII CPC. Shifting from IDA pension to CDA pension has got its own ramifications and future complications.

A fully unjustified and baseless campaign is being made by some vested interests against BSNLEU and AIBDPA stating that these two major organizations of the BSNL employees and BSNL/DOT pensioners are not taking up the issue of pension revision of BSNL pensioners effectively.
We thank these friends for the acceptance that these are the two major organizations of the BSNL employees/ pensioners and also for the opportunity given to us for explaining the actions taken by these two unions on the issues of the pensioners.
First of all, let us understand that these organizations have their respective positions only because of the whole hearted support given by the employees and pensioners due to the excellent performance for settling their issues and taking the correct and progressive path.
Let us examine the issues with reference to our past experience for arriving at the correct line and approach.

1. The unions in DOT which merged together and formed BSNL Employees Union after formation of BSNL, had strongly opposed privatization of telecom services and had organised three-four strikes alone, and then jointly with the 3 Federations, against privatization. They never agreed for formation of a PSU for telecom services. Corporatisation was agreed to by the three recognized Federations, which made it easy for the government to corporatize telecom services six months earlier than scheduled. (The first proposal was to corporatize by the financial year w.e.f. 01-04-2001).

2. Though agreement for payment of pension was made by the Federations with DOT, there was no mention about periodic pension revision. This was utilized by the government which created a serious problem after the wage revisions in BSNL. When the deficiencies in the agreement was brought to the notice of the Member (Finance) at that time by the E.III(N) union, he had stated that the Federations made the agreement in a hurry and that even he had his own reservations.

3. In the meeting called by the Communications Minister after formation of BSNL, V.A.N.Namboodiri, General Secretary, E.III (N) Union, raised the issue of the pensioners. He pointed out the delay in the payment of pension and pensionary benefits and demanded that the pensioners should not be compelled to go round and round the office for getting their pensionary benefits. He demanded that on the last working day of the retiring official, he/she should be given a farewell function by the SSA head and all the pensionary benefits like GPF, Gratuity etc. should be handed over by cheque/cash and that the official should be given the Pension Payment Order and a certificate thanking for his services, a shawl, a suit case with documents and Rs. 1,000 as a token of appreciation. The Minister fully agreed and modified only the amount to Rs.1,001 as it is more graceful. All these are being implemented in BSNL. The token amount has been gradually increased after the matter was taken by BSNLEU.

4. The agreement with the 3 Federations on corporatization was that an amount of Rs. 1,000 / Rs. 1,500 will be paid to all officials in addition to the CDA pay scale. BSNL Employees Union demanded that since BSNL is a PSU, the IDA scale, which is higher than CDA scale, should be given, instead of CDA pay plus Rs. 1,500. This was accepted by all the unions and the wage revision on IDA scale was granted after hard bargaining. All the pay scales were upgraded with the lowest from Rs. 2,400 to Rs. 4,000. However, there was problem in fixing the pension as the DOT was not prepared to pay pension on IDA scale. The government stand was to pay pension on CDA scale only. After continuous pressure and agitation, the issue was settled after a Cabinet decision. This gave a good rise in the pension of the BSNL retirees from that of DOT retirees. Had we accepted O.P.Gupta formula, the pension should have been much less. The initiative was taken by BSNLEU and was accepted by all other unions.

5. As BSNLEU was the only recognized union, the second wage negotiation took place with it. Citing loss to the company, what the management offered was minimum increase of the pay scale, increments, maximum scale etc. Two strikes were organized by BSNLEU and its allies, to pressurise the management for granting better pay scale etc. However, a few unions, instead of supporting the struggle, pressurized the management to implement the pay scales etc, what was offered by the management on the plea that even that payscales may not be feasible if the company continues in loss. However, BSNLEU struck to its points and the management was compelled to sign an agreement, which gave 30% fitment and also a better pay scale than most of the other PSUs, w.e.f. 01-01-2007.

6. The issue of pension revision came up again after the second wage revision. BSNLEU and the Joint Forum/Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations had to take up the issue with the Minister and organized two strikes to get the cabinet nod and the pension revision. This was much appreciated by the unions and workers, even those who had criticized the prolonging wage negotiations. The difference between the pension of BSNL and DOT retirees increased. AIBDPA which was formed by that time, also organized its own agitational programmes for achieving the pension revision.

7. Next came the issue of 78.2% IDA Pay fixation ( 9.4% IDA pension fixation in addition to the 68.8% already achieved). BSNLEU and Forum demanded for 78.2% IDA fixation for employees and after continued struggles, it was achieved, but was not granted to BSNL retirees. Sustained agitation and two days strike on 21-22 April 2015 by the employees only clinched the issue. AIBDPA orgnised several agitations, including an historic Sanchar Bhawan March on 20-11-2014, and participated in all the programmes organized by the Forum, with full solidarity and support. After the meeting with the DOT Secretary by all the unions and Associations on 01-05-2015, the issue was clinched. There was some more delay due to the change of Secretary, DOT, but the matter went up to Cabinet and was settled. BSNLEU and AIBDPA were in the fore-front of all these struggles.

8. BSNLEU, Forum and AIBDPA fought against the unwarranted condition of 60:40 imposed by the DOT, which stipulated that if the pension is more than 60% of the payments made by BSNL to the DOT on dividend, licence fee, taxes etc., the rest of pension will have to be paid by BSNL. At the time of formation of BSNL, the situation was that BSNL was paying more than Rs. 12,000 crore to the DOT and the pension payment was about Rs. 1,000 crore only. Even then BSNLEU had raised the issue and in one meeting with the Secretary DOT, the latter agreed to cancel the same and issued a letter accordingly. But in the absence of cancellation/annulment of the original order it was very much in prevalence. By 2010, the pension payment has increased more than the total amount of payments by BSNL, due to the large number of retirement and the increased pension as also the lesser payments by BSNL. The issue became critical by the time of the demand for 78.2% IDA fixation. AIBDPA met Secretary, DOT and Communications Minister several times and the issue was got focused in the Parliament by Left M.Ps.

9. For payment of the 78.2% IDA pension fixation as well as payment of II Pension revision, many agitations were organized by AIBDPA including Sanchar Bhawan March participated by thousands of pensioners. Many dharnas and demonstrations were held. In addition, volunteers of AIBDPA helped the CCA in many places to ensure early payment.

10. The Medical Allowance for BSNL retirees was agreed to by the management after the issue was taken up by BSNLEU, the recognized union. However, this was stopped later by BSNL on the plea that the company is in loss. Due to the continuous pressure of AIBDPA, the management stated that the employees will oppose if it is restored only for pensioners. The Staff Side (BSNLEU and NFTE, the recognized unions) took up the case in National Council and stated that they have no objection in restoring the medical allowance for the pensioners first. Accordingly, it has been restored to the BSNL retirees from 01-04-2017 which is a great relief.

11. It was on the demand of BSNLEU that the funeral expense was increased to Rs. 15,000. AIBDPA has demanded that this funeral expense should be granted to the family of pensioners also when the pensioner passes away. The argument of AIBDPA that how BSNL can deny funeral allowance to the families of retirees, who have done yeoman service for more than 30 years, when even the family of a new recruit is granted, was appreciated by the management.

12. Now let us come to the latest issue, the pension revision of the BSNL pensioners w.e.f. 01-01-2017. Let us understand that BSNL employees have opted for IDA scale, fought for it, got it and the pensioners also got good benefit out of it. However, there is uncertainty in the minds of the pensioners, whether there will be any wage revision in BSNL and if not, what will be the pension revision for BSNL retirees? This certainly is a serious issue.
Let us look in to the matter thoroughly. The III Pay Revision Committee for PSU executives has given its report and the government has accepted the same. There are certain stipulations in it like no pay revision for loss making PSUs and also an affordability clause for wage revision. As per these conditions, it will be difficult for the BSNL employees to get wage revision from 01-01-2007, since the company is in loss for some years.
The Forum of Unions/Associations of which BSNLEU is a part and its General Secretary is the Convener, has demanded that wage revision for BSNL executives and employees should be granted without delay. While the report of III Pay Revision Committee is for executives, the wage revision for non-executives is according to settlement in wage negotiation with the recognized union/unions ie. BSNLEU and NFTE. Both have demanded early wage negotiation.
The pension revision for BSNL retirees was implemented both times earlier ( w.e.f. 01-01-2000 and 01-01-2007) after the wage revision of employees in IDA scales.

13. There is a feeling among some pensioners’ organizations that since the wage revision for BSNL employees may not be there, how we can get pension revision and why can’t we demand the pension revision on the basis of the VII Central Pay Commission? It means that IDA pension till this time has to be changed to CDA pension revision.

14. In that case, what will be the pension for the employees retiring now? If there is no wage revision, their salary will not increase, many of who are already in the stagnation level, especially those in the lower pay scales and their pension will be less. On what basis their pension revision will be fixed? These are questions which have to be sorted out.

15. The other aspect. If there is no wage revision now, it may be difficult for another wage revision later. This will adversely affect the pension revision of all those retiring after wards (DOT recruitees). Leave encashment, gratuity and all pensionary benefits, including pension will be lower. Accepting such a position will be dangerous and ignoring the future of all the DOT recruitees still in service. Such employees may be there up to 2035, may be less in number. Can we ignore their future and pension?

16. About 50,000 BSNL recruitees are there at present. They will start retiring probably by 2030 or earlier. There are regularized casual labours, about 4,000 or so, who may start retiring by 2020 or earlier. If there is no wage revision for them, what will be their condition? Will they be in the same payscale/promoted pay scale without any wage revision till they retire as is the case of the employees of the ITI, HMT etc. This is a proposition that a trade union worth its name cannot accept.

17. The pension of the direct recruitees are fixed on the basis of pension contribution by the management as per EPF rules. This comes less than Rs. 1,000 at present. That is why the trade unions had demanded earlier that at least Rs. 1,000 should be paid as EPF/NPS/EPS pension.(now the demand is for increased amount). The demand of BSNLEU and other unions/Association for 30% pensionary benefits is not yet accepted. From the present 18%, they have agreed to increase 4% which is completely insufficient. The newly recruited employees cannot be cheated of their justified pension. Either they should be paid defined statutory pension just like BSNL retirees or 30% pensionary benefits should be granted. Even in this case, unless there is a wage revision, their wages and pension will be much less.

18. In such a case, the logical demand that should be placed is the immediate wage revision for the BSNL employees and pension revision accordingly, which will benefit the present pensioners also, as was the case with the last two wage revisions. This may be difficult in the present circumstances, but not impossible. BSNL Unions have the tradition of making impossible in to possible and a history of fighting against the wrong policies of the government. For instance, despite government decision, it could not implement VRS/Retrenchment of one lakh workers, unbundling of cables, selling of shares, disinvestment to the extent of 10%-25% etc. The issues of II wage revision in 2007, 78.2% pay fixation as well as IDA pension fixation, Bonus even when BSNL is in loss, group insurance, supply of watch etc. etc. have been settled despite initial denial.

19. There is full justification for wage revision of BSNL employees. If the profit and loss of the company is taken for its 16 years of existence, it is almost equal. During the last two years, there is operational profit. The net loss has come down. The loss is only due to the huge depreciation. Services have improved despite lack of equipment, workers etc. The wage bill has not increased for the last 5 years, due to the retirement of large number of employees. The productivity is one of the highest in the PSUs. The workers are making maximum effort for improving the services and finances. The CMD BSNL had stated that the company will be in profit during the year 2017-18, (but may not happen due to demonetization and entry of Reliance Jio,), but any way will be profitable by next year. It is not because of the workers, but only due to the anti-PSU policy of the government that the company has become loss-making. Government is in a move to assist the private telecom companies by reducing their dues to the government in ADC, USOF etc.; why not such relief should be provided to BSNL and make it profitable. BSNL management has already approached the government to waive the affordability clause. The assurance of financial assistance at the time of formation of BSNL should be honoured. The excess land and building assets of the company can be leased/rented and income ensured. There are a lot of ways to assist the BSNL to make it better and profitable. These issues are already raised by BSNLEU and other unions/associations.

20. When the workers are in a bitter fight to get their wages improved, it is the duty of the pensioners to support and give all solidarity to them, which will benefit the pensioners also. It is only through the glorious struggles and strikes of the employees that many of the pensioners’ demands have been achieved. Even now, many of the pensioners demands are being taken by the unions/associations of the employees. The pensioners’ organizations can not accept defeat, even before serious struggle has taken place.

21. Though the III PRC has put the affordability clause for the wage revision of employees, the case is different for the BSNL pensioners. It is not BSNL which pays the pension and the affordability clause cannot be applicable to government. 60:40 condition has been removed and the entire pension is to be paid by the government. In this situation, the 15% fitment as recommended by the III PRC for PSUs should be made applicable for the BSNL retirees and pension revision made accordingly. This demand has already been placed by AIBDPA. This has got full justification. It is also a continuation in IDA pension fixation as before. This is a better and more justified demand than the demand for 14.29% fixation recommended by VII CPC. Shifting from IDA pension to CDA pension has got its own ramifications and future complications.

22. For pension revision, whatever the method be, it will require serious struggles not only of the pensioners, but also of the workers. Pensioners’ organizations cannot think only of their own demands, but also has to see the future of the new pensioners. That is why the demand for the wage revision of the employees also becomes a priority.

23. BSNL retirees are eligible for getting the benefits of the Pay Commission recommendations as per Pension Rules, other than pension, which is fixed according to the last pay drawn. The government has accepted the III option recommended by the V CPC, although they refused to implement Option I, recommended by the VII CPC. Implementing Option III, the comparison with the present pay of the employees in the same grade may come in to the picture. If the employee does not get wage revision, what will be the exact benefit that the new pensioner will get? It will be a permanent loss. The existing pensioners will also not get benefit under Option III, since the employees on retirement will not be getting higher wages, which is to be considered for Option III.

24. Pension and pensionary benefits have been won after continued struggles. The case of family pension is also there. The discrimination in pension between Class III and IV etc. could be removed only after sustained struggles. The pensioners were workers and the workers are future pensioners. There is a clear bond between them. Any move to create difference between them will be suicidal.

25. Finally, it can be seen that in all the struggles and actions on the demand of the pensioners, BSNLEU and AIBDPA have been in the fore-front. Individuals may come and go, but the organizations continue for the cause of the workers and pensioners. Any weakening of these ties will be utilized by the government to deny the rights of both. The entire strength of the workers and pensioners will be required to achieve the demand of the pensioners and retirees.
………………..

Unwarranted delay is settlement of Pre-2016 pension cases

05 Tuesday Sep 2017

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AIBDPA has been putting much pressure on the DOT and BSNL Management for the early settlement of the pre-2016 fixation cases as per the accepted recommendations of the VII CPC for the DOT pensioners. The committee which looked in to the matter has found out that out of 91,317 cases, only 1,059 has been settled so far. It is a cruelty to the DOT pensioners, who are mostly above the age of 75 or so.

The DOT has now issued strict instructions for settlement of the cases early. The earlier target date  was 31-08-2017, which is already over. CMD BSNL has also issued  strict instructions for the early settlement.

Circle / District Secretaries of AIBDPA are requested to contact the concerned pensioners as also the CCAs and ensure early settlement of the cases.

 

Whether Pension based on Govt. Salary or BSNL Salary for BSNL Pensioners ?

04 Monday Sep 2017

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It has been brought to our notice that one of our senior pensioner comrade has criticised the position taken up by BSNLEU and certain leaders on what basis the pension of BSNL retirees is to be calculated and what should be our demand? His right to criticise is fully accepted.

This is not the first time that such  a criticism has been raised. It was also there  when the wage negotiation for BSNL employees with effect from 2000 started. Com.O.P.Gupta, Secretary General, NFTE, had said that the salary of the BSNL employees should the same as that of CG employees plus Rs. 1500 or so for all employees equally and the pension for BSNL retirees should be on the basis of the salary of the government employee (pay scale implemented as per the V CPC). He also stated that if IDA payscales are accepted, there will be difficulty in getting government pension, which is on CDA scale. Com. VAN Namboodiri and all other leaders, including Com. Jagan, senior leader of NFTE, pressed that since BSNL is a PSU, IDA scales should be given to employees and pension also should be on the basis of the IDA pay scales to be finalised in the wage negotiation. According to this decision wage agreement was finalised. Instead of Rs. 2,400 at the lowest level, BSNL employees got Rs.4,000 and all cadres above much higher than the V CPC payscale.

Though there was some initial difficulty in getting pension on the IDA pay scale as stated by OPG, after much effort and agitational programme, the government agreed and paid the pension on IDA pay scale. This was much higher than the pension received tothe government employees. Nobody at that time said that this was wrong. Every body got the increased pension and all were happy.

When the VI CPC recommendation was accepted and the payscale was fixed accordingly to the CG Employees, no union or individual demanded that CGE (CDA) payscale or pension should be implemented for BSNL employees/pensioners. After three years of gruelling fight by BSNLEU, then recognised union, a very good wage revision with 30% was implemented, with an IDA pay scale much more than the CDA scale. Executives already got the same as per II PRC. Again there was some difficulty in getting pension on the IDA scale, but after lot of struggles and strikes under the leadership of Forum/Joint Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations, the much beneficial IDA pension was given, which was thousands of rupees more than the equivalent government pensioner. Nobody questioned the settlement as all were part of it and it benefitted the BSNL employee and pensioner.

It was the same case with the 78.2% IDA pension fixation. The government was not prepared stating that BSNL is on loss and only after two days strike on 21-22 April 2015 under the leadership of the Joint Forum/ Forum of Unions and Associations that the government came down and started discussions, which was held on 1st May 2015 between the Secretary DOT and the 18 unions which were part of the Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations. Communication Minister Ravi Shankar was also met. All these paved the way for the settlement of the issue. And the BSNL pensioners  got that benefit also.

Now the question arises. The recommendations of the VII CPC has been implemented for the CG employees w.e.f. 01-01-2016 after 10 years of the last wage revision which was in 2006. Unions/Associations in BSNL have demanded wage revision from 01-01-2017, after 10 years of the last wage revision. The recommendations of the III Pay Revision Committee has been accepted by the government for the executives in BSNL. The BSNL Unions and Associations etc. have demanded for early wage negotiation for the wage revision for non-executives. According to the  stipulation of the “affordability clause” of the III PRC, it will be difficult for the BSNL employees to get wage revision and hence they have demanded that this clause should not be applicable for BSNL due to various reasons, including that BSNL is coming up with the full support and initiative of the workers, that it will be profitable by 2018 as per statement of the CMD BSNL, that BSNL is already having operational profit for the last two years etc. etc. BSNL management has also supported  the demand of the employees for wage revision and conveyed the same to the government. One day strike was organised by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations on this issue and further struggles are being chalked out.

If some comrade feels that all these unanimous decisions were wrong and that the salary and pension should be calculated on the basis of the CDA pay scales and pension as per the decisions of the VI CPC and VII CPC, not only the workers but the pensioners are  going to lose heavily. The BSNL workers and pensioners have fully accepted and appreciated the IDA pay scales and the eligible pension accordingly and benefitted.

Or if some comrade feels that the Unions and Association of BSNL are not capable of getting a wage revision, that is another matter. There were some comrades during the II wage negotiation in 2007 also, who wanted the VI CPC benefit to be implemented, stating that the company has started posting loss. Due to the wage settlement, the pensioners also got more than the CDA fixation, especially due to the 30% fixation which was got after serious fight.

The question is whether the BSNL employees and pensioners surrender to the dictates of the government and the III PRC or fight for getting their rights. Bonus which was denied to the employees were got after a big fight, despite BSNL was in loss.

Let us not ridicule and humiliate the BSNL employees and executives for asking wage revision despite the company being in loss. The government will be forced today or tomorrow to accept the same. BSNL employees and Associations have the potential for that fight. Let the pensioners also support them for such a struggle. And the BSNL pensioners will get further benefit out of the same. The unity of the employees and pensioners is most important. Lt us not forget that it was also due to the strong pressure of the employees that Medical Allowance was restored to the BSNL pensioners, even though it was not restored to BSNL employees.

“Unity for Struggle, Struggle for Unity, and Unity and Struggle for Progress” is our slogan.

NCCPA Circular – Massive Dharna at New Delhi on 25-10-2017

29 Tuesday Aug 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, CG Employees

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National Coordination Committee of Pensioners Associations
NATIONAL EXECUTIVE DECISIONS – MASSIVE DHARNA IN DELHI
Posted: 27 Aug 2017 10:35 AM PDT

NATIONAL CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE
OF PENSIONERS ASSOCIATIONS..

Website: nccpahq.blogspot.in.
E mail: nccpahq@gmail.com.

13.c Feroze Shah Road,
New Delhi. 110 001
PRESIDENT: COM.SHIV GOPAL MISHRA.(97176 47594)
SECy. GENERAL: COM.K.K.N.KUTTY. (98110 483030)

Dated 26th August, 2017
Dear Comrades,
National Executive Committee
meeting and decisions.

The National Executive Meeting of NCCPA was held at Nagpur on 19.08.2017 under the Chairmanship of Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra.. Excellent arrangements were made by the Reception Committee headed by Comrades Dhaktod and Petekar.
Comrade Shiv Gopal Mishra elaborately dealt with the attitude of the Government and the official side on 7th CPC related issues of both employees and pensioners. He also narrated that Option Number 1 has been taken up as an anomaly in the NAC for discussion. Several other issues including the NJCA meeting scheduled in September and the impending indefinite strike by the Central TUS and Federations of Central, State Government and PSUs were covered by him during his speech.
The subject session that commenced thereafter was chaired by Com. S.S.Roy, working president, NCCPA. The discussion on the items of agenda was initiated by the Deputy Secretary General Comrade Pavitra Ranjan Chakraborti ably supplemented by the other Deputy Secretary General Comrade K.Ragavendran. The Secretary General Comrade KKN Kutty could not attend the meeting due to his sudden illness. More than 90% of the Office Bearers and National Executive Members attended the meeting despite the situation of flood and torrential rains in different parts of the country. A lively discussion on the agenda items followed. The following decisions were taken at the meeting Com. K. Raghavendran moved the resolution which contained the crux of discussions at the meeting and on the future course of NCCPA functioning.
Decisions and Resolution:
1. Option 3 being the belated acceptance of the demand of parity by pensioners is welcome. However, fixing the notional pay of Pre-2016 Pensioners in the replacement scales instead of actual pay scale provided for to the serving employees by successive pay commissions is an irritant and requires to be removed.
2. Option 1 as recommended by the 7thCPC being feasible to be implemented ought to have been retained as it would provide better pension for those who stagnated in the part for no fault of theirs. Rejection of option.1 as infeasible is not only unprecedented, untenable but unethical too especially viewed from the angle that the top bureaucracy had a personal axe to grind in its rejection. The meeting endorsed the correct stand taken by the Staff Side JCM National Council to treat the same as another option for pensioners.
3. The continued adamancy of the Government in refusing to grant the benefit of fixing pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners from 1.1.2006 based on the pay scales implemented to the post or cadre in which the Pensioner had retired or dead is unjustified. The rejection by Department of Expenditure even after several courts decision in favour of higher pay scales instead of replacement scales and the acceptance and implementation of the judgment in the case of the litigants shows the double standard of the Government. This benefit should be granted to all Pre-2006 Pensioners.
4. While welcoming the orders for admission of P&T Pensioners in CGHS Scheme without any conditions by withdrawing the retrograde orders of the Health Ministry, it is found that the decision that the beneficiaries must make the one time lump sum payment @ post 7thCPC rate is unjustified. The late admission in to CGHS belatedly after two decades delay should not result in penalizing the past Pensioners. The rate of subscription at the time of retirement should alone be the charges.
5. The discrimination against some other departmental pensioners who are continue to be denied entry into CGHS must be ended.
6. While ending discrimination to P&T Pensioners, the Directorate General of CGHS has issued another discriminating order to preclude the CG Employees and CG Pensioners in Union Territories from joining CGHS. This order also aims to send out those employees and pensioners wrongly admitted in to CGHS. This stand of the Government is totally unjust and should be withdrawn.
7. Many important positive recommendations of the 7thCPC on health related issues like (1) Merger of existing Postal Dispensaries with CGHS; (2) Issue of Medi-insurance Cards to employees and pensioners to facilitate cashless medical treatment; (3) Merger of all existing different medical systems into one single large umbrella medical system for CG Employees and CG Pensioners; (4) Extending the benefit under CS MA Rules 1944 to Pensioners also to end the disparity between the employees and pensioners needs to be expedited for positive implementation.
8. While the doubling of the existing rate of Fixed Medical Allowance from 500/- to 1000/- is welcome, the fixing of FMA @ 1000/- after 7th CPC while the employees of PF Department are being paid @ 2000/- per month even during 6th CPC period is very less in comparison to the mounting medical costs. The FMA must be enhanced to 2000/- per month.
9. Many orders are not being implemented in a time-bound manner. Due to this the aging pensioners cannot get the benefits in time. The GO on extending full pension to Pre-2006 Pensioners who had retired without putting 33 years of qualifying service; the GO on fixation of pension on the basis of ‘pay in the pay band’ instead of ‘minimum of pay band’ w.e.f. 1.1.2006 for all Pre-2006 Pensioners; the issue of revised PPOs to all Pre-2006 Pensioners etc were either inordinately delayed or still being delayed. The main reason for such non-implementation or slow implementation is due to staff shortage in accounting offices. Under such circumstances the recent 12th May, 2017 orders also is likely to be delayed in many departments. Therefore drawing of the services of qualified retired officials to function as ‘implementation cells’ to speed up the work under the supervision of serving Accounts Officers in all accounting offices may be considered to facilitate completion of work of Refixation of pension to all Pre-2016 Pensioners before 30.09.2017.
10. The Pay Commission and also the Government have not come forward to consider the issues of rationalizing the additional pension and reducing the period of commutation of pension. The additional pension system should be improved and the period of commutation should be reduced to 10 years.
11. The grant of additional pension should be given on attaining the age of 80, 85,90,95,100 instead of waiting for the completion of the above ages as per the verdict of Bengaluru CAT.
12. The recovery of income-tax from Pensioners is most unjustified. The Government should immediately consider payment of pension net taxes.
13. The National Executive has resolved to authorize the National Secretariat to chalk out appropriate Programme of Action on the above demands.
The under-mentioned organisational decisions are also taken unanimously:
1. NCCPA organization should be strengthened by approaching new organizations for affiliation; strengthening the existing affiliates with more membership; forming State COC of NCCPA in all States.
2. The State units of affiliates will get in touch with other Pensioners Associations operating in the State and get them associated with NCCPA.
3. This National Executive Committee meeting of NCCPA calls upon all its affiliates to take all possible steps to join the agitational programmes chalked out by all organisations of serving employees and the Central trade Unions.
4. Extending total solidarity to NFPE sponsored strike on 23.08.2017 for getting the GDS Committee recommendations immediately implemented.
5. NCCPA units and affiliates will take all possible steps to take part in the mass Dharna programme stated for 9,10,11 Nov. 2017 at Delhi under the auspices of the joint platform of Central Trade Unions.
6. NCCPA will organize an independent programme to project the CG pensioner related issues and most prominently against NPS

Massive Dharna at the National Capital: DELHI.
In deference to the decision of the National Executive, consultations were held amongst the Secretariat members about the feasibly of organizing an independent programme by NCCPA. The consensus is that the NCCPA must organize a massive Dharna at Janter-Manter, New Delhi on 25.10.2017 from 11.00 AM to 3.00 PM eliciting participation of members of all affiliates and from all states. To make the programme successful, a serious campaign will be undertaken by the National Leadership consisting of President, Working President, Vice President Secretary General, two Deputy Secretary Generals. Detailed circular will be issued shortly. Affiliates and unites are requested to convey the issues/ demands to be included in the Charter immediately on receipt of this letter.
The Office bearers and the National Executive Members especially the Chief Executives of affiliated organizations and the State CGPA organizations are requested to mobilize and ensure the participation of the largest number of pensioners in the Programme to highlight our issues before the Government. The Charter of Demands will be circulated shortly after causing consultation with the members of the National Sectt.
With Greetings,
Comradely Yours,
Sd/-

KKN Kutty
Secretary General

Kerala CEC Meeting of AIBDPA at Thrissur.

23 Wednesday Aug 2017

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Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary inaugurated the Circle Executive Committee meeting of Kerala at P&T Society Hall, Thrissur on 22-08-2017. He explained the current developments with regard to the pay/pension revision under 3rd PRC and also reported the decisions of the National Executive of NCCPA held at Nagpur on 19-08-2017. Com.R.A.Nair, Circle President presided over the meeting. Com.N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary welcomed all the participants and presented the report on the activities since the last CEC. All the 11 District Secretaries participated in the discussion. Coms. V.Kesavan, Karayi Sreedharan, P.V.Unnikrishnan (Patrons) N.Ramesan and K.Sarojini (Organising Secretaries) addressed. Circle Secretary and General Secretary replied to the points raised in the discussion. Com.K.R.R.Varma, Asst Circle Secretary proposed vote of thanks.

On the same evening, the souvenir printed to commemorate the 4th Circle Conference held at Thrissur on 1,2 November, 2016, was released by famous literate Asokan Charuvil. The function was presided over by Dr.Kavumbai Balakrishnan, Chairman, Souvenir Committee. Coms.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary, P.K.Subramonian (CGPA), V.A.Mohanan (AIPRPA) and P.R.Sankaranarayanan (BSNLEU) spoke. Com.C.Sadanadan, Conveneor, Souvenir Committee welcomed the gathering and Com.S.K.Gopalan, Working Chairman, Reception Committee proposed vote of thanks.