Category Archives: BSNLEU

Congratulations Comrades!

06 Friday Jan 2017

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All India Conference of BSNLEU held at Chennai from 31st December 2016 to 3rd January 2017 has unanimously elected the following Office-bearers:

President: Com. Balbir Singh (Punjab) Vice-presidents: 1) Com.P.Asokababu(Andhra Pradesh) 2) Com. Animesh Mitra (West Bengal) 3) Com.Jagdish Singh (Madhya Pradesh) 4) Com. R. S. Chauhan (NTR) 5) Com. Nagesh Kumar Nalavade (Maharashtra) 6) Com.K.R.Yadav(UP-East) General Secretary : Com. P. Abhimanyu (Tamil Nadu) Dy. General Secretary : Com. Swapan Chakraborty (NE I) Assistant General Secretaries: 1) Com. Saibal Sengupta (Kolkata) 2) Com.S.Chellappa (Tamil Nadu) 3) Com.John Verghese ( Maharashtra) 4) Com.S.Pratap Kumar (Kerala) 5) Com. M. K. Dave (Gujarat) Treasurer: Com. Gakul Borah (Assam) Assistant Treasurer: Com. P.K.Nayak (Odisha) Organising Secretaries: 1) Com. Om Prakash Singh(Telecom Factory – Kolkata) 2) Com. Sunithi Choudhary(Bihar) 3) Com. Vijay Singh (Rajasthan) 4) Com. Sukhvir Singh (UP-West) 5) Com.G.Q.Dandroo( J&K) 6) Com. M.Vijayakumar(Kerala) 7) Com.H.V.Sudharshan (Karnataka) 8) Com. Mohan Reddy (AP) 9) Ramesh Sharma (Haryana).

Best Wishes and Hearty Congratulations to all the newly elected office-bearers of the mighty union, BSNLEU! The workers expect much from you, Comrades.

I shall always be with you Comrades! – V.A.N.Namboodiri in AIC BSNLEU

04 Wednesday Jan 2017

Posted by in BSNLEU

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(A gist of the speeches delivered by me in the AIC of BSNLEU held at Chennai from 31st December 2016 to 3rd January 2017)

Respected President Com. Balbir Singh, General Secretary Com.P.Abhimanyu, Deputy General Secretary Com. Swapan Chakroborty, Treasurer Com. Saibal Sen Gupta, Vice-Presidents Coms. P.Asoka Babu, Animesh Mitra, K.R.Yadav, B.Narayan, Jagdish Singh, Om Prakash Singh on the dias, CHQ office-bearers, Circle secretaries, Delegates from all parts of the  Country, Dear Comrades,

First of all, My Best Wishes for the New Year 2017 to all of you! Let the new year be an year of Better Life to all! We are now in the centenary year of the Great October Revolution, which changed the entire world for the better. The memory of the great Revolutionary Fidel Castro who  left us this year, will always inspire us for the forward march!

My Thanks and Greetings to the Reception Committee headed by Comrades T.K.Rengarajan, S.Chellappa, Babu Radhakrishnan, other leaders and workers who have made all arrangements for the conduct of the conference in an excellent way.

We are meeting after two great strikes, one on 2nd September 2016 called by the Central Trade Unions against the anti-worker, anti-people neo-liberal policies of the government and the second on 15th December 2016 by BSNL Employees unitedly against the formation of the Tower Company by fragmenting BSNL. My hearty congratulations to you, BSNLEU leaders and workers for fully participating in both these strikes.

16 years of BSNL Employees Union, since its inception on 22nd March 2001, on the Death Anniversary of the great leader of the Indian Working class Com. A.K.Gopalan, has been a saga of sacrifices and determined struggles to save BSNL and its workers. 16 years – 8 AICs, It shows the democratic functioning of the Union.

BSNLEU has got a great tradition and background. In the background is long period of 50 years of struggle against revisionism, against compromises with the Government – It is a continuation of the great tradition of the more than 100 years of the P and T Trade union movement, led by the Pioneers Henry Barton, Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, V.G.Dalvi, Dada Ghosh, K.G.Bose and others.

Number of  BSNL Employees have been  reduced from 3.5 lakhs to 2.1 lakh during the last 16 years. Urgent recruitment is required through Regularisation of the casual, contract workers, Compassionate Ground Appointments and regular recruitment from out side. Fresh blood is required. There should be no discrimination against them in pension etc.

BSNL Revival is our main target. ‘Service Before Self’, ‘Service With A Smile’ and ‘Customer Delight’. Best Service to the Customer  is our motto for which we are making all out efforts. This should continue.

During the period, we have made major achievements – 78.2% IDA Pension Fixation, Removal of unjustified condition of 60:40 for paying pension by Government, Bonus after 7 years, Change of designations etc.

The immediate task before us is to ensure a better wage revision from 01-01-2017. Removal of Stagnation, Pension Revision, Pension for BSNL Recruited employees – the list is long.

AIBDPA, BSNLCCWF – our sister organisations have to be strengthened. BSNLEU took initiative to build these organisations. The brutal exploitation of casual contract workers should end. Build wide unity of all unions/associations so that BSNL can be saved from the attacks to destroy the same.

P and T Unions always had close international connections. BSNLEU continues the tradition. It is part of WFTU, TUI etc. We shall continue this close relations and learn much from them.

The united fight against anti-people anti-worker policy of the government will continue. There are dark forces working behind to divide the people, create communal tension and so on. The intolerance and autocratic policies have to be defeated.

BSNLEU has got big tasks before it and has to work hard to realise them.

I am staying in Delhi for the last 25 years, a quarter century, attending trade union activities. I came to Delhi after elected as the President of E.III Union in 1991, continued as General Secretary, E.III Union, Founder General Secretary of E.III(N) Union, Founder General Secretary of BSNLEU, President BSNLEU and Patron BSNLEU. I have been the Asst. General Secretary of E.III Union for a long period, till I resigned the post along with Com. Moni Bose and contested in AIC Bhopal. This has been a long period, full of struggles and advancements.

During my 38 years of service, I got the chance to participate in the 5 Days Historic Strike of 1960, One Day Token Strike of 1968, 1974 Bonus Strike and many such all India and local struggles. I had to face severe victimisations like many other comrades – Suspension, arrests, transfer, charge sheets, punishments and so on. I was almost 7 years out of service for participating/leading these strikes and also transferred to Lakshadweep Islands. The history of P and T TU movement is full of such struggles and sacrifices.

In all these activities, I got your full support, love and affection. You Comrades are my strength, you are my inspiration and energy. This camaraderie had given strength to face all eventualities and achieve results.

The sister organisations we built, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF have become stronger. But more support is required from BSNLEU comrades.

Now I wish to go back to Kerala, to my home. My wife’s health  requires a change of of place from Delhi. I seek your permission to shift to Kerala. I am sure you will consent.

Shifting to Kerala does not mean going away from our union activities. I will always be with you and your activities. Thanks to all of you.

“Unity for Struggle, Struggle for Unity, Unity and Struggle for Progress!” (2nd Jan.)

…………..

Dear Comrades,

I am overwhelmed by your love and affection showered on me in your speeches appreciating my humble work. It is only with your support and active participation that I could do all these. I am only one of you, a humble worker of the union.

Many of you, in your speeches have requested that I should continue at Delhi as the Patron of the Union. I have already stated yesterday that myself and wife have to return to Calicut. As regards ‘Patron’ of the Union, it was a honour you have bestowed on me while vacating the post of President to  comrade Balbir Singh, a comrade of the next generation. We do not have any such post in the Constitution of the Union. I accept your kind gesture, but it will not be proper to continue in  the post any further. Declining the post does not mean that I am ignoring your wishes.

I have always followed the correct line taken by our founder leaders. Vacating the positions for the younger generations is the correct line. It may not be out of place to mention here that I worked four terms as Branch Secretary , Four terms as District Secretary, Four terms as Circle Secretary. I worked as Asst.General secretary for two terms in E.III Union. You know that I vacated the post of general Secretary of BSNLEU after four terms, the President after 9two terms, honorary position as Patron for one year. All our great leaders of the past have vacated their positions for the next generation in due time. I have followed their great tradition.

As such let me allow to decline the honorary post of Patron for a second time. Let me also allow to leave Delhi for Kerala, my own state.

With Best Wishes and Revolutionary Greetings!

BSNLEU Zindabad! Workers Unity Zindabad! Inquilab Zindabad!

(Reply to the presentation of momento and honouring at the end of the AIC on 03-01-2017)

 

 

 

Constitution of National Council – BSNLEU protests against the inordinate delay

09 Friday Dec 2016

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BSNL Employees Union has written to  BSNL Management protesting against the delay in constituting the National Council.

The inordinate delay in constituting the Council has no justification. The results were out in May 2016. Almost full seven months are over.This never has happened in the past. Is the management trying to evade the Council and keep the unions from discussing the issues with the recognised union/s?

Another issue is that instructions are issued by BSNL that the recognised union can nominate members to the Council from its own members only. This is a ridiculous decision. In the past, the recognised union had nominated members of other unions and the same were accepted after the concerned member declared that he is willing to accept the nomination. It can be done now also. It is to be remembered that the recognised union represents the entire workers. The Management can submit to the Ernakulam High Court, where a case is pending, that the Management is willing to accept such nominations, which was always the practice since the formation of the National council in BSNL.

Will the BSNL Management act with out further delay? It seems that only one meeting of the National Council was conducted in the entire year 2016, instead of one meeting every three months. This is completely inacceptable.

BSNL Management should take immediate action to hold the National Council meeting.

 

 

Why We Oppose Subsidiary Tower Company! Towards One Day Strike on 15th December 2016!

25 Friday Nov 2016

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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Massive protest dharnas were organised throughout the country on 25th November 2016 as per the call of  all unions/associations of non-executives and executives in BSNL against the move of the government to form a Subsidiary Tower Company bifurcating  BSNL. In BSNL Corporate Office also, the dharna was participated by large numbers of comrades who have come from UP(W) and Haryana Circles as also from the corporate office and NTR. The workers were agitated and angry that the government and the BSNL Management is moving against the interest of BSNL and its workforce.

Why workers are opposing the Subsidiary Tower Company?

  1. There is no need for a separate tower company. BSNL has got more than 65,000 towers at present and they are working well and helping the improvement of  services.
  2. Although government says that it will be a fully subsidiary company of BSNL, this is only temporary. Within no time, it will be separated and will be put under strategic sale as in the case of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited(VSNL). It will cease to be a BSNL Tower Company and will be a Adani Tower Company/Reliance Tower Company/Tata Tower Company or some other private Tower Company according to who takes  it.
  3. Once it is a separate company, BSNL will have to pay charges of using the same to the Private company. This will be just like BSNL paying for undersea cable charges to private companies although BSNL  paid funds for installing the same.
  4. The Reliance Jio which has not much  towers so far badly need the same. A separate tower company will be the answer.
  5. Such a situation will be the decline of BSNL, which is on fast revival path.
  6. ‘Divide and Destroy’ is the strategy being adopted by the government.

But the government, private corporates and  BSNL management have forgotten certain aspects:

  1. This is not the first time that the government and management have tried to ‘Divide and Destroy’ BSNL. First they decided to ‘unbundle’ the priceless copper cables of BSNL, which lies underground connecting the entire country. This conspiracy was defeated by the united strike decision of the BSNL employees and the Secretary DOT was compelled to give written assurance to the Joint Action Committee that the cables will not be unbundled.
  2. Government decided to retrench, in the name of VRS, first 50,000 employees, then 1,00,000 employees and lastly 70,000 employees. United agitation by  BSNL workers ensured that these anti-worker actions are defeated.
  3. Government decided to disinvest BSNL thrice and offered 3% of shares to the employees. Through stiff resistance and strike, the workers ensured that government could not implement its decision.
  4. The government withdrew all assistance and financial support to BSNL, which were assured at the time of formation of BSNL, with the intention of making BSNL unviable to enable it to privatise the PSU. Due to consistent efforts by the unions/associations and workers, BSNL is brought in to operational profit, in which the management also had a great contribution. As such the ill-intention of the government was defeated.
  5. The government move to unbundle cables, Retrenchment/VRS, Disinvestment etc. could be defeated only because of the strong unity and firm determination of  BSNL workers, both executives, non-executives, contract workers and even the retired employees. It is to be remembered that the one lakh strong contract workers went on strike every time there was a strike by the employees, though many of them were retrenched from work and victimised. Under the leadership of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation, they stood with the employees, since they understood that their future depended upon the existence of BSNL. In the same way, the pensioners under the leadership of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association stood with the workers by participating in all programmes (other than strike). Their future is also connected with the existence of BSNL.
  6. While the policy of the government is ‘Divide and Destroy’, the counter policy of the workers has been ‘United Struggle’, ‘Better Service’ and ‘Revival of BSNL.’ The workers have won so far, although through much sacrifice and suffering.
  7. The massive dharnas have once again shown that BSNL workers are united and firm against the formation of ‘Subsidiary Tower Company’ and will fight to the last to defeat the attack on the ‘survival of BSNL.’
  8. If the government and management do not go back from this attack on BSNL, the 2 lakh BSNL workers and  one lakh casual contract workers, with the support of almost 2 lakh DOT-BSNL pensioners  will fight to the last and defeat the sinister game of the government.
  9. All the workers should be individually contacted, explained and  made ready for the One Day Strike on 15th December 2016 for which notice has already been served by the unions/associations. It is not a strike ritual. It is a real strike in which each and every employee is convinced and ready to fight till the last.

“UNITY FOR STRUGGLE – STRUGGLE FOR UNITY – UNITY AND STRUGGLE FOR PROGRESS”

24 NOVEMBER – NFPTE DAY

24 Thursday Nov 2016

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NFPTE, the mighty united organisation of P and T employees was formed on 24th November 1954, 62 years back, at New Delhi by merging all the existing unions.
During its existence of 31 years, till it was bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE in 1985, it continued as the crusader fighting for the cause of the workers. NFPE and BSNLEU are the true inheritors  of the movement today.
BSNLEU continues to uphold the great revolutionary tradition of NFPTE. It continues to follow the correct path shown by Babu Tarapada, Henry Barton, Dada Ghosh, K.G.Bose and others.
On this NFPTE Day, let us pay homage to the thousands and thousands of martyrs and workers, whose sacrifices have made a difference for the better.
NFPTE Day Zindabad!
Postal BSNL Fraternity Zindabad!

All Unions (BSNL) Meeting on 16th November 2016

15 Tuesday Nov 2016

Posted by in BSNLEU, Forum, General

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A meeting of all unions/associations in BSNL will be held at 15.00 hours on 16th November 2016 at BSNL MS Union Office to discuss about the strategy and struggle to be organised to defeat the decision of the government to form a Tower Company bifurcating from BSNL. The initiative has been taken by BSNLEU and NFTE, the two recognised unions. The formation of the new Tower Company will have serious adverse effect on BSNL and its employees. It is is only a step to privatise the lakhs of towers constructed and being maintained by BSNL.

United struggles by the the entire workers is the need of the hour to save BSNL and its employees. We hope that all executive and Non-Executive unions/associations will participate in the meeting and help in taking suitable decisions.

UNITY FOR STRUGGLE, STRUGGLE FOR UNITY, AND UNITY AND STRUGGLE FOR PROGRESS!

My Quarter Century at Delhi

31 Monday Oct 2016

Posted by in BSNLEU, General

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I am completing 25 years of Union service at Delhi, a long period indeed! It was in the first week of November 1991 that myself and Com.Moni Bose reached Delhi to take over charge of CHQ AITEEU Class III, after the historic victory in the Bhopal All India Conference held in the last week of October. Veteran leader late Com. K.Adinarayana, former Secretary General of NFPE and many other leaders were there to receive us. AITEE Union changed in to AITEE Union(N), and then after formation of BSNL and merger of about 8 unions, BSNL Employees Union was born on 21st March 2001.

BSNL Employees Union has grown as the biggest Union in BSNL and the major recognised union. It has settled many major issues of the Telecom Workers. It has defended BSNL from the attacks of the government and stopped VRC/CRS, Disinvestment and unbundling of the priceless copper cables from privatising with the joint efforts of all the unions/associations. Two major wage revisions have taken place which largely benefitted the workers. Better promotional prospects have been ensured. One more wage revision is to take place.  Other important demands are also there. BSNL Employees Union and its leaders and workers are capable of dealing and settling them.

During these 25 years,I had the opportunity of meeting thousands of workers all over the country, discussing with them, receiving their hospitality, love and affection. I thank all these comrades!

I thank the comrades of Delhi, the leaders and workers of CHQ and others who made my life and work enjoyable and fruitful and who were with me in thick and thin.

Let us continue marching ahead in the path shown to us  by our great leaders:

“Unity for Struggle, Struggle for Unity and Unity and Struggle for Progress!”

“Workers of the World, Unite!”

Kerala BSNLCCWF agitation – All transfers cancelled. Congratulations!

22 Saturday Oct 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Good News ! All those transferred in connection with Contract Labour agitation Kerala, brought back to Circe Office.

All the comrades who were transferred from CGM Office to other offices in connection with BSNLCCWF agitation have been reposted to Circle Office. It is a great victory for BSNLEU & BSNLCCWF. All other transfers, suspensions, etc. had been cancelled earlier. Due to the agitation the daily wages of contract workers were raised by Rs.80 – 100, but union leaders were victimized.

Hearty Congratulations to BSNLEU & BSNLCCWF comrades of Kerala for the great victory !

Young Comrades, a precious asset to any trade union

16 Sunday Oct 2016

Posted by in BSNLEU, CG Employees

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I was going through a report on the Conference of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers which was held recently at Chennai on 16-18 August 2016. The report of the Credential Committee shows that a total of 256 delegates including visitors participated. In the age profile, Below 40 age, there are 37 delegates, 40-60 age there are 212 and above 60 years 7.

I was not surprised that most of the delegates are above 40 years. The young comrades are only 14%. This is not the case of the Confederation alone. In most of the conferences of service trade unions the case is similar.

In BSNLEU also the situation remains as such. The average age is about 53. Out of 2.10 lakh workers, there are only about 40,000 who have been recruited after 2000. Out of that, about  3,000 are regularised casual labours whose average  age is also high.

What are the reasons for the non-presence of youngsters? The main reason is that there are only very less new recruits. Recruitment is almost nil in government and Public Sector units as part of the government policy. Secondly, even the few new recruits are not much interested in the union activities. Third is that the Unions do not do much to bring the new recruits in to the field of activities.

I like to remember the situation about 50-60 years back, when I entered the P and T department in 1958. In the Telephone Exchange, Post Office, telegraph office,RMS office etc. almost 90% officials were new recruits with less than 5 years or so. The youth has got its vibrancy and freshness, though not experienced.

It was not different in the union meetings and conferences. More than 60-70% members and delegates used to be from the younger generation, say below 30. Attendance was more. Discussions were held with massive participation. The young wanted to know things and they expressed their opinions also. Demonstrations and processions were enthusiastic.

Yes! Young are energetic and are an asset to any organisation. I became Treasurer of the Branch union (E.III) in the second year of my service and branch secretary in the fifth year. Within four years I became the Divisional Secretary and within another four years, Asst. Circle Secretary and next Circle Secretary within another few years.It was not my case alone. The Department was expanding, more recruits were being appointed and the union was also growing. The membership of the union was also growing.

What is to be done in the present situation? We have to make all out efforts for new recruitment. Secondly, the new recruits should be made active in the union and given responsibilities. We should prepare the demands and activities considering the aspirations and  the mindset of the youngsters.

These are issues which require serious and active consideration of the leadership and those interested in the union activities.

Bonus Orders issued by BSNL

07 Friday Oct 2016

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU, General, Uncategorized

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The sustained efforts and timely intervention of BSNLEU leaders have resulted in issue of orders granting bonus to the employees before Puja/Dussehra/Navaratri, Muharram. On 06-10-2016(yesterday), Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. General Secretary met CMD BSNL, Director(HRD) and also Additional Secretary, DOT and demanded that the Bonus should be ordered this week itself so that the employees will get the same before the festivals.

It has the desired results. Necessary meetings like Remuneration Committee, BSNL Board were held urgently and the orders for payment of Bonus of Rs.3,000 as agreed between the management and the recognised unions have been issued. The casual labour also will get the Bonus as demanded by BSNLCCWF leaders, when they met the CMD BSNL a few days back.

Congratulations to all comrades for achieving the desired results!