Category Archives: BSNLEU

Com. Adinarayana, the champion of P andT Workers

18 Saturday Jun 2011

Posted by in BSNLEU, Obituary, Tributes, P&T TU History

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How quick the years are passing! It seems that Comrade K.Adinarayana, the veteran leader of the P and T movement is still with us. But it is full eight years since he has passed away from us on 17th June 2003.
Com.Adi, as he is affectionately called was involved in mass movements from a very young age which resulted in his discontinuing formal education itself. He was jailed for three and half years during 1950-53 for participation in the great Telengana movement. He joined P and T Department in 1954 as ED. He retired in June 1986 as LSG clerk. From day one of joining the P and T he was in the movement. He was elected as the General Secretary of Postmen and Class IV Union in 1968 and continued till 1997. He was elected as Secretary General, NFPE in 1992 and vacated the position in 2001 due to ill health.
His life was full of struggles. He was a persuasive speaker and negotiator. Continous struggles of the Postal workers under his inspiring leadership is part of history now.
I had close association with comrade Adi for along period which increased after my election as President of All India Telecom Employees Union in 1991 and shifted to Delhi from Calicut, Kerala. He was always an elder brother to me guiding in our activities.
I pay my respectful homage to Comrade Adi on his death anniversary.

Central Executive Committee Meeting of BSNLCCWF on 16th June 2011

14 Tuesday Jun 2011

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A meeting of the Central Executive Committee of the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation will be held at New Delhi on 16th June 2011. The issues like regularisation of left out casual workers, Minimum wages of contract workers, social security measures for the casual and contract workers etc. will be discussed. The CEC will also discuss how to strengthen the organisation.

Why Lunch Hour demonstration on 5th April?

01 Friday Apr 2011

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In the meeting of the Joint Action Committee with the CMD BSNL held on 31st March 2011 to discuss about the suggestions of the Unions to improve the services, the management requested to withdraw the lunch hour demonstration on 5th April in view of the present critical situation of BSNL and not to give a wrong signal to the customers.

The JAC leaders pointed out that they are not interested in organising agitation for agitational purpose. The 5th April demonstration has been decided to oppose the proposals of the BRPSE to implement VRS in BSNL as also reduction in the retirement age from 60 to 58 years and reduction of staff. This is a clear violation of the assurance given by the management and the government several times that such issues will not be decided without consulting the unions. Further these proposals are anti-worker and can not be accepted by the unions.

This seemed to convince the management. The CMD graciously agreed that when there is a justified cause, the workers have right to take their own decision.

Now it is the workers’ turn. The lunch hour demonstration should be massive and should be in all places which will give clear indication to the government and management not to proceed with the ani-worker proposals.

BSNL CEC Starts at Chennai

22 Tuesday Mar 2011

Posted by in BSNL News, BSNLEU

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The Central Executive Committee meeting of the BSNLE Employees Union started today at Chennai. This CEC is being held on the 10th anniversary of the organisation which was founded on 22nd March 2001.

The CEC celebrated the 10th Anniversary as also the Himalayan victory of BSNLEU in the fifth memberhip verification. The CEC was inaugurated by Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, President, CITU.

In the afternoon a seminar of BSNL future was organised which among others were addressed by Com.Amanulla Khan, President, AIIEA and Shri A.Subramaniam, CGM Chennai. ( Detailed report will be put on CHQ website)

March 22nd, the Foundation Day of BSNLEU

21 Monday Mar 2011

Posted by in BSNLEU, P&T TU History

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22nd March 2011 is the tenth anniversary of the formation of BSNL Emlyoyees Union. (It is also the 34th death anniversary date of Comrade A.K.Gopalan, the revolutionary leader of the working class and the opposition group leader in the Parliament for a long period ).

BSNL Employees Union was formed on 22nd March 2001 in the National Telecom Convention held at Visakhapatnam by merging existing seven unions which were jointly working for some time. It was having about 60,000 members at the time of formation. In the first membership verification it got second position with 90,000 votes, but could not get recognition. In the second verification in 2004, it got the first position and recognition. In the third, fourth and fifth verification it continued to win and became the recognised and representative union.

During its six years of recognition, BSNLEU though discussions and agitations settled a lot of issues including a good wage revision, Promotion Policy, Pension Revision etc. It inculcated in the workers the urge for democratic functioning and progressive outlook. Through sustained struggles under the leadership of JAC, it could stop disinvestment/privatisation, VRS, unbundling etc. in BSNL.

The future is full of challenges. It is our duty to work hard, give best service to the people and save & strengthen BSNL. Let the 10th Anniversary be celebrated towards this target.

Restore Work Committees in BSNL for better efficiency

09 Wednesday Mar 2011

Posted by in BSNLEU, P&T TU History

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A few years back, BSNL Employees Union took the initiative in convincing the management to form Work Committees at SSA level so that the issues connected with the work, efficiency, development, expansion etc. can be discussed and services improved. It was later to be extended to circle level also. For some time the meetings were going on, but now it is almost stopped in most of the places. The management is not interested in holding the meetings since they feel that they are being questioned by the workers. On one reason or other, the meetings are blocked by the local management.
Let me make clear. Work Committees are not for raising blame games and accusing each other. It is for co-operation and joint functioning to improve the services. It is to give a better service to the society. It is to save BSNL and strengthen the same.

The management should restore the Works Committees. Let all of us make it effective.

Bijapur Celebrates 10th Anniversary of BSNLEU

02 Wednesday Mar 2011

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Bijapur, it seems, is always in the forefront. Now it started the 10th Anniversary Celebrations from 1st March itself. CHQ BSNLEU has given the call to celebrate the anniversary which falls on 22nd March. Bijapur can not wait till that. They want to make the entire month on celebration.

The celebration started in the morning itself. Along with Com.GB Salakki, Asst. General Secretary, BSNLEU, Com.S.R.Nayak, District Secretary, Bijapur and other leaders we ( myself and my wife Pankajam),went to the orphanage for blind children, which is situated in the town itself. Sweets, Biscuits and fruits were given to them. They were mostly children below 14-15 years, boys and girls were there. They sang songs and the teacher showed us how the children learn through braille system. It was very poignant when they thanked us for the food and started eating them. I donated Rs. 500/  to the school. All over the country our comrades are undertaking such social responsibilities. It should continue.

Next we were taken to the office of the BSNLEU. A computer, donated by three comrades, was inaugurated by me. A procession was held from there to the Telephone Exchange where the celebration was taking place. It was a new experience for me in sitting a chariot in the procession, before which our comrades danced and enjoyed throughout the procession which took about more than one and half hours.

The pandal was full with about 1000 workers who included comrades from nearby stations.  Many people were standing outside the pandal who could not get  seats. Local trade union leaders, officers, circle union leaders and  the press  reporters were there. All the leaders on the dias were honoured. The celebration was inaugurated by me.  I spoke about our organisation, how it grew and the present position. I also spoke on the present situation of T.U. movement, our tasks and the attack on the working class by the government following the neo-liberal policies.

Coms. C.K.Gundanna, Circle Secretary, BP Narayana, Circle President, GB Salakki AGS, S.R.Nayk, Dist. Secretary, Shri Ravichandran, GM Bijapur and other leaders addressed. All congratulated the Bijapur comrades for the grand function.

Bijapur has always been with BSNLEU. It has more than 750 members in the whole division which has got a strength of about 900.

I congratulate the Bijapur comrades who under the leadership Com. G.B. Salakki has held the banner of BSNLEU high.

More workers embrace BSNLEU – 350 joins at Satara

01 Tuesday Mar 2011

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Once the verification is over, workers in large numbers are joining BSNL Employees Union. The flow has started in right earnest. Yesterday, 28th February 2011, I was in Satara, one of the districts in Maharashtra. A massive meeting participated by hundreds of workers including a large number of women comrades was held. Coms. Purushotham Gedam, Circle Secretary, Maharashtra, N.K.Nallawade, Circle Asst. Secretary and Member, National Council, and other leaders were present.

The entire members of the NFTE, numbering 350 under the leadership of Com.Maruti Shirke and Com. A.B.Divate, President & District Secretary of NFTE joined BSNLEU. Com. Gajendra Raut, District President and H.M.Satpute, District Secretary, BSNLEU welcomed all the comrades to BSNLEU. Coms. Purushotham Gedam, Circle Secretary and Nallawade, ACS, congratulated all for the wise decision taken by the comrades.

Welcoming the new members, I congratulated them and stated that Satara will become one of our strong units with almost all workers joining the BSNLEU. I also explained our task in the present situation when BSNL is in a financial crisis due to the wrong policy and incapable management.

I was told by the Circle Union leaders, in many other divisions also, NFTE members have expressed their intention to join BSNLEU. A good development indeed.

Tenth Anniversary of BSNLEU

28 Monday Feb 2011

Posted by in BSNLEU, P&T TU History

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Only 22 days left for the 10th Anniversary of BSNLEU. BSNL Employees Union was formed on 22nd March 2001 in the massively attended National Telecom Convention held at Visakhapatnam (A.P). During these 10 years, the union has grown and is the majority representative union since 2004, when it was elected with majority through the secret ballot membership verification.

The event will be celebrated throughout the country. I have been invited to attend the 10th year celebration at Bijapur on 1st March.  I have already reached Bijapur.

The Central Executive Committee of BSNLEU will be held at Chennai on 22nd to 24th March 2011 which also will celebrate the 10th Anniversary. 

M

United Forum solid and active – ready for verification

16 Tuesday Nov 2010

Posted by in BSNLEU, TU News - Telecom specific

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The United Forum of BSNL Employees has strengthened and stands ready to face the next Membership Verification to be held in February 2011. The UF meeting held on 16th November 2010 reviewed the organisational position and felt that the workers will stand by it better than last time. The next meeting will finalise the strategy to face the membership verification.