Category Archives: PSU

Matters connected with Public Sector Units (PSU)

KSRTC Pensioners Protest in a new way

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

The Kerala State Road Transport Pensioners’ Association today, 3rd December 2013, expressed their strong protest in the delay of Pension Payment in a new way. They are sitting on dharna before the State Secretariat for the last 13 days. Today plantain leaves were placed before them as usual for serving meals, but instead of meals they were served earth. This was a novel protest against the delay of the pension.

The State government should ensure that the poor pensioners are not starved. Their pension should be paid at the earliest.

Only 9% Airports are with private at International level. But India wants more privatisation!

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

Not only the Airport Authority Employees Unions, Central Trade Unions etc. are opposing the unchecked privatisation process of the government of India; the International Transport Association has also severely criticised the undue privatisation process of Airports in India.
The government has already privatised the biggest airports in India, namely New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad, but also is planning to privatise other six profit making airports like Kolkata, Chennai etc. The ITA has pointed out that even at International level, only about 9% airports have been privatised even in capitalist countries, they why the hurry and aggressive privatisation in India despite strong public protest.
Is it that Indian government is more capitalistic than the capitalist countries?

CLC Conciliation on MTNL Pension and other issues

03 Tuesday Dec 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, ,

The conciliation Meeting by the Chief Labour Commissioner on the Pension for MTNL employees as also other issues were discussed in the meeting held today, 3rd December 2013. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, United Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions representatives of MTNL Unions/Associations participated. Shri S.K.Chand, Dy. CLC presided.
After discussion the meeting was postponed to 3rd February 2014 with the direction to the MTNL Management to depute a General Manager level officer who can participate and take decision during the discussion.

Selling of the Nation’s Wealth is High Agenda for Government

02 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , ,

One of the most important agenda of the UPA-II government has been and is the selling of the Nation’s wealth to the private on the plea of reducing the financial crunch. But it is more than that. The government wants to wealth of the Nation’s wealth for maximising the profit of the private corporates.
Tomorrow, 3rd December 2013, a meeting of the high level Ministers are going to take place to speed up the Disinvestment process. A target of Rs.40,000 crore was fixed for 2013-14 through selling shares of PSUs, but so after it has received only Rs. 1325 crores by selling shares of six PSUs.
Government wanted to disinvest 10% shares of Coal India Ltd. but due to strong opposition from the trade unions, it could not be done. Now the government is proposing to sell 5% of the shares of CIL. Government has 90% shares in CIL now.
Further the government is proposing to hand over the balance shares of 49% shares of BALCO and 29.5% shares of Hindustan Zinc Ltd., the majority shares of which are are already with Vedanta group of companies. These were sold in 2001-03 despite strong opposition and strike from the unions. Now both these will be fully under the private companies. This is what the government wants to do with all PSUs one after another.
I am sure the workers of these PSUs will fight against this privatisation process. They should be given full support and solidarity.

We want 5 days week – Bank Employees Demand

02 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

,

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFOB) has demanded that the working days in a week should be fixed as 5 days for the bank employees. This is one of the demands the Forum has put forth before the Bank Management along with other demands raised in the 10th Bi-partite Wage discussions.
I completely agree with this demand of the bank Employees. When the life has become so fast and the journey time taken for attending the office is increasing through traffic jams and also that the office can save energy charges for one day, thee is full justification for the demand. Further, the people may not suffer much because of the ATMs, e-banking etc.
The Bank Management has to seriously consider the same.

BALCO and Hindustan Zinc will now be fully sold

29 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , ,

The selling spree of PSUs by the Government continues at fast pace.
51% shares of BALCO and 65% of Hindustan Zinc have been sold to the Vedanta Group of Companies during the NDA period. there was sustained struggles against the sale of BALCO by its employees as also by the Central TUs. It was sold for a meagre amount of Rs. 551 crores to Sterlite ( which is now part of Vedanta), almost half of the market price. 65% of Hindustan Inc was sold for Rs. 750 crore in the same way.

Now the Government is proposing to completely sell the shares to the company and fully privatise. The Government expects to get about Rs. 20,000 crore through this sale. But that is doubtful since, it is a deal between the government and Vedanta and certainly the government will agree for lesser price.

It is not the question of the price alone. It is the question of handing over the nation’s wealth to private companies to maximise their profits. We strongly oppose the move to full sell the PSUs to the private.

5 Years Wage Settlement in Port & Docks w.e.f. 01-01-2012

29 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, ,

Wage Settlement for Port & Dock Workers
A wage settlement for port and dock workers was signed on 25 October in presence of the chief labour commissioner (central). On behalf of the workers, the members in the Bipartite Wage Negotiating Committee (BWNC) – 5 from All India Port & Dock Workers Federation (HMS), 2 from All India Port & Dock Workers Federation (Workers) (HMS), 2 from Indian National Port & Dock Workers Federation (INTUC), 2 from Water Transport Workers Federation of India (CITU) and 1 from Port, Dock & Waterfront Workers Federation of India (AITUC) signed the settlement.

Highlights of the Settlement: – (i) Duration of the settlement – 5 years effective from 1 January, 2012; (ii) Revised basic pay scales: Minimum Rs.13,500 – Rs.27,400; Maximum – Rs.23,600 – Rs.56,300 in 10 grades; (iii) Fitment in revised scale: existing basic-special pay-stagnation increment + VDA upto 198 points (57.14) + 10.5% of the aggregate; (iv) Rate of Annual Increment: 3% of the revised basic; Minimum – Rs.410 and Maximum – Rs.1690; (v) Dearness Allowance: 100% neutralization of quarterly average above 198 points of AICPI (2001=100) series; (vi) House Rent Allowance: Actual basic + stagnation increment – at Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata – 30%; at Visakhapatnam, Cochin, New Mangalore and Mormugao – 20%; at Kandla, Tuticorin – 15% and Paradip and Haldia – 10%; (vii) Port Allowance: Increased by 10%; (viii) Additional benefits on regular promotion; (ix) Family planning allowance; (x) Transport Reimbursement: Rs.525 plus DA; For disabled persons double the rate; (xi) Children’s Education: Annual reimbursement upto Rs.15,000 per child with maximum for two children with automatic 25% rise with 50% DA rise. For disabled child double the limit. (xii) Washing: Increased to Rs.155 and special Rs.200 per month with 25% rise with 50% DA rise; (xiii) Design Allowance: Raised to Rs.500; (xiv) Women Child Care Leave: Maximum 2 years during entire service period upto 2 children. Central government’s order shall apply. (xv) Arrears Payment: Within 2 months; (xvi) Pension: Federations’ demand – subcommittee of BWNC will discuss.( Courtesy : Working Class – December 2013)

Bank Workers will strike on 19th December 2013

22 Friday Nov 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for one day strike on 19th December 2013 demanding immediate wage revision and opposing the neo-liberal policies being implemented in the Banking sector. The new reforms being implemented in the banking sector will ruin the PSU Banks and their business.
Our full support and solidarity to the struggle of the Bank workers.

Bharatiya Mahila Bank Inaugurated

19 Tuesday Nov 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

Today Prime Minister inaugurated the first Bharatiya Mahila Bank (Indian Women’s Bank) at Nariman Point in Air India Building in Mumbai. Seven similar banks have been opened today itself all over India. All the employees in these Banks will be women. It is stated that 25 such banks will be opened by March 2014.
The banks are mainly intended for women, but deposits will be taken from men also.
Smt. Usha Ananthasubramaniam, who was Executive Director will be the Chairperson of the new bank.
This is a good start. Let more such banks be opened for the convenience of women.

The Hen that lay Golden Eggs – Dividends from PSUs to Government

17 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in PSU

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

,

The PSUs are always ridiculed as making losses, a burden on the government and the tax-payers etc. and demanding that they should be privatised. This is the policy of the government in line with its neo-liberal directions.
But what is the truth? A good number of PSUs are profit-making and a good amount is paid to the government as Dividend by these companies. The government has got Rs. 55,000 crore Dividend for the year 2012-13 from the PSUs and it expects Rs. 73,000 crore this year. The dividend paid by the top 10 PSUs for 2012-13 is given below:
Coal India : Rs.8842.9 crore
ONGC : Rs. 8,127.7 crore
NTPC : Rs. 4,741.1 crore
SBI : Rs. 2,838.7 crore
NMDC : Rs. 2,775.3 crore
Oil India : Rs. 1,803.4 crore
IOC : Rs. 1,505.3 crore
BHEL : Rs. 1,323.0 crore
Power Grid : Rs. 1,273.1 crore
GAIL : Rs. 1,217.7 crore
Now, the Finance Minister has again called upon the PSUs to give more % of Dividend to the Government. This is but nothing trying to cripple the PSUs, as it has already in the case of BSNL by taking away all the surplus of the company by hook or crook.
The anti-PSU policy and actions of the government should be thoroughly exposed and the PSUs strengthened.