The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) extends its warm greetings and congratulations to the women of Kerala and to all the 176 social and mass organisations for the historic `Women’s Wall’ on January 1.

The women’s wall with over 55 lakh women participants cutting across caste/community divide and from all walks of life, gave a strong message of unity to uphold the values of the Kerala renaissance for women’s rights and social reform.

At a time when the communal rightwing forces led by the RSS seek to impose retrograde `manuvadi’ ideologies throughout the country, this women’s wall has a wider significance and will encourage a wider resistance to all such efforts.

IDA increase w.e.f 01-01-2019.
It is learnt that IDA increase from 1st January 2019 will be 3.2%. Together with this, the total IDA will be 138.8% (135.6%+3.2%), w.e.f.01.01.2019.

[Date : 31 – Dec – 2018](BSNLEU.IN)

It is reliably understood from the letter of DOT to BSNL dated 06-11-2018, that the BSNL has proposed to reduce the retirement age of BSNL employees from 60 to 58 to in order to finance the wage revision of BSNL executives/employees. This is atrocious.

When the government increased the retirement age from 58 to 60, the CG employees (BSNL was not formed) strongly protested the extension stating that it will affect the new recruitment. However, the government increased and the workers are adjusted to it. A person arranges his family settlements, taking loans, investments etc. considering the period in service. Reducing the service by two years will be an attack on the lives of the existing workers. The government or the BSNL has no right to take arbitrary decisions. It is understood that BSNL has not even consulted any of the unions in this matter.

The government and the BSNL should immediately drop the proposal of reducing retirement age. There is no justification for the same.

Kerala will witness a ‘Women’s Wall’ from the north to the south end of Kerala, on the national high  way, spanning about 600 kilometers, on the New Year day, 1st January 2019, for the cause of equal status, equal rights for women and end of discrimination against women. It is part of the  renaissance movement that helped create a new social order in Kerala. More than 50 lakhs of women are expected to participate.

In the background of the criminal activities of the Hindu fundamentalist forces led by RSS and BJP in Shabarimala against the judgment of the Supreme Court allowing entry of women to the shrine, the ‘Women’s Wall’ is a relevant popular response.

It is also against the conspiracy of the fundamentalist forces to take the society back to the position when the women had no freedom to go to school, can not properly dress and untouchability was practiced.

The LDF government has extended its support to the programme.Many political leaders, social activists, cultural activists, poets,women organisations, trade unions, students – they all support this action by women in their forward march for an equal status and right in the society.

BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF  Kerala units also have given call to participate in the ‘Vanitha Mathil’ (Womens’ Wall).

Let us make it a great success!

New Year 2019 is only two days ahead! The wage revision of executives and non-executives, which is due from 01-01-2017 is yet to be decided. Two years have already elapsed without any decision, despite continued pressure and agitation by the BSNL Unions and Associations under the united banner of AUAB.

The delay is mainly due to the affordability clause in the DPE guidelines and recommendations of the III Pay Revision Committee. If BSNL has gone down from its high profits to loss making, the major responsibility is on the government itself, which through its anti-Policy and decisions have made it to the present position. Further it is a fully government owned company and the responsibility for payment of wages is its responsibility. The government can not evade that solemn responsibility.

The cut throat competition and consequent lowest telecom rates has made all the companies in the telecom sector, including the corporates, in to loss. These corporates continue their existence only due to the huge loans taken by them from the banks and not paying them back. BSNL has no such loans.

The AUAB deferred the indefinite strike to start from 3rd December 2018 only the assurance of the Communications Minister to attend to the issues seriously. But the government and the DOT  is lethargic and even after almost one month, the decision on wage revision is not taken.

Patience has got a limit. The workers are impatient and is demanding for early wage revision. The government, DOT and BSNL should act and act immediately in this matter.

Kolkata, December 24: The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) expresses deep grief at the passing away of Comrade Nirupam Sen, former member of the Polit Bureau and an outstanding leader of the Party. He died on December 24 after a prolonged illness at the age of 72.

Nirupam Sen began his political life as a student activist and became a prominent leader of the Bengal Provincial Student Federation and later the Students Federation of India. He joined the Party in 1964 and played an active role in various struggles of the peasantry and the working class in Burdwan district. In the early seventies, he had to go underground after false cases were foisted on him.

Sen became a wholetimer of the Party in 1968. He played a key role in expanding the Party in Burdwan district where he served as the secretary of the district committee from 1989 to 1995.

Nirupam Sen was elected to the West Bengal state committee in 1985 and he became a member of the state secretariat in 1995. He was elected to the Central Committee at the 16th Congress in 1998. He became a member of the Polit Bureau in 2008. After his ill health, he became a Special Invitee to the Central Committee between 2015 and 2018.

Comrade Sen was elected to the West Bengal State Assembly thrice. In 2001 he became the Industry and Commerce Minister in the Left Front government for two terms. As a Minister, he played a leading role in mapping out the industrial development of West Bengal and in formulating policies concerning human resources development, rural education, primary health infrastructure and Self Help Groups.

Nirupam Sen was an articulate exponent of Marxism and wrote extensively for Party papers. He was a popular speaker who could effectively put forth the Party’s views on various subjects. In 2013, he suffered a brain hemorrhage and was partially paralysed. Despite this disability, he continue to attend meetings and keep contact with comrades.

Nirupam Sen was a dedicated Marxist who endeared himself to all with his gentle and modest behavior.

In his death, the Party and the Left movement have lost a valuable leader. The Polit Bureau pays respectful tribute to the memory of Nirupam Sen and conveys its heartfelt condolences to his wife Chandrabali, his daughter, son and other members of the family. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

Comrade Suseela Gopalan, senior leader of CPI(M), former Minister in LDF government in Kerala, Member of Parliament, former President of AIDWA and wife of Communist legend Com. A.K.Gopalan, passed away 17 years earlier on 19th December 2001. On her death anniversary, I pay my respectful homage to Comrade Suseela Gopalan!

She had always been close to the working class and was formerly Chairman of the P and T co-ordinating Committee Kerala. During her MP days, she took up a lot of issues of the workers in the Parliament and settled many of them. I had the opportunity to meet her and discuss the workers’ issues, while Com. AKG was alive and afterwards. She was always very helpful and took up issues with the government effectively.

Red Salute to Com. Suseela Gopalan!

The central government has issued orders empowering 10 central agencies like Enforcement Directorate etc. to snoop on any computer for the purpose of interception, monitoring and decryption of any information generated, transmitted, received or stored in any computer. This will result in complete snooping on the personal data of individuals and enable the government unlimited powers to victimise the people.
Political parties have strongly protested and demanded withdrawal of the order.

Certain discussions are going among the pensioners and in social media about how to get the pension revision with effect from 01.01.2017 for BSNL pensioners. Some pensioners unions have demanded for continuing the pension revision as was done w. e. f. 01.01.2007 as this was much beneficial compared to CG Pensioners pension revision. Some have demanded that it should be on the basis of VII CPC.

2. The pay revision and pension revision of CG employees were w.e.f. 2006, while the same for BSNL employees and pensioners w.e.f 2007. In the same way it will be in 2016 for CG employees and pensioners and for from 2017 for BSNL employees and pensioners.

3. The payscales for CG employees and pension revision are on the basis CDA scales recommended by CPCs. For BSNL employees it is based on IDA scales as per PRC which is higher.

4. Periodical CDA for CG employees and pensioners are granted after every six months on the basis of cost of living index. For BSNL staff and pensioners it is in every three months. From experience, we have seen that the latter is better.

5. Since pension was agreed to by the govt. at the time of formation of BSNL,
the govt was thinking of the same payscales as in govt.as granted to FCI employees etc.when it was made a public sector. Later Door Darshan also followed suit. But all the unions and associations were emphatic that since we are a PSU, we should get PSU scales on IDA. After a bitter struggle, better wage revision was got. Another serious struggle had to be organised for getting pension on the basis of the higher wages than that of CPC

6. This method continued in next wage revision. CG employees got pay revision and pension revision on CDA scales w.e.f. 2006 and BSNL employeers and pensioners as per II PRC on IDA scales wef 2006, which was higher. Sustained struggles had to be organised for getting both wage and pension revision.

7. Further struggles were organised to get 78.2 % IDA wage and pension fixation for BSNL which was higher than that of CGE.

8. All these demands were raised and struggles organised unanimously to achieve the demands. Nobody and no unions that of employees or pensioners demanded that the wage and pension revision should be based on CDA scales on the basis of CPC from 2006 etc., because the wave / pension revision as per PRC was better a d beneficial.

9. Coming to the wage revision from 2017 onwards, the workers demanded wage revision with 15% fitment as recommended by III PRC for PSUs.The AUAB demanded that affordabilty condition should be dropped. The management has recommended the IDA scales for executives and wage negotiation for non executives are going on.

10. Due to the struggles and threat of Indefinite strike by AUAB, the Communications Minister had discussion with AUAB on the major demands raised including wage revision. Some are settled and the discussion on wage revision is going on.

11. As per VII CPC the minimum wage granted for CG employee is Rs.18,000 while the scales demanded and under discussion for BSNL employeee is Rs. 19590. Discussion is going on. This IDA scale is better than the CDA scale of Rs.18,000.

12. Due to the affordability clause in the III PRC, some comrades felt that there may not be wage revision in BSNL and raised a demand of pension revision be made on the basis of VII CPC. They contended that there may not be any more PRC in the future. It is true that govt. will try any mischief w.r.t to CPC or PRC. In the past also some CPCs stated that there is no need for future CPCs. The workers have thwarted this attack in the past and will do so in future also. We have belief in the workers and their struggle.

13. The government will be only too happy if the wage revision and pension revision is done in BSNL on tbe basis of CPCs. The wage will be less, the pension will be less and three monthly DA increase need not be paid. Of course, the workers will never agree to such reduction. Pension can not be reduced as per present rules, but the government may impose the CDA scale as the basis for future pension as they calculated BSNL payscales for MTNL pensioners, when they demanded full govt.
Pension as in the case BSNL pensioners, instead of prorata pension.

14. Why should a demand be raised for CDA pension as per CPC, when the existing pattern on the basis of PRC is available and has been implemented in the past? Why should anybody go back to a lower payscale or lower pension or stagnation when a serious struggle is going on by tbe AUAB for the entire workers and pensioners?

15. The demand for CDA pension on the basis of VII CPC will result in umpteen anomalies creating a lot of hardship and differences to the workers. It will also be a handle to the govt to distance the pensioners from the workers.

16. Let us have confidence in the united strength of the workers’ and pensioners’ organisations to clinch a better deal for the workers and pensioners. Going back to a system which we have discarded from a better existing position will not be worthwhile. Some comrades may feel that it is impossible to achieve our demands in the present situation. I would only state that we have faced much more worse situation earlier and have come out successful. Let us continue our struggle for a better future. Many times we have made impossible in to possible.