The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has fixed the next date for hearing as 12-09-2018 in the case filed by NFPE and AIPEU-GDS for grant of ‘Civil Servant Status’ to GDS. The postponement was due to paucity of time.

Federation and AIPEU-GDS have been long demanding for grant of Civil Servant Status to the GDS, who are working for years together in the Postal department.The central government was compelled to accept the recommendations of the GDS Committee, only after a glorious strike for 16 days by the entire GDS workers and solidarity strike by the Postal employees.

After continued efforts by AIBDPA and BSNLEU, the Medical Allowance without voucher to the BSNL retirees have been restored by BSNL. Orders have been issued. But the quantum is reduced to 50% and the minimum will be Rs. 12,000 in a year, paid in 4 installments. AIBDPA has strongly protested and demanded for restoration.

Telecom Trade Union Movement – A Saga of Struggles, Sacrifices and Achievements

Introduction

The P and T (including BSNL) employees and their unions/associations are observing this year, the 50th anniversary of the historic One Day Token Strike of 19th September 1968. Four years back in 2014, the 60th year of the formation of National Federation of Posts and Telegraph Employees (NFPTE), the militant organisation of the P and T employees, was celebrated.
The central government, whether headed by UPA or NDA, has been continuing the implementation of its anti-worker, anti-people neo-liberal policies, which are completely detrimental to the interest of the nation and the people. All-important PSUs are in the list of the NITI Ayog for privatisation or closure to suit the requirement of the corporates, whose influence on the government is well known.
Both the Postal and the BSNL workers are in sustained struggles to save the Postal and BSNL services from privatisation and to provide a better service. It is a hard battle and requires the whole hearted support of the entire trade unions and the common people to defeat the nefarious policies of the government.
In this context, it will be appropriate and a requirement for the Postal and BSNL workers to know the past and the various struggles organised. In this connection, I have authored a book “History of the P and T TU Movement” , published by NFPE and released in its All India Conference last year at Bengaluru by Comrade Tapan Sen, M.P., General Secretary of CITU. The book reviews the period from the start of the TU movement till 1986, when NFPTE was bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE, consequent to the bifurcation of the Department in to Postal and Telecom. The appreciation received by the book as also request from many comrades has made me to think about writing about the history of the movement since 1986. First I am thinking of writing about the telecom unions (including BSNL) from 1986 to the present period. This will be serially posted in this blog, for the present.
Our senior comrades, who were part of the movement, are requested to guide and help me in improving, modifying and correcting, if there is any thing missing, mistake etc.
The articles will start from tomorrow serially.
V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union.

As per the decision of the All Unions Associations in BSNL (AUAB), mighty demonstrations with maximum participation of regular workers, pensioners and casual contract workers were held all over the country on 10th July, demanding immediate wage revision, pension revision, grant of 4G Spectrum to BSNL and also pension contribution to the government strictly on the basis of the wage of the employee. These were agreed to by the Minister in his meeting with the AUAB.

The unions demanded the BSNL, DOT and the Minister to ensure and implement the assurances given by the Minister.

On 11th July 2018, the CG employees observe the 58 th year of the historical 5 days strike of July 1960. We pay homage to the martyrs of the 1960 strike, who were killed at Dahod Railway station:

1. Com.Ranjit Singh

2. Com.Dakharam

3. Com.Sitaram

4. Com.Kripa Shankar

Com. Ekambaram Telephone Operator who committed suicide after terminated from Service.

(The name of other comrades who were killed are not available now.)

Red Salute to the Martyrs of 1960 Strike.

Thousands of Argentinians protest against IMF on the Independence day of Argentina.

Today is a shiny day for the entire world. The 12 boys and the coach, who  were trapped in a cave in Thailand for the last 16 days have been brought out safely. It was a herculean and dangerous operation, in which one of the divers in the rescue time died due to lack of oxygen. For the last two days, four  boys each were brought out and today the left out 4 boys plus the coach are rescued. They have all been taken to the hospital immediately by helicopters after the rescue. It is reported that all are safe.

As in the case of Nipah virus treatment in Kozhikode, in which Nurse Lina died, in the Thaliand rescue operations, one diver passed away due lack of oxygen. They are the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to save the life of others. Their sacrifice will always be remembered.

Our hearty congratulations to the  Thai Government, the rescue team and all those connected with for the unparalleled fight and success in saving the children!

Mexico City, Jul 2 : Anti-establishment leftist Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador swept to victory in Mexico’s presidential election today, in a political sea change driven by voters’ anger over endemic corruption and brutal violence.
According to exit polls, the sharp-tongued, silver-haired politician known as “AMLO” won by a large margin over his two main rivals, who both conceded defeat shortly after the polls closed — laying to rest concerns that a deeply divided country could face prolonged uncertainty over the winner.
Thousands of ecstatic supporters flooded central Mexico City’s Zocalo square and Alameda park, celebrating to the sounds of mariachi music as Lopez Obrador slowly made his way there from his campaign headquarters in a motorcade, swarmed by huge crowds.
“The government was failing. We needed a real change,” said one elated supporter, Jose Gutierrez, 44.
Runner-up Ricardo Anaya of the conservative National Action Party (PAN) and third-place candidate Jose Antonio Meade of the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) both congratulated Lopez Obrador and wished him success.

One more country to the Left. Congratulations!

2018 NOVEMBER 15TH NATION WIDE ONE DAY STRIKE OF
CENTRAL GOVT. EMPLOYEES
10 POINTS CHARTER OF DEMANDS OF CONFEDERATION
1. Scrap New Contributory Pension Scheme. Restore old defined benefit Pension Scheme to all employees.
2. Settle 7th CPC related issues including increase in Minimum Pay and fitment formula, HRA arrears from 01-01-2016, MACP Bench Mark, promotional heirarchy and date of effect from 01-01-2006, Option-I for pensioners and anomalies arising out of implementation of 7th CPC recommendations.
3. Fill up all vacant posts. Reintroduce Regional Recruitment for Group B & C posts. Withdraw orders for abolishing posts lying vacant for more than five years. Revive all posts abolished during 2001 to 2008 under Annual Direct Recruitment plan as per May 2001 orders of former NDA Government.
4. (a) Regularisatin of Gramin Dak Sevaks and grant of Civil Servant status. Implement remaining positive recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra committee report.
(b) Regularise all casual and contract workers including those appointed on or after 01-09-1993.
5. Ensure equal pay for equal work for all. Remove disparity in pay scales between Central Secretariat Staff and similarly placed staff working in field units of various departments.
6. Stop closure of Govt. establishments and outsourcing. Withdraw closure orders of Govt. of India Presses. Stop proposed move to close down salt department. Stop FDI and privatisation of Railways and Defence department.
7. Implement 7th CPC wage revision and pension revision of Autonomous body employees and pensioners. Grant Bonus to Autonomous body employees pending from 2016-17 onwards.
8. Remove 5% condition imposed on compassionate appointment.
9. Grant five time bound promotions to all Group B&C employees. Complete Cadre Reviews in all departments within a time-frame.
10. (a) Stop attack on trade union rights. Ensure prompt functioning of various negotiating forums under the JCM scheme at all levels.
(b) Withdraw the draconian FR-56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS Pension Rules 1972.
If necessary, affiliates can add their own departmental wise issues as PART-II of the charter of demands.

The attack on the working class and Public Sector Employees, in particular, are mounting day by day. The entire working class and peasantry are on struggle path. The indefinite strike of GDS Employees is the latest mass struggle. The Long Pending Demands of FCI Employees are not settled yet. The assurance given by the Administrative Department and FCI Management to Staff unions regarding the commencement of wage revision process is in the paper even after a lapse of 18 months.

Food Corporation of India operations are under serious threat of privatisation. Subsidy received every year by FCI was lower than claimed for from the GoI. On an average only 67 per cent of subsidy claimed was released by the GoI over the last five years because of which FCI had to borrow from other costlier means of finance .FCI Employees are delayed and denied their rightful wage revision w.e.f 1-1-2017 and pension w.e.f 1-1-2007 due to the stringent conditions imposed by the Finance Ministry & lackadaisical attitude of Government missionaries respectively. Compassionate appointments have become a mirage in FCI. Trade Union rights are denied. Punishment and victimization of employees become a hobby of the management. Periodical meetings of Current Recognised unions in FCI has become mere talking shops without any positive results. Legitimate demands are inordinately delayed and denied. In FCI some posts have died due to no recruitment.

It is in this background the All India Coordination of FCI & WH Unions has decided to fight back these retrograde policies by mobilizing the entire FCI employees by unleashing intensive campaign throughout the country culminating in a strike. To declare the campaign programme and the strike, an “All India Coordination of FCI & WH Unions” under the leadership of Dr. A Sampath MP and Dr Asim Bala Ex- MP will be held at Lucknow on 26th June 2018 Tuesday from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Eminent trade Union leaders will attend the Convention. Venue of the National Convention is Ravindralaya, Motilal Nehru Marg, Charbagh Lucknow(Uttar Pradesh). About 1000 delegates from all states will attend the Convention. (From FCI Union)