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VII AIC of BSNLEU at Kolkata – (8) – Venue Changed

03 Monday Nov 2014

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There is a change in the venue of the All India Conference.It was to be held in Telecom Factory, Alipore Kolkata. But since the BSNL Management refused permission in the last moment due to threat of Trinamool /NFTE to the CGM, he is not prepared to grant permission. The Union leaders met the BSNL C.O., but despite our strong demand, they are dilly-dallying in granting the permission. But we can not wait more. Hence it has been decided to change the venue for a better place. The Reception Committee is hunting for a new and better place for holding the AIC, even if it is a bit away.

The Reception Committee is put under great strain, due to this latest development. But the four circle Unions in W.Bengal ie. Kolkata, Telecom Factory, Telecom Stores and W.Bengal, are capable of meeting this challenge and will come out successful. The forward march of BSNL Employees Union can not be stopped by threat and conspiracy.

The new place of the AIC and other particulars will be informed by the Reception Committee by evening to day. Reception Committee Comrades will be in the Railway Station, Bus Stand etc. to receive the delegates. However, it will be better if message is sent to the Reception Committee about arrival and departure of the delegates.

More Austerity Measures – Ban on recruitment, ban on Plan and Non-plan posts.

01 Saturday Nov 2014

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The austerity measures announced by the government, while pruning some unnecessary expenses at the top level, will really be hitting the common man. Ban on creation of posts, both of plan and non-plan posts, will hit the employment chances of the eligible youngsters. It is also stipulated that the posts being vacant for one year will be abolished and not revived.

Further these austerity measures will reduce public expenditure which will reduce the developmental activities, subsidies etc.

The people who expected ‘Achhe Din'(Good days) while voting BJP is now reaping the ‘Bure din'(Bad Days).

Arun Jaitely also criticises CAG

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

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Former Finance minister P. Chidambaram as also former Communications Minister Kapil Sibal has criticised the CAG for exposing the corruption in the 2G and Coal scams. At that time BJP was effectively utilising these exposures and used it for election campaign.
Now the new Finance Minister in the NDA government, Arun Jaitely also has started advising and threatening the CAG.
Those who are in power are really afraid of CAG and their reports.

AIC of BSNLEU at Kolkata – IV

29 Wednesday Oct 2014

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Com. Mihir Dasgupta, former AGS BSNLEU and President of Kolkata Circle Union has given the following Comments to the earlier post on AIC of BSNLEU, which I am reproducing below:

“I wanted to post a comment on the item 7th All India Conference of BSNLEU – 3 in your blog, but failed due to unknown reason. So, I am sending my comment as under through this medium:

“Even prior to the Thiruvanantapuram AIC, Report of Activities and other materials including pamphlets and posters were printed at Kolkata itself during the Extended CEC Meeting held in the month of November 2008. It is needless to mention that such Extended CEC meeting of BSNLEU is as big as an All India Conference of many big All India Unions. Actually, we in the BSNLEU started distant printing of materials clubbing together modern communication and printing technologies from Kolkata Extended CEC in the year 2008.”

What Com. Mihirdas Gupta has stated is correct. Though we started distant printing for AIC Report and materials from Thiruvnanthapuram AIC, we have already started it earlier at Kolkata Extended CEC. I am thankful to Com. Mihir Dasgupta for reminding me of the same.

This comment shows two things. One is that comrades are reading the blog in detail and takes time to make the records right.
Secondly, most of our comrades, even after retirement continues in touch with the union activities and are there to help the organisation at any time. We have got thousands of such leaders and active comrades who are watching us and supporting us. This is not a small matter. How many organisations have got such large number of committed comrades. When we go to any place we can meet such comrades, who have dedicated their entire lives to the organisation and the workers.
In this connection, I remembered a recent incident. At the AIBDPA Circle Conference at Mangalore, I had the opportunity to meet Com. Harischandra Rao, who was the Circle Secretary of E.III union , Karnataka, earlier. He contested against the nominee of Com.O.P.Gupta and won the election to the great disappointment of OPG. At the All India Conferences, we used to fight against the wrong polices of Gupta together. When we met, we shared about the old times. He is still in constant touch with the union. Many such excellent comrades we have got.

The comment by Com. Mihir Dasgupta reminded me of the old times and the commitment of our workers. Thank you Com. Mihir Dasgupta !

Railway Workers oppose Privatisation

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

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In a strongly worded statement, AIRF Secretary General Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra has condemned the move of the NDA government to bring FDI and privatise the Railways and threatened joint struggles by all railway unions, if the government moves ahead with the privatisation.

Com. Mishra pointed out that throughout the world, wherever railways privatisation has taken place, it has jeopardized the system. He demanded the government to drop its proposals for FDI and privatisation.

In case the government moves with its proposals strike will be organised, he stated.

Decisions of the Forum Meeting on 28-10-2014

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

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Decisions taken in the meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations held on 28th October 2014.
A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations was held on 28th October 2014 and the following decisions were taken after detailed discussion.
1. The Forum decided to call for Indefinite Strike w.e.f. 3rd February 2015 againt the anti- BSNL policies of the government and on the demands raised in the Memorandum adopted in the National Convention on 3rd August 2013 and also against the Deloittee committee recommendations, formation of tower company, Merger of BSNL and MTNL etc.
2. A Demands Day should be organised in December 2014, 3 days dharna in January 2015 and one week massive campaign, before the strike.
3. Maximum propaganda should be organised among the workers and the public, meet the Members of Parliament and explain the demands of the workers, organise signature campaign etc.
4. A meeting of the Core Committee of Forum will beheld on 12th November, followed by a meeting of the Forum on 13th November 2014 to finalise the Memorandum, dates of the agitational programmes and other connected matters.

AIC of BSNL Employees Union at Kolkata – 3

28 Tuesday Oct 2014

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At the time of the All India Conference of BSNLEU at Kolkata, three pamphlets are being released by the CHQ. One is a compilation of the Editorials published in the Telecrusader and some other articles by General Secretary Com. P.Abhimanyu. The second is a write up on the Revival of BSNL by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, along with the Memorandum submitted to the Communication Minister by the Forum. The third one is a review of the National Council Meetings and Standing Committee Meetings held from the start till now, that is from 2003 to 2014. These books are being published as per decisions of the BSNLEU Centre.

All the books are educative and useful for the workers and leaders. It is expected that they will buy and utilise the same. long with the Report on Activities, a supplement will also be there on the cases taken by the union during the period. This also will be much helpful.

Till Thiruvananthapuram All India Conference in 2010, the CHQ was printing the report and books from New Delhi itself and transporting all the big bundles to the Conference place. But from Thiruvananthapuram AIC onwards, these are being printed by the Reception Committee at the place of AIC itself. The progress of the technology has made this possible. Now also, these will be published from Kolkata only.

Beautiful and colourful Wall Posters, Banners and Union Flags etc. will be printed / made by the Reception Committee in large numbers, which will be displayed and carried in the procession. The Circle / District Unions also will be bringing their banners and union flags. The procession will be colourful and massive.

Exploitation of contract labour in BSNL – case of Karnal SSA , Haryana

25 Saturday Oct 2014

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27 Circle Heads have intimated the BSNL C.O. that minimum wage, EPF, ESI etc. are fully implemented in their respective circles. Management has submitted this to the Parliamentary Standing Committee stating all labour laws are implemented in BSNL.

We are stunned, but not surprised. Many CGMs have been giving such false reports earlier also. In fact the labour laws are more violated than implemented in BSNL. During the last few days, I have been getting the correct details of the contract labour in the SSAs and how much they are being paid etc. Today I got the details of the Karnal SSA in Haryana.

The list gives the names of 33 contract workers who are engaged for 8 years, 10 years, 12 years etc. Most of the workers are getting Rs. 4,000 each while a few are getting 4800 or 5,000. As per minimum wage they should be paid a minimum of about Rs.6,600. The workers are being paid in cash by the JTO, while the wages are to be paid in cheque or in account as per instructions of the Corporate Office. EPF and ESI are not implemented.

This exploitation and violation of the orders are happening just below the nose of the Corporate Office. Still corporate office says that all labour laws are implemented. Very sad indeed !

A change in the mindset of the BSNL management is urgently required. Falsehood is not the motto of BSNL. The motto of the nation is ‘Satyameva jayate’.

EPF with retrospective effect for casual labour

22 Wednesday Oct 2014

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In the meeting of the Parliament Standing Committee on 29th September 2014 and also earlier, BSNLCCWF has been demanding that EPF should be implemented at least from 01-10-2000, for the casual labour engaged before the formation of BSNL. The unions representatives presented the case strongly in the meeting. Earlier, in the meeting called by the Central EPF Commissioner on 24th September also, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President , BSNLCCWF pressed the demand. Central EPF Commissioner asked the BSNL administration why the EPF was not implemented.

Now it is understood that the BSNL Management Committee has approved for implementation of EPF w.e.f. 01-10-2000.This will have to go to the BSNL Board for approval.

This is good news. We request the management to get the decision approved by the BSNL Board early and implemented.

Inequality Threat – Janet Yellen, Chairperson, UDFederal Reservelal Re

19 Sunday Oct 2014

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Even in US, the captian of capitalism, voices are coming up focussing the grave danger of the growing inequality between the rich and poor.
The latest voice has come from a top executive, the Chairwomen of the Federal Reserve. While addressing the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston Economic Conference, she stated that recent Federal Research showed that distribution of those opportunities viz. means to raise children, access to education, owning a small business and inheritance, to be increasingly unequal. Then she stated ” I think it is appropriate to ask  whether this trend is compatible with values rooted in our nation’s history, among them the high value Americans have traditionally placed on equality of opportunity.”

It seems that after the ” Occupy Wall Street” agitation, a section of the capitalist leaders themselves in US have started thinking about the danger of the increasing inequality. But you can not expect any positive policy from the capitalist system.