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Support BSNL to come up – Forum asks Government

10 Friday May 2013

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FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS

D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110 001.

PressRelease                                                                                                                                                                             10th May, 2013

 On Revival of BSNL

 The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations has submitted a Memorandum to the Group of Ministers appointed to look in to the revival of BSNL & MTNL, the Public Sector Telecom Companies.

Considering the fact that BSNL is a 100% govt. owned company, that the transition from a govt. department to a PSU where cut throat competition exists from the private operators resulting in financial difficulty as also that BSNL is the only telecom company providing the land lines and also majority of mobile lines in the lakhs of villages and remote areas which are loss making, as part of the govt. policy of providing universal services, the following proposals / demands have been included in the Memorandum.

The top management, which mainly belongs to the ITS officers are at present on deputation to BSNL. They should either be absorbed in BSNL or repatriated back to DoT to ensure efficient and committed leadership. Recruitment of capable management personnel as also promotion of efficient officers are required.

Compensation for loss-making rural services should be ensured. For this purpose, the ADC which was stopped some years back should be restored and liberal assistance from USO Fund should be provided.

The main reason for the loss for the last four years for BSNL is the equipment crunch. The cancellation of the 45.5 million mobile lines in 2007 was the starting point. Further, cancellation of 95 million lines, twice cancellation of 5 million lines etc. crippled BSNL in providing new connections. Had the mobile lines made available, BSNL could have well competed with private companies as it was doing well till 2007. Hence, it is necessary that a mechanism for procurement of equipment should be evolved enabling quick purchases, of course, ensuring accountability.

BSNL should be reimbursed the Rs.18,500 crore of licence fee charges for 3G and BWA spectrum, since it was imposed on BSNL without giving any opportunity to select the circles etc. It has already offered return of the BWA spectrum. The govt. should not wait for the re-auction for refunding the amount.

A very huge amount is collected by govt. for BSNL towards pension contribution. While the govt. had already issued orders to collect pension contribution based on the actual basic pay of the employee, pension contribution from BSNL is collected on the maximum of the payscale, which is unfair causing a huge burden on BSNL. This should be rectified and contribution on the actual basic pay only should be collected.

The govt. has collected interest at the high rate of 14.5% and penalty from BSNL towards a notional loan of Rs.7,500 crores (which was never given to BSNL). This should be refunded to BSNL and the injustice undone.

BSNL should be exempted from payment for the additional spectrum already granted. It should be mandatory for all Central, State govt. departments and PSU to take telecom services from the PSUs BSNL & MTNL as was directed in case of Air India. This will address the security concerns also.

The 7 telecom factories under BSNL should be modernised to manufacture telephone instruments modems, batteries, cables, optic fibre cables etc. so that the huge prices being paid to private companies can be reduced and the available staff in these factories can be fully utilised.

The Forum has also demanded that the Telecom Advisory Committee (TAC) at all levels be disbanded which has outlived its utility in the present competitive situation and is only causing huge expenditure to BSNL.

The Forum has expressed its strong protest against any proposal for disinvestment or for VRS, which will only destabilise the BSNL, as is clear from the experience of MTNL, where VRS and disinvestment have taken place more than once.

Many other suggestions for reviving the BSNL, improving its service and restoring its earlier position have been included in the memorandum. Copies of the memorandum has also been submitted to Prime Minister, all members of the committee including Communication Minister, Secretary DoT and CMD BSNL.

Forum of BSNL Unions / Association requests the Group of Ministers and the govt. to consider the above suggestions and take positive decisions so that BSNL will be revived and strengthened.

V.A.N.Namboodiri Convener

Mob: 9868231431

Forum of BSNL Unions/Assns submit Memorandum to GoM on BSNL/MTNL

10 Friday May 2013

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations have submitted a detailed Memorandum to Sri P.Chidambaram, Finance Minister and Chairman of the Group of Ministers for the Revival of BSNL and MTNL. Copies have been furnished to all members of the Committee viz. S/Shri Montek singh Ahluwalia, Kapil Sibal, Anand Sharma, Manish Tiwari and Anand Sharma. Copy has been furnished to the Prime minister Dr. Manmohan Singh also.

The Memorandum has briefed the reason for the present financial position of the BSNL, the requirement for assistance from the government for the loss making services in the lakhs of villages and remote areas, for refund of the spectrum charges, for an efficient procurement policy etc. etc. It has also opposed any move for disinvestment and VRS, which are against the interest of the company and the workers.

The full memorandum will be published in the websites of the BSNLEU and other  Unions/Associations.

Confederation – Coms. Vyas, Kutty, Krishnan elected

07 Tuesday May 2013

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The National Conference of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers held at Kolkata concluded with a call to the workers to continue the struggle for the appointment of VII Central Pay Commission and on other demands.

Coms. S.K.Vyas, K.K.N.Kutty and M.Krishnan have been unanimously as Advisor, President and Secretary General of the Confederation. My Hearty Congratulations to all of them. BSNLEU will continue its close co-ordination with the Confederation as before.

Sexual Harassment – GM Faridabad transferred

03 Friday May 2013

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BSNL Management was compelled to transfer P.K.Shrivastava, Sr GM, Faridabad (Haryana)to Ranchi (Jharkhand) in the face of strong protest from the workers against the sexual harassment of one women executive at Faridabad for the last few years. Her complaint to the higher officers were of to no avail.

Today, about 100 officials from Faridabad and Corporate office, a good number of them women workers, gate-crashed to the office of the Director (HR) and demanded immediate action against the Sr.GM for his harassment of the official, including 13 local transfers within a span of 2 years! At last the Director (HR) agreed to transfer the Sr.GM immediately and the order was issued then and there transferring him to Ranchi. The demand of the unions for suspension was also agreed, which will be issued after approval from the controlling authority, in this case, Minister. The Unions/Associations also demanded that the Sr.GM should be repatriated to DOT immediately.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU along with Com.M.S.Kadian, Circle Secretary, Haryana, Com. Kuldeep Singh, Asst. Treasurer, CHQ were also present along with the General Secretaries of AIGETOA, SNEA etc.

Hearty Congratulations to the workers for their relentless fight and success!

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Greece cuts 1,50,000 civil posts – strong protests

02 Thursday May 2013

Athens,april 29 :Greek lawmakers have passed a bill that will clear the way for 15,000 civil servants to be fired by the end of the next year to secure another 8.8 billion euros ($11.5 billion) in bailout funds. The Greek parliament approved the bill by 168 votes to 123 on Sunday. As legislators debated the measures inside parliament, several hundred demonstrators vociferously opposed the bill outside the parliament. They took part in a protest called by the civil service trade confederation, Adedy, and the private sector GSEE union. They were demonstrating against what the unions called “those politicians who are dismantling the public service and destroying the welfare state.” Critics say the law, which is part of a larger package of measures, will only add to Greece’s record unemployment rate of 27 percent. They say many of those who will lose their jobs are older workers already struggling to support their families and make ends meet. Under the new law, some 2,000 civil servants will lose their jobs by the end of June, another 2,000 by the end of the year, and a further 11,000 by the end of 2014. Greece t would see 150,000 state jobs go by the end of 2015. Eurozone finance ministers are expected to meet on May 16 Monday to decide on the next installment of aid for the cash-strapped Greek government. Greece has already received about 200 billion euros from the European Union and the International Monetary Fund since mid-2010. The European country has been at the epicenter of the eurozone debt crisis and is experiencing its sixth year of recession, while harsh austerity measures have left tens of thousands of people without jobs. Many Greek workers are currently unemployed, banks are in a shaky position, and pensions and salaries have been slashed. Greek youths have also been badly affected, and more than half of them are unemployed. (Courtsey: Ganashakti)

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BSNL must have a capable efficient management prepared to discuss with the workers

29 Monday Apr 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Uncategorized

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BSNL is in loss for the last four years. While it is mainly the anti-PSU and pro-private policy of the government responsible for the present unhappy situation, the top management is also responsible. It has to be pondered as a company functioning in the fast growing telecom sector, whether the management, within its limitations of course, has been able to introduce and implement new projects, new areas of growth or expand its functioning in the heartlands of the country as required? Instead of motivating and utilising its experienced workforce effectively,by providing them training and retraining continuously on the new technologies and business methods, the management has been converting them ineffective. Many of the top management functionaries  feel that the non-executive workers are a nuisance than an effective and vibrant work-force. Maximum time of these top officers are spent on their own career prospects than the interests of the company.

Towns/cities are growing in every part of the country. Lakhs and crores of telephones/mobiles are required. In fact the people want BSNL connections compared to that of private companies. But what is the actual position? BSNL is providing 3 to 4 lakh of mobile connections, while each of the private companies on an average provides above 20 lakh connections monthly. Is there any dearth of staff here? Leave alone the non-executives, who are treated as a burden to the company. There are about 60 thousands of well-trained engineers including the 1400 ITS officers. Is there any mobile company having so much highly skilled engineers? The top management has utterly failed to utilise the executives and the non-executives.

BSNLEU after much persuasion made the BSNL Management to form Works Committees at all SSAs as a Forum for discussion between the Unions and the local management to improve and expand the services. After two-three years, almost all the GMs have arbitrarily stopped holding the meetings of the committees. They do not want to benefit from the long experiences of and suggestions from the local work-force to develop the services. The management has again utterly failed to contact with the public, understand their requirements and act accordingly. Of course, there are some good field level management officers, and the best results are there to see.

A good number of SSAs are not having any head ie.GM at present, while many GMs are kept idle in the Circle headquarters. What is the idea is known only to the BSNL Management. Is it purposely starving the SSAs of their heads? Of course, shortage may be there. The fact is well-known years back. Why no recruitment at the top-level posts have not been done? Why it has been postponed year after year? It is only complete negligence to look after matters of the company.

The decision-making has been at the lowest. It takes months and months to take any decision at both the field and top-level. It seems that nobody is interested in taking decisions. In a sector like telecom, where fast developments take place, this is to say the least, suicidal.

The Corporate office always say that the circles are not giving the inputs, particulars etc. that are called for by the former. Whose fault it is? Those who are not implementing the directions of the C.O. should certainly be pulled and fixed responsiblity. But nothing ever happens like that.

A complete overhaul of the top management is required. BSNL management always complains to the unions about the increasing % of salary bills of the employees compared to the private companies. It is not the increasing of the salary bill, but it is the reducing of the revenue that has increased the %. The business is completely managed by the top management, even the suggestions of the workers are ignored and hence the entire responsiblity for the very low growth of the company or rather the decline compared to the past is of the management.

Whether the  BSNL Management is prepared to discuss the entire matter with the Unions and the workers as demanded by the latter and find out methods to improve and expand the services to the people. Whether the top management is prepared to stand with the unions and staff to pressurize the government to change its anti-BSNL policies and fight for the revival of the company. If they are prepared, there is very good chance of reviving the company and bringing it to its formal glory. Of course, the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations will make all out efforts for improving BSNL and its services, whether the management co-operates or not.

Red Salute to Chicago Martyrs !

28 Sunday Apr 2013

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HaymarketMartyrs127 years have passed  since the Hay Market (Chicago) massacre and hanging of trade union leaders August Spies, Adolph Fisher, Albert Parsons and George Engel. It was on 11th November 1887 that these comrades were hanged by the US colonialist rulers who wanted to protect the interests of the capitalists and exploiters. When they were being marched to the gallows they sang the Marseillaise, the international revolutionary anthem of the period. Before being hanged August Spies stated: “The time will come when our silence will be more powerful than the voices you strangle today”. How prophetic! (The above photo includes  those chargesheeted in the Hay Market massacre inluding the four comrades who were hanged)

1st May, the day of  Chicago massacre in 1886, is observed /celebrated as May Day, International Working Class Day, in memory of the workers struggle and the martyrdom.

The working class world over will ever remember their great sacrifice. My Red Salute to the Chicago Martyrs!

Recognition orders of BSNLEU & NFTE issued

26 Friday Apr 2013

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BSNL Management has issued orders granting recognition to BSNLEU as the Main Recognised  Representative Union and NFTE as Second Representative Union based on the % of votes. The order is put on BSNLEU website.

Left Parties plan all- India campaigns

25 Thursday Apr 2013

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New Delhi, Apr 25 : Amid talk of early general elections, Left parties today decided to step up all-India campaigns on some crucial issues as part of their strategy to jointly intervene in the evolving political scenario and provide an alternative platform against Congress and BJP.

Top leaders of the four parties met and decided to organise an all-India political convention here in the firstweek of July to work out the next steps in this regard.

The hour-long meeting was attended by Prakash Karat (CPI-M), D Raja, S Sudhakar Reddy (both CPI), Debabrata Biswas, G Devarajan (both Forward Bloc) and Abani Roy (RSP).

“At this convention, we will discuss the emerging political scenario and how the Left parties, as a united group, could intervene. The convention will also set out the tasks before these parties,” Raja told PTI after the meeting.                 Biswas, the Forward Bloc General Secretary, also said the Left parties, through this convention which would be attended by activists of Left parties from across the country, would “unitedly provide an alternative to the BJP and the Congress”.

An agenda on the alternative policy platform would be adopted at the convention which would also work out the future course of action, Biswas said.

The Left parties have already decided to work for the creation of a non-Congress, non-BJP formation which would adhere to a policy platform as an alternative to the ‘neo- liberal’ policies pursued and supported by the two major parties.

This was the second meeting of the Left leaders in as many weeks. At the last meeting, they had opposed thecrucial Land Acquisition Bill and demanded that it be referred back to the Standing Committee or a Joint Select Committee.