07 Tuesday May 2013
Posted in P&T TU History, Uncategorized
Tags
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.
03 Friday May 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
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!
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)
Posted by VAN NAMBOODIRI | Filed under Uncategorized
29 Monday Apr 2013
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Uncategorized
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.
28 Sunday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - International, Uncategorized
127 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!
26 Friday Apr 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
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.
25 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in Left News, Uncategorized
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.
21 Sunday Apr 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
It is reported that the Home Ministry has asked the Central Reserve Police Force(CRPF), which leads the anti-terrorist operations, to provide ‘Z’ category security to Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in the country. This category security includes pilot and follow-on vehicles with commandos equipped with sophisticated weapons. There will be 28 CRPF jawans in the team. Mukesh will be given round-the-clock security.
It seems that this is for the first time that CRPF protection is being given to any private individual. The protection is reportedly being given on the basis of some threat call received by Ambani. In addition to his personal protection, the 27 storeyed palace ‘Antilia’, where he stays in Mumbai also will be given CRPF protection.
The Police force has not sufficient staff even to parole and attend to the daily duties. But a private individual is being given such top priority security employing 28 CRPF personnel. This is outrageous. I am afraid that this is only the starting point. Within a short period all the billionaires and millionaires will be asking for CRPF protection and the government will agree. How shameful!
18 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in BSNLEU, Uncategorized
Once again BSNL Employees Union has won the VI Membership Verification with huge margin. Out of the total 204468 votes BSNLEU got 99,380 votes and won with 48.6 %. NFTE came second with 61,915 votes with 30.28% and FNTO with 14,088 votes and 6.89%. BSNLEU and NFTE will get recognition and seats in the council, but FNTO will neithr get recognition nor seats. FNTO and BTEU(BSNL)with 2.2% votes will get certain limited trade union facilities.
BSNLEU got its percentage of votes increased from 46.57% in the last verification to 48.6% this time. It won in ALTTC, Haryana, Punjab, Chennai, Gujarat etc. where it failed in the last verification and increased its voting % in almost all the circles. If the % is calculated on the polled votes as is the case in all elections, it will be 51.45%, more than 50% of the polled votes. It is a great victory. The council seats will be calculated on the % of votes received by BSNLEU and NFTE.
I congratulate all the comrades who have made all efforts in support of BSNLEU and thank them. I also greet our alliance partners in United Forum who made this great victory.
18 Thursday Apr 2013
Tags
On this day, 18th April, in 1991, Kerala was declared as 100% literate state. But our country is not yet fully literate.
Even after more than six decades of independence, India is lagging far behind in literacy among the many countries in the world. As per 2011 census report, the literacy rate is only 74%, while the world average is 84%. India has also got the largest number of illiterate people in the world. Kerala is the first fully literate State while Bihar lags with only 65% literates.
There are many reasons for this sad situation. Mainly it is the neglect by the Central and state governments. Being literate, getting knowledge, is empowerment. The ruling class does not want the common people to become empowered, since it will be against its vested interest of exploiting the people.
The society has to make the government to act effectively to increase and make full literacy. More funds should be allotted to education, schools should be built in every villages, food to be supplied to poor children, books should be made available and so on. Education is the basic right of the people and the governments have to act.
In this connection, we have to congratulate Kerala State, where in 1991,it was declared fully literate. On the basis of a people oriented planning by the Left Front Government and with the support and voluntary efforts of tens of thousands of educated youth and workers for a period of more than one year, this great achievement could be made. This is possible by other states also.
A massive movement is required to remove the darkness of illiteracy from this country of ours.
