It is not the politicians alone that is hard hit by the scams and corruption. In connection with the 2G scam, many CEOs and Board Directors have been charged and are under custody/ or on bail. What is happening under the neo-liberalisation policy and the so-called reforms is coming out one after another. Heads of many CEOs/Directors are being rolled.

As per media reports, many had already lost their jobs. Ravi Ruia, high profiled Chairman of Essar Energy, had to resign after the CBI caught him in a case involving Essar Group and Loop Telecom. Dr. J.J.Irani, another high-profile Managing Director of Tata Steel and other Tata companies had to quit following  arrest of another Managing Director (Everon company)  for bribing the Income Tax officials and evading tax.  Vikram Akula, Executive Chairman of SKS Microfinance was compelled to resign after the company posted big loss in the last quarter ending September 2011. Another Director of the same company, Pramod Bhasin, was also fired for the loss. Shahid Balwa and Chandan Bhattacharya, Managing Director and director of the DB Realty had to quit in connection with the 2G scam. Joint Managing Director and CEO of JSW Energy, Lailt Kumar Gupta had to resign from the company.

It is reported that more than 500 CEOs/Directors/Independent Directors of private companies have been compelled to quit in the recent months for one reason or other. This raises a reasonable question the workers have been raising many times. There is big corruption at high levels. As and when it suits the company, they continue. But when it is exposed or is working against the company, they are fired.  Those who are criticising the Public Sector should take not e of the above fact.

Again, when there is loss to the private companies, the CEOs/Directors are fired. What about the PSUs?. When there is profit, the top management is awarded. But when there is loss, the workers are fired under VRS. If management is credited when there is profit, they are also responsible for the loss and has to be fired.

The Central Board of Trustees of the EPFO, which met yesterday failed to take a decision on the interest rate of EPF for the year 2011-12, due to differences between the government, employers and the employees. The Advisory Body of EPFO, Finance and Investment Committee (FIC) had suggested 8.25% interest for 2011-12, stating that more than that will not be possible as per the present financial situation of the EPFO. The employers were in support of the same.

The representatives of the Unions strongly contended this and demanded that like last year it should be 9.5%. They pointed out that the interest on the inoperative accounts coming to hundreds of crore rupees be transferred to active subscribers and also pointed out the estimated error, which if corrected, will get more % for the interest rates. They also pointed out that how can EPFO pay less than the 8.6% interest which is offered by the government unde the Public Provident Fund Scheme(PPFS). No decision could be taken in the meeting in view of the sharp differences. The issue may now be referred to the Finance Ministry.

The trade Unions can not agree for a reduced % of interest when the interest rates on borrowings, deposits are increasing. The present proposed cut is one more attack on the hard earned money of the workers. It has got to be resisted.

On the eve of X-Mas and New Year 2012, I wish all my Comrades, Friends and Well Wishers

A VERY HAPPY X-MAS AND NEW YEAR!  LET THE NEW YEAR BE A YEAR OF JOY, SUCCESS AND SATISFACTION!

V.A.N.NAMBOODIRI

The demands focussed in the 28th February Strike are:

1. Concrete measures to contain price rise 2) Concrete measures for linkage of employment protection with the concession/incentive package offered to the entrepreneurs 3) Strict Enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of labour laws 4) universal social  security cover for the unorganised sector workers without any restriction and creation of a National Social Security Fund with adequate resources in line with the recommendations of NECUS and Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour  5) Stoppage of disinvestment in Central and State PSUs 6) No contractorisation of work of permanent / perennial nature and payment of wages and benefits to the contract workers at the same rate as available to the regular workers of the industry / establishment 7) Amendment of Minimum Wages Act to ensure universal coverage irrespective of the schedules and fixation of statutory minimum wages at not less than Rs. 1,000/- 8) Remove all ceilings on payment and eligibility of Bonus, Provident Fund: increase the quantum of gratuity 9) Assured Pension for all and 10)Compulsory Registration of trade unions within a period of 45 days and immediate rectification of the ILO Conventions numbers 87 and 98.

These covers the main demands of the workers in almost all sections. These demands should be propagated with details by the leaders at all levels in preparation for the strike on 28th February 2012

The Convention called by the Central Trade Unions to discuss about the one day strike on 28th February 2012 at New Delhi was attended by a large number of Federations / Unions in addition to the Central Trade Unions viz. INTUC, AITUC, CITU, HMS, BMS, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, LPF and SEWA. Shri G.Sanjeeva Reddy, President, INTUC presided and briefed the house about the decision for strike on 28th February and invited delegates to make suggestions for making it a grand success. The leaders of the Federations / Unions including Railways, Defence, Central Government / State government and other public and private sector, addressed the house. On behalf of BSNLEU, Com. P.Abhimanyu and on behalf    of BSNLCCWF Myself spoke and supported the strike decision and assured that the BSNL workers and Casual/contract workers will fully participate in the strike.

Com. Tapan Sen, GS, CITU,  concluding the discussion proposed to hold State level Conventions  to prepare the workers for the strike and to give maximum propaganda amongst the people.

For the BSNL and Casual and Contract workers, extra propaganda and campaign are required since they have already gone on a one day strike recently on 15th December. Effort should also be made to bring all the executive and non-executive associations/unions in this strike. I have already discussed this issue with the Central TU leaders with regard to their affiliated unions in BSNL. I had discussions with the unions in MTNL also.

Let us put all our efforts to make the strike a big success and a warning to the government that if the demands are not settled, further agitations will continue.

The EPF Organisation is probably acting on the direction of the government to reduce the interest rates on EPF. It accepted the demand of the Unions for increase from 8.5% to 9.5% last year , which was opposed and criticised by the employers and big business. These managements and  business concern seem to have succeeded in pressurizing the government to reduce the interest this year.

The Unions have pointed out that the EPFO is not being transparent in that all the details of the savings, interests etc are not revealed. They point out that there are about Rs. 15,000 crore deposits in EPF which are inoperative accounts an on April 2011. The EPF has not revealed how much interest it has got on these accounts. It is  to be added for finalising the EPF interest for the subscribers. Further, when Bank, Post Office interest rates are going up, how the EPF interest can be reduced?

As mentioned earlier, there is clear justification for increasing and not reducing the EPF interest.

The decision of the DOT that provision of  3G services in circles without licences by roaming arrangements between by certain private telecom companies , is  illegal is welcome.  See below how the private telcos have violated the conditions and cheated the government and the people:

Company          No. of circles with spectrum       No of circle provided 3G

1. Bharti Airtel                    13                                          20

2. Vodafone                           9                                          20

3. Idea Cellular                    11                                           19

But it has taken a lot of time for taking the decision. DOT was seen as reluctant to take such a decision. But whether putting a stop to the services is sufficient. Not at all. For violation of laws and cheating the government and the people, penalty should be imposed on these companies, licences should be cancelled and criminal proceedings initiated.

Will the DOT take such a step. The Unions have to demand for such action, which will benefit the BSNL and the country.

As per TRAI statistics for September 2011, the country has reached a teledensity of 75.48%. It is 166.01 % in urban areas which means that a good number of customers are having more than 1 or 2 telephones. It is only 36.40 % in rural area which is very low.

The total Wireline (landline) connections are 3.33 crore out of which 2.36 crore ( 71.08% market share) belong to BSNL.

In the wireless sector Bharti Airtel is the leader with 17.27 crore connections ( 19.78% market share), followed by Reliance with 14.70 crore ( 16.84%), Vodafone with 14.49 crore (16.60%), Idea with 10.01 crore ( 11.47%) and BSNL with 9.57 crore connections( 10.16% market share.)

In total connections Bharti Airtel again leads with 17.61 crore connections ( 19.42%) followed by Reliance with 14.83 crore (!6.36%), Vodafone with 14.49 crore ( 15.99%) BSNL with 11.94 crore ( 13.17%) and Idea with 9.01 crore ( 11.05 %).

In this scenario, BSNL has to work very very hard to increase its connections and improve the share market. In addition to the change in the anti-PSU policy of the government and mismanagement, the workers have to be very hard-working for improvement and better service.

The Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) has started conciliation in connection with the demands raised by the JAC on the 15th December Strike. The meeting was held today, 22nd December 2011, at the office of the CLC, in Shram Shakti Bhawan. From BSNL, A.N. Rai, Director (HR), N.K.Narang, PGM(SR) and others participated. From the JAC, in addition to myself as the Convener, JAC, General secretaries P.Abhimanyu (BSNLEU), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS) and  other leaders participated. DOT was  represented by Jt.DDG.

The JAC leaders clearly explained their demands with full justification. BSNL management gave its views in the matter. The meeting was inconclusive. The next meeting will be held at 11.00 hours on 31st January 2011.

The meeting had its significance since the conciliation was upgraded from the RLC to CLC, which was demanded by the JAC. Since the issues are all India based, the conciliation was with CLC earlier, which was transferred to RLC later. Other requests of the JAC that the BSNL should be represented by officer/s authorised to take decisions and that DOT also should be represented since issues where DOT has to take decisions are also accepted and implemented by today’s meeting.

The Delhi High Court has confirmed the 3 years imprisonment of Sukh Ram, former Communications Minister, in the case of undue favour shown to a private company, in awarding contract for supply of telecom equipment, while he was the Minister. Ms. Runu Ghosh, former DDG in DOT as also the Managing Director of Advanced Radio Masts, P.Rama Rao were convicted jail sentences in the same case. The High Court has directed all the  three to surrender before the trial court to serve their sentences.

It is to be noted that since the introduction of the Neo-liberal policies and so called Reforms in India, the telecom sector has been witness to continuous scams and corrupt practices.