The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/ Unions have given call for one day strike on 10th October 2011 on the main demands of the workers including those for improvind the services and financial viability of BSNL. A one day fast will be organised on 27th September. Further details on the website of unions.

The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Unions and Associations will be meeting tomorrow, 21st September to discuss about the new attacks on the BSNL workers and plan agitation programmes. It is being held when the BSNL management is proposing VRS/CRS to about one lakh workers.

Bringing back all the unions back to JAC is another aspect the meeting will discuss. After the recognised union, BSNLEU, has taken a decision in its executive, the chance for unity is increased.

We will oppose VRS tooth and nail
The BSNL Management is proposing VRS/CRS for about one lakh workers. It has already given a presentation to DOT on the proposed VRS. Today, Management called the recognised union, BSNLEU, and gave a presentation on VRS, justifying the same. Along with General Secretary P.Abhimanyu, Dy. General Secretary P.Asokababu, Asst. General Secretary G.B.Salakky, I was there. The proposals are based on the proposal of the DPE. In fact, the proposal has been made as per the recommendations of the BRPSE as also the Sam Pitroda Committee.
I pointed out that such proposals have been made earlier also and the same has been strongly opposed by all the unions and the same was dropped. Further despite three VRS, MTNL could not stop its decline. This is only part of the government’s move to reduce the staff in order to have an easy conversion to private.
Another aspect is that BSNL will not be able to function, if one lakh workers are sent out. The Management will either outsource the work or engage contract workers (both executive and non-executive) so that it can exploit the workers shamelessly.
Let us hope that all unions oppose the VRS proposals as was done earlier under the Joint Forum/Joint Action Comm

It was on this day, 19th September, 43 years back, the Central Government employees of the country created history by going on a One Day Token Strike which rocked the entire country and the government itself. The strike was only for one day, but the effect of the strike continued for years. None of the employees, who participated in the strike, will ever forget the hard experiences and the brutality of the government in dealing with the fully justified strike of the workers.
The five days strike of the Central Government employees in 1960 was suppressed by the government utilising all the anti-workers laws and brute police force. The demand for a need based minimum wage was denied. The Essential Services Maintenance Ordinance (ESMO) was issued for the first time in Independent India to crush the workers. The government thought that the workers will never come up again.
But within eight years, the workers organised another strike. This time it was for only one day, 19th September 1968. Learning from the 1960 experience, the strike was well planned. Leaders of the Confederation and the CGE Unions toured all over India and convinced the workers on the need to fight for their rights and demands including the minimum wage. Massive propaganda was made for the strike.
This time the Government issued the ESMO in advance and wanted the state governments to arrest, jail and take all punitive actions against the strikers. It issued orders to suspend, terminate and issue charge sheets and punish the employees going on strike. The ruling Congress party called to its cadres to help the police in arresting the strikers, act as witnesses etc. to punish the strikers. The government treated the strike as a civil rebellion.
But the lone Left Front Government at that time, the EMS Ministry in Kerala, refused to implement the ESMA in the state. The Central government even threatened that the ministry will be dismissed.
Even before the strike started, all India, circle and local level leaders and activists were arrested to prevent the strike. But huge majority of the workers went on strike completely paralysing the Government machinery. It hit back with arrests, retrenchment, termination, charge sheets and so on. It was only a one day token strike, but the victimisation was beyond imagination. Comrades like me were suspended and charge sheeted and was taken back only after a period of three years, that too after transferring out of the district to distant stations. Criminal cases were filed against us by the instructions of the central government, since the state government in Kerala refused to file cases.
The fight against the victimisation went for years together. But nobody left the union or went against it. They very well knew it was only due to the efforts of the union that the demands are achieved. They stood solidly with the union.
On the 43rd Anniversary of the historic 19th September strike, I pay respectful homage to those valiant comrades who became martyrs at the hands of the police and the government during the strike! I take this opportunity to call upon our workers to remember all those lakhs of comrades who were victimised in one way or other. All those comrades who were in service at time have since been retired
The workers struggles have always been tried to be suppressed by the government and the powers that be. But they will rise again like Phoenix. It happened after 1969 strike also. During the last 20 years alone, the Central Government employees and BSNL employees have gone on 13 strikes along with the Indian Working Class. That is the lesson of the history of the working class.

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU held at Jaipur from 16th to 18th September has called upon the workers to unite and fight against the attacks on the BSNL workers. The recent orders of BSNL reducing the facilities/benefits being enjoyed by the workers after sustained struggles, the new avatar of the VRS making all pressures on the workers to get themselves retrenched etc. has created a fear psychosis on the workers. The CEC decided to organise 3 days Hunger Strike starting from 27th September.

The CEC also called upon all the unions to come together under the umbrella of JAC and jointly fight to save BSNL and its workers.
The details of the CEC will be put on the BSNLEU website.

It is well known that people of Rajasthan are famous for their hospitality.
Rajasthan is the biggest state in the country by area, not population. As the name itself denotes, it is formed by merging a number of princely states at the time of Independence. The heroic fight by Rana Pratap and other kings against the foreign invaders are well known. The courage and the sacrifices of the Rajasthan rulers are well known. But at the same time traitors were also there, as are everywhere.
Jaipur, The Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan and a famous spot for the tourists all over the world. The Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, many forts and palaces, temples, Birla Bhawan etc. are some of the major attractions. There are a lot of tourist stations out of Jaipur also.
It is in this pink city that the meeting of the CEC of BSNL Employees Union was held from 16th to 18th of September 2011. Along with my wife, I attended the meeting. As President of the Union, I was fully engaged with the meeting and connected activities. As such I could not take her to tourist attractions except a short visit to the Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal and Birla Temple. Comrades GB Salakky, AGS and TA Biju office Secretary were with us.
The CEC meeting took important decisions both on the organisational as well on the settlement of urgent issues. The calm atmosphere of the Regional Telecom Training Centre, where it was held, had a healthy effect on the participants. The accommodation as well as food was arranged in the same complex which saved a lot of time.
More than all the above, the hospitality of the hosts was highly appreciated by all. From the moment the participants reached Jaipur either by bus, train or flight, the Reception Committee comrades under the capable leadership of Comrade Moti Ram Choudhary, Circle Secretary, Rajasthan were there to receive them, to take them to the RTTC and ensure all their conveniences. About fifty comrades in Union uniform were there to help the CEC members in every respect. All things were being arranged smoothly. The food was rich and tasty. Of course ghee, oil and sweets was there in good quantity as usual in Rajasthan. The delicious Rajasthan food was served along with their love and affection for the guests.
Till the time we returned to Delhi on the morning of 19 September up to the Railway Station Com.Moti Ram and his team were there with us. We had an excellent experience of the Rajasthan hospitality.
Thank You, Rajasthan Comrades!

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU being held at Jaipur is expected to take decisions for sustained struggle against the withdrawal/freezing of benefits with regards to medical allowance, encashment of leave and freezing of LTC. If we go by the trend of discussion this is going to be the decision.
Out of the 55 CEC members present, more than 50 comrades have placed their view on the report and other matters. The decision will be finalised tomorrow, the last day of the meeting.
All convenient arrangements have been made by the Reception Committee headed by Com. Moti Ram Choudhari, Circle Secretary.

The oil companies have decided to increase the petro prices again within three months.The increase in a litre of petrol in Rs.3.14 which will take one litre price to Rs. 66.84 in New Delhi.
And the comment of the Dy. Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia is that the price increase shows that the economy is going on in correct direction. If it is the correct direction, then again within one or two months there will be an addition increase. If this situation continues it will not be far away when a litre of petrol will cost Rs.100 !
When Rome is burning Nero plays the fiddle! The inhuman face of UPA II government is exposed!

BSNL is a public sector, the property of the government, the property of the people. The government has the responsibility and is duty bound to save and strengthen its own company.
Hence we suggest that the government should act immediately on the following lines;
1. The anount of Rs.18,501 collected towards 3 G and BWA spectrum from BSNL should be returned to BSNL.
2. ADC should continue and at least Rs. 3,000 crore to be paid annually from it to the BSNL
3. Licence Fee, taxes etc. should not be levied on BSNL till it becomes profitable
4. Liberal grant should be provided from USO Fund to BSNL
This will help BSNL to pass over the crisis and strengthen BSNL

BRPSRE Board, Communications Minister and DOT are continuously pressurising BSNL to improve the financial position of the BSNL and make it profitable. It is true that one of the reason for the present financial downgrade of the BSNL is the inefficiency of the management. But more than that, it is the wrong and anti-PSU policy of the government that is mainly responsible for the preent fiasco.
Look in to the following:
1. The govwernment at the time of corporatisation in order to ensure that the new PSU, BSNL function properly, it was assured that 1) Licence fee paid by the BSNL to government will be reimbursed ( about Rs. 3,000 crore) 2) the government will pay the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) collected from the private telcos to BSNL towards the losses incurred by BSNL for providing connections in villages and remote areas as per the commitment of the government and 3) allotment from Universal Service Obligation fund (USO Fund) for providing the universl telecom service. But all these assurances have been broken and at present only a very few amount only is being given to BSNL which is given to the private companies also.
2. The government ensured cleverly that all the funds available with the BSNL at the time of corporatisation (about Rs. 40,000 crore ) were taken away by it through imposing on the BSNL an imaginary loan of Rs.7,500 crore with unusually high interest while no loan was paid (and there was no need for a loan), confiscating about Rs.18,500 crore towards 3G and BWA Spectrum charges (even without giving it an opportunity to participate in the auction as allowed for private companies), compelling the PSU to pay high percentage of divident, taxes etc ( about Rs. 10,000 to 12,000 crore in a year).(Contd.)