The casual- contract workers in many centres all over the country organised demonstrations observing All India Protest Day today as per the call of the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation. BSNL Employees also participated in a big way in solidarity as per the call of BSNLEU. The demands include regularisation of left out casual labours. IDA wage for casual labours, minimum wage for contract workers and implementation of social security measures like EPF, ESI to all casual and contract workers.
It is high time that the BSNL management ensures that the field level offices are implementing the instructions and orders of the government and the BSNL on the above matters.

‘ The Supreme Court on Tuesday criticised the authorities for taking advantage of the ” colonial Law” on land acqusition to divest farmers of their prime farmland, benefitting the rich and paying “pittance” to the common man’- PTI
(Courtsey Hindu 6th July)
This fact is well known to all. What action the Supreme Court and the Government is going to take? Whether they will take any action at all?

In consultation with the General Secretaries of the JAC unions/associations, the Customer Delight Month has been extended for July 2011.During the period JAC has been able to make the management to issue several orders with regard to procuring of equipments etc. The work has started but it should be more seriously to be taken by the management and the workers.
The question of declaring 2011 as Customer Delight Year will be decided by the next meeting of the JAC to be held next week.The General Secretaries will be getting review reports from the Circle Secretaries to review the All India position about the progress so far.
Once we have started the programme it has to be fulfilled through successful implementation.

The Supreme Court has cleared the impeachment process against Justice Dinakaran, who is now the Chief Justice of Sikkim, for corruption, disprportionate assets, land grabbing etc. The present Chairman, NHRC and former Chief Justice of India Justice Balakrishnan is under cloud in connection with the report of huge amassment of wealth by his relatives during the period when he was the CJI. More similar cases of judges under the lens are coming out.
This is a very sad state of affairs. The judges and justices who have to uphold justice and truth are being involved themselves in injustice and falsehood. The corrupt system in the country is all embracing. Now the judges themselves are being judged!
The country has to wake up and ensure an end to this endless corruption.

Murali Deora, Minister of Corporate Affairs has offered to resign, as per paper reports. The CAG has already mentioned in his report about the loss to the exchequer in connection with the KG Basin oil exploration by approving the high increase in the production charges given by Reliance.
One more big scam is in the officg. Is it sufficient that the concerned Minister resigns? Has the Supreme Court has to intervene to ensure that serious criminal action is taken against the Minister and concerned officers as also against the Reliance for the cheating and loot of public money !

The comment by the Supreme Court about the inaction of the government in tracking the black money slashed in foreign banks and the appointment of Special Investigation Team (SIT) is most appropriate. Very well having all the informations on the black money, the government has been keeping silence helping those who are violating the law of the country.
What is the reason for this inaction? It must be that the culprits concerned are top people in business, politics and other influential sections. The government wants to save them. But today or tomorow the news will come out as in the case of 2G, CWG scams etc. Then the government will be in real trouble.

There seems to be no limit to the price of tea and coffee in the Airports. Earlier, about one year back,coffee and tea was available in Delhi Airport for Rs. 20 and Rs. 10/- respectively. Of course there were stalls selling for Rs. 40/- and Rs. 60/- also. After the modernisation of the Terminal 3, the prices have been increasing regularly.
Today when I was going to Bangalore from Delhi, before proceeding to the boarding, we went to the Cafe Coffee Day and asked for two tea. Oh! the bill was for Rs.200/! Rs 100/- for a cup of tea. A cup of Coffee costs Rs. 150/-. The earlier stalls selling for less price are all gone.
This is not the case of Delhi Airport alone. Most of the airports in the metros are having the same/ similar increased costs.
But there is another surprise. Last time I travelled in a low-priced airline, I ordered for a coffee. The Air Hostess gave one coffee and two delicious biscuits. And the price was only Rs.20/-
Rs. 20/ for a cup of coffee with biscuits in the plane and Rs. 150- in the airport!

BSNL CASUAL and CONTRACT WORKERS’ FEDERATION
K. G. BOSE SMRITEE BHAWAN
20A, Adwaita Mullick Lane, Kolkata – 700 006
Phone: (033) 2237-9450, 2530–2424, Mob: 09434759450

President: Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri Secretary General: Com. Tapas Kr. Ghosh

Press Release 04.07.2011

BSNL Casual and Contract workers on struggle

Casual and Contract workers numbering around one lakh, working in BSNL, the telecom PSU, will observe “All India Protest Day” on 7th July, 2011, protesting against non-payment of minimum wage, non-implementation of Social Security measures like EPF and ESI. They are also protesting against retrenchment of leaders and active workers of the Federation.

After sustained struggle, BSNL management has issued orders on payment of minimum wage etc, but they are not being implemented at field level. Only about half of the minimum wage is paid. EPF and ESI have not been implemented. These Casual/Contract labours are being exploited by the contractors and Corrupt Officers. There are about 4000 casual labours whose regularization is pending for the last 11 years despite govt. assurance and instructions in the matter.

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation has called upon the workers to observe Protest Day on 7th July, 2011 and organise Bharat Sanchar Bhawan March to BSNL Corporate Office on 11th August, 2011.

We urge the BSNL Management and the government to ensure implementation govt. / BSNL orders as mentioned above and resolve the long pending issues.

Sd/-
(V.A.N. Namboodiri)
President
Mobile No: 9868231431

It is reported that there has been no consensus on the Lok Pal Bill in the all party meeting held on 3rd July. But all the parties agreed that there is a need for a strong Lok Pal Bill.
what is the role that the UPA II and BJP, the main opposition party, will take is most important. It seems that since these are the two parties who have been in power so long, they may try to make it a weak and ineffective Lok Pal since it is against those in power that the Lok Pal will have to mainly act. This monsoon session of Parliament will see many interesting scenes.

America declared its independence from the Britishers on 4th July 1776. The battles it had fought with British rulers are history. After independence also there were serious battles between the South and the North on the issue of slavery. United States of America is one country which was not seriously and directly hit either in the First World War or the Second World War. This helped USA to improve its finances, while most of the other capitalist countries lost lakhs of their people as also wealth. This resulted along with other reasons for USA’s rising up as the number one global force.
USA wrested independence from the British through hard battles. But the same USA is now destroying the independence of other countries using its mighty military force. The people of USA has to remember the spirit of independence and also pressurise upon its government to change its wrong policies.