I was in Assam from 24th to 25th May. I visited Bongaigaon and Guwahati and addressed meetings of the BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF. I had detailed discussions with the leaders of BSNLEU, AIBSNLEA and SNEA, affiliates of the Joint Action Committee, on the actions to be taken to fully implement the programmes like “Customer Delight Month” and other programmes going to be given by the JAC. It was very fruitful and I was able to get a lot of information regarding the special conditions of Assam.
First I went to Guwahati by flight on 23rd May from Delhi and reached there by night. Early next morning along with Com. Bijoy Deka, Circle Secretary BSNLEU, Bikash Baruah, Circle Secretary and Circle Organising Secretary, BSNLEU I started for Bongaigaon and reached there by about 11.00 hours. We received by a large number of comrades. A meeting of the JAC leaders were held in the Union office, which was attended by the Circle and SSA leaders of the JAC Unions. The present situation and the ways and means of how to improve the services were discussed and plans made for the same. In the meanwhile it was brought to my notice that the GM was victimising the executive associations and other leaders on one count or other and the demand was made that the GM should be got transferred.
The convention of JAC held at the Railway Union Office at about 1300 hours was participated by hundreds of workers. The hall was packed to the full and workers were standing outside and in the compound. All the leaders of the JAC as also JCTU addressed the meeting. I explained in detail about the present position of the BSNL and the programmes of the JAC and the necessity to implement them effectively. The issues of the Casual and Contract Labour as also the BSNL retirees were focussed. The anti-working class policy of the government has to be fought and defeated. Comrade R.S.Ray presided and the meeting was addressed by Coms. D.C.Paul, Convener JAC, Bijoy Deka, CS BSNLEU, Bikesh Baruah, CS BSNLCCWF, J.K.Dhar, DS SNEA, Janmin Ali DS BSNLEA, Adhikary, Org. Secretary SNEA, DS AIBSNLEA Sanjiv Deb JCTU, Sadin Sikdar, JCTU and other leaders.The meeting was very successful. There is good co-ordination amongst the JAC constituents. The recent agitation by the casual and contract workers were fully supported by the Executive Associations and BSNLEU which resulted in the increase in wages. BY about 1630 hours we returned and reached Guwahati by about 2130 hours.
The joint meeting of BSNLEU, BSNLCCWF and AIBDPA started at 1000 hours on 25th May in the Conference Hall at Guwahati. A large number of workers were present. It was presided by over by a presidium consisting of all the Circle Presidents of unions viz. Manabindra Saha (AIBDPA), Dayal Bauah (BSNLEU) and Bijoy Deka (BSNLCCWF). I spoke in length on all the issues of Retired Employees, Casual and Contract workers, regular employees and the call of the JAC to improve the services. Comrades S.N.Sarma Circle Secretary AIBDPA, Vikas Baruah CS BSNLCCWF, Ambika Bezbaruah and other leaders addressed. Clarifications were given by me to the doubts and questions raised.
A separate meeting of the circle and district leaders of BSNLEU, AIBSNLEA and SNEA was held and detailed discussion took place and the road blocks in the developmental activities and how to overcome them so that the services are improved and more connections provided. Comrades R.Dutta Choudhary AIBSNLEA, K.K.Das AIBSNLEA, I.H.Mandal SNEA, MR Das, JAC and other leaders actively participated in the discussions. It was decided to continue the customer Delight Month more effectively. By the time all the meetings were over it was about 1700 hours.
The two days programmes in Assam were very effective. Assam is one circle where BSNLEU has always been the number one union of the non-executives with about 90% support. It has always implemented the CHQ programmes effectively. There are a large number of committed and dedicated leaders and workers. Thanks to all the union functionaries of Assam.

I will be proceeding to Assam to-day to attend the meetings of the BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF at Bongaigaon, Guwahati and Dimapur. Agitation of the Casual and Contract Workers are going on in Assam to get the minimum wages etc. Further report later.

The Call of the Joint Action Committee to observe May 2011 as Customer Delight Month has been an apt and appropriate decision to improve the services and strengthen BSNL. The reports received from the fields indicate that except in few circles, the programme is yet to start in an effective manner. In some other circles it is being implemented very effectively. The main thing is that the ordinary workers have started understanding the grim situation and is trying to improve the work culture and service. This is a good sign.
It is therefore necessary that the National JAC takes a decision to extend this programme to a few months more.

This is a personal appeal to all the BSNL workers and their unions to help the casual and contract labour in getting justice from the hands of the BSNL Management and the contractors who are employing them.
As per present Labour Acts as also the orders issued by the Government and BSNL Corporate Office, Casual and Contract Labour engaged for works in the BSNL are eligible for getting the minimum wage, social security measures like EPF & ESI, maintaing records of their engagements etc. However, the situation in the field is a different story. In most of the places the labours are paid about half of the minimum wages, social security measures are not implemented and and hire and fore is going on. Those who demand wages or for their other rights are retrenched. It is shameful that in a prestigious PSU like BSNL, where strong and militant trade unions are there, this kind of exploitation of labour is taking place.
This can be changed only if the regular workerss’ unions take up and fight against this injustice. I would, therefore, request all the leaders and workers of the existing unions to take up this issue in right earnest and help the exploited casual and contract labour who are working at your place.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is one of the biggest international financial institutions which was formed afer the II World War in 1945 at Bretton Woods to facilitate international trade, high employment, reduce the poverty around the world etc. But what is the actual situation. It has been used by the Developed countries like US to implement their agenda.
The latest scandal about its Managing Director, Dominique Strauss-Kahn ( shortly called DSK) about raping a chamber maid in the hotel room and him being arrested and put in jail is bringng more and more unfavourable news about the functioning of IMF. It is stated that the women employees are not safe from the sexual advance of the male superior officers.The extravagant pay scales of top level management has surprised all. In the name of helping the developing countries not only the IMF is acting in the interests of the capitalist countries but is also violating human rights and rules. High level enquiry should be conducted on the functioning of the IMF itself.

A paper prepared by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) wants to take away trade union rights of the workers employed in the National Manufactuing and Investment Zones (NMIZ). These NMIZs are being created in the pattern of the Special Economic Zones (SEZ) already in existence.
The paper proposes to exempt the NMIZs from the various Labour Acts of the Government viz.The Factory Act, The Industrial Disputes Act, The Trade Union Act, The Gratuity Act, The Provident Fund Act, The Employees State Insurance Act etc.All the labour issues will be dealt by the NMIZ itself which can create its own conciliation and compensation mechanism etc.
The paper also recommends three shifts for women workers, freedom to hire and fire, no compulsion to implement social security measures like EPF, ESI etc., In short this will be nothing less than the slave labour camps where you are compelled to work without any rights.
Despite the trade union acts, minimum wages etc., even in an organised sector like BSNL, the contract worker is denied of minimum wage, social secuity measures etc. In the Delhi Metro, which is a prestigious company, even half of the minimum wage is not actually paid. In such a situation what will happen in the NMIZs? It will be complete slavery.
The Central Trade Unions have to immediately expose this game of the government and stop it to save the workers from the slavery that is planned to garner more profits for the big corporates.

Mr. Ratan Tata, one of the biggest business tycoons in the country has crticised the biggest tycoon in the country, Mr. Mukesh Ambani for staying in a palatial 27 storey apartment, ‘Antilla’, at Mumbai. In an interview with ‘The Times’, the world famous daily, he is reported to have stated “It makes me wonder why some one would do that”. He also stated” The person who lives in there should be concerned about what he sees around him and ( asking) can he make a difference. If he is not, then it is sad because this country needs people to allocate some of their enormous wealth to finding out ways of mitigating the hardship that people have”.
Very interesting! Whether it is Tata, Ambanis or other big tycoons in the country, they have never cared for the ordinary people or the poor. Their only one target was to get more and more profits. I don’t say these people had not contributed any thing for the country. But it is not even 0 . 001 % of their profit. And even that was to get names for them or to avoid taxes or get concessions. Now one of them has started criticising the others. Well and good.
Will all these tycoons and big business people, including Tata have a self critical analysis of what they have done to the poor and the ordinary people? (based on a report in Economic Times 22-05-2011)

NFTE and FNTO are not participating in the meetings of the Joint Action Committee for some time past. NFTE and its allies have intimated that they will not be part of the JAC since there are some differences with BSNLEU. This is not logical since different unions will have different opinion on many matters and still they can come together on common issue of workers as in the case of the Central Trade Unions. FNTO has informed that they are not participating now, but they will implement the decision of the JAC based on issue to issue.
The three lakh BSNL workers as also the company itself is facing serious challenges and it is the time to jointly make all efforts for strengthening the organisation. There can not be any different opinion on the matter. In the same way no union can have any difference on the programme chalked out by the JAC to observe May month as ‘Customer Delight Month’ and ensure that BSNL is able to provide a better service and get the support of the people. But unfortunately NFTE has not come forward to work jointly. FNTO units in some places are joining with the common platform.
As Convener of the JAC I personally request these unions to come back to the JAC and work together for the common cause. It is the call of the time.

The leaders of the Joint Action Committee met Sri Garg, Director (HR), BSNL today, 20th May and discussed about the issues which had to be sorted out to improve the service and to strengthen BSNL. The suggestions given by the JAC were discussed and mostly agreed by the Director(HR). The details of the discussion will be published later.

Shri R.K.Upadhyay, newly appointed CMD BSNL has stated that he is working with MTNL officers to streamline their businesses and synergising the operations. This may be part of the preparation for a later merger of the two telecom PSUs.
Joint Action Committee of the BSNL Unions/Associations have already indicated its opinion on the issue of merger of BSNL-MTNL. While it welcomes the proposal, there are certain issues like disinvestment of MTNL etc. to sorted out.