19 years back on this day, 23rd December 1919, Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as the President of the great Soviet Union and dismantled the USSR. This was a sad day for the entire working class and progressive forces all over the world who have been looking towards the USSR as the bulwark against capitalism and the reactionary forces.  

It was a set back, of course. It was a hard lesson learnt. But socialist and communist forces are advancing. China has become stronger and is an economic giant only next to USA. The Latin Countries are arising opposing capitalist and imperialist forces. Cuba has survived years of economic blockade by the USA and its allies. Vietnam and North Korea are growing strong.  More and more people from their own experience are realising the true nature of capitalism. The future days will see the victory of socialism over capitalism.

Communications & IT Minister  Kapil Sibal met the heads of the major private telecom companies on 21st December 2010 and discussed about their concerns in view of the reactions due to 2G spectrum scam and its fall outs.  Since the issues are concerning the private companies, immediate discussion took place by the Minister. But in the case of PSU companies, BSNL & MTNL, where there are many serious concerns, there is no discussion either with the unions or the managements how to sort out them. Even when a complete strike took place from 1st December 2010, there was no meeting by the Communications Minister or State Minister with the Unions.

Govt.  repeats every time that there is an equal field. But what is the truth? Always private companies are given special treatment and discrimination to PSUs.

The National Executive Committee meeting of the National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA) held at New Delhi today ( 22-12-2010) has decided to join the Parliament March on 23rd February 2011 called by the Central Trade Unions opposing price strike, disinvestment& privatisation, as also demanding settlement of the issues of the unorganised workers, demanding the government to stop anti-worker policies etc.  State units as also affiliated associations are requested to prepare for the same.

Com.RL Bhattacharjee, president presided. Com.S.K.Vyas. Secretary, NCCPA briefed the developments. Com.VAN Namboodiri, Patron NCCPA and Advisor AIBDPA participated and declared support of AIBDPA to the programmes.

The Contract Workers Demand Day was organised on 21st December 2010 in many centres all over India as per the call of the All India Co-ordination Committee of Public Sector Trade Unions. BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Federation had endorsed  the call. Demonstrations were conducted in front of BSNL offices under the auspices of BSNLEU and BSNL C&CWF.

The demands included the regularaisation of left out casual labours, payment of the minimum wages to contract workers and also implementation of the social security benefits to both the casual and contrat workers.

The President, Pratibha Patil issued orders on 21st December suspending B.S.Lalli, Chief Executive Officer,  Prasar Bharti on charges of irregularities, misbehaviour etc. The allegations are connected with the allotment of broadcasting rights in the Commonwealth Games also.

But it was only after the Delhi High Court seriously and adversely commented upon the CEO, that action has been taken. The fact is that the CEOs etc. are selected not on the merits but on extraneous considerations. The Public Sectors are not the priorities of the Government. The government inaction has resulted in three vacancies being unfilled in the BSNL, one of the biggest PSUs in the country for more than half a year. The post of Director(Finance) is vacant for about two years! What has happened to the PSUs ‘The Temples of Modern India’ as per Pandit Jawaharlal,  under the UPA-II Government ! The NDA government raised the infamous slogan ‘Business is not the business of the Government’. UPA government is following it faithfully, rather more aggressively than the NDA.

The National Executive committee meeting of National Co-Ordination Committee of Pensioners Associations(NCCPA) will meet at New Delhi on 22nd December 2010 to discuss the issues of Government and BSNL pensioners and to chalk out programmes of action. Since General Secretary of AIBDPA, Com. KG Jayaraj is out of station, Com. VAN Namboodiri, Advisor will attend the meeting.

Committee of Public Sector Trade Unions (CPSTU) has called upon all its units to massively participate in the Parliament March on 23rd February 2011 called by the Central Trade unions on the five points charter,  against price rise, disinvestment and privatisation, on issues of the unorganised workers, against anti-worker policy of Government etc. 

This is in continuation of the All India Protest Day on 28th October 2009, Massive Dharna on 16th December 2009, Satyagraha/ Jail Bharao on 5th March 2010 and  one day strike on 7th September 2010 which was participated by about 10 crore of workers. BSNL Employees Union has been participant in all these programmes of action. It will also be participant in the massive Parliament March on 23rd February 2010. The CHQ will issue necessary instructions in the matter.

The meeting of the Governing Council of the Bharat Central Pensioners Confederation (BCPC), the umbrella organisation of the Central Pensioners held at New Delhi on 21st December 2010 decided to organise a Parliament March (the date of  which will be decided later), to focus the issues of the Central Government Pensioners including that of BSNL pensioners. It was also decided to organise a signature campaign from the pensioners which will be presented to the government.

The meeting was presided over by Com. S.S.Ramachandran, Chairman. The Secretary General, Com. Shyamsunder presented  the issues of the Charter of Demands. The issues of the BSNL-DOT pensioners, which were raised by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA were included in the  Charter of Demands.

The market share of Air-India (domestic services) has come down resulting down grading from 3rd to 4th position. As per the passenger  numbers list released by the Director General of Civil Aviation, Jet Airways leads with 2.2% followed by King Fisher ( 19.1%) and  Indigo (17.3%). Air India is in fourth position with 17.1%.

The step motherly treatment meted by the Government  as also the mismanagement has resulted in the downfall, as is the case with BSNL.  When the owner, the government, itself is working against the interests of the company how it can advance in the cut throat competition?

While the Indian coal companies are reaping huge profits and the IPO for Coal India Limited has garnered good money, it is the workers who are being treated shabbily with very low wages compared to international wages.

The work of the coal miners are very risky. Landslides, fire and such accidents often happen endangering their lives. Considering all these, the coal workers are getting better wages in other countries who are top coal producers. While a coal worker in Australia gets an average wage of $ 53.11 an hour and In UK $ 53.00, Indian worker gets only $ 0.63 an hour. What a huge disparity!     (based on a report in Times of India dated 20-12-9010)