BSNL is facing a serious situation with regard to its finance as also development. Its market share has gone down. Unfortunately in this critical situation, it is ironical that 50% posts of Directors are waiting. Out of six posts of Directors, only three are filled. After retirement of S.D.Saxena, Director (Finance) two years back, the post is still vacant. Shri Kuldeep Goyal,CMD retired a few months back, the post is vacant. Another post is also vacant. 

What is the intention of the Government in keeping these posts vacant ? To make it a headless company?

The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Unions / Associations  which met today, 29th November 2010, reviewed the meeting with the CMD on 26th November and meeting with the Regional Labour Commissioner held today. The JAC felt the management has been dealing with the issues in a casual way  and there has not been any break through in the talks. In the meeting with the RLC also the management was non-committal. As such, the JAC decided to fully proceed with its preparations for strike. It was decided that all the General Secretaries should contact their Circle Secretaries immediately and ensure joint action for strike at all levels.

The RLC has called for another meeting with the management and JAC tomorrow.

Except in the First Membership verification, almost all major unions contested independently, it was a straight contest between BSLEU Alliance and NFTE Alliance, in all of which BSNLEU won with good margin. Even after FNTO, which was an ally of BSNLEU (United Forum), deserted and joined NFTE alliance, United Forum won with more than 28,000 votes difference. FNTO’s aspiration to be the king-maker fell flat. It seems that after NFTE turned down the request of FNTO to contest in the latter’s name, FNTO is contesting in its own name with the support of certain small unions.

Thus it is a triangular contest. Nobody has got any doubt about the results. BSNLEU Alliance is going to win with more than 60% and good margin. This does not mean that we dont require preparations. Instead, we should make all preparations, so that we  get  still more votes and win with further margin.

The notice fo strike was served on the management more than 6 weeks back. But the management did not find time to discuss on these issues til now. All of a sudden intimation was received on Friday (26th November) that a meeting with JAC is fixed at 1430 hours on the same day. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JAC and some General Secretaries were on tour and out of Delhi. Still Convener authorised the General Secretaries and representatives available at New Delhi to meet and discuss. Comrades P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, P.Asoka Babu, Dy. GS,  K.R.Yadav, Vice-President, Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA and others attended. CMD explained the management position only. Since there was no satisfactory proposals, the discussion ended without any result.

The JAC has called upon the leaders and workers to accelerate the preparations for the strike. Many PSU organisations have expressed their solidarity and support to the strike. Let us march ahead to a mighty strike which will compel the Government and management to acceede to our genuine demands.

It is not only actual smoking that kills. Even second-hand smoking kills! A study conducted by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and Bloomberg Philanthrophies reveals that more than 6,00,000 people die yearly due to second-hand smoking, meaning those who are  near the smokers and getting the smoke in their lungs etc. The children and women are also affected in very large numbers. There is no other way but to completely stop smoking. No small small measures will do.

The demand of the employees organisations in the Indian Labour Conference meeting held on 23-24 November 2010 at New Delhi that contract workers should be paid wages equal to the regular workers and also leave, LTC etc. has been rejected by the employers. “We do not want to give facilities such as a five days week or LTC to contract workers “, Secretary, Employers Association, Delhi stated.

The central trade unions are also demanding regularisation of of contract workers.  Thousands of contract workers are engaged to do the work of permanent employees with less wages and without any social security measures. The unions are demanding that all social security measures be implemented.

The Central Trade Unions have already called for a Parliament March on 23rd February 2011 on the 5 point demands which includes the demands of the contract workers also.