RECEPTION COMMITTEE FOR AIBDPA AIC AT KOLKATTA FORMED

The circle branches of Kolkata Telephones, West Bengal, Telecom Factory & Stores,Kolkata and the affiliate, Centre of Retired Telecom Officers (CORTO) have taken up the responsibility of holding the 3rd Triennial All India Conference at Kolkata in March, 2019. A well attended meeting of representatives of various organisations held at Subarna Banik Samaj Hall, Kolkata on 22-05-2018 has formed an extensive Reception Committee for the successful conduct of the AIC.

The meeting was controlled by a presidium of Coms.Susanta Ghosh, Supriya Mitra and D.Basu. The Chief guest and main speaker was Com. Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharjee, an eminent lawer and Ex-Mayor of Kolkata, Municipal Corporation. Com.Sanjib Banerjee, Circle Secretary, Kolkata Telephones welcomed all the participants. A host of leaders including Coms. A.K.Bhattacharjee, Animesh Mitra, Biplab Das, Saibal Sengupta, Sisir Roy, Adhir Kr Sen, O.P.Singh, Arup Sarkar, Akhilesh Banerjee addressed the meeting. Com.Pijush Chakraborty, Circle Secretary, West Bengal presented the draft list of office bearers of the Reception Committee and approved by the meeting.

The main office bearers, elected, are as follows:

Chairman : Com. Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharjee

Working Chairmen : Coms. D. Basu, Susanta Ghosh and Supriya Mitra

Joint General Secretaries : Coms. Sanjib Banerjee and Pijush Chakraborty

Treasurer : Com.Adhir Kumar Sen.

Assistant Treasurers : Coms. P.M.Das and P.K.Nandi

AUAB DEFERS THE WALK OUT AND RALLY ON 28-05-2018

AUAB DEFERS THE WALK OUT AND RALLY ON 28-05-2018
The decision of All Unions and Associations of BSNL to organise walkout and rally on 28-05-2018 against separate tower company has been deferred after the CMD, BSNL gave a categorical assurance to the AUAB leaders in the discussion held on 24-05-2018 that tower company is not an item in the proposed Board meeting at Hyderabad on 28-05-2018.

Corporates are anti-people

Corporates pollute the environment – Do not care for the lives of the common people – brutal firing by police in Tamil Nadu, killing ten and seriously injuring more than hundred.
In yet another incident, which shows that the government machinery will go to any extent to defend the interests of the big corporates and the multinational companies, 10 innocent people have been killed, and more than a hundred people are seriously injured in the police firing yesterday, at Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu. The people in and around Tuticorin town have been conducting struggles, demanding closure of a copper smelter unit, belonging to the Sterlite company. This company is a part of the multinational Vedanta Group. This smelter unit has been causing serious health hazards to the people of Tuticorin city. Serious health problems like cancer, kidney ailments are being caused due to the pollution created by this smelter unit. This is yet another example which shows that big corporates have no care for the environment or the health of the people, but making big profits is only their ambition. BSNLEU strongly condemns the Tamil Nadu government for this brutal police firing. BSNLEU also strongly demands the immediate closure of Sterlite smelter unit at Tuticorin and appropriate compensation to the families of the victims and injured. (Courtesy: bsnleu website)

‘No propsal to merge BSNL-MTNL – Communications Minister

“There is no proposal to merge BSNL and MTNL. We had appointed a consultant to revive MTNL, who has given some recommendations. We are working on it,” the Communications Minister stated on the sidelines of a conference here.
But what is your plan for reviving both BSNL and MTNL? Naturally, no reply.

The government should plan to strengthen both the BSNL and MTNL, its own companies.

Remembering Com. Moni Bose

19th May 2018 is the 8th death anniversary of Com. Moni Bose, veteran leader of P and T employees and the first patron of BSNLEU. He left us on 19th May 2010.

Since his entry in the the P and T department in 1945, he has been fully engaged with the union activities along with his elder brother and historical figure Com. K.G.Bose. He was terminated in connection with the 1949 strike and was never taken back in service. But his life was fully dedicated to the service of the P and T workers and led the movement as Circle Secretary of E.III Union W.Bengal Circle. In 1991, he was elected as the General Secretary of E.III Union, defeating Com.O.P.Gupta, who has been the GS Of the union since its inception in 1954. Later he was elected as the President in 1994. Com. Moni fought for the correct policy and against revisionism.

I had been closely connected with Com. Moni Bose for more than four decades. After death of Com.K.G.Bose in 1974, the leadership of the progressive section in the union fell upon Com. Moni and he led the movement for years. We were elected All India President and General Secretary in the Bhopal Conference in 1991 and had a close relation in our fight for the right of the workers. Com. Moni returned to Calcutta in 1996 after vacating the post of All India President, but continued his activities there. He was appointed as a member in the Pay Commission appointed by W.Bengal government for the state employees. (Life history of Com. Moni Bose and his activities are narrated in the book ‘Great Leaders of P and T TU Movement’ authored by me).

Moni Bose Day is being observed all over India as per the call of BSNLEU by organisisng meetings, seminars, trade union class etc.

On his 8th death anniversary, we remember him and pay our respects. Red Salute to Com. Moni Bose.

Nepal Communist Party formed after merger – A welcome Move

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In a very welcome move,  Nepal’s two major Communist  parties declared their unification and launched the new communist party on Thursday.

The ruling Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) (CPN-UML) and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Centre) announced their unification as Nepal Communist Party at a press conference at City Hall in Kathmandu Thursday evening.

CPN-UML Chairman K.P. Sharma Oli and Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal signed the agreement and declared the merger and formation of a single communist party in the Himalayan country.

The new party has been registered at the Election Commission after the CPN-UML and the CPN Maoist Centre dissolved their respective central committees.

The latest political development came after the seven-point party unification deal which was formally signed by the top leaders of both parties in Feb. 20. (based on press reports)

Rs 11,330 crore for the Network for Spectrum (NFS) project, over and above Rs 13,334 crore already allotted

The government approved higher budget allocation for laying of alternate communication network for defence services in turn for release of spectrum held by the armed forces, as part of the decisions taken by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on Wednesday.

The committee approved enhancement of budget by Rs 11,330 crore for the Network for Spectrum (NFS) project, over and above Rs 13,334 crore already approved by the Cabinet Committee on infrastructure in July 2012.

Stop this horse trading in Karnataka – CPI(M)

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The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly opposes the time being given to the BJP to indulge in naked `horse trading’ and the use of money power to muster a majority in the Karnataka Assembly when the officially declared results have shown that the BJP does not have a majority in the recently-concluded elections.

The Governors appointed during the current BJP government’s tenure have, in the past, followed the principle of swearing in a government on the basis of post-election arrangement between parties which have a majority in the Assembly. In the elections to the Goa Assembly in March 2017, which has a strength of 40, the Congress won 17 while the BJP won 13. The BJP, however, was invited to form the government after a post-election coalition with other parties. Likewise, in the Manipur Assembly elections in 2017, which has a strength of 60, Congress had won 28 and BJP won 21 seats. But BJP was asked to form the government on the basis of a post-poll arrangement. In the elections to Meghalaya Assembly in March 2018, out of the total strength of 60, Congress had 21 while the BJP had only 2. The BJP, however, was invited to form the government by the Governor on the basis of a post-poll arrangement which showed a majority.

In this instance in Karnataka, post-poll Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) alliance has a clear majority in the Assembly of 222 MLAs elected. The same principle must be adopted in Karnataka like it was done in the above state elections and the Chief Minister-designate of the post-poll coalition must be sworn-in and asked to prove the majority on the floor of the House in accordance with the verdicts of the Supreme Court immediately. Delaying this would only mean that the Constitutional office of the Governor is being misused to buy time for naked `horse trading’. This is blatantly anti-democratic.

CONDEMN MASSACRE OF PALESTINIANS – CPI(M)

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) expresses its outrage and strong condemnation at the death of 58 Palestinians killed by the Israeli armed forces at the Gaza-Israel border fence.

The Palestinians have been holding marches to the border to demand the return of the people to the lands from which they were evicted by Israel.

The opening of the US Embassy in Jerusalem, in complete violation of international law, on that day has emboldened the Israeli forces to resort to this brazen attack.

This brutal massacre of Palestinians must not only be condemned but action taken against Israel for this grave human right violations. The Government of India must strongly condemn this barbarity by Israeli forces. The UN Security Council must act in this regard.

FCI Employees hold protest to Demand wage revision

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“Nationwide, protest demonstrations were organised by FCI Employees Association (CITU) on Friday in many states against the lackadaisical attitude and nefarious design of Government missionaries on pending wage revision of FCI Employees.

The DPE in its office memorandum of 8th round wage negotiation for unionised workmen in respect of CPSEs has not permitted Food Corporation of India (FCI) to commence wage revision process for its employees till now by saying that the government would not provide any budgetary support for any such wage increase, and FCI would have to bear the entire financial implications from their own resources.
Dr. A Sampath MP inaugurated the All India Protest at Regional Office, Trivandrum, Kerala. While addressing the protest MP informed that as per High Level Committee report already FCI Operations are under the threat of Privatization. It is a serious threat to the existence of FCI and food security of the nation. Subsidy received every year by FCI was lower than claimed for from the GoI. On an average only 67 per cent of subsidy claimed was released by the GoI over the last five years because of which FCI had to borrow from other costlier means of finance. Details of Subsidy is attached for ready reference 1. FCI had to pay huge amount of interest on funds raised from external sources, as it did not get the food subsidy reimbursement in time from the Government of India (GoI). It will also affect the day to day operations of Food Corporation of India.

The primary duty of FCI is to undertake procurement, storage, movement, transportation, distribution and sale of food grains. Now FCI had 14556 Category III & IV employees as on 31 March 2018 against the sanction of 27345. A shortage of 12789 personals. The newly joined employees are resigning from FCI due to meagre income and difficult working atmosphere compare to other PSUs. The last wage revision was taken place before 10 years, i.e on 2007. The volume of the work as compared to the year 2007 has increased manifold. Now the turn over per employee handled is five folded. Dr A Sampath Mp told that nothing can replace manpower, proving food security to the nation is an important job and necessary personals should be recruited and the employees should be paid a good wage similar to the central government employees. Denying legitimate demand of FCI employees are unjustifiable.” (Press report)

The struggle of the FCI workers should be fully supported.