National Convention CG Employees at Hyderabad on 10th June 2018

22 Thursday Mar 2018

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The Confederation of central Government Employees will be organising a National convention at Hyderabad on 10th June 2018. The following Charter of demands and the struggle programmes are the main agenda.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS

1. Settle 7th CPC related issues including increase in Minimum Pay and Fitment Formula, HRA arrears, MACP Bench Mark, Option-I for pensioners etc.

2. Withdraw contributory Pension Scheme (NPS). Ensure defined pension under CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 to all employees appointed on or after 01.01.2004.

3. Fill up all vacant posts. Withdraw the orders to abolish all vacant posts lying vacant for five years. Create justified posts for excess work. Evolve proper mechanism for Regional recruitment. Stop engagement of retired persons.

4. (a) Regularise Gramin Dak Sevaks and grant Civil Servant status. Implement positive recommendations of Kamalesh Chandra Committee report.

(b) Regularise all casual and contract workers. Evolve a new scheme for regularization of Casual and Contract Workers.

5. Ensure equal pay for equal work as per Supreme Court judgment and grant parity in wages and pay scales.

6. Stop closure of Govt. establishments. Withdraw closure orders of Govt. of India Presses. Stop outsourcing and privatization of Government functions.

7. Avoid abnormal delay in extending benefits of 7th CPC to Autonomous body employees and pensioners.
8. Remove 5% condition imposed on compassionate appointments. Grant appointment in all deserving cases.

9. Grant five time-bound promotions to all employees on completion of 8, 7, 6, 5 & 4 years of service.

10. (a) stop attack on Trade Union rights. Avoid delay in conducting verification of Membership under CCS (RSA) Rules 1993. Declare results and grant recognition in a time-bound manner. Ensure prompt functioning of various negotiating forums under JCM scheme at all levels.
(b) Withdraw the draconian FR 56(j) and Rule 48 of CCS (Pension) Rules 1972 which is misused as a short-cut to punish and victimize employees. ( Courtesy: NFPE Website)

Development on creation of Tower Subsidiary of BSNL

22 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by in BSNL, Forum

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‘It is reliably learnt that DoT is mounting pressure on BSNL and directed BSNL to hold BSNL Board meeting urgently within days to ratify the appointment of CMD, BSNL Tower Company and to make it operational from 01.04.2018. All Unions and Associations in BSNL will be meeting to decide further course of action.’ (coutesy: SNEA website)

Certainly, it is the time for united action.

Pension is not a subsidy but an entitlement of a person for years of service – Supreme Court.

22 Thursday Mar 2018

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The apex court said pension is not a subsidy but an entitlement of a person for years of service he or she has rendered to government
The court further questioned whether the Centre was going to deny pension, a rightful entitlement, just for want of Aadhaar
The attorney general said Aadhaar was instrumental in eliminating many bogus pensioners drawing post-retirement benefits

The Supreme Court questioned the Centre on Wednesday about its decision to link Aadhaar with pensions, reasoning that it is not a subsidy but an entitlement of a person for years of service he or she has rendered to the government in discharge of official duties.
Referring to the argument of petitioners that many pensioners have been denied their only subsistence in old age due to technical and physical reasons, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A K Sikri, A M Khanwilkar, D Y Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan asked attorney general K K Venugopal whether the Centre was going to deny pension, a rightful entitlement, just for want of Aadhaar. Venugopal said Aadhaar has been instrumental in eliminating many bogus pensioners drawing post-retirement benefits for years.

(Courtesy: Times of India)

Warm Greetings on BSNLEU Foundation Day, 22nd March 2018.

22 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by in BSNLEU, Telecom

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(Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, GS, E.III(N) Union presenting the report at the Visakhapatnam Conference.)

BSNLEU is 17 years old. BSNL Employees Union, the majority recognised union of the BSNL workers, was formed on 22nd March 2001, in the National Convention of eight telecom unions held at Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Com. E.Balanandan, President of CITU and one of the greatest working class leaders India has seen.

Though started with about 50,000 – 60,000 workers, it grew to be the biggest union in BSNL with more than one lakh workers, despite the fact that there was no recruitment and thousands were retiring every year. This was a herculean task, but the united team of the BSNLEU leadership made the impossible in to possible.

BSNLEU as the recognised union separately, and also jointly with other unions, both executive and Non-executives, defeated the nefarious designs of the central government, both NDA and UPA, to disinvest BSNL, retrench about one lakh workers through VRS, unbundle the precious copper cables and so on. BSNLEU took the initiative to form the Joint Forum of the Unions and Associations, under which organisation, the battles were fought and the anti-worker decisions of the government defeated.

BSNL and its workers are  facing serious challenges to their existence. The neo-liberal policy initiated by the Congress government in 1991 and aggressively being implemented by  the present BJP government is making it difficult for the PSUs to sustain and grow. The NDA government as per the recommendations of the NITI Ayog is moving for privatisation of about 70 PSUs this year, in which the name of BSNL is also there. Wage revision due from 01-01-2017 is being denied. To destabilise BSNL, a Tower Company is being formed, taking away the towers of the company, which will seriously dent the existence of BSNL. Pension Revision is also delayed / denied. However, after two days strike and massive Sanchar Bhawan March, the Secretary  DOT and Minister has come forward for discussion and positive development is taking place on these issues. Sustained effort and struggle will be required to achieve the above demands.

The two associations, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF formed at the initiative of BSNLEU has grown and strengthened. The demands of the workers, the pensioners and the casual contract labours are interconnected and inseparable. That is why united struggle.

It is in this situation that the workers are observing and celebrating the 18th Foundation Day of BSNLEU. Various programmes, including meetings and rallies are being held all over the country, observing BSNLEU Day. Let us remember our past struggles and sacrifices so that we can advance with more vigour, determination and strength.

BSNLEU Zindabad!

Workers Unity Zindabad!

Remembering Com. AKG, ‘ The Commander of the Poor’

21 Wednesday Mar 2018

Posted by in Obituary, Tributes

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22 March 2018 is the 41st death anniversary of Comrade A.K.Gopalan,”The Commander of the Poor” , freedom fighter and  top leader of CPI(M), whose entire life was a saga of valiant struggle for the cause of the toiling masses. He left us on 22nd March 1977, after one day of the withdrawal of the draconian ‘Emergency’ (1975-77) against which he fought with all his might, but could not know the victory, since he was in coma. Yes, Comrade, your struggle has not been in vain.

Wherever there was pain, wherever there was sorrow, wherever the people were exploited, Comrade, you reached there and fought for them. You did not inquire about their politics, caste or creed, but fought against injustice wherever you saw it.

I was fortunate to  watch many of these struggles and sacrifices. I was also fortunate to get your guidance, advice and affection on many occasions.

Com. AKG, even when you were seriously ill, you could not take rest, but jumped in to struggle for the workers. I still remember many instances including the 1974 Railway Strike. Your speeches and fight in the Parliament and outside for the cause of the workers will ever be remembered. You will always be remembered for your struggles and sacrifices. Years have not diminished these memories. In 2001, we formed BSNL Employees Union on your death anniversary.

Red Salute to Com. AKG!

Reception to Com. Ashok Dhawle at Kozhikode.

21 Wednesday Mar 2018

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A warm reception was given at Kozhikode to Com. Ashok Dhawle, President of All India Kisan Sabha and the leader of the Maharshtra Kisan Long March from Nasik to Mumbai on the demands of the farmers covering 180 kms in 6 days and compelling the government to accede the demands in full. The reception was given at the CPI(M) office which was participated by a large number of leaders and workers. Com. Dhawle spoke briefly about the struggle and the agreement. He will be speaking in the Seminar to be held in the evening in the Mudalakkulam Maidan.

JPC for PNB Fraud demanded by Bank Unions.

20 Tuesday Mar 2018

Posted by in General

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Kolkata : Demanding a joint parliamentary committee (JPC) probe into the recent banking fraud, the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) — a body of nine trade unions — on Monday questioned the supervision mechanism of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
“We are demanding a detailed JPC probe into the recent Punjab National Band (PNB) fraud. The fraud has raised a number of questions on technology issues, supervision, monitoring, audit, internal control and role of RBI in the entire episode,” UFBU’s West Bengal Convenor Siddharth Khan told reporters here.
“How is it possible that the RBI, which carries out a regular audit of the banks, did not even detect the fraud despite the number of years and the volume of money involved,” he asked.
According to Khan, the Harshad Mehta scam took place because of the so-called “innovative” measure of “Banker’s Receipt” and the Nirav Modi fraud exploited the new “Letter of Undertaking” instrument.
“Was the RBI not aware of the possible misuse of LoU,” he asked.
All the nine trade unions would organise a rally on Wednesday in front of Parliament, to highlight various issues concerning the banking sector, including the growing non-performing assets and scams.
The union also wanted to know whether the SWIFT software used in the fraud was approved by the apex bank.
It also opposed the proposed Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, 2017. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

Red Salute to Com. EMS on his 20th death anniversary!

19 Monday Mar 2018

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19th March 2018 is the 20th death anniversary of Com. E.M.S.Namboodiripad, former General Secretary of CPI(M) and  the first Chief Minister of Kerala State.

Com. EMS, as he was respectfully called, was one of the finest intellectuals of the century, in addition being an ideologue as well as a practical Communist. His first Ministry of 1957 passed the Land Bill which benefited lakhs of landless in Kerala. The Education Bill was another feather in his crown.

Com.EMS has got close connection with the  P and T Trade Union movement. It was he, who inaugurated the All India Conference of E.III Union in Thiruvananthapuram in 1994 in which I was elected as the General Secretary of E.III Union. I still remember what he told in his speech. ‘It is necessary that both the intellectual worker as well as the manual worker should join together for safeguarding the industry’ he stated. How true! It is based on this advice that we started co-ordinating the associations of executives and unions of non-executives in BSNL. At one stage, we were even able to bring the ITS Association also in the Sanchar Bhawan March.

We remember the great contribution he has given to the Communist movement and the working class.

Red Salute to Com. EMS on this 20th death anniversary!

AIBSNLEA demands Pension Revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017 on 15% IDA fitment.

18 Sunday Mar 2018

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AIBSNLEA has demanded the Pension Revision w.e.f. 01-01-2017 on IDA scales with 15 % fitment. All major unions of the BSNL executives have taken the correct stand and demanded for 15% fitment on IDA scales. This is a good united move. AIBDPA from the first have demanded on the same line and met the Secretary DOT and given memorandum.

Drop the proposal to conduct member Ship Verification through check off.

18 Sunday Mar 2018

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, Forum

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The proposal of the BSNL Management to conduct the Membership Verification for recognising union through check off system, instead of the present system of secret ballot, is mischievous and merit no consideration. 7 Membership verification through secret ballot have been undertaken and all appreciated the process, which is fool proof. From the many experiences in the various PSUs and also in the government, we have deliberately chosen the Secret Ballot as the best method. Check off system is not fool proof and can be trampled by unscrupulous officers and management. The management should drop the new proposal for conducting membership verification through check off system and continue the present arrangements.