30,000 workers may lose jobs in Telecom

Tags

Huge job loss to the extend of 30,000 is predicted by telecom experts, due to the merger and closure of telecom companies. A report in the ET Telecom is quoted below in this connection.

“BENGALURU/NEW DELHI: Job losses arising out of consolidation in the telecom sector are likely to extend over the next year, with a range of positions across categories likely to be affected, placement firms said. However, the prospects for those laid off are not entirely bleak: alternative jobs are available, although candidates may have to upgrade their skills and settle for lower salaries.

As Reliance Communications shuts the bulk of its wireless business and the Tata Group sells its mobile business to Bharti Airtel, the axe will fall on an average of 20,000 to 30,000 jobs over the next 12 months, according to estimates by the heads of firms including TeamLease Services, Manpower Group Services, ABC Consultants, Randstad India and Korn Ferry.

Those working in infrastructure and networking engineering, sales and distribution, telecom engineering, HR and finance, call centre and other support functions will be in trouble, experts said. “The sector is burdened with an enormous debt — close to Rs 8 lakh crore — and is operating under tremendous pressure after the entry of Reliance Jio with its free-to-dirt cheap-tariff offers,” said Rituparna Chakraborty, co-founder of TeamLease Services.”

Is Prime Minister Modi hearing? Leave alone implementing the assurance of 2 crore job every year, is the government at least ensuring that there is no job loss? Who is there to hear the  miseries of the retrenched workers? The government is fully engrossed with granting subsidy after subsidy and capital flow for the corporates!

Was NTPC blast due to compromise on Safety?

Tags

 

Was there lack of compromise on safety factors by NTPC in the blast which killed 30 workers and about 70 workers have received serious burns who are fighting for their lives in the hospital?

While the entire country mourns for the loss of valuable lives and pray for the lives of those in the hospital, serious questions have been raised by All India Power Engineers Federation. A press report in the matter is quoted below:

http://www.dailypioneer.com/state-editions/lucknow/did-ntpc-officials-compromised-on-safety.html

Did the officials of NTPC compromised on the safety factors which resulted in the catastrophic incident where 30 workers, majority of them casual workers, lost their lives and 66 others received burns, some of them over 70 per cent, and struggling for their lives.

Questions are raised whether the unit 6 of the Unchahar Thermal Power plant was ready to start operation. Was the operation cleared by the competent authority or NTPC higher-ups forced the officials to start operation without giving a “cooling period” to the plant to settle down.

It is believed that this unit was made operational within 2 and a half years time while normally it takes a unit three and half to four years to start operation.

“Around 150-200 people were working in the boiler’s section at the time of accident is clear indication that work in the plant was not complete. In a running plant only 5-6 people work at a time at that section. Why so many people were working at that time?,” asks Shailendra Dubey, Chairman, All India Power Engineers Federation (AIPEF) .

Safety factors should not be compromised at any cost in rush of running the power plant. The AIPEF has demanded a high level independent enquiry in the whole matter so that such type of incident may not occure in future, he said.

The blast was reportedly triggered in the duct connected to the boiler which is used for transferring ash of burnt coal. It is believed that the ash pipe got choked, causing the blast.

Apart from huge accumulation of ash in the furnace, the problem also got aggravated when the coal powder which was pumped into the furnace developed a `clinker formation’ .As workers were engaged to break the clinkers, the coal supply got disrupted. This disturbed the pressure which raised to +350 mmwc from normal pressure of +/-5 mmwc into the boiler which started vibrating before bursting from corner number 2.

The formation of coal clinkers often causes serious problem for smooth working of a power plant,’’ said Dubey. He said that the boiler has enormous pressure which needs to be maintained with smooth flow of coal.

Shailendra Dubey said that AIPEF will soon submit a memorandum to Central Power Minister R K Singh in this respect demanding strict adherence of safety measures in running the power plants.”

Com. K.R.Yadav, All India Vice-President, BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF retires from service

Comrade K.R.Yadav, senior leader and Vice-President of BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF retired from BSNL service on superannuation on 31st October 2017 from Lucknow.

Com.K.R.Yadav grew up up as a strong trade union leader under the guidance of the veteran leader Com. R.S.Yadav, long time Circle Secretary E.III, U.P. and former Vice-President of NFPTE. In the 1991 Bhopal All India Conference, he played a dominant role in the victory of Com Moni Bose – V.A.N.Namboodiri as General secretary and President.

U.P. was one northern circles, which always stood with the progressive section of K.G.Bose group. The first Conference after the Formation Conference of BSNLEU at Visakhapatanam was held at Lucknow in which Com Yadav played a prominent role.

A powerful speaker and a close associate of the workers, Com. K.R.Yadav  played  an important position in the all India Union. The K.R.Yadav – R.K.Mishra (Circle Secretary UP East ) team has strengthened BSNLEU in the circle.

We are hopeful that he will not only continue in the union activities, but also will utilise his knowledge and experience for the benefit of the common people.

Hearty Congratulations and Best Wishes to Com. K.R.Yadav!

 

WFTU expresses solidarity to Irish Railway Workers Strike

Ireland: Solidarity with Railway Workers on their Strike on November 1st by WFTU

The World Federation of Trade Unions representing over 92 million workers in every every corner of the world expresses its solidarity with the Railway Workers in Ireland who decided to go on strike on November 1st and will continue their struggle in a series of rolling one-day strikes. We fully support their demand for pay increase and increase of the state fund in the public transportation services.

The WFTU calls all the militant trade unions in the country, in Europe and worldwide to support their struggle. We call the people of Ireland to stand on their side and intensify their struggle for safe, cheap and reliable transportation for all the people.

Change of Designation for Executives in BSNL

It is reported that the BSNL Management has agreed to modify the designations of the executives in the company as follows:

New designations will be as follows:

JTO /JAO equivalent grade – Deputy Manager

SDE /AO equivalent grade – Manager

Sr. SDE /Sr.AO equivalent grade – Sr. Manager

AGM /CAO/EE/DE equivalent grade -Asst General Manager

Congratulations for the achievement!

(Courtesy: SNEA Website)

November 1 – Kerala Formation Day

Tags

The people of Kerala celebrated 1st November 2017 as 61st Formation Anniversary of the Kerala State. It was on 1st November 1956 that the linguistic states, including Kerala, were formed.

The first Communist Government in Kerala headed by Com. EMS Namboodiripad initiated many important decisions like Land reforms and reforms in Education. The present Pinarayi Vijayan Government is continuing with the process with new initiatives in every respect for fulfilling the dreams of Kerala people. Even now, Kerala is first in many respects, including universal education, housing for all, health facilities, long living etc. etc. The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, recently appreciated the Kerala people for their great achievements in many fields.

Kerala will certainly March Ahead! Warm Greetings to all!

 

Modi Government continues its attacks on the livelihood of the common people

Demonetisation, GST, criminal daily increase of price of petrol and monthly increase of the price of cooking gas – the Modi Government is on a mad spree of attack against the people. The fact that BJP had got brute majority in the Parliament is no justification for the criminal assault on the livelihood of the people.  They have to remember that they got only 31% of the total votes, meaning that the others are against.

On the other hand, lakhs of crores of rupees are subsidized to the corporates through various measures. Mukesh  Ambani has become the richest person in the continent with the full support of the Modi Government. Was not Prime Minister Modi the brand ambassador in the full page news paper advertisement for the Reliance Jio inauguration?

The people have to react and react sharply. Gujarat and Utterakhand People have got the chance now to show BJP their anger against the attack on the people.

Com. C.K.Gundanna honoured with prestigious ‘Rajyotsava Award’ – Congratulations!

Tags

,

Comrade C.K.Gundanna, Veteran leader and long time Circle Secretary BSNLEU Karnataka Circle, has been  awarded the prestigious ‘Rajyotsava Award’ by  the Karnataka Government. The same was handed over to Com. Gundanna by  Chief Minister Shri Sidharamayya on 1st November 2017. It is the highest award by the state government and is awarded for social justice to the society  and Theatre Art. Com. Gundanna was the Secretary of  ‘Samudaya’, the well known cultural society  for a long time. Now he is also acting in some cinemas. It is to be mentioned here that he was attacked a few years back by the Hindu extremists when a progressive street drama was being enacted. Family of Com. Gundanna and many comrades from BSNL participated in the award giving function.

Hearty Congratulations to Com. C.K.Gundanna for  his  his great contribution to the society and the prestigious award!

 

 

Reception to leaders going to attend Mahapadav

Tags

,

A warm reception was accorded in the evening of 30th October to the delegates of the various central trade unions and service associations at Calicut going to attend the Maha Dharna at New Delhi on 9-11 November 2017. All the CTUs and service associations attended in large numbers. The Dharna is being organised on the demands of the workers and against the anti-worker policies of the government.

Through out the country full preparations are going on for the successful holding of the dharna. It will  be organised in the Parliament Street itself.

Central Pensioners are a force to be reckoned with

The mighty dharna organised in front of Megh Doot Bhawan, Delhi on 25th October 2017 was a warning to the Central government that if it do not address the genuine concerns of the central pensioners including BSNL, there will be continuous agitations. During the last few years, the organisations of the pensioners have grown and strengthened under the leadership of NCCPA and is ready for further agitation.

The Dharna was organised on the demands formulated by the Nagpur Convention including acceptance of Option I recommended by the VII CPC, Pension Revision of BSNL retirees, Increase in Medical Allowance to Rs. 2,000 etc. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron NCCPA, in his Inaugural Address criticised the government for its negative attitude to the just demands of the workers as well as pensioners and called upon the pensioners to be ready for further struggle. He also congratulated the NCCPA for organising the programme.

Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra, President, NCCPA, presided. Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General welcomed all. Leaders of NCCPA and its various affiliates addressed the dharna.

The Dharna was a wake up call to the government.