III PRC and 15% Fitment to employees and Pensioners

14 Thursday Sep 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL

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The BSNL executive associations are demanding fixation of pay with 15% fitment as recommended by the III PRC. The non-executive unions have demanded for early wage negotiations, which will also be based on the guidance of the III PRC report. Both have not been accepted so far.

National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association(NCCPA) as also AIBDPA has demanded to the government that the pension revision of BSNL pensioners also be granted 15% fitment, but without waiting for the implementation of the same for employees. Pensioners are senior citizens, who can not wait like the employees. Just like in the case of medical allowance, which was restored to the pensioners first, let the pension revision be made without waiting for the wage settlement. There may be financial difficulty for the BSNL, but no such issues are with the government, as it is committed to give pension from consolidated funds.

Is it necessary to continue the colonial tag to divide the workers?

14 Thursday Sep 2017

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During the British colonial rule, the government always tried to divide the government employees by putting them in to separate ‘classes’. They segregated the employees in to Class I, Class II, Class III and Class IV. Another classification was Gazetted and Non-Gazetted. In the PSUs, the government of India started dividing workers by naming Executives and Non-Executives. Is it necessary to classify the workers by such names as Non-Gazetted, Non-executives etc. which are completely negative terms.

On each and every issue, the government ensured to exhibit the difference between these ‘classes’, whether it is the chair (only stool for the class IV), Uniform, facilities in the office etc. In some canteens, even seats are separated for the class IV employees, just like the condemnable practice of giving tea in separate glasses for the dalits in tea shops in some areas.

We claim to be a progressive society, but still the unnecessary disparity between the workers continue. This issue require discussion and decision so that these are removed and all workers are treated with dignity.

Stop this loot by petrol companies.

14 Thursday Sep 2017

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The petrol companies are looting the public with daily price rise, increasing the petrol price, with out any justification. Within the last two months alone, they have increased Rs. 7.3 per litre. It is to be noted that this huge increase is being imposed on the people, when the international price of crude oil has come down drastically. The government has refused to intervene stating that the reforms will go on. Do reforms mean imposing misery on the people by increasing the price of petrol arbitrarily. The petrol companies are reaping lakhs of crores of rupees through this cheating.

Any government worth its name should have intervened in this loot. But not Mody Government, which is the government of the corporates, for the corporates and by the corporates. Strong opposition from the people is necessary to force the government to act.

SFI Alliance wins huge majority in Tripura student council elections.

13 Wednesday Sep 2017

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The SFI- TSU (Tribal Student Union) alliance in Tripura won 751 seats out of a total seats of 778 in the Students’ Council election. BJP got only 27. The NSUI, student wing of the Congress, could not get a single seat. Out of the 751 seats got by the SFI alliance, 530 seats were unopposed.

Hearty congratulations for the SFI alliance for their thumping majority and historic victory!

Private entry inside BSNL infrastructure – Oppose and defeat the sinister move

13 Wednesday Sep 2017

Posted by in BSNL, Telecom

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The DOT and the central government have always been moving to share the infrastructure of BSNL for the benefit of the private telcos. Years back, DOT gave permission to private telecom companies to construct/install their towers on the BSNL buildings. It was defeated by the workers by blocking the private telecoms from entering the premises and strong protest from the unions.

Next, there was move to unbundle the valuable copper cable all over India and share it with the private operators. A complete strike was organised and the DOT was compelled to give a written assurance that there will be no unbundling and no disinvestment.

Now the government has decided to form the Tower company, which will cripple BSNL and its revenue. Further, once the company is formed, it will be independent and will take decisions which will be completely in the interest of the private companies. It will be just like the priority given to private airlines in the routes ignoring Air India, the PSU. BSNL will get the least benefit from the new Tower company, which will be at the behest of the private companies as per the direction of the government.

The story of the Arab and the Camel, where the former was completely kicked out of the tent by the latter, will be the result. The united force of the workers saved our copper cables and in the same way we should be able to save our towers.

The decision of all the unions/associations to meet on 15th and discuss the issue and plan the course of action is timely. The government move to form the Tower Company should defeated at the initial stage itself.

Ensure Education to Refugee Children – WFTU

13 Wednesday Sep 2017

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WFTU Statement on the Right of Refugee Children to Education is given below:

12 Sep 2017 REFUGEES
The UN High Commission for Refugees announced that more than 3,5 million refugee children did not have the opportunity to go to schools this year. Almost 1,5 million refugee children didn’t go to primary schools, while another 2 million of them can’t go to secondary schools.

The continuing humanitarian crisis of the refugees and displaced persons is the result of the imperialistic conflicts and wars. The capitalistic contradictions are solved through wars where the peoples are always the losers, regardless of who will prevail over the other among the imperialists.

Based on this the WFTU calls upon for:

The abolishment of the Dublin Regulation and the Schengen Treaty, the Frontex and all repressive mechanisms.
Stop the measures of the European Union for the repression at the borders.
End now the imperialist interventions of EU-USA-NATO.
Direct transfer of the refugees from the islands and the entry points to the countries of their final destination.
Increase of the personnel and the infrastructure for the rescue, record-identification, housing, feeding, medical care and safe transfer of these people.
Creation of dignified centers of welcoming and hospitality.
Recognition of the right to education for all refugee children.

CABINET APPROVES INTRODUCTION OF THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2017 – Gratuity increased to Rs.20 Lakh for all workers.

13 Wednesday Sep 2017

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CABINET APPROVES INTRODUCTION OF THE PAYMENT OF GRATUITY (AMENDMENT) BILL, 2017

IN THE PARLIAMENT 

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval for introduction of the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament.

The Amendment will increase the maximum limit of gratuity of employees, in the private sector and in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, at par with Central Government employees.

Background:

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more persons. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workmen after retirement, whether retirement is a result of the rules of superannuation, or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and establishments.

The present upper ceiling on gratuity amount under the Act is Rs. 10 Lakh. The provisions for Central Government employees under Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972 with regard to gratuity are also similar. Before implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, the ceiling under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 was Rs. 10 Lakh. However, with implementation of 7th Central Pay Commission, in case of Government servants, the ceiling now is Rs. 20 Lakhs effective from 1.1.2016.

Therefore, considering the inflation and wage increase even in case of employees engaged in private sector, the Government is of the view that the entitlement of gratuity should be revised for employees who are covered under the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. Accordingly, the Government initiated the process for amendment to Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972. (Courtesy: Government Press Statement)

 

50th year of Historic 19th September 1968 Strike of CG Employees

13 Wednesday Sep 2017

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19th September 1968  one day strike by the Central government employees is historic in all respects. The main demand of the strike was ‘Need Based Minimum Wage’ as accepted by the 1957 tripartite Indian Labour Conference. The entire central government employees went on struggle on that day irrespective of the victimisation and threat from the government. Essential Service Maintenance Act was passed and the same was used against the striking workers. Brutal repression and punishments followed. 17 comrades were killed during the struggle, who sacrificed their valuable lives for the cause of the workers. Thousands were arrested and jailed; terminated from service or dismissed; brutal punishments were imposed on others. The Indira Gandhi government dealt with the workers as they were enemies of the country. But the workers stood their ground against all those atrocities and fought against victimisation. There was not a single worker, who did not have some punishments for participation in the strike. The sacrifice and commitment exhibited by the workers on those days is a saga which never can be forgotten.

I am very happy to note that the Confederation of CG Employees  and Workers have decided to celebrate the one year from 19th September 2017 to 19th September 2018 as 50th Anniversary of the 1968 strike and organise many programmes. This is necessary to inculcate in the minds of the new workers with how much sacrifice and valour our forefathers have fought for the demands of the workers and how the gains have been achieved.

As proposed by the Confederation, the 50th Anniversary on 19th September 2018 should be organised in such a way that a clear picture of the great struggle is known to all.

WFTU News – Solidarity with Syrian people

12 Tuesday Sep 2017

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The WFTU General Secretary addressed International Trade Union Conference on “Solidarity with Syrian People and Workers against Terrorism, Blockade and Imperialistic Intervention Policies”, in Damascus, Syria
11 Sep 2017MIDDLE EAST, SYRIA
The WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos is taking part in the International Trade Union Conference on “Solidarity with Syrian People and Workers against Terrorism, Blockade and Imperial Intervention Policies”, in Damascus, Syria, on 11th and 12th September 2017, accompanied by George Perros WFTU Vice-President. Today, on Monday 11th September he addressed the Conference.

NCCPA calls for Parliament March on 25th October 2017 on Pension issues

12 Tuesday Sep 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, CG Employees, Pension

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The Meeting of the NCCPA (National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association )held at Nagpur has decided to organise a massive Parliament March /Dharna of pensioners on 25th October 2017 demanding settlement of the following demands.

CHARTER OF DEMANDS.
1. Implement Option No. 1. Recommended by the 7th CPC .
2. Revise the pension of all BSNL Pensioners on IDA pay scale with 15% fixation benefit.
3. Revise the pension of all pensioners of the Central Autonomous bodies.
4. (a) Notional fixation of pay under Option No. 3. Must be based on the pay scales/Pay levels of the cadre or grade from which an employee retired.
(b) Implement the judgements of the Courts in the case of all pre-2006 pensioners, whose notional pay for the purpose of pension must be on the basis of the pay level/Grade Pay or pay scale of the grade/cadre from which he/she has retired.
5. (a) Extend the benefit of the CCS(MA) Rules to all pensioners who are not covered by the CGHS (b) Do not discriminate the pensioners of the Union Territory; bring all pensioners under the coverage of CGHS.
6. Increase the FMA to Rs. 2000/- as has been granted to the PF pensioners w.e.f 1.1.2016
7. Raise the minimum pension to Rs. 12,000/- (2/3rd of the minimum wage) and make pension net of income tax.
8. Restore the commutation loss of pension after 10 years
9. Provide increased rates of pension on attainment of the age of 70 years
10. Restore the Defined benefit pension scheme as was in vogue prior to 1.1.2004 in respect of all Central Government employees by scrapping the Defined contributory pension scheme.

All affiliate organisations have been asked to mobilise maximum pensioners from their organisation to the March/Dharna.