REVOLUTIONARY GREETINGS ON MAY DAY 2016!

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1st May, May Day, the International Day of Working Class, is here again. The May Day is being observed and celebrated through out the world by the workers and other toiling masses. The World federation of Trade unions and the Central trade Unions have given call to observe the day. The memory of the Chicago workers who were hanged for demanding and agitating for the 8 hours working day inspire the working class. It is through such struggles and strikes that the working class have been able to achieve many gains and victories.

May Day 2016 comes at a time when the working class is facing many challenges. The neo-liberal policies being implemented by the imperialist and capitalist class has created misery and heavy burden on the people. For maximising their profits, the corporates and financiers can go to any length, as we have seen. At the same time struggles are going on in many countries against these anti-people policies.

It is not different in India. The Central Trade Unions are unitedly fighting against the neo-liberal policies of the government. The workers rights are being attacked by the NDA government. The hard won gains of the working class are being snatched away. The struggle to defend the already achieved rights and for further improvement will continue.

The struggle to save BSNL has started and many things are to be done in this respect. We have to make BSNL stronger and give far better service to the people.

BSNLEU has to be strengthened and converted in to a militant organisation to fight and achieve the demands of the workers. The organisations of the Pensioners, viz. AIBDPA and that of casual-contract workers viz. BSNLCCWF, have to be strengthened and their issues focussed and exploitation ended.

Let us pledge to march forward with determination and dedication. Organise May Day and participate in the joint programmes being organised on the trade unions.

Unity for Struggle! Struggle for Unity !
Unity and Struggle for Progress !

Revolutionary Greetings on May Day!

Diamond Jubilee Conference of Confederation at Chennai

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The Diamond Jubilee Conference of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers will be held at Chennai from 16 to 18 August 2016.

Confederation was formed on  16 August 1956. During its 60 years of existence, it has organised continuous struggles on the issues of the workers, mobilised and strengthened the central government employees unions. Confederation continues its crusade under the present leadership of President Com. K.K.N.Kutty and Secretary General Com. M.Krishnan.

BSNL Market Share increased to 10% from 9.43% – Communications Minister

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Communications Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad stated in Parliament on 27th April 2016 that BSNL will be increasing its market share from 9.43% in December 2015 to 10% in March 2016. Good News! The initiative of the workers andmanagement  are getting results

Along with making statements, the Minister should ensure that the refund of spectrum charges (Rs. 6,000 crore), USOF assistance (Rs. 1,250 crore) and Income Tax Refund (about Rs. 8,000 – 10,000) to enable it to purchase equipment, upgrading etc.

Telecom Status by TRAI for February 2016

According to the data released by Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on 26-04-2016, number of telecom subscribers increased to1051.88 million as on February 29, 2016 from 1043.29 million in January, 2016.

Tele density in the country registered a growth of 0.82%; increased from 1530.2 to 1539.3 million. In the wireless segment increased to 1026.66 from 1017.97 million in January, 2016. Market share of various companies are as follows;

Bharti Airtel-24.22%, Vodafone- 19.16%, Idea- 17.01%, Reliance- 9.93%, Aircel- 8.44%, BSNL-8.26%, Tata– 5.87%, Telenor- 5.03%, Sistema- 0.75%, Videocon- 0.66%, MTNL- 0.35%.

Growth in wireless subscribers in February, 2016

BSNL- 1.67, Bharti- 1.18, Vodafone- 1.04, Quadrant- 0.94, Idea- 0.85, Aircel- 0.71, Reliance- 0.69, Telenor- 0.49 and MTNL- 0.30

Videocon, Tata and Sistema however registered a reduction during the period.

Circle wise it is Assam with 2.03% growth topped the list while Karnataka and Delhi showed a decline.

In MNP, there were 5.10 million requests in February, 2016 and the total stands to be 204.73 million.

Wireline declined by 0.10 million from 25.32 million in January to 25.22 million in February, 2016. The market share of the two PSUs is 72.54% (BSNL- 58.63 + MTNL- 13.91). Among the private companies Bharti Airtel topped with 14.43%. BSNL lost 1,34,160 connections in February while MTNL lost 4,423 connections.

The broadband segment registerd a growth of 3.40%; to reach 144.87 million from 140.10 million. The market share is as follows;

Bharti-25.49%, Vodafone- 18.25%, Idea- 15.32%, BSNL- 13.74%, Reliance- 10.8% and others- 16.40%.

 

78.2% IDA Pension Fixation – latest position

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA, met Shri Samir Gupta, Dir(Estt.) today, 27th April 2016 and enquired about the latest position of the 78.2% IDA pension fixation issue of BSNL etirees. Dir(Estt.) stated that the files are almost ready and will be forwarded to Cabinet Secretary after signing by the Secretary DOT. It is expected by this or next week that the Cabinet Note will be forwarded to Cabinet Secretary.

Rs. 10,000 as Minimum Wage for contract workers – Labour Minister

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The State Minister for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya stated in the Parliament on 25th April 2016 that the minimum wage for the contract workers has been fixed at Rs. 10,000. The central trade unions have been demanding for a minimum wage of Rs.18,000, but the same was not accepted by the government. The CTUs have also decided to go on strike on 2nd September 2016, on a Charter of Demands including this.

The Minister also stated that the minimum wage has been fixed considering the cost of living and the judgment of the Supreme Court.

The minimum wage is fixed at Rs.10,000. Now another struggle will have to be fought to get it implemented for the contract workers. Workers are waiting for the order to be issued.

11.36 % shares of NHPC to be disinvested

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The government has decided to sell 11.36% shares of central PSU,  NHPC to  get about Rs.2,800 crore in 2015-16. At present, the government has got 85.96% shares in NHPC.

The government is in an aggressive mood to sell all the PSUs to the private.

Protest the reduction in EPF interest

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Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told to the Parliament on 25th April 2016 that the Government has decided 8.7% interest for EPF for 2015-16, while the Board of Trustees of EPFO has recommended 8.8% interest.

The decision of the government reducing the interest rate proposed by the EPFO is condemnable. The government has no moral authority to reduce the interest rate of the hard earned money of the wage earners. This is one more instance of the anti-working class of the NDA government. This should be rescinded. All the 11 Central TUs, together and separately has opposed the government decision and demanded its roll back.

Strong protest should erupt through out the country.

Changes necessary after the membership verification.

Certain changes require to be made in the Recogntion Rules of non- executive unions after the present verification:
1. The % of votes to the unions should be calculated on the basis of polled votes and not on total number of voters as at present. In Parliament, Assembly elections, this is the system.
2. The issues on which there is no agreement in the council should be sent for arbitration.
3. The recognised union/unions should be allowed to nominate any employee to the Councils at all levels, since the recognised union/s represent all employees. This was the system till VI membership verification.
4. The leader and secretary of the councils should be democratically elected as was done before the VI membership verification.
These suggestions are based on time-tested practices and democratic processes.

Meeting of BSNLCCWF at Haridwar

In connection with verification meeting at Haridwar, a meeting of contract workers was held there. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLCCWF and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS BSNLEU spoke about contract workers’ issues and efforts made by CHQ. The District and circle leaders of contract workers spoke about their problems.
It was decided to enrol more members and to strengthen the union and to make efforts to settle the issues.