There should be no discrimination between the upgradation of cities for grant of HRA between Government and PSU

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU, CG Employees, General

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The government has recently issued orders upgrading the cities as per the 2011 census report as also on other grounds including urban agglomeration and granted HRA accordingly. BSNL and other central PSU employees are deprived of the same, since the criterion for the PSUs based on population only and not all the criterias as eligible for CG Employees. This is a gross discrimination. For example in the recent orders, Ahmedabad and Pune are upgraded as “X” class Cities (former “A” class ), while this status is denied for the BSNL employees for grant of HRA. In the same way there are many cities upgraded to “Y” class( former “B” class)  for CG employees, while not for the BSNL employees.

This discrimination should end. The government should declare all these upgraded cities are applicable for increased HRA for BSNL employees also as in the case of CG Employees.  The wages of the contract workers also should be increased on the same basis in these upgraded cities.

 

Where is the govt. announcement increasing minimum wage?

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, TU News - India

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The Government had stated that it will be difficult to announce Rs.15,000 as Minimum Wage as demanded by the Central trade Unions, but some increase will be there. But despite many weeks, no orders have been issued. Workers will not be happy with any amount less than Rs. 15,000 as demanded by the Central TUs.

Is the government waiting for the strike to take place? In that case, the government will certainly see the anger of the workers. There is nothing surprising in the  government in-action, since it has a tradition of promising and not delivering.

Rent for staff – quarters allotted for retired BSNL employees

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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Staff quarters were not allotted to retired employees, since the quarters  were not sufficient even to the working employees. However, during the last many years due to non-recruitment as also the comparison of HRA and the outside rent, many quarters are vacant. After much pressure from BSNLEU and AIBDPA, orders were issued for allotting quarters to retired employees also, where there are vacant quarters. But as per the orders they had to pay market rent, which is very high. The AIBDPA demand is that the retired persons also should be given quarters on the same criteria as that of regular employees and not market rent.

Com. VAN Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA met Smt. Sujata Ray, Direct (HR), BSNL on 24th August 2015 and discussed the matter. The need for removing the market rent condition was pointed out by Com. Namboodiri. Director(HR) assured that the matter will be favourably considered by BSNL management.

2 September 2015 General Strike – BSNL Executives Employees also should be part of this great working Class Struggle

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, General, TU News - India

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While most of the unions/associations in BSNL have given notice for strike on 2nd September 2015 called by the 11 Central Trade unions on the major demands of the working class and the demands of the BSNL employees, the major executive associations in BSNL is vacillating. So far they have not given the strike notice and it seems that they may not go on strike also.

Many associations of officers/executives in government sector  and public sector have decided for strike. In the private sector also, this is the situation. In certain sectors, the union/association includes both executives and non-executives and the decision for strike is there.

The anti-worker, anti-people policies of the central government are adversely affecting all the workers, including executives/officers. Even at this late stage a rethinking can be undertaken and a correct decision to go on strike taken, which will benefit all.

Telecom TU Movement 1991-2015 (4)

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in P&T TU History, Telecom TU Movement 1991-2015

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E.III – New leadership at Central Head Quarters

Workers in Telecom all over India were enthralled hearing the election of new team of office-bearers. Congratulations and Greeting Telegrams poured from many places. Senior leaders of the P and T movement congratulated the new progressive team.

V.A.N.Namboodiri, President and Moni Bose, General Secretary were given a rousing reception at the New Delhi Railway Station on their arrival from Bhopal AIC. Coms. K.Adinarayana, Secretary General, NFPE, P.S.Raman Kutty, General Secretary, T.III Union and other leaders spoke congratulating the victorious office-bearers. They stated that this election of AIC Bhopal will strengthen the Telecom Trade Union movement in its forward march. None of the defeated leadership of OPG & Co was present in the railway station to greet the newly elected office-bearers.

The ballot papers and other connected records were brought to Delhi, which the defeated leadership had tried to destroy at Bhopal. They were deposited in a safe place.

The new leadership went to Dada Ghosh Bhawan, the Central Head Quarters of the E-III Union. O.P.Gupta, out-going General Secretary, gave charge to the new office-bearers and stated that he will vacate from Dada Ghosh Bhawan within one month , since he is no more an office-bearer. He also handed over the car of the union.( a very old car almost not usable). Since OPG was staying for some more time in DGB, Moni Bose was given another room to stay. A small kitchen was constructed in a few days for the use of Moni Bose and family. Jyotsna Bose, his wife, came to Delhi.

(But OPG did not shift from DGB as promised and continued to stay there with family). The residential accommodation of the GS was never handed over to Moni Bose, new General Secretary).

OPG, as outgoing GS, addressed a letter to Secretary, DOT intimating the election of the new office-bearers as required. The new office-bearers met the Secretary DOT and other top officers and started functioning. It was decided that V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President, should function at CHQ in addition to the General Secretary. In fact, he had not returned to Kozhikode, Kerala, his place of office, after the AIC, since Moni Bose insisted on his presence at CHQ.

The Conspiracy

At the same time, a conspiracy was being hatched by OPG & Co. with the connivance of the administration and FNTO leader Ch. Raghubir Singh, who was very close to OPG. Raghubir Singh, in his capacity as Leader of the Departmental Council of Joint Consultative Machinery, wrote to Chairman, Telecom Commission and Secretary, DOT (both posts are occupied by  same officer) on 10-12-1991, after more than one month of the AIC, opposing recognition of Com. Moni Bose, on the ground that he is a dismissed employee of the 1949 strike. The letter-head of the JCM was misused, of which OPG was the Secretary, Staff Side. On enquiry, it was found out that the letter was typed and got signed by Raghubir Singh by the defeated leadership and given to the management.

Moni Bose De-recognised as General Secretary

Within two days of the submission of the letter, DOT intimated Moni Bose on 13-12-1991, denying recognition to him as General Secretary of the Union. The conspiracy of OPG-Raghubir Singh –DOT was exposed. The fact was that OPG could not accept his defeat in grace, even though he has accepted the same at the venue of the conference. Later it was also understood that there was much pressure on him by many, to somehow stick to his earlier position as GS.

The plea of the DOT to deny recognition to Moni Bose had no base or sense. It was a blatant violation of rules. There was no rule that a dismissed employee can not be an office-bearer. Moni Bose, all along has been an office-bearer of the Union and was the All India Vice-President of the same union, till he resigned from the post just before the Bhopal AIC. He was recognised as an office-bearer by the DOT as Vice-President when OPG was the General Secretary, but when he became General Secretary defeating OPG, the DOT derecognised him! Wonderful logic of the government to protect the pro-management leaders!

The derecognition of Moni Bose was taken as a challenge by the union. The new team continued its regular functioning. VAN Namboodiri, as President of the union, corresponded with the DOT in the new situation.

Case filed in Calcutta High Court for recognising Moni Bose

CHQ took up the case of non-recognition of Moni Bose with the Calcutta High Court. Com. Somnath Chatterjee, MP, who later became the Speaker of the Parliament, was the advocate for the union. (To be continued)

 

Heritages being destroyed by ISIS – now it is Palmyra Temple in Syria

25 Tuesday Aug 2015

Posted by in History

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The Jihadist group / ISIS is continuously destroying world heritage and ancient monuments in the countries and areas, where they have got a hold. The world renowned Budhist statues of Afghanistan were destroyed a few years back. Now it is another world heritage at Palmyro, an ancient city in Syria.

The The Baal Shamin Shrine /Temple, the second most important world heritage monument in Palmyra, has been destroyed by using large quantity of explosives. The jihadists were destroying such monuments in Syria after their take over of certain parts of the country since May 21, 2015. It seems that all the earlier civilisations and heritages are taboo to these jihadists.

UNESCO President in a statement has stated that ” This destruction is a war crime and an immense loss for the Syrian people and the humanity”.

Plenum of CPI(M) from 27th to 30 December 2015 at Kolkata

24 Monday Aug 2015

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The Organisational  Plenum of  CPI(M) will be held at Kolkata from 27th to 30th December 2015. It was decided by the 21st Party Congress to hold a Plenum to discuss important organisational matters.

CPI(M) Central Committee Press Statement

24 Monday Aug 2015

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New Delhi, August 24: The Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) met in New Delhi from August 21 to 23, 2015. It has issued the following statement:

The Central Committee expressed serious concern at the rapidly deteriorating conditions of the people’s livelihood that are a direct result of the more aggressive pursuit of neo-liberal economic policies by the BJP-led Modi government.

Relentless Attacks on the People

The prices of essential commodities continue to rise relentlessly, with the prices of onions soaring to Rs. 90 per kg. The public distribution system is in the doldrums, denying people even meagre relief.There is no tangible turnaround in the manufacturing and industrial sector. Consequently, the levels of unemployment continue to rise inexorably. Agrarian distress continues to deepen, with peasant suicides due to indebtedness showing a constant rise. The MSP announced for many crops is even below their actual cost of production and the Modi regime’s pre-election promise of giving 50 per cent more than the cost of production has been thrown to the winds. The MGNREGA is being starved, leading to a sharp rise in rural unemployment.

Intensify Local Struggles

In this background, the Central Committee decided to intensify local popular protests all across the country to highlight the people’s plight and to demand immediate government intervention to reverse the growing burdens on the people.

From August 1 to 14, the CPI(M) led an impressive nationwide campaign highlighting deepening agrarian distress and against the anti-people, pro-corporate, corrupt and communal policies of the Modi regime, in which lakhs of people participated throughout the country. The highlights of this campaign were the historic human chains in Kerala and Tripura, the massive mobilisation in West Bengal and in many other states.

Support to September 2 All India Strike 

The Central Committee extended its full and active support to the September 2 all India strike call given by the central trade unions. All the Left parties have already declared their support to this nationwide action.

Refusal to Act on Corruption

The entire monsoon session of parliament was a washout thanks to the obduracy of the Modi regime and its refusal to recognize and take action against corruption in high places. Within a year of its existence, the emergence of such grave charges of corruption exposes the sham of the BJP’s election slogan of fighting corruption.

Instigating Communal Polarisation

During this period, various incidents of communal riots and tension continue to be reported. The real agenda of this government — to sharpen communal polarisation for its electoral and political advantage, continues to unfold. There are growing reports that in the run up to the state assembly elections in Bihar, particularly, such tensions are intensifying.

While mounting the attack against the minorities, particularly the Muslims, and seeking to blame the entire community for terrorist attacks, the BJP government is markedly softening its stand on investigated cases of Hindutva terror. All terrorist activity, irrespective of who perpetrates it, must be severely dealt with to uphold the unity and integrity of our country. The government’s approach to fight terrorism is coloured with its blinkered communal ideology.

Indo-Pak Dialogue

The calling-off of the NSA level talks between India and Pakistan at the last minute is unfortunate. Earlier the foreign secretary level talks were also called off. Whipping up jingoism will only strengthen fundamentalist forces on both sides of the border, which will be harmful to the interests of the peoples of both countries and will have serious implications in Jammu & Kashmir.

The Central Committee reiterates that it is only through the process of a composite dialogue encompassing all issues and disputes between the two countries, that the current growing tensions can be deescalated.

Bihar Elections

The Central Committee approved the decision taken by the Left parties to unitedly contest the elections to the Bihar assembly under the banner of the united independent Left bloc comprising the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation, RSP, AIFB, SUCI and other Bihar-level Left parties.

The Party will go to the electorate with the slogan of defeating the communal BJP; opposing the casteist forces and strengthening Left representation in the assembly. A joint convention of Left parties will be held on September 7 at Patna to announce the programme of the Left parties.

Deteriorating Centre-State Relations

Centre-State relations continued to deteriorate during this period. The Chief Minister of Delhi has announced to invite non-BJP Chief Ministers from across the country for a meeting on the issue of undermining federalism. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar, will attend this meeting and will place the considered opinion of the Party, on which it has been campaigning for many decades.

Special Session of Parliament

The Central Committee reiterated the demand of the 21st Party Congress to convene a special session of parliament to discuss the plight of dalits in our country. This session will be a meaningful observation of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Bihar Elections

The Central Committee approved the decision taken by the Left parties to unitedly contest the elections to the Bihar assembly under the banner of the united independent Left bloc comprising the CPI(M), CPI, CPI(ML)-Liberation, RSP, AIFB, SUCI and other Bihar-level Left parties.

The Party will go to the electorate with the slogan of defeating the communal BJP; opposing the casteist forces and strengthening Left representation in the assembly. A joint convention of Left parties will be held on September 7 at Patna to announce the programme of the Left parties.

Deteriorating Centre-State Relations

Centre-State relations continued to deteriorate during this period. The Chief Minister of Delhi has announced to invite non-BJP Chief Ministers from across the country for a meeting on the issue of undermining federalism. CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Tripura Chief Minister, Manik Sarkar, will attend this meeting and will place the considered opinion of the Party, on which it has been campaigning for many decades.

Special Session of Parliament

The Central Committee reiterated the demand of the 21st Party Congress to convene a special session of parliament to discuss the plight of dalits in our country. This session will be a meaningful observation of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.

Organisational Plenum

The Central Committee decided to hold the plenum on organisation, as mandated by the CPI(M)’s 21st Congress, from December 27 to 30, 2015 at Kolkata. In preparation for the Plenum, the Central Committee will meet again from November 2 to 5, 2015, after which extended meetings of the state committees will be held to discuss the Central Committee’s document for the Plenum.

 

Why Women workers are not coming to the leadership?

24 Monday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNLEU, General

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I had the opportunity to attend and address the extended CEC meeting of the BSNLEU in a Circle recently. The meeting was well attended, the discussions were good, as also the decision to make the 2nd September Strike a full success. It was a well organised meeting.

What hit me was that there was only one woman worker in the meeting among hundreds. She spoke in the meeting and presented the subject matter in a very effective way. I started thinking why the women workers are not coming in to the union activities in a large way.

I remember the old days, may be about 40-50 years back. In the meeting of the telecom unions, there used to be a very good number of women comrades. They were taking an important role also. Of course, a large number of employees in Telecom was women at that time, due to the feminised exchanges and priority given to women operators. It is true that times have changed and that the ratio of women workers has changed.

But that is not the only reason. The main issue is the ban on recruitment implemented about 30 years back. Most of the employees are above 50 years of age. In this age, the women workers have to look after the family, many might have become grandmothers, more responsibility lie upon them etc.

In Kolkata, Chennai, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Hyderabad etc., where still there are large number of women employees, there is a good gathering of women employees in the meetings and conferences. This is to be much appreciated. At the same time, though the number of women employees may be less, there are many other places, where also they attend in adequate numbers.

This shows one thing. If the union leadership sincerely make efforts, it is possible to bring the women workers to the front and active leadership. While Kerala, T.Nadu, W.Bengal, Kolkata etc. circles have formed Mahila Committees in the BSNLEU, most of the other circles have not made that effort. It should be done. At the All India level, while  Women’s conventions are held, there is no Women’s Committee so far.

A determined, consistent effort is to be made to bring more women workers in to active union work. It is the responsibility of the leadership. This will benefit the working class very much. I have seen that in many countries, the women cadres take very leading role. One of the Central Trade union, SEWA, is led by women workers. The General Secretary of the Postmen Union (NFTE) is a woman. When the women are called ‘better half’, how can any body, especially progressive unions, ignore them?

Now it is our job to bring maximum number of women employees to the front and leadership. We can do it.

 

 

4.65 lakhs appeared in civil service exams, increase of more than 14,000 of last year

24 Monday Aug 2015

Posted by in Uncategorized

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Despite the high salary in other sectors, the job seekers to civil posts have not only been reduced, but also h
ave increased. 4,65,882 appeared for the preliminary examination this year compared to 4,51,602 last year, an increase of 14,280. 9,45,908 had applied for the examination.
Finally, it will be a few hundred who will be selected and will get jobs.