HSBC cut 50,000 jobs, mainly in Brazil and Turkey.

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

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HSBC, probably the biggest financial institution in the world, is proposing to reduce its employees by about 50,000. This is mainly due its closure of branches  in Brazil  and Turkey. It has got more than 2.66 lakh workers in its roll.

This is the system of the private companies. Wherever they get profits they do business. When there is loss, they close up and go elsewhere. What will happen to the workers is no concern of these MNCs.

Why MNCs alone? Now, the NDA government is going to bring a bill changing the labour laws through which any private company with less than 500 workers can do ‘hire and fire’ without any intervention from the government. The Modi government has become the saviour of the private capital and the workers are no concern to them.

It is only through united and sustained struggles that the workers can exist and advance. That is what history has taught us.

BSNL plans Rs. 6,000 crore Projects this year

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

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It is reported in the press that BSNL has planned for  Rs. 6,000 crore projects this financial year including provision  Wi-Fi roll out in major tourist centres like Agra, Varanasi, Fatehpur Sikhri (all in UP), Hyderabad etc. Wi-Fi will be rolled out in NE Region also.

It is reported that funds from USOF will be provided. Good. But what abut the Rs. 1,250 crore already allotted by USOF for 2012-13. It is not yet paid to BSNL , although the amount was sanctioned much earlier.

Let BSNL implement new projects which will benefit the people and also the organisation.

Bonus eligibility to be raised from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 15,000 monthly.

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

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Several lakhs of workers in the organised sector will benefit as the Narendra Modi government is set to raise the salary threshold for mandatory bonus for workers from Rs 10,000 a month at present to Rs 15,000 and the minimum bounty from an annual RS 3,500 now to Rs 4,500. The proposal, agreed to by employers’ associations at a recent meeting of an inter-ministerial group, would require Parliament’s approval as the Payments of Bonus Act, 1965, requires to be amended for this purpose.

While the minimum bonus is a legal liability on the firms concerned, whether or not they make a profits, these firms are also required to pay the workers a higher bonus if their “allocable surplus” exceeds the amount payable as minimum bonus, subject to a cap (20%) of the salaries.

If the new proposal takes affect, the maximum bonus payable by profit-making ventures would be close to Rs 11,000 as against Rs 8,400 now.

 

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 – ( 7 )

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

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JF Protests Sharing of BSNL Towers with private operators 

Meanwhile, the Communications Minister announced that the BSNL towers would be shared with the private operators for the benefit of the latter. This was strongly opposed by the Joint Forum and a press statement was issued on 17-03-2006.

Press Statement against the proposal of the government for the unbundling of copper cables of BSNL was issued on 31-05-2006 by the Joint Forum.

Meeting with the Secretary DOT on 7th June 2006

A meeting was held with Dr.J.S.Sharma, Secretary DOT, on 7th June 2006. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JF, Com. Nafe Singh and Com. Swapan Chakraborty also participated. The following issues were discussed:

Navaratna Status to BSNL: The Secretary DOT assured that the Navaratna Status will be conferred to BSNL next year after the fulfillment of obligatory provisions.

Unbundling of local loop: The apprehension of the workers on the formation of a sub-committee headed by the Secretary DOT on the issue was discussed and the Joint Forum strongly opposed the same. Secretary DOT assured that the commitment given earlier continued and no unbundling will take place.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL: Secretary DOT assured that the talk of merger is only speculation of the media and there is no decision for the same.

The Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations on 24th June 2006 addressed a letter to the Communications Minister Shri Dayanidhi Maran strongly opposing the proposal of unbundling the last mile copper and seeking a meeting to discuss the same.

The Joint Forum gave a call for Lunch hour Demonstrations at Circles and SSA levels on 27th July 2006 and telegrams to be sent to Prime Minister demanding “ No Disinvestment, No unbundling of local loop of BSNL & MTNL”. It was also decided to have a massive March to Parliament on 3rd August 2006.

Meeting with the Minister of Communications on 12th July 2006.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener Joint Forum along with Com. Basudev Acharya, M.P. & Leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha, met the Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran on 12-07-2006 and expressed strong protest of the workers on the proposals for unbundling. The Minister, while sharing the concerns of the unions expressed that there is no need to unbundle loops of BSNL & MTNL. He said that in USA also, there is no unbundling. He commented that both the PSUs will be finished if unbundled. Coms. Mihir Dasgupta AGS BSNLEU and Animesh Mitra, CS BSNLEU, W.B.Circle also participated in the discussions. Minister assured positively and later told the press that there was no need for unbundling.

Protest against increasing of FDI from 49% to 74 % in Telecom sector – Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions decides for agitational programmes.

Despite the discussions with the Communications Minister and assurances by DOT and CMD, the government was steadily moving to implement increased FDI in telecom, unbundling of last mile copper etc. as part of its neo-liberal policies. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) was privatized and the shares of MTNL were being disinvested. The government and the TRAI were taking anti-BSNL/MTNL decisions one after another favouring the private telecom companies. Earlier, the USOF was only for the BSNL/MTNL but it was being extended to the private operators also. A committee was formed under the Chairmanship of Secretary, DOT, with 9 members out of which 4 members were from various private telecom companies and one each from PMO and Planning Commission. The main issue was to unbundle the last mile copper of the telecom PSUs to benefit the private companies.

As such, the meeting of the Joint Forum held on 5th and 10th July 2006 after detailed discussion decided to organize agitational programmes on the following demands:

  1. No Disinvestment of BSNL/MTNL
  2. No unbundling of local loop
  3. No sharing of BSNL/MTNL infrastructure with private operators
  4. No increase in FDI
  5. No reduction in revenue sharing and ADC
  6. Immediate grant of Navaratna status to BSNL
  7. Grant autonomy to BSNL & MTNL
  8. Expand mobile and broadband services
  9. Early and amicable settlement of ITS absorption issue.

The following programmes  were also finalized:

  1. Joint Demonstrations to be organized at Circle/SSA headquarters on 27th July 2006. On the day, telegrams to be sent to the Prime Minister, New Delhi as follows:

“No Disinvestment, Unbundling of Local Loop of BSNL and MTNL”

  1. March to Parliament on 3rd August 2006.
  2. Strike in September 2006, the date which will be decided later.

Accordingly notice was issued to the Secretary, DOT and CMDs of BSNL and MTNL. It was signed by V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU) & Convener JF, O.P.Gupta (NFTE), K.Vallinayagam (FNTO), V.Narayana (BSNLMS), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), G.L.Jogi (SNEA), V.Subburaman (TEPU), S.P.Sharma (BSNLWRU), T.Muthukrishnan (AISC/STTEWA), A.D.Patil (AIBCTES), V.K.Tomar (MTNLEA), Vrijesh Upadhyay  (MTNLMS) and A.K.Koushik (TEAM). A detailed letter was sent to the Sub Group on ‘Unbundling of local loop’ strongly opposing and demanding that no unbundling be decided.

BSNL adds 0.43 million connections in April 2015

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

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It is good news. BSNL has added 0.43 million connections in April 2015. This is a trend change from losing connection to adding connections.

Now BSNL has got 16.18 million landline connections and 77.50 mobile connections, including wireless connection, thus a total of 93.67 million. In the landlines it is first and in the mobiles it is in the 5th position after Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Idea and Reliance Telecom.

The Teledensity by the end of April 2015 stands at 80% with about 1 Billion (100 crore) connections.

BSNL has to go miles and miles. BSNL was number two up-to 2006. Can’t it come up again? Make  all out efforts.

Arrest of Delhi Law Minister an arbitrary exercise of power, the Lt. Governor should resign – CPI(M)

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

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The CPI(M) has issued the following Press Statement:

“The arrest of the Law Minister of Delhi Jitender Singh Tomar by the police is a shocking instance of  arbitrary exercise of power by the Lt. Governor Najeeb Jung.  The Delhi police is  under the jurisdiction of the Lt. Governor.  The arrest has been effected when the matter of an alleged false degree acquired by the Minister is before the court.

The BJP government at the Centre is using the Lt. Governor to ride roughshod over the elected state government of Delhi.  The Lt. Governor has by a series of actions showed that he will not abide by democratic and federal norms.  He should quit office immediately.”

Refund of BWA Spectrum Charges, Assistance from USOF to BSNL

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

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Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, former Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations and Patron BSNLEU met Smt. Aruna Sunderarajan, Administrator, USOF today, 9th June 2015 and requested that the Rs. 1,250 crore allotted for BSNL for 2012-13 be paid at the earliest. Administrator told that USOF had cleared the same and it is for the DOT to pay. Com. Namboodiri met Smt. Annie Moraes, Member (Finance) and Shri V.Umashanker, Joint Secretary(T) and pointed out the urgency of payment of both the above, since BSNL is having no funds to purchase equipments, when a large number of applications for landlines are being generated due to the new schemes announced by the BSNL like free roaming, free night calls etc.

Joint Secretary (T) stated that the DOT is fully aware of the requirement. After the meeting of the Secretary, DOT with the Forum on 1st May 2015, process for the same has started. He expressed the hope that a decision in the matter will be taken soon.

78.2% IDA Pension Fixation – File Approved by Minister

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

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After the meeting with Communications Minister Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA on 13th May 2015 and pointing out the extreme delay in finalising the Cabinet Note on 78.2% IDA pension fixation, the things started moving. The Cabinet Note was finalised and forwarded to the Minister for approval, The Minister has approved and send it back to DOT.

Today, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA met Smt. Annie Moraes, Member (Finance) and request for early forwarding of the Note to the other departments for approval before sending to Cabinet. Now the file has been forwarded to Member (Services) for further action. Shri N.K.Yadav, Member (Services) could not be met as he was in MTNL, being the officiating CMD MTNL.

It is expected that the cabinet Note will be forwarded to the other departments like, Pension, Law, Public Enterprises and Expenditure within a few days. AIBDPA is pursuing the case continuously.

Tata Steel UK workers to strike on 22nd June 2015

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

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All the 4 unions in the Tata Steel UK have decided to go on strike on 22nd June 2015 against the proposal to close the Pension Scheme in the company. The unions have taken strike ballot and there has been huge support for the strike from the 12,000 and odd workers.

In the European countries, including UK, there are moves to curtail the pension benefits. Struggles are taking in many countries.

We fully support the fully justified strike of the Tata Steel UK workers.

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 – ( 6 )

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

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2006

Negotiations with Secretary DOT on 4th January 2006.

At the last moment, when the Joint Forum was meeting at about 07.30 PM on 4th January 2005 , just four hours before the start of the strike in the night of 4/5th January 2006, the Secretary DOT called the unions for a meeting. The Joint Forum, which was in session authorized Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, General Secretary, BSNLEU & Convener, JF, to conduct the negotiation, since it was felt that the last minute discussions were only meant to confuse and delay matters. The Communications Minister was abroad and the State Minister out of Delhi. After protracted discussion, the Secretary DOT gave written assurances as below:

Yashwant Bhave, Additional Secretary, Department of Telecommunications dated 04-01-2006

Dear Shri Sinha,

Mr. V.A.N.Namboodiri, General Secretary of the BSNL Employees Union met Secretary (Telecom) today on behalf of the Joint Forum and expressed the following concern to him in connection with the notice of the strike given by the union.

  1. Disinvestment in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.
  2. Unbundling of the local loop.
  3. Grant of Navaratna status to BSNL
  4. Views of the Union in connection with the proposed Telecom Policy

The Secretary has assured Mr. Namboodiri as under:

  1. That there is no proposal regarding disinvestment in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.
  2. That unbundling of the local loop is not under consideration
  3. That all efforts will be made towards obtaining the Navaratna Status toBSNL.
  4. That the views of the Union will be duly considered as and when the draft Telecom Policy is formulated.

Yours

(sd)

Yashwant Bhave

To

Shri A.K.Sinha,

CMD BSNL,

Statesman House,

Connaught Circus,

New Delhi- 110001

Copy to

Shri V.A.N.Namboodiri, General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union

Strike Deferred on assurance from Secretary, DOT

The written assurances given by the Secretary, DOT were discussed by the Joint Forum which was in session and which unanimously decided to defer strike on the basis of the assurances.

Unity Strengthened, Gun Powder Kept Dry

The assurances given were very important, since for the first time, it was made clear that there is no proposal for disinvestment. The Navaratna status was assured. It was also assured that there is no proposal to unbundle the last mile copper cables of BSNL. The unions will be consulted on National Telecom Policy -2005. These written assurances were a big victory for the BSNL workers. The workers all over the country were jubilant that the Joint Forum has been able to get such vital assurances. The Joint Forum congratulated the workers whose determination and preparation for the strike compelled the government to come to the negotiating table and give assurances.

Protest Demonstration on 1st March 2006 against reduction in ADC and changing of connectivity charges to Revenue Sharing Scheme for Private Telecom Operators.

The TRAI, the telecom regulator, once again showed its partiality to the private telecom operators by drastically reducing the Access Deficit Charges (ADC) to be paid by them to BSNL for providing loss making connections in rural areas, which are financially unviable, but socially essential to fulfill the commitment of the government for universal service.

Instead of calculating the ADC on the basis of the period of talk (per minute) for STD and local calls as earlier, the procedure for payment of ADC is calculated as only 1.55% of the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) which will reduce the ADC from Rs. 5300 crore to about Rs. 2,000 crore, adversely affecting the development plans of the BSNL. The ADC for the ILD (International calls) continued, but it was reduced for incoming calls from Rs. 3.20 to Rs. 1.60 and for outgoing calls from Rs. 2.50 to Rs. 0.80 per minute. These were all done to favour the private telecom companies.

Lunch Hour Demonstrations on 01-03-2006

The Joint Forum strongly opposed the same and issued a press statement. The meeting of JF also decided to agitate against the order. Lunch our demonstrations were organized on 01-03-2006 throughout the country and in front of corporate office with massive participation.