”One Day, One Employee, One Subscriber’

05 Friday Jun 2015

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‘One Day, One Employee, One Subscriber’

BSNL have 2,25,000 employees at present, including the ITS, Executives and non-executives. This is not a small number. They are working out-door as well as indoor. But one thing is similar to all – that they are employees who get monthly salary from BSNL for the work they are performing. Their future is completely intertwined with the existence and growth of BSNL. Now what can be done by all of them ? Of course, they have to do their duty sincerely and with dedication.

But some thing more than can be done. If all these officers and workers, from CMD BSNL to the RM/TM, each can meet one subscriber  one day and find out his difficulties or requirements as well as suggestions how to improve the service. Within a few months there will be a great change in the minds of the subscribers about BSNL and its employees. Whatever the suggestions, requirements, complaints etc. have to be dealt with urgently.

On the one hand,the employees will understand the mindset of the subscribers. Secondly, the subscribers will have faith in BSNL and will also know that employees are there to serve them effectively.

‘‘One Day, One Employee, One Subscriber’

 

Dr. N.M.Mohammed Ali expired

05 Friday Jun 2015

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Dr. N.M.Mohammed Ali, well known psychiatrist and writer, passed away today at Vellanad, near Thiruvanathapuram.  He was 74.

Dr. Mohammed Ali was also a leader of the service associations. While in Calicut, I had the opportunity to meet him several times and discuss about organisational matters and struggles. He was a dedicated doctor, much  liked by the patients and staff. His death is a great loss.

I convey my heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

 

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) orders recall of ‘Maggi Noodles’.

05 Friday Jun 2015

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Coming down heavily on Swiss giant Nestle, the central food safety regulator FSSAI on Friday ordered recall of all nine approved variants of Maggi instant noodles from the market, terming them “unsafe and hazardous” for human consumption.

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) also said Nestle launched ‘Maggi Oats Masala Noodles’ without approval and ordered its recall, saying the company did not undertake risk and safety assessment for the product.

“Withdraw and recall all the nine approved variants of its Maggi Instant Noodles from the market having been found unsafe and hazardous for human consumption, and stop further production, processing, import, distribution and sale of the said product with immediate effect,” the FSSAI order said.

The FSSAI also said that Nestle violated labelling regulations on taste enhancer ‘MSG’ and ordered company to submit compliance report on its orders within three days.

“Withdraw and recall the food product, ‘Maggie Oats Masala Noodles with Tastemaker’ for which risk safety assessment has not been undertaken and product approval has not been granted,” the order said.(PTI)

 

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 – ( 2 )

05 Friday Jun 2015

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

The BSNL employees as per the call of  the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives have gone on a complete Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 demanding Revival of BSNL and for strengthening BSNL and for providing a better service to the customers. The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives (earlier called the Joint Forum/Joint Action Committee of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations) has been continuously taking up the issues connected with the growth of BSNL and major issues facing BSNL workers and had organised several struggles including Strikes. It will only be appropriate at this stage to go to the background how the unions/associations in BSNL came together to fight for BSNL and defended BSNL.

Formation of BSNL on 01-10-2000

The employees in the Department of Telecom were completely against corporatisation of telecom services.  Despite sustained struggles/strikes by employees , the government ordered corporatization and formed Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) on 01-10-2000, with the assurance of government pension to the BSNL absorbed employees from the consolidated fund of India, Regularization of left out casual labour / TSM, Adequate financial assistance to BSNL etc.

Formation of Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions and Associations.

Within a short time, it became clear that corporatisation of BSNL was the first step towards its privatisation. The government wanted retrenchment of workers through Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), disinvestment, unbundling of copper cables etc. in preparation to privatization. BSNL was not being allowed to procure the required equipment for providing a better service and expansion of services.

A joint effort by all the unions and associations was required to fight against these attacks on BSNL. As soon as BSNL Employees Union got recognition in 2004 after the Second Membership Verification, it took the initiative to form a co-ordination committee of all unions/associations in BSNL and MTNL. Accordingly the Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations was formed in 2004 with Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union, as Convener. Thus started the process of   a joint union movement and struggles in BSNL.

Massive March to the Communications Minister and Rally against Reduction of ADC on 21st December 2004.

The recommendation of the TRAI to reduce the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) to be collected from the private operators and paid to BSNL was  clearly to favour the private companies. The Joint Forum BSNL/MTNL strongly opposed the move and  organized a huge March to the Communications Minister’s office on 21st December 2004. More than 2,500 workers participated. From the BSNL Corporate Office alone, about 250 workers participated. The March was blocked by the police on the Parliament Street, where a rally was held. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU), G.L.Jogi(SNEA(I), V.K.Tomar(MTNLEA), K.M.Pillai(MTNLSWU) and other leaders addressed. A Memorandum on the demands was presented to the Prime Minister, not to reduce the ADC and to transfer the TRAI Chairman, Pradeep Baijal, who was openly favouring the private operators and trying to destabilize BSNL and MTNL. The Joint Forum leaders met CMD BSNL, Shri A.K.Sinha and other Directors and urged to pressurize DOT and Government to withdraw from the move  to reduce ADC.

Meet the Customers, solve their problems; It is the best way to save BSNL.

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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The support of the people is necessary for the success of any common cause. Here it is to save BSNL. Meet each and every subscriber, find out his problems, solve it.

The Customer will support in your efforts to revive BSNL. It is the way to success.

UK Tata Steel Employees to go on Strike against scrapping of Pension Scheme

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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The four  Trade unions – Community, Unite, GMB and UCATT – will meet next week on Monday to decide on the “strike action” on Tata Steel’s proposal to scrap the British Steel Pension Scheme (BSPS).

“The National Trade Union Steel Co-ordinating Committee (which brings together Community, Unite, GMB and UCATT unions) will meet early next week to determine the next stage of action,” a Community spokesperson told PTI.  (Courtesy : ET)

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2014 – (1)

04 Thursday Jun 2015

Posted by in SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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A small book on “The Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL” authored and published by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri,  founder Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations of Non-Executives and Non-Executives, was released by the President Forum Com.C.Singh, GS NFTE, by handing over the same to Com. P.Abhimanyu, present Convener, Forum and GS BSNLEU.  The functioning of the Joint Forum/Joint Action Committee/Forum during the period 2004 to 2015 and the struggles and programmes organised including the developments taken place  are all noted in detail in the book.

When the Forum and the BSNL Management is making  all out efforts to Save BSNL and restore it to its past glory by improving the services and making it financially viable,  the struggles and sacrifices made by the workers in the past to SAVE  and DEFEND BSNL will certainly inspire the workers. Hence it is proposed to post the contents of the book in a serial manner, every day in this blog, so that interested comrades and well wishers can read it.

As the first installment,  the preface of the book is posted today.

Preface

BSNL, the telecom PSU, completely owned by Government of India has been facing a difficult situation for the past few years. When BSNL was formed as a corporation from a government department, despite strong opposition from the employees, the government had assured that it will provide all support to the new entity and pension of the retired employees will be paid by Government. The real intention of the corporatisation was to privatise it later, as has been in the case of VSNL.

Very well knowing that BSNL will face attacks from the aggressive implementation of the neo-liberal policy and pressure from the MNCs and corporates, employees have from the start prepared themselves to save BSNL and strengthen it. The Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations was formed which was followed by Joint Forum of  BSNL Unions/Associations which was later renamed to Joint Action Committee and  Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives. Sustained struggles were organised to save BSNL and defend the rights of the workers. Being the Convener of all these organisations from the start till now, and when I have relinquished the post and handed over to the younger generation, I feel it my responsibility to present a brief history of the events that took place from 2004 till now, May 2015.

The Forum has been able to bring all the unions/associations under its umbrella and had organised historic strikes and struggles, which compelled the government to cancel its decisions to disinvest and privatise BSNL, Retrench lakhs of workers through VRS, unbundle the valuable cables of BSNL, deny the pension revision of retired employees and so on. It has been a unifying force of the workers.

At this juncture, I convey my thanks and appreciation to all the leaders and workers of the unions/associations of executives and non-executives in BSNL, who co-ordinated and contributed in making the Forum an invincible weapon to defend BSNL and its workers. I am sure that the Forum will continue to fulfill its great responsibilities in the future also.

V.A.N.Namboodiri, 25th May 2015.

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World mobile penetration reaches 99%!

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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The world mobile penetration has reached 99% as per a recent report. Central and Eastern Europe leads the penetration with 143% followed by western Europe with 127%. China is having 92% and India, 76%.

However, the fastest growing mobile sector is in India with 26 million in this quarter with China following with 8 million. (Courtesy: Business Line)

BSNL has got to be part of this great growth. The Government, Management and Workers have to make a crusade for the same.

 

SBI Associate Bank Employees on Strike today

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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The employees of the associated banks of State Bank of India, viz. State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad and State Bank of Patiala, are on strike today, 4th June 2015, pressing settlement of their demands. The call is given by the State Sector Bank Employees Association (SSBEA). The Association is also demanding that these banks should be delinked from SBI.

Disinvestment – now it is the turn of the Railways

04 Thursday Jun 2015

Posted by in Disinvestment, Neo-liberal policy

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The disinvestment tank is moving ahead crushing one after another PSU. Now it is the turn of the  Railways. The government is proposing to disinvest the shares of Railway PSUs like Container Corporation of India (CONCOR), RITES and IRCTC.

The government’s plea is the same, to bring in investments. But the main reason, as every body knows, is to privatise every profitable PSU to satisfy the demand of the MNCs and Corporates to  maximise their profits.

The fight against the neo-liberal policies has to be further strengthened.