Govt. approves Ordinance for 49% FDI in Insurance

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy, PSU

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As we stated earlier, the government is bent upon pushing the so called ‘reforms’ in the Insurance sector by increasing the FDI from 26% to 49%. This is being much pressed by the MNCs and corporates for a long time. Now they have got a government who are prepared to satisfy them. And lo! US President is also visiting India at the time of Republic Day.

Though the Insurance Amendment Bill could not be passed in the Rajya Sabha, the NDA government is not bothered. Now the cabinet has approved the ordinance to be issued in lieu of passing the Act. Corporates, MNCs and president Obama will be very happy.

Cabinet has also adopted ordinance on the Coal block allotment which was also pending.

We strongly oppose both the ordinances, which are only in the interests of the corporates and big business.

 

 

Support for BSNL, MTNL by Government ?

24 Wednesday Dec 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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it is reported  in the media that Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of Communications & IT  may announce some financial assistance to BSNL and MTNL on 25th December 2014,  the birth anniversary of former Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee.

Let it be X-Mas or Bajpayee’s Birth Day, the announcement is welcome, but it should benefit BSNL and MTNL.

SAVE BSNL -Meeting of the Forum on 30th December 2014.

23 Tuesday Dec 2014

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In order to discuss about the implementation of the three days dharna from 6th to 8th January 2015 on the SAVE BSNL Campaign, and also organising the Parliament March on 25th February, a meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations will be held at 03.00 PM at BSNL MS office on 30th December 2014. All unions are requested to participate in time.

BSNL Casual Contract Workers’ Massive Dharna in UP(East)

23 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Uncategorized

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The casual and contract workers in UP(East) Circle, as per the call of BSNLCCWF organised massive demonstrations  in front of SSA offices  demanding payment of minimum wages, implementation of social security measures like EPF, ESI etc.  UP (East) is one circle where the BSNL Management and the contractors are violating all the labour rules and making payment far below the minimum wage. There are some places where only Rs. 500 or Rs. 1,000 is being paid for working for a month. Can you believe it. it is brutal exploitation.

The Casual and Contract Workers Federation, at SSA, Circle and all India level has demanded to ensure payment of minimum wage to these exploited workers, but the brutal exploitation continues. That is why the Circle Union of BSNL CCWF has decided to organise Dharna at SSA offices today, 23rd December.

The Dharna was organised at Pratapgharh, Varanasi, Mirzapur, Lucknow, Jaunpur, Allahabad, Sultanpur, Banda, Sheetapur, Lakhimpur, Bahraich, Basti, Ballia, Shajahanpur, Mau and other SSAs. The workers participated in large numbers. The BSNLEU leadership at all places gave maximum support and participated in the programmes.

We congratulate the workers and their leadership for the excellent conduct of the dharna. BSNLCCWF demands the BSNL Management to implement the labour laws including the Minimum Wage, EPF, ESI etc.

If the issues are not settled, then a March to CGM Office, Lucknow will be organised on 3rd March 2015.

Delhi reels under cold

23 Tuesday Dec 2014

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It was 4.2% in Delhi yesterday, 22nd December 2014. It was almost freezing. The fog had its day, delaying a number of trains and flights.

Senior Citizens have been advised not to go for morning walk till about 08.00 AM, in order to avoid health problems and causalities.

To a certain extend it is tolerable for the persons with sufficient warm clothing and food. But what about those who are homeless, poor and sleeping on the pavements? Many may die, without any body caring.

Delhi was more cold than Shimla and some other hill stations. Of course, Delhi is the capital of India and deserves to be on the top.

 

NDA Government opt for Ordinances instead of passing bills in Parliament

23 Tuesday Dec 2014

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The pressure from the corporate and the India Inc is working like magic on the NDA government. The business tycoons did not had such a good opportunity any time earlier. The government is in a hurry to implement its assurances to them made at the time of general elections for getting huge donations for election. Further, it wants many clearance to satisfy US, before President Barack Obama reach India for attending the Republic Day  celebrations.

The government is proposing of issuing ordinances for the Insurance Amendment, Amendment to the Land Act, GST etc. The wash out of the Parliament is only due to the adamant attitude of the government and not due to the opposition. The huge majority in the election does not mean that instead of discussing and passing the bills in the Parliament, the ordinance route is to be taken.

There should be strong condemnation of this procedure instead of democratic process.

DOT fails to get stay on TDSAT decision on penalty issue to private telecom operators

22 Monday Dec 2014

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The Supreme court on 18th December denied stay on the decision of the TDSAT to cancel the penalty of Rs. 1,200 crore imposed on the private telecom operators Airtel, Vodafone and Idea for illegally providing 3G services in the circles, where they did not get the spectrum through auction. The service was provided by them through agreements with other private companies. This was opposed by DOT as illegal and imposed the penalty. But the TDSAT, on appeal gave the decision to allow the roaming. It was against this decision that DOT filed the appeal in the Supreme Court.

The present decision is subject to the final judgment of the Supreme Court which is yet to be delivered.

It is alleged that DOT /BSNL who have much to lose in the TDSAT decision, have not effectively dealt with the case.

Coal India Management ready for discussion with Unions

22 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in PSU, Uncategorized

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The Coal India Limited management has stated that they are ready to talk with the unions on the issues of Strike given notice of by the unions. The Unions in CIL has jointly given notice for strike from 6th January 2015.

The charter of demands include stopping or withdrawing “process of denationalisation of coal sector” and stopping “disinvestment, restructuring of CIL” (Coal India), among others. The demands also include extending the National Coal Wage Agreement (NCWA) wages and other benefits to existing and prospective captive coal workers and lifting the ban on general recruitment. Regularising contract workers engaged in mining jobs in underground as well as open cast mines is another demand.

Earlier, the proposed strike on November 24 by CIL employee unions was deferred after a meeting between the Coal Ministry officials and trade unions.

Pre-2011 list of Black Money holders will not be supplied from Switzerland

22 Monday Dec 2014

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It is reported that the law ministry has informed  that the list of black money holders before 2011 will not be supplied by the Swiss government since the agreement between the governments is only from 2011.

If the report is correct, this will mean that majority of the black money holders will be out of the inquiry and any action that may be taken. The big sharks are all going to be scotfree.

 

Homage to Com.P.R. Menon, Veteran Railway Union Leader

22 Monday Dec 2014

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Com.P.R.Menon, veteran leader of the Railway workers passed away at Mumbai on 5th December 2014 at the age of 81. He was the unquestioned leader of the National Railway Mazdoor Union (NRMU), former General secretary of the Union for 33 years and now the President of the same. He was also Vice-President of the All India Railwaymens’ Federation (AIRF) for a long time.

Com.P.R.Menon was born in Tirur, Kerala and after studies joined the Railways Office in Bombay. Within no time he became active in the union and was elected as the President of NRMU at the comparatively young age of 36. Since then he is in the leadership of the Railways Unions and have led and organised many struggles for the Railway workers.

He led the 1960, 1968 strikes and was victimised several times. After the historical 20 days Railway Strike of 1974, he was kept out of service for many years.  He was a communist and sacrificed his entire life for the working class.

I had the opportunity to meet him several times, in the meetings of the unions and also at Mumbai when I went there. He was of very simple nature and met the workers and helped them in many ways.

His death is a big loss to the trade union movement in the country, especially the Railway workers. My Respectful Homage and Red Salute to Com. P.R.Menon.