Demands Day on 11 December 2014

09 Tuesday Dec 2014

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The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has called upon all BSNL employees to observe Demands Day on 11 December 2014 by organising massive Lunch Hour Demonstrations at SSA/ Circle / Corporate Office demanding immediate steps for the Revival of BSNL. This is first of a series of agitational programmes to compel the government to accept our demands to improve and strengthen BSNL. Large scale campaign among public is required. One crore signature is to be collected on the Memorandum  to be submitted to Prime Minister on the day of Parliament March on 25 February 2015. If the demands are not conceded, Indefinite Strike will be organised from 17March.
Hence let us start our programme with all the workers participating in the Demonstration on 11 December in a very big way. Try to bring all the employees to the programme. Let the government and the management see the strength of the workers and their determination to achieve their demands.

Non-implementation of Labour Laws in BSNL – Discussion With Executive and Non- executive unions

09 Tuesday Dec 2014

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As pointed out several times in this blog, brutal exploitation of casual contact workers is taking place in BSNL. We are making all efforts to put an end to this exploitation of the low paid workers. Social security measures like EPF ESI are not implemented. Workers are being  retrenched for union activities. Such atrocities can not happen in a PSU, where strong progressive unions  are there.
In my capacity as President of the BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation, I have already met most of the General Secretaries / CHQ leaders and requested them to help in putting an end to the exploitation.
I am very happy to state that all those comrades whom I met supported me, including ITSA leaders, and assured that this evil practice should be stopped and their support is there.
I am sure this solidarity will bring some improvement. Thank you Comrades!

EPF for Casual labour from 2000 – BSNL Board Meeting today.

09 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Uncategorized

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BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation has been continuously raising the issue of EPF for both casual and contract workers in BSNL. It was implemented from 2011 for both casual and contract workers; but not everywhere. The Federation is trying to get it implemented to all casual contract workers.

In the meantime, implementation of EPF for the casual workers from 2000, the year from which BSNL was formed was taken up with the Parliamentary Standing committee on Labour as also the Chief EPF Commissioner, Delhi. The latter called a meeting of both BSNCCWF and the BSNL Management in which the demand was again raised. The Management agreed to consider the same.

The BSNL Management Committee has already approved EPF for casual labours with retrospective effect from 2000. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri President BSNLCCWF met the CMD BSNL last week and pressed  for early decision in the matter.

This issue is an item in the agenda of the BSNL Board meeting today, 9th December 2014. We hope that the BSNL Board will approve the same which is fully justified and is a long pending demand of the casual workers.

Congress Surrenders – Will Support Insurance Bill

09 Tuesday Dec 2014

Posted by in Neo-liberal policy, PSU

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All the loud shouts of the Congress against the Insurance Bill which proposes to increase the FDI in Insurance Sector from 26% to 49% have died down. The party has agreed for the passing of the bill in the Rajya Sabha with minor amendments.

Only the Left, JD(U0, SP and Trinamool strongly opposed the bill in the Select Committee. They will oppose in the Parliament also when the Bill is presented.

Once again it has been proved that BJP and Congress are nothing but two sides of the same coin and that on the issue of neoliberalisation and anti-worker policies, they are together.

Homage to Com. K.G.Bose on his 40th death anniversary

08 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in BSNLEU, Obituary, Tributes

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44 years are over after the departure of Comrade K.G.Bose from our midst. It was on 11th December 1974 that our beloved leader Com. K.G.Bose passed away in a London Hospital, at the comparatively young age of 53.

But the  contribution of Com. K.G.  to the P and T Trade union movement during that period is beyond description. Born on 7th July 1921, he entered the P and T Department as a clerk in the DET Office, Calcutta in 1941. From the date he joined till his death in 1974, he was completely merged in the union activities, leading and guiding thousands of committed workers all over the country. His role in the 1946 P and T Strike, in the formation of NFPTE in 1954, exposing the revisionist leadership and leading the workers on the correct line – all are well known to the P and T workers. Thousands of young comrades like me have been inspired by him and became active workers of the union.

Com.KG was a fighter, a revolutionary, a leader who mingled with the workers and understood their aspirations and capabilities and molded them in to dedicated and determined activists. He was elected as President of NFPTE in 1970 and led the movement on the correct line. He was elected to the Bengal Legislature and was a Member of the Pay Commission for the State Govt. Employees.

His last days were in a London hospital, where he was taken for treatment of dreaded cancer. Though expert treatment was given, he could not recover and passed away on 11th December 1974, leaving all of us is complete darkness.

A few words from his last letter to the comrades in India is reproduced below:” I want to survive and continue my uncompromising fight against all injustices,  and  in this fight  I am not alone, thousands and thousands of comrades are with me and they are the source of my inspiration.”… ” We can not be a party to any proposal which may be considered as surrender of the principled stand by the common workers”.

The own building of BSNL Employees Union in New Delhi is named “K.G.Bose Bhawan” in his memory. There are many such union offices all over the country which are named after him. His wife, Com. Parul Bose, herself a staunch union worker, also passed away a few years back. Com. Moni Bose, the veteran trade union leader and one of the First Patrons of the BSNL Employees Union, who passed away in 2010, was his younger brother.

Recently when I was searching some old papers at my home at Calicut, I got a few letters which have been sent by Com. KG and which I have kept safely as a memory of the great leader. I feel fortunate that I could meet and be a dedicated follower of Com.K.G.Bose.

Red Salute to Com. K.G.Bose, the Eternal Revolutionary!

Dredging Corporation of India will be disinvested

08 Monday Dec 2014

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The disinvestment process of the Central Government continues without any break. The latest is in the dredging Corporation of India. The Government has decided to disinvest 5% of the shares from the present 78.5% the Centre holds.

Dredging Corporation of India deals with the dredging of the sea ports in India. There is no other PSU dealing with the work. There are sufficient work and the company is a profitable one.

Naturally, the target of the government is to privatise. It is for this purpose that the shares are being sold at the initial stage.

India’s 10% Super Rich holds 74% of India’s Wealth !

08 Monday Dec 2014

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As per a report from the Credit Suisse, an international organisation, India’s top 10% holds 74 % of the total wealth of the country. At the same time, the bottom 10% is having only 0.2% of the total wealth. There is about 10% increase in the wealth of the top 10% during the last 13 years since 2000.

It is also stated that 20% of the total poorest in the world is in India. This is the maximum of the poorest in any country. India’s growth has mainly benefitted the rich and not the poor.

The ” Socialist Pattern of Society” of the ruling Congress or the ” Achhe Din” of the ruling BJP has not benefitted the poor.

When the situation is going to change? It will not automatically change; it will have to be forcibly changed.

How many Government/PSU Pensioners in India?

08 Monday Dec 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, Uncategorized

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According to a Press Information Bureau (PNB) report, there are about 1.5 crore Government/PSU Pensioners in India. The statistics are as follows:

Central Government Pensioners  : About 50 Lakh

State Government Pensioners     : About 50 Lakh

Armed forces Pensioners             : About 25 Lakh

PSU Pensioners                          : About 25 Lakh

Total                                          : About 1.5 crore

The Pensioners are further increasing with thousands of officials retiring every day. The Pensioners, with their long period of service and valuable experience are going to be an influential section in the society.

They have to utilise the situation effectively for the service of the Nation as also for the benefit of the pensioners.

Forum Circular and Memorandum to Prime Minister

07 Sunday Dec 2014

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The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations has finalised the Memorandum to be submitted to the Prime Minister on the Revival of BSNL. The agitational programmes including Indefinite Strike from 17th March 2015 have also been finalised by Forum. Both the Memorandum as well as Forum Circular are given below: The Memorandum is to be got signed by maximum people as also the BSNL employees.

FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS

D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110 001.

Forum/GL                                                                                           05.12.2014

Indefinite Strike from 17th March, 2015.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, the umbrella organisation of Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives in BSNL has called upon the BSNL workers to go on an indefinite strike from 17th March, 2015 demanding the Central Government and BSNL Management to take immediate steps for the revival of BSNL, which is on loss for the last four consecutive years. The market share of BSNL has come down to about 10%, mainly due to non-procurement of required equipment like mobile connections, cable, broadband modem, drop wire, towers etc. resulting in deterioration of services as well as a blockade for development and expansion. Several pleas to the government and BSNL Management have fallen on deaf ears.

The neo-liberal policy being aggressively adopted by both the UPA and NDA governments is the main reason for the downfall of BSNL with its implementation of the motto “Business is not the business of government” and favouring the MNCs and private telecom companies.

Under these circumstances, the Forum has decided in its meeting on 5th December, 2014 to organise the following agitational programme, culminating on Indefinite Strike from 17th March, 2015.

The meeting finalized the Memorandum to the Prime Minister and the Circular to be issued.

  1. Demands Day to be organized on 11.12.2014 by organizing Lunch hour demonstration.
  2. Three Days Dharna will be organized from 6th to 8th January, 2015.
  3. The earlier decision to organise a March to Parliament is postponed from 19th December 2014 to 25th February 2015.
  4. The Indefinite Strike will be organised from 17th March 2015, instead of from 3rd February 2015 as decided earlier.
  5. State level conventions are to be held in January and February 2015 in preparation for the Indefinite Strike. Massive campaign should be organised.
  6. At least one crore signature are to be collected to the Memorandum to be submitted to the Prime Minister on the day of the March to Parliament. For this purpose, quota will be given to the circles @ 50 times of the number of staff in the circle.
  7. Memorandum and Posters are to be prepared in English and Hindi.
  8. The next meeting of the Forum will be held at 03.00 PM on 19th December 2014.

The strike notice with the demands have already been served to the CMD BSNL, Secretary DoT and Chief Labour Commissioner on 19.11.2014 signed by the General Secretaries of Unions / Associations.

Charter of Demands:

Filling up the posts of CMD/BSNL and Director(Finance) and DIR(HR) of BSNL Board, which are vacant for months.

Stop formation of subsidiary companies of BSNL.

Compensation for loss on landlines for rural / remote area service.

Procurement of equipment for development, expansion and better service, more focus on laying OF cable to strengthen the transmission network.

Transfer of Assets to BSNL

Drop proposal for Merger of BSNL and MTNL.

Spectrum Liberalisation and Trading.

Pension Contribution on actual basic pay instead of maximum of the pay scale for the employees absorbed from DoT to BSNL.

Reject the recommendation of TRAI to force BSNL to surrender 1.2 MHz spectrum in premium 900 MHz band.

Reject M/s Deloittee Consultant recommendations

Free allotment of spectrum to BSNL

Provide financial assistance to BSNL to expand network.

BBNL should be merged with BSNL

BSNL should start 4G Services.

Refund of BWA spectrum charges to BSNL by the Government for the spectrum surrendered by BSNL.

78.2% IDA merger fixation for pre-2007 and post-2007 Pensioners.

Pension Revision of BSNL Pensioners

Fresh Recruitment of Staff.

BSNL service to be mandatory to Central Government, State Government and PSUs.

Condition of mandatory purchase of equipments from ITI to be scrapped.

Implement cabinet decision on 30% superannuation benefits to BSNL direct recruited employees.

Dear Comrades,

BSNL is the asset of the Nation. It is the bread and butter of the employees. People want BSNL services and also improvement. This is a ‘Do or Die’ situation for the workers.

It is, therefore, requested that all the BSNL workers be mobilized in all the programmes in a massive way compelling the government and BSNL Management to accept our demands and save BSNL.

SAVE BSNL – SAVE NATION

V.A.N. Namboodiri

Convener

To,

The General Secretaries of Executive / Non-Executive Unions / Associations in BSNL.

FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS

D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole

05.12.2014

SAVE BSNL – SAVE NATION

Memorandum to the Prime Minister

Respected Sir,

As you are well aware, the telecom PSU, BSNL, is in serious financial crisis with posting of loss for the last consecutive four years. It’s market share has reached a low 10% and expansion and development slowed due to lack of mobile and other equipment urgently required.

It was assured at the time of formation of BSNL that the govt. will provide financial assistance to the new entity through Access Deficit Charge (ADC) collected from private companies, reimbursement of licence fee paid by BSNL to government and liberal subsidy from Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF). But, unfortunately, all these are either fully stopped or reduced. At the same time, all the cash balance of BSNL coming to about Rs.40,000 crore has been taken by the government through spectrum charges (Rs.18,500 crore) notional loan (Rs.7500 crore and interest at 14.5%), licence fee etc. etc. As such BSNL, which had an accumulated profit of about Rs.45,000 crores for the first five years and was paying good dividends to government is now in an accumulated loss of around Rs.28,000 crore for the last four years. As a result, Bonus and many social security benefits like Medical Allowance, LTC are either stopped or curtailed.

The employees and their unions in BSNL together have been making all out efforts to improve the services to the people. But due to the shortage of equipment and anti-PSU and pro-private policies of the consecutive governments, revival is facing serious hurdles.

In order to save BSNL from the present financial crisis and also to provide a better service to the people, we submit the following for your kind consideration and necessary action.

Charter of Demands:

Filling up the posts of CMD/BSNL and Director(Finance) and DIR(HR) of BSNL Board, which are vacant for months.

Stop formation of subsidiary companies of BSNL.

Compensation for loss on landlines for rural / remote area service.

Procurement of equipment for development, expansion and better service, more focus on laying OF cable to strengthen the transmission network.

Transfer of Assets to BSNL

Drop proposal for Merger of BSNL and MTNL.

Spectrum Liberalisation and Trading.

Pension Contribution on actual basic pay instead of maximum of the pay scale for the employees absorbed from DoT to BSNL.

Reject the recommendation of TRAI to force BSNL to surrender 1.2 MHz spectrum in premium 900 MHz band.

Reject M/s Deloittee Consultant recommendations

Free allotment of spectrum to BSNL

Provide financial assistance to BSNL to expand network.

BBNL should be merged with BSNL

BSNL should start 4G Services.

Refund of BWA spectrum charges to BSNL by the Government for the spectrum surrendered by BSNL.

78.2% IDA merger fixation for pre-2007 and post-2007 Pensioners.

Pension Revision of BSNL Pensioners

Fresh Recruitment of Staff.

BSNL service to be mandatory to Central Government, State Government and PSUs.

Condition of mandatory purchase of equipments from ITI to be scrapped.

Implement cabinet decision on 30% superannuation benefits to BSNL direct recruited employees.

Yours faithfully,

No. Name Designation Signature

 

Postal Federations Declare Indefinite Strike from 6th May 2015

07 Sunday Dec 2014

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Postal Joint Council of Action declared nationwide indefinite strike from 6th May 2015, if the Government is not ready to settle the demands before that date. The date of the strike was fixed as 6th May, taking into consideration the fact that the JCM National Council National Convention to be held on 11th December will be declaring series of agitational programmes during the month of February, March and April 2015. (Courtesy: NFPE website)