CITU Congratulates NLC Workers

05 Friday Jul 2013

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CITU CONGRATULATES NEYVELI LIGNITE WORKERS FOR HEROIC UNITED STRIKE AGAINST DISINVESTMENT

04.07.2013                  

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions congratulates the workers as well as all the unions of Neyveli Lignite Corporation(NLC) at Tamilnadu for their all in united indefinite strike action from today against the decision of the Govt to disinvest shares of public sector company.

The strike commenced today and around 27000 workers including 13000 contract workers are in complete strike from today with a firm determination to resist offloading of shares of NLC to private hands.

CITU also congratulates all the trade unions and associations representing the employees and workers of NLC for the all in unity they have built up in the course of anti-privatisation struggle.

CITU condemns the move of the Govt and the NLC management to move to High Court to get the strike banned ignoring the sentiment and opinion not only of the workers and officers of NLC but the people of Tamilandu irrespective of political affiliations.

The heroic all in united strike struggle of the NLC workers against privatization and disinvestment would inspire the public sector workers and the working people in general in the struggle against anti-people economic policy and policy of privatization. CITU calls upon the trade union movement and the working class in general to extend their support and solidarity to the heroic strike struggle by NLC workers.

 

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CITU denounces Airports Privatisation

05 Friday Jul 2013

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CITU DENOUNCES GOVT’s MOVE TO PRIVATISE AIRPORTS04.07.2013

A Press Statement issued by CITU protesting Airports’ Privatisation is  given below:

The Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) strongly denounces the Government’s move to privatize 15 major airports in the country through so called public-private-partnership route as reported by the Press (Times of India of 4 July, 2013). Reportedly, the process is to start with inviting global bids for six airports viz., Calcutta, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Lucknow and Guwahati.

It is surprising that, in this beginning round, Govt selected such airports, to hand over to private hands, which are having “substantial commercial activities” and higher revenue earnings; and where already huge investments have been made by the Govt through Airport Authority of India (AAI) for renovation and modernization.

Only for modernization and renovation of Calcutta and Chennai airports Rs 3700 crores have been spent by AAI and also thousands of crore of public money have spent for modernizing other 13 airports. And now, handing over the management and control of those airports to private hands, both domestic and foreign, leaving Govt-owned Airport Authority only earn rent/revenue tantamount to transferring of huge public asset virtually free of cost to private hands. Is the Govt entitled to fitter away public asset like that?

Most ridiculous is the Civil Aviation Ministry’s argument, quoted by the press, for such a retrograde move of handing over readymade modernized and high revenue earning airports to private players is that such an exercise would improve the management of the airports. Will those wise people say which agency in the country is having more exposure and experience of managing and running airports other than the Airport Authority of India? Or whether the game plan is for handing over the management and control of such vital infrastructure, involving national security like airports, to foreign players? The Ministry officials have also reportedly stated that they “are not being allowed to work at a fast pace” and hence let the private players rule on public asset and earn fortune without making any capital investment. This exposes the game plan further: Not to allow the Airport Authority of India to operate autonomously through bureaucratic interventions, give them a bad name and pave the way for private and foreign players to reign in. This can no way be in the national interest must be stopped forthwith.

CITU condemns such disastrous move to hand over the control of management of the vital infrastructure like airports to private hands reducing the Airport Authority to a virtual rent earning non-entity and urges upon to the Govt of India to stop such exercise of privatization of airports through PPP route which is highly detrimental to national interests.

CITU calls upon the trade union movement in the country and the workers and unions of civil aviation sector in particular to unitedly resist such move of privatization of airports.

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BSNL for Better Service (9) – Mandate to be given for Govt. and PSUs to use BSNL/MTNL services

05 Friday Jul 2013

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BSNL is a government owned company which implements the policy of the government for  providing universal service and communications all over the country.  It is not working on profit basis, but on service basis. BSNL mainly deals with other PSUs on many impotant issues. On the insistence of BSNLEU, the Group Insurance Scheme  and  EPF funds were entrusted with the LIC, Bank Loans Scheme was signed with  the PSU Banks, watches for employees were purchased from HMT  etc. In the case of Air India, government  have mandated  that all central government and PSUs should travel by Air India alone to ensure the viability of the company. In the same way, the government should issue instructions that all the government and PSUs should take BSNL connections, both mobile and landlines.

Of course, there is necessity to improve the services.  The management and the workers should take the responsibility for a better service. If the services are improved, naturally the subscribers will prefer a PSU instead of a private company.

The Forum demands the GoM  that a mandate as stated above should be given to all  government departments and PSUs which will have immediate impact on the workers and for efforts for a Better Service.

 

 

 

The 4th of July – American Independence Day

04 Thursday Jul 2013

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The 4th July is very important to the USA. It was on this day in 1776 America proclaimed the declaration of independence. It was a colony of great Britain before. 4th July is celebrated by the US as its Independence day with great pomp.

Defence Minister oppose increase of FDI in Defence

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

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Defence Minister AK Antony comes down hard on proposal for 49% FDI The difference in approach on the increase of FDI in Defence has come out. Commerce Minister Anand Sharma had announced yesterday that FDI in  Defence sector is proposed to be increased from 26% to 49%. The earlier proposal was, as reported, to increase to 74%.

As per the latest reports, Defence Minister A.K.Antony has strongly opposed the proposal. See the following report:

‘In a note to Mr Sharma, the Defence Minister has argued India “cannot afford to be dependent on foreign companies and vulnerable to policies of their countries of origin”.  He also says “Allowing foreign companies to set up manufacturing/ assembly facilities here would be a retrograde step as it will stymie the growth of indigenous design and development.”‘

We fully support the stand taken by the Defence Minister opposing the increase in FDI. There should be nation wide protest against this ‘retrograde step’  to increase the FDI in Defence.

The pertinent question is whether Mr. Antony will be able to withstand against the pressure of the PM as also MNCs or succumb to the pressure.

Whether Communications Minister Kapil Sibal will take a similar stand against increase  in FDI as Defence Minister  A.K.Antony has taken?

Meeting with Secretary,DOT

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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Meeting with Secretary, DOT

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum  & Advisor AIBDPA and Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA had a fruitful discussion with Shri M.F.Farooqui, Secretary, DOT today, 3rd July 2013. They mainly brought to his notice the issue of 78.2% IDA fixation for pensioners, both pre-2007 and post-2007, acute shortage of staff in CCA units, Grant of Minimum Pension of Rs. 3,880 (instead of Rs. 3,500), Undue delay in settlement of Anomaly in Pension for those retired within 10 months of formation of BSNL and Extension of Concession for Broad band connection to the DOT Retirees. The Secretary, DOT had a patient and positive hearing and assured that he will examine the issues and do the needful.

The representatives also pointed out about the move of the management to close the telegram services with effect from 15th July 2013 and requested his intervention.  The delay in the release of Rs. 1,500 crore from USOF to BSNL was also raised. (Later it was informed that Gazette Notification has already been issued to release the Fund). Com. Namboodiri  requested that the Memorandum given by the Forum on the revival of  BSNL to the GoM (with copy to Secretary, DOT) be given due priority.

 

Rs. 1,500 crore to BSNL from USO Fund

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The amount of Rs. 1,500 crore allotted from the USO Fund in lieu of the withdrawn ADC to be paid to BSNL for the year 2012-13 has now been approved and Gazette Notification issued for the same on 17th June 2013. The amount will be shortly paid to BSNL.

Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations has taken up the matter with the Secretary, DOT,  Addl. Secretary, Member (Services), Member (Finance) and also USO Fund Administrator during the last few months for getting early orders to release the same. The release was delayed due to the Finance Dept. keeping the amount with it due to the presentation of the budget etc. Now we are happy that the amount has been released. BSNL should effectively utilise  the fund.

Protest against 100% FDI in Telecom – Forum Press Release

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

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The following Press Release has been issued by Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations against the decision of the Telecom Commission to introduce 100% FDI in Telecom:

FORUM OF  BSNL UNIONS / ASSOCIATIONS

Press Release                                                                                                                                   3rd July 2013

BSNL Unions Oppose 100% FDI in Telecom

The decision of the Telecom Commission to increase the FDI in telecom sector from the present 74 % to 100% is totally opposed by the BSNL workers. This decision of the government not only raises serious security concerns, but also will result in the Indian private telecom companies being taken over by the foreign companies and adversely affect the growth of BSNL and MTNL in the fierce competitive atmosphere.

Telecom Sector has always been considered as the second line of defence. Whether in the First War of Independence or in the II World War or in any major wars afterwards, telecommunications always played an important role.  The communications system in the country cannot be under the control of foreign companies, whose interests are based only on profit. Any nation has to be extra careful about its defences, which also require control on the telecommunications systems. In this connection, it is to be pointed out that the unverified mobile connections found out in the hands of the terrorists, belonged to companies with Foreign Direct Investment. If the full control is with the foreign companies who do not have any concern for the security of India, what will happen at times of crises need not be elaborated.

Already 100% FDI is allowed in telecom equipment manufacturing for the last two decades. For the first time, 49% FDI was introduced in telecom services in the 1990s. In 2005, it was increased to 74%. Now the full circle is reaching with 100% FDI, if the central government approves of the same.

It is interesting that as usual, this decision is taken just before the scheduled tours of the Finance Minister and Communications Minister to US, in the second week of July. It is to be noted that the US as also the telecom MNCs have been putting much pressure on the government of India to increase the FDI in telecom services, which is one of fast growing sectors in the country.

The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations strongly oppose the decision to increase the FDI to 100% in Telecom Sector and demand the government to desist from this dangerous move.

V.A.N.Namboodiri

Convener, Forum

Mob: 09868231431

Telecom Commission for 100% FDI – Our Strong Opposition

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

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The Telecom Commission on 2nd June 2013 has taken the drastic and dangerous decision of increasing the FDI in Telecom to 100% from the present 74%. MNCs and the India private telecom companies have been continuously pressurising the government for such a decision. Even with 74%, the control will go to the foreign shares and now any Indian companies can be fully owned by the foreign companies.

Not only this is going to be a serious security concern, but also may adversely affect the Indian companies who will be compelled to adopt for FDI to face competition. It will adversely affect the growth of the two telecom PSUs, BSNL and MTNL. What happened to the other countries who depended upon full FDI is to be studied further.

The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations have to take up the matter seriously with the government and demand not to increase the already high FDI in telecom sector.

Biometric feature/s required for SIM card?

03 Wednesday Jul 2013

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It is reported that the Home ministry has asked the DOT to explore the possibilities of making finger print or other biometric features compulsory for the issue of SIM card, to avoid the SIM cards reaching unidentified persons, like terrorists. The recent terrorist attacks and unearthing of many mobiles in the hands of unauthorised persons might have compelled the Home Ministry to this line of thinking.

In order to increase the market share and their profits, private telcos have been issuing mobile connections, even in bulks, without any verification. This has increased the unauthorised connections and danger to the safety of the country. The drastic penalty has not deterred them, in the hope that it will not be easy to find the culprits.