CPSEs demand more autonomy in running the PSUs

08 Thursday Nov 2012

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The CMDs of the central PSUs have demanded the Heavy Industries Ministry to grant more autonomy and powers to the PSUs to run the organisations effectively. This is fully justified since on most of the issues there is acute delay in getting the nod of the government on many important issues.

It is not sufficient. The unnecessary intervention of the government in the normal running of the PSUs should be reduced. How the 45 million GSM tender and the 95 million tender in BSNL was cancelled due to the intervention of the government is well-known.

Instead of taking all the surplus cash of the PSUs by the government, it should be able to accept the suggestion of the PSUs for further development and expansion.

Red Salute to Com. Samar Mukherjee on his 100th Birthe Day!

08 Thursday Nov 2012

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The living legend CPI(M) leader Com. Samar Mukherjee had his 100th Birth Day on 7th November 2012. A comrade who have been a an energetic Member of Parliament, who took up many important issues of the workers and people, a member of the Politburo of CPI(M) and  respected  by all  has reached the centenary year. He was felicitated in a meeting held at Kolkata attended by senior leaders of the party and many others. Usually, CPI(M) does not  organise birthday celebrations and this was as exception.

I had the opportunities to meet Com. Samar Mukherjee on a few occasions. While he was staying at the Parliamentary Party Office, New Delhi, I met him requesting to take up some issues of the telecom workers in the Parliament. He took up the matter immediately. He was so simple in his manners and I felt no difficulty in interacting with him.

My Best Wishes and Greetings to Com. Samar Mukherjee! Wish him many returns of the Day!

Maruti Workers on Hunger Strike

08 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in TU News - India

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The real picture of the conspiracy of the Haryana Govt and the Maruti Management is exposed now. They were claiming that there was no victimisation of the Maruti workers for the earlier agitations conducted by the employees.

Yesterday the Maruti workers started Hunger Strike at the Mini Secretariat at Gurgaon demanding reinstatement of the sacked workers and release of the 147 workers who are in jail in connection with the earlier agitation. The workers in the jail are also refusing to take food. The police manhandled the workers when they were making arrangements for the hunger strike. It was only after the Central Trade Unions like CITU and AITUC intervened that they were allowed to sit in hunger strike. Despite the intervention a few leaders of the union were taken in to custody and were not released till evening yesterday.

While labour laws and Industrial Disputes Act etc. are there to deal with strikes and such other agitations, the Haryana Government in collaboration with the Maruti Management is dismissing, jailing and victimising the workers. Even the right to protest is being suppressed.  This is what is happening in the neo-liberalisation era. Corporates and employers are given full freedom to do whatever they want. The entire trade union movement in the country has to react against these anti-worker policies to defeat the same.

Meeting of Forum of BSNL Unions/Assns with CLC

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

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As scheduled the joint discussion by the Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) with the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations and BSNL management was held today. Both sides expressed their view points in the matter of repatriation of the non-opted  ITS officers to DOT. The meeting is postponed to 3rd January 2013  for further hearing.

The case in the Delhi High Court has been postponed to 18th December 2012 with direction to the BSNL management to repatriated the non-optee ITS officers to DOT before 15 th December. The management wanted 10 years to complete the repatriation in a progressive way. The court did not accept the proposal.

Victory of Socialist Revolution in USSR

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

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95 years have passed after the successful socialist revolution in Russia. Later the USSR was formed and for about 60 years the USSR matched in all respects with the USA and even surpassed in many areas. The collapse of the USSR in the eighties completely changed the political balance of the world.

During those 60 years, USSR assisted in the liberation of many countries, including India, from the colonial masters and helped them to grow and develop infrastructure. It could stop the US attack on Communist Cuba more than once. The so called invincible war machine of Hitler has to eat dust before the Red Army of the Soviet Union and completely surrender.USSR’s role in the success of the allies is appreciated worldwide.

In the march of time some times such things as collapse of the Soviet Union happens. But the setback is temporary. The mankind will certainly march ahead to socialism and communism in the long run. That is what history has taught us.

CLC meets of BSNL Unions/Assns for discussions on ITS issue

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

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The Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) has called the BSNL Management and the Foru of BSNL Unions/Associations for joint discussion regarding the proposed agitation by the workers on the  repatriation issue of ITS officers. The meeting will be held at Shram Shakti Bhawan at 04.00 PM on 7th November 2012.

The third face of the agitation, one week Hunger Strike was over by 3rd November. The Non-cooperation is continuing. The next programme is massive joint demonstration in Delhi and Mumbai jointly by the unions/associations both in BSNL and MTNL.  This the decision taken by the BSNL and MTNL Unions/Associations after the MTNL Unions after the MTNL Unions also joined in the agitation.

The next step is the March to Parliament by the BSNL and MTNL workers under the leadership of the Forum on 22nd November, on the first day of the Winter Session of the Parliament.  Massive preparations are going on for the success of the Parliament March.

 

Conduct VI Membership Verification without delay

06 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation

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The V Membership Verification in BSNL for recognition of the majority union was conducted on 1st February 2011, result declared on 4th February and the recognition granted to the majority union, BSNL Employees Union, on 14th February. The period of recognition is for two years from 14th February 2011 to 13th February 2013. Hence the VI Membership Verification should be conducted in such a way as to ensure that there is no vacuum after 13th February 2013, without any recognised union after 13th February 2013 to represent the problems of the workers.

Today is 6th November 2012 and there are only three months left for the completion of the VI Membership Verification. It took more than four months for the verification process  last time from 16th September 2010, on which date the meeting of all unions were held to finalise the dates of the verification. The letter calling for nomination of unions for participation in the verification was issued on 01-10-2010 and notification for conduct of verification issued on 01-12-2010 and election conducted on 1st February 2011. It took four and half months last time. Now there are only four months left for the process.

BSNLEU demanded for change of rules so that proportionate representation can be ensured. But no progress has been made in the matter. BSNLEU cannot wait for more time since the recognition will be over by 13th February 2013. As such BSNLEU has no other option but demand the management to start the process of Membership Verification immediately. And as per the decision of the Central secretariat meeting of the union held today,  the union has demanded the management to start the process immediately. The United Forum partners have also agreed to the decision of the BSNLEU.

The time has come to organise the campaign for the VI Membership Verification in right earnest. As at present BSNLEU has full confidence in the workers that they will support BSNLEU which has sincerely taken up the issues of the workers, fought for the defence of BSNL, and won many achievements for the BSNL workers.

 

The two days in Jharkhand

05 Monday Nov 2012

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I had been in Dhanbad and Hazaribagh on 3rd and 4th November in connection with the Central Executive Committee meeting of the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation. I was inspired by the huge gathering in the open session of BSNL and casual/Contract workers numbering many hundreds in the small town of Hazaribagh coming from some other districts far away. The young comrades were full of confidence, commitment for the organisation and prepared to fight. Many of the contract workers are graduates, post graduates and well versed with many kinds of work. Their speeches were also well prepared and well delivered.

On the other side, I also saw the inefficiency and carelessness of the management. One exchange near , Isri Bazaar (Dumri) is not functioning for the last one month. Broadband service is also at a standstill. But the management is still sleeping. I visited the exchange while I was returning from Hazaribag along with Com. Naresh Lal Circle Secretary, Com. B.Narayana, All India Vice-President BSNLEU and other comrades. The exchange had about 1000 connections earlier and due to complete negligence, the connections have now gone down to 100 only. If the present position continues, even that subscribers may leave BSNL. The GM is fully aware of the serious condition, but no action and no result. Subscribers are suffering and BSNL is going down.

In the Hazaribag Road itself,  there is an exchange. It was situated in an ideal place for many years and was in a rental building. The rent was less, say, Rs. 700  and there was no problem. But a few years back, a portion of the same has been shifted to about 2 km away with out getting any benefit. In fact, the rent is about 10 times more than earlier. The entry to the owner’s residence is through the exchange. It is also reported that the owners electricty charges etc. is included in the exchange bill. CGM is fully aware of the same and has questioned the GM why this shifting and extra-expenditure. For years BSNL is making unjustified expense to suit somebody’s vested interests.

The message is clear. While the workers and the unions want to improve BSNL, certain people in the management are having vested interests and giving a bad name to the company and the workers.  In many of the SSAs, such waste and corruption is rampant. But there is nobody to look in to and take action. The union has to focus these issues and ensure better service to the people.

 

 

Open Session of BSNLCCWF at Hazaribag

04 Sunday Nov 2012

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In continuation of the CEC meeting at Hazaribag, a massively attended open session was held on 4th November 2012. More than 400 comrades participated from all parts of Jharkhand, but mainly from the Dhanbad, Hazaribag area. The comrades have come even from about 200 kms away. The Open session was held in the conference hall of the Jain Dharmasala.

Com. Naresh Lal Circle Secretary, BSNLEU presided over the function. Com. Santhosh Kumar Puri welcomed the gathering. Com. K.R.Yadav, All India Vice-President, Santhosh Kumar, AGS, CCWF, Sudershan Singh DS BSNLEU Dhanbad, Ambika Prasad, DS Hazaribagh, A.K.Sharama, DS Ranchi, Krishna Singh ADS Jamshedpur,SinghYadav, DS BSNLCCWF Ranchi, Sharma, DS, Daltonganj, Bhola Mandal, DS, CCWF Hazaribagh, Munna prasad, ADS, Ranchi and other leaders spoke.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF in his speech spoke about the main demands of the casual and contract workers and the efforts and agitations organised to achieve the same. He assured the house that the CHQ will untirely work for the settlement of the demands. He also briefed the house about the deliberations and the decisions taken yesterday.

The Open Session ended at about 1500 hours amidst shouting of slogans on the demands and the working class unity.

CEC Meeting of Casual and Contract Workers Federation at Hazaribad

04 Sunday Nov 2012

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The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation  held at Hazaribag, Jharkhand on 3-4 November 2012, has decided to go on agitational programmes to achieve the important demands of the workers. It has also decided to participate in the two days strike sponsored by the 11Central Trade Unions including CITU, AITUC, INTUC, BMS, HMS etc.

The Inaugural Session started  at 1100 hours on 3rd November, in the Jain Dharmasala in Hazaribag. Com. Naresh Lal, Circle secretary, BSNLEU, Jharkhand presided. A large number of workers including regular employees participated. Com. B.Narayan, Reception Committee Chairman and also All India Vice-President of BSNLEU welcomed all the participants. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President  BSNLEU & BSNLCCWF inaugurated the CEC. In his speech he strongly opposed the anti-worker, anti-people policies of the government causing more and more miseries on the people and workers. The neo-liberal policies which benefits the rich and is completely against the interests of the poor has to be opposed and defeated. The UPA-II government has become completely corrupt. BSNLEU and other unions are making all efforts to make BSNL financially viable and also to provide better service to the people. The trade union movement in the country has called upon the workers to unitedly fight against the neo-liberal policies of the government resulting in spiralling price hike, high level corruption, anti-worker policies etc. We should join the agitational programme chalked out by the Central trade unions, including in the strike on 20-21 February 2013. He also called upon the entire workers in BSNL to give support and solidarity for achieving the just demands of the  more than one lakh casual and contract workers. Com. Sudama Pal, Circle secretary BSNLCCWF, Jharkhand and Secretary Reception Committee, proposed vote of thanks.

The CEC meeting was presided by Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President BSNLCCWF. Com. Tapas Ghosh Secretary General welcomed all. He presented the Report on Activities since the last AIC at Lucknow till now. Com. Tapos Banerjee, treasurer presented the Accounts. Both were adopted unanimously after discussion. Coms. Animesh Mitra, Dy. General Secretary, BSNLEU & Vice-President BSNLCCWF, K.R.Yadav, All India Vice-President of both BSNLEU & BSNLCCWF,  Naresh Lal, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Jharkhand and other leaders greeted the CEC meeting and explained the various demands of the Casual and Contract workers and called upon the workers to strengthen the organisation.

Serious discussion took place with regard to organisational mattes as also on the demands of the casual and contract workers. Coms. Sahdev Biswal, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF, Odisha Circle, Sudama Pal, Circle secretary Jharkhand, S.P.Tiwari, Circle Secretary, UP(E) circle, M.L.Patel, President, M.P.Circle, Santhosh Kumar, AGS, Om Prakash, Circle Secretary, Chhattisgarh, Akhilesh Banerjee, Circle Secretary, W.Bengal, Sankar Malakha, Circle Secretary, NE-!, Darshan Singh, Circle secretary, Punjab, Vikas Barua, Circle Secretary, Assam,Manoj Patel, DS, Dhanbad, Santhosh Kumar Puri, DS, Hazaribag, Birbal Prasad and other Participants addressed the houe and explained the conditions in their circles.

After detailed discussion the following decisions were taken by the CEC:

  1. On the main demands of the casual- contract workers a memorandum will be prepared and the same will be submitted at district/SSA levels on 12th December 2012 to all GMs and District Labour Commissioner/Regional Labour Commissioner/Asst.Labour Commissioner organising March with maximum participation.
  2. A March to CGM, BSNL will be organised in January 2013 on the above demands, the date for which will be decided by the Circle Union. A detailed Memorandum will be submitted to the CGM.
  3. The BSNL CCWF called upon all the casual and contract workers to participate in the 2days strike on 20-21 February 2012, callle by the Central trade Unions against price-rise, against disinvestment of PSUs, on issues of contract workers etc.
  4. The invitation for holding the next CEC meeting by Circle Secretary, Odish circle was accepted with thanks by the CEC. It is to be held by May 2013.
  5. Regular subscription should be collected from members and quota remitted to the Circle and CHQ regularly.
  6. The CHQ BSNLCCWF will publish a pamphlet both in Hindi and English for wide circulation.
  7. It was decided to start a website for the BSNLCCWF.

The subjects committee  will continue  tomorrow, 4th November 2012.