21 Monday May 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
It has been decided to call for an all unions meeting at New Delhi at 1500 hours on 23rd May to discuss about the serious issues facing the BSNL and its workers. NFTE and FNTO have agreed to attend the meeting. We expect that all unions/associations will attend the meeting and take important decisions.
20 Sunday May 2012
Posted in General
Comrade P.V.Chandrasekharan, the Chief Patron of All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) and the President of its Kerala unit, is an organiser par excellence. The holding of the Kerala Circle Conference of AIBDPA has once again proved the same.
Comrade P.V.Chandrasekharan is a product of the highly political sensitive land of Kannur District from where many leaders like Coms. AKG , EK Nayanar etc. have arisen. Even from his student days Com. PVC was connected with the progressive movement and the Student Federation. Com. AK Padmanabhan, President CITU and PVC were classmates.
Within days of joining the P&T Department in 1963 at Telephone Exchange Alapuzha, he was fully engaged with the union activities. After getting transfer to Kannur, as the Branch Secretary of the union, he organised many struggles for settlement of local issues. The Baliapatnam agitation is well-known by the P&T comrades. He was victimised several times and transferred from place to place for his union activities.
During the 1968 strike, he organised it atKkannur in a very effective way. For the correct approach and ideological struggle in the P&T movementat All India and Circle levels, Com. PVC had a pivotal role. He was elected as the Circle Secretary of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III for about two decades from 1981 after me. He worked as President of the BSNL Employees Union also.
In organising and strengthening BSNLEU in Kerala, Com.PVC has done the pivotal role. Loved and respected by all, though he do not have any post in BSNLEU, he is its guide and philosopher. A number of young comrades were brought to the leadership by him. After retirement he has taken over the leadership of AIBDPA and CGPA. He is still connected with all the progressive organisations in thestate.
I had the opportunity to work with him for the last 5 decades and always got support and advice from him. I wish him a long period of service to the people.
20 Sunday May 2012
Posted in General
I am at Calicut today after attending the AIBDPA CEC and Kerala Circle Conference at Kochi day in the last two days. I got the opportunity to attend the Kelu Ettan death anniversary seminar today, 20 th May.
Com. Kelu Ettan (dada) as he was respectfully called by all, was a leader of the earlier years. His entire life was spent for the uplifting of the poor and needy.He was the District Secretary of the CPI(M) at Kozhikode till his death. He was simple, a comrade who mingled with the common people and loved by all.
The seminar in his memory was organised with the idea of strengthening the party and making it capable to face the present onslaughts and attacks on the party and its workers by the police and the government machinery as also the media.
I could meet many senior comrades who worked with me while I was at Calicut.
20 Sunday May 2012
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
Circle Conference of AIBDPA was held at Kochi on 19th May. It was presided over by Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, the beloved leader of P&T employees unions in Kerala. More than 500 delegates from all over the state participated. In addition, some of the central Executive committee members who have come to attend the CEC meeting of AIBDPA also attended. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.P.Rajeeve M.P. who lambasted the anti-worker policies of the central government and the move of the government in taking away the statutory pension to the state and central government employees. Coms.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President, BSNLEU, A.K.Bhattacharjee, All India President, AIBDPA and leaders of various sister organisations addressed the session.
The delegates session was inaugurated by Com. K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA. The report presented by Circle Secretary, Com. N.Ramesh was approved after discussion by the delegates. The new office-bearers were re-elected with Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan as President and Com. N.Ramesh as Circle Secretary.
My congratulations to the comrades of Kerala who have organised the AIBDPA in to a very strong and effective organisation. They have increased the membership substantially. I could meet a lost of senior comrades who were fighters in the early period as regular employees.
20 Sunday May 2012
Posted in History
19th May is the second death anniversary of Com. Moni Bose, the veteran leader of the telecom workers and the Central Government employees. It was under his leadership that the revisionist leadership was defeated in the historic Bhopal All India Conference of All India Telecom Employees Union. That started a new awakening in the telecom movement. After formation of BSNLEU in 2001, he was elected as one of the Patrons of the union. He toured all over the country and mobilised the workers for sustained struggles against the anti-worker policies of the government. He left us on 19th of May 2010.
My respectful homage to Com.Moni Bose on his second death anniversary. I personally conveyed my homage to Com. Gautam Bose (Pappan) and requested him to convey to his mother and family.
In Kolkatta meetings with large attendance was held in memory of Com. Moni Bose.
18 Friday May 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
The Central Executive Committee of the AIBDPA met at Ernakulam on 18th May has given call for agitational programmes to get settled the important issues of the Pensioners. Details will be posted.
18 Friday May 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
Hon’ble High Court, Delhi outrightly dismissed the modification application filed by BSNL seeking 25 months time for repatriation of unabsorbed ITS officers working in BSNL.Even desperate plea made by the BSNL counsel to give time upto 31st December, 2012 was rejected by the Hon’ble Court. Hon’ble HC while dismissing the application of BSNL directed it to complete repatriation process by 30th Sept, 2012.
Intervention application was filed by AIBSNLEA, BSNLEU and SNEA(I). Even though the intervention application was also dismissed, yet counsel appearing for these Associations/unions strongly opposed the move of ITS controlled BSNL Management for extension of time. Intervention application was not admitted on technical grounds since we are not party in the original application.
Further course of legal action is being discussed with our counsel.
18 Friday May 2012
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
The Central Executive Committee meeting of the All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association will be held at Kochi on 18th May. The meeting is expected to discuss about the various issues of the BSNL and DOT Pensioners including the anomaly of those retired in the first 10 months after corporatisation, restoration of medical allowance without voucher, restoration of 30 days instead of the present 25 days, increase of fixed medical allowance for DOT pensioners from Rs. 300 toRs. 1200, 78.2% IDR fixation, merger of 50% DR with pension etc. Com.A.K.Bhattacharjee, All India President, will preside over the meeting.
Kerala Circle Conference of AIBDPA will also held on 19th May. Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, President of the Kerala Unit will preside.
Myself and Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary have already reached Kochi to participate in the CEC and Circle Conference.
17 Thursday May 2012
Posted in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation
The Chief Labour Commissioner (CLC) held a meeting today with the BSNL management and the JAC with regard to the issues raised by the JAC in the 15th December strike. The issues of VRS and ITS absorption were discussed in great detail. The JAC gave detailed convincing presentation on both the issues. The management was on the defensive.
The next meeting will be held on 30th May.
17 Thursday May 2012
Posted in BSNL News
My Hearty Greetings to all on the World Telecom Day! Let all of us try to ensure that BSNL is strengthened and a better service is provided to the people.
