The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU held at Jaipur from 16th to 18th September has called upon the workers to unite and fight against the attacks on the BSNL workers. The recent orders of BSNL reducing the facilities/benefits being enjoyed by the workers after sustained struggles, the new avatar of the VRS making all pressures on the workers to get themselves retrenched etc. has created a fear psychosis on the workers. The CEC decided to organise 3 days Hunger Strike starting from 27th September.

The CEC also called upon all the unions to come together under the umbrella of JAC and jointly fight to save BSNL and its workers.
The details of the CEC will be put on the BSNLEU website.

It is well known that people of Rajasthan are famous for their hospitality.
Rajasthan is the biggest state in the country by area, not population. As the name itself denotes, it is formed by merging a number of princely states at the time of Independence. The heroic fight by Rana Pratap and other kings against the foreign invaders are well known. The courage and the sacrifices of the Rajasthan rulers are well known. But at the same time traitors were also there, as are everywhere.
Jaipur, The Pink City, is the capital of Rajasthan and a famous spot for the tourists all over the world. The Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, many forts and palaces, temples, Birla Bhawan etc. are some of the major attractions. There are a lot of tourist stations out of Jaipur also.
It is in this pink city that the meeting of the CEC of BSNL Employees Union was held from 16th to 18th of September 2011. Along with my wife, I attended the meeting. As President of the Union, I was fully engaged with the meeting and connected activities. As such I could not take her to tourist attractions except a short visit to the Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal and Birla Temple. Comrades GB Salakky, AGS and TA Biju office Secretary were with us.
The CEC meeting took important decisions both on the organisational as well on the settlement of urgent issues. The calm atmosphere of the Regional Telecom Training Centre, where it was held, had a healthy effect on the participants. The accommodation as well as food was arranged in the same complex which saved a lot of time.
More than all the above, the hospitality of the hosts was highly appreciated by all. From the moment the participants reached Jaipur either by bus, train or flight, the Reception Committee comrades under the capable leadership of Comrade Moti Ram Choudhary, Circle Secretary, Rajasthan were there to receive them, to take them to the RTTC and ensure all their conveniences. About fifty comrades in Union uniform were there to help the CEC members in every respect. All things were being arranged smoothly. The food was rich and tasty. Of course ghee, oil and sweets was there in good quantity as usual in Rajasthan. The delicious Rajasthan food was served along with their love and affection for the guests.
Till the time we returned to Delhi on the morning of 19 September up to the Railway Station Com.Moti Ram and his team were there with us. We had an excellent experience of the Rajasthan hospitality.
Thank You, Rajasthan Comrades!

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU being held at Jaipur is expected to take decisions for sustained struggle against the withdrawal/freezing of benefits with regards to medical allowance, encashment of leave and freezing of LTC. If we go by the trend of discussion this is going to be the decision.
Out of the 55 CEC members present, more than 50 comrades have placed their view on the report and other matters. The decision will be finalised tomorrow, the last day of the meeting.
All convenient arrangements have been made by the Reception Committee headed by Com. Moti Ram Choudhari, Circle Secretary.

The oil companies have decided to increase the petro prices again within three months.The increase in a litre of petrol in Rs.3.14 which will take one litre price to Rs. 66.84 in New Delhi.
And the comment of the Dy. Chairman Planning Commission Dr. Montek Singh Ahluwalia is that the price increase shows that the economy is going on in correct direction. If it is the correct direction, then again within one or two months there will be an addition increase. If this situation continues it will not be far away when a litre of petrol will cost Rs.100 !
When Rome is burning Nero plays the fiddle! The inhuman face of UPA II government is exposed!

BSNL is a public sector, the property of the government, the property of the people. The government has the responsibility and is duty bound to save and strengthen its own company.
Hence we suggest that the government should act immediately on the following lines;
1. The anount of Rs.18,501 collected towards 3 G and BWA spectrum from BSNL should be returned to BSNL.
2. ADC should continue and at least Rs. 3,000 crore to be paid annually from it to the BSNL
3. Licence Fee, taxes etc. should not be levied on BSNL till it becomes profitable
4. Liberal grant should be provided from USO Fund to BSNL
This will help BSNL to pass over the crisis and strengthen BSNL

BRPSRE Board, Communications Minister and DOT are continuously pressurising BSNL to improve the financial position of the BSNL and make it profitable. It is true that one of the reason for the present financial downgrade of the BSNL is the inefficiency of the management. But more than that, it is the wrong and anti-PSU policy of the government that is mainly responsible for the preent fiasco.
Look in to the following:
1. The govwernment at the time of corporatisation in order to ensure that the new PSU, BSNL function properly, it was assured that 1) Licence fee paid by the BSNL to government will be reimbursed ( about Rs. 3,000 crore) 2) the government will pay the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) collected from the private telcos to BSNL towards the losses incurred by BSNL for providing connections in villages and remote areas as per the commitment of the government and 3) allotment from Universal Service Obligation fund (USO Fund) for providing the universl telecom service. But all these assurances have been broken and at present only a very few amount only is being given to BSNL which is given to the private companies also.
2. The government ensured cleverly that all the funds available with the BSNL at the time of corporatisation (about Rs. 40,000 crore ) were taken away by it through imposing on the BSNL an imaginary loan of Rs.7,500 crore with unusually high interest while no loan was paid (and there was no need for a loan), confiscating about Rs.18,500 crore towards 3G and BWA Spectrum charges (even without giving it an opportunity to participate in the auction as allowed for private companies), compelling the PSU to pay high percentage of divident, taxes etc ( about Rs. 10,000 to 12,000 crore in a year).(Contd.)

The workers of other Susuki- Maruti concerns have started solidarity action in support of the workers of the Manesar plant who are on agitation. The insistence of the management to get good conduct declarations from the workers are completely unfair labour practice and has to be resisted with all the might of the workers.

The order of the BSNL management curtailing the rights of the workers with regard to the Medical Allowance, Encashment of leave at the time of LTC and freezing of LTC for two years are completely unacceptable. Workers can not be victimised for the wrong policy of the government and mismanagement.
The massive dharna conducted country-wide on 14th September 2011 has given a clear warning to the management.
If the management is wise and mature, it will cancel this order. If not, it is going to face the music from the workers.

Maruti Susuki in Manesar is again in the news. The Management instructed that all workers should sign a Good Conduct Bond for working in the factory. Most of the workers naturally objected and have not been allowed to enter the factory.Thousands of workers are standing outside the factory protesting against the unfair labour practice.
Now the CITU and AITUC leaders in Haryana State have given a call for solidarity action in support of the Manesar workers. A Joint Action Committee of Unions in the area is also formed in support of the agitating workers.
These situations are emerging due to the non-intervention policy of the government. In fact the government is fully supporting the MNC against the interest of the workers.

The UPA II government will not stop until all the PSUs are disinvested. Of course there may be much pressure fron the US to open up all the PSUs so that their MNCs can invest and gradually control these strategic sectors.
It was felt earlier that defence PSUs may not be disinvested due to the strategic position they hold. Hence there was no proposal for disinvestment of HAL, BEL and BEML. Now the government has taken decision, as per media reports, to disinvest 34% in BEML, 25% in BEL and 10% in HAL.
I hope that the workers in these PSUs will take the issue with the government to ensure that no disinvestment takes place. This dangerous process being started has to be stopped for the security of the country.