The BSNL Management had agreed to the demand of BSNLEU and AIBDPA that the vacant quarters be allotted to the DOT-BSNL retirees on request. We met Director (HR) yesterday once again and he has assured that the orders will be issued without further delay. Those comrades who wanted quarters can apply and get the same allotted to them.

The draft Lok Pal Bill, approved by the Cabinet will be completely ineffective in dealing with the huge corruption cases in the Government or elsewhere. It is drafted in such a way that the big fish can easily avoid being caught. The punishment proposed are very less compared to the gravity of the offence against the people and the country. The draft Lok Pal Bill is only a toothless and harmless bill intended to save the guilty. Not only the Civil Society leaders like Anna Hazare, but the entire opposition parties have accused the government for this soft treatment towards corruption.

Is it that the government feels that many in the government are corrupt and will be caught if the bill is strong? Is it because of that the Prime Minister and M.P.s are kept out of this? The people have to understand the drama being played by the government.

The Parliament session starts on Monday, 1st August 2011. It may end by the end of first week of Septemeber 2011. There is no doubt that it will be a stormy session. The Lok Pal Bill, the many scams including 2G scam and the allegation pointing towards Prime Minister and P.Chidambaram, former Finance Minister, the new revealations in the cash for vote scam etc. is going to make the session a explosive. The price rise, anti-worker policy etc. are also going to be raised by the opposition parties.

BSNL Casual-Contract Workers on Struggle Path
More than one lakh casual and contract workers engaged in BSNL, the telecom PSU, are on the struggle path to achieve their long pending demands and to end the injustice being meted out to them. BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation, in its Central Executive Committee meeting held on 16th June at New Delhi has decided to organise Protest Demonstrations on 7th July and to organise a Bharat Sanchar Bhawan March on 26th August 2011 to the BSNL Corporate Office, New Delhi.
The system of casual labour was started in the Department of Telecom decades back for laying cables and lines, removing faults in telephone lines etc. They were eligible for being regularised in the DOT after working for 240 days in a year without any break. By 1988, DOT issued orders to stop the practice of engaging casual labour, but since there was lots of work to be done, the engagement continued. In 1998 a similar instruction was issued, but the engagement again continued.
At the time of formation of BSNL, converting DOT services in to a corporation, an agreement was made by the DOT with the then recognised Federations that all the left out casual labours and Temporary Status Mazdoors (those casual labours who are eligible for regularisation, but due to lack of vacancies could not be regularised and given the Temporary Status) will be regularised with effect from 01-10-2000, the date of formation of the PSU. About 2000 casual workers as also TSMs were regularised accordingly. The process was going on with the other left out casual labour/TSM.
But after 2006, the regularisation was completely stopped by the BSNL management on the plea that the Supreme Court in State of Karnataka & others Vs. Umadevi & others has given a judgement against regularisation of casual labour/TSM. However the Departments of Income Tax, Customs, and Defence etc. regularised their casual labours citing the same judgement in which there was a clause that a new scheme can be introduced for regularisation. In other Central PSUs also casual/contract labour was regularised. Even after citing these examples BSNL management refused to regularise these labours who have been engaged for 10 to 20 years continuously. According to a reply from the Communications Minister in the Parliament, there are 3361 such casual labours out of which 2270 are in W.Bengal alone.
Some of the above TSMs in Odisha circle approached the High Court for justice and the High Court issued favourable orders on the basis of which BSNL was compelled to regularise them. At the same time, BSNL is not prepared to grant regularisation to similarly placed mazdoors.
The daily wages of the casual labour are to be fixed as 1/30th of the monthly salary of a regular employee working in the same kind of job. But now they are given only 1/30th of the central Government rates which is less compared to the PSU wages.
The wages of the contract labour are fixed according to the minimum wages notified by the Government of India. As per the latest notification, the minimum wages for unskilled/semiskilled/skilled/highly skilled in A, B, C class cities are as follows:
Labour A class B Class C Class
Unskilled 247.00 205.00 165.00
Semiskilled 273.00 232.00 192.00
Skilled/clerical 301.00 273.00 232.00
Highly skilled 327.00 301.00 273.00
But in BSNL the labours are being paid a pittance of Rs. 2000/- to Rs.2500/- monthly which is only about half of the wages that is to be paid. After sustained struggles, the BSNL management has issued orders on minimum wages, but except in W.Bengal and T.Nadu , no circle authorities are paying the same to their contract labours. Worst exploitation by the Contractors and certain corrupt officers are continuing resulting in denial of due wages to the labourers.
As per Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act 1970 and other labour acts, social security measures like EPF, ESI are to be implemented for the Casual and Contract labour. But these are also not implemented to the BSNL casual contract workers.
Despite several discussions with the management, when the issues could not be settled, the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation submitted a petition to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour through Com. P.R.Natarajan, CPI(M) MP. The Standing Committee held a meeting in which the BSNL Management assured that all rules and regulations will be implemented with regard to the casual and contract workers. In fact, they stated that all these orders were implemented.
But what happened afterwards is shocking. Instead of implementing the social security measures and paying minimum wages, most of the casual and contract workers are being retrenched stating that minimum wage cannot be paid and that there is no work. Both the arguments have no basis. These workers were engaged for the past 10 to 20 years and the argument that there is no work is only to deny them minimum wage and social security measures. The arrears from February 2011 are not yet paid.
The workers are on struggle in many places all over the country. BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation have called for a Protest Demonstration on 7th July and Bharat Sanchar Bhawan March on 11th August. A charter of demands has been submitted to the management with the following demands:
1. Regularisation of all casual labour /TSM
2. Payment of wages to casual labour on IDA
3. Payment of Minimum wages to Contract Labour.
4. Implementation of EPF, ESI etc.
BSNL Employees Union, the recognised union in BSNL, has extended full support and solidarity to the struggle of the casual and contract workers. In case the long pending issues are not settled, further sustained agitation including strike will have to be resorted to.
……………….
V.A.N.Namboodiri
President,
BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation

It was only after sustained struggle and prolonged discussion that the Government was compelled to issue orders for pension revision of pre-2007 BSNL absorbed DOT employees. It was a great achievement which many of our own employees were not hopeful. But the orders have been issued. Though many months have passed the retirees have not got pension revision and the arrears. This is a torment to the retired employees.
BSNL, DOT and all other concerned authorities should take immediate action to ensure that the pension revision is fixed and arrears payment made without any delay.

The strike by the Posts and Telegraphs Employees in 1946 was not only a strike for settlement of the workers demands, but also it was part of the great Indian Independence struggle. The strike continued from 11th July to 5th August 1946, till discussion took place and most of the demands were settled.
The strike had the full support of all political parties. Big rallies were held in Madras, Mumbai and Calcutta by the common people and workers in support of the strike. The biggest rally was held in Calcutta on 29th July 1946. Lakhs of people participated. Calcutta had never before seen such a big rally. The strike was successful. The British government was compelled to concede most of the demands.

Reports are being received from many centres about the large number of workers joining BSNLEU from other unions, specially from NFTE. This is not limited to one or two circles. It is a general trend after the last membership verification.
The excellent work done by BSNLEU in the wage settlement and Promotion Policy (NEPP) has been appreciated by the workers. During the last 7 years since BSNLEU has got recognition, hundreds of important issues have been favourably settled. This is the fourth time that it has been elected by the workers through secret ballot as the majority union.
I welcome all these new members and assure that BSNLEU will always stand to protect, promote and safeguard the interest of the BSNL workers.

As per the decisions of the meeting of the JAC held on 26th July had decided to approach NFTE and BSNLWA as also FNTO to come back to the JAC to save BSNL and its workers from the present crisis. Accordingly JAC has written to Comrade C.Singh, General Secretary, NFTE BSNL and Convener, BSNLWA. A copy of the same is given below. I hope that NFTE will reciprocate and rejoin JAC for common cause.

JOINT ACTION COMMITTEE
JAC/GL 27-07-2011
To
Com. C. Singh,
General Secretary, NFTE BSNL
Sub: Joint Action Committee – regarding participation
Dear Comrade,
Kindly recall my telephonic conversations and letters on the above subject.
It is unfortunate that since February 2011, NFTE along with the other unions in the BSNL WA are not participating in the meetings of the JAC. According to the letter dated 19-02-2011 received by the JAC from you as GS of NFTE BSNL as also Convener of BSNLWA, you have intimated your decision not to participate in the JAC meeting. The following reasons have been mentioned by you for taking such a decision:
1. During the period of the V membership verification it was posted In the BSNLEU website that NFTE BSNL has split in two, to take advantage in the verification, which has hurt the feelings of employees belonging to NFTE BSNL.
2. A newly registered union was admitted in the JAC during the struggle period although it was decided earlier that new unions will be admitted only a after a detailed discussion in the JAC meeting.
3. BSNLEU is taking mileage although of the JAC although all the unions are part of the JAC
With regard to the point (2) I am to state that no new union has been admitted to the JAC for the last one year or so. Even in the last meeting held on 26th July 2011, the item was deferred without taking any decision.
With regard to point (1), the issue is about the propaganda and campaign being made by the unions participating in the Membership Verification. At the time of the membership verifications, all the participating unions have been propagating, including publishing in their websites, points which are suited to the requirement of the concerned unions. NFTE was also doing the same. Despite this propaganda during the period of earlier membership verifications, all the unions were continuing in the JAC, which is an umbrella organisation.
With regard to point (3), I am to state that all the constituent unions are equally justified in focussing the JAC and its decisions including implementation. No unions have any special right or privilege. The President and Convener are elected unanimously. It is to be mentioned that the GS NFTE BSNL is still the elected President of the JAC. All the decisions hitherto have been taken unanimously after thorough discussion.
As far as BSNLEU is concerned you may be aware that even though it is the recognised union empowered to negotiate with the management on wage revision etc., it had invited NFTE BSNL also to be part of the negotiation process. NFTE took the stand that unless it is given the right to sign the agreement, it will not participate in the negotiation. Management did not agree to this as according to it, only the representative/recognised union can sign the same.
BSNL is in crisis now, especially due to the anti-PSU policy of the government and the lack of effective management. It has posted a loss of Rs.1820 crore in 2009-2010 and it may post some more loss in 2010-2011. The market share has gone down and it is only number four in the total connections and number five in mobiles. The government is trying to impose VRS/CRS which we have been able to stop through joint struggles under the banner of the Joint Forum /JAC. It is the same case with disinvestment. You are fully aware that while most of the PSUs have been disinvested, it could not be implemented in BSNL due to the sustained agitations and struggles by BSNL workers under the leadership of the Joint Forum/JAC, of which you were also a party. The various recommendations of the Sam Pitroda Committee and the BRPSE are against the interests of BSNL and its workers and the government is trying to get them implemented. Only a united movement and joint actions can stop this attack.
The JAC has taken decision to observe the financial year 2011-12 as “Customer Delight Year 2011-12” to ensure a better service to the people and to strengthen BSNL and improve its financial viability. The management is also moving in similar direction although it has its own priorities and pressure to implement the recommendations of the Pitroda Committee and BRPSE. It is the need of the hour that all the workers and their unions/associations in BSNL jointly plan and implement programmes which will save BSNL and its workers and their families.
The meeting of the Joint Action Committee held on 26th July 2011 has decided to approach you once again for rejoining the JAC. Therefore, I would request you and through you the other unions in the BSNLWA, to consider all the above aspects and participate in the deliberations of the JAC thus making the united movement of the BSNL workers a mighty force to enable it to fulfil its historic responsibility of defending and strengthening the BSNL and its workers.
Yours Fraternally

VA.N.Namboodiri
Convener, JAC

The Minimum Wages in Delhi has been revised as follows from April 2011:

Unskilled workers : Rs. 247.00 daily Rs. 6,422.00 monthly
Semiskilled workers : Rs. 273.00 Rs. 7,098.00
Skilled workers : Rs. 301.00 Rs. 7,410.00
Highly skilled : Rs. 327.00 Rs. 8,060.00

This is as per the 2001 Consumer Price Index (CPI).