Central Trade Unions have decided to continue their agitational programmes against the anti-working class policies of the government, rocketing prices, issues of unorganised workers, privatisation etc. This is in continuation of the agitations, including one day successful strike, organised earlier. It is noteworthy that INTUC, the trade union wing of the Congress party is also a party to the decisions. BMS which was keeping away earlier has also joined for common programmes.
The meeting of the Central Trade Unions in the third week of July is expected to take decisions on further programmes, including one day strike by the end of the year.

The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations/Unions have been opposing the high 3G spectrum charges imposed on BSNL, without even giving it a chance to participate in the auction process and select the circle which it wants to provide 3G services profitably. The JAC also had demanded that the Spectrum charges of Rs. 18,500 crores, including 3G and BWA spectrum be refunded to BSNL.
Now the game plan of the private companies are got exposed. The three major private telecom companies viz. Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea have formed a cartel for providing 3G services in the country by making roaming arrangements between them.
While BSNL and MTNL have to pay 16,760 crores for 3G services, these private companies each paying about Rs. 5000 crores only are able to provide 3G services throughout the country.
Whether government will take any action against such cheating of the government exchequer by these private companies?

As per media reports the government is trying to auction further BWA spectrum to mope up funds. But it is not only for getting funds but to help the private companies to expand the Broadband services in competition with the BSNL, which is the number one Broadband provider till now with more than 50% market share. Unless BSNL starts aggressive marketing and providing of broadband services, the same situation with regard to mobiles will happen again. Let the management and workers of BSNL jointly ensure robust growth of broadband services.

The Joint Action Committee of BSNL Associations / Unions has decided to extend the Customer Delight Month to the whole financial year 2011-12. This has been done on the basis of the review by the JAC meeting today, 13th July 2011, which showed that there is positive growth for BSNL after the JAC has started the programme. The Customer Delight period will now be up to March 2012, till the end of this financial year.

There has been some improvement in the functioning of the BSNL since May 2011, from the month when the Joint Action Committee of BSNL Unions / Associations has started observing ‘Customer Delight Month’.
In the earlier months, most of the circles have shown negative growth, but in May 2011, more circles have shown positive growth. I am sure the statistics of June will show better results.
It is also to be noticed that the campaign had its impact on the management also. Some of the suggestions for improvement made by the JAC have been accepted by the management and orders issued. This shows a slight change in the attitude of the administration.
Today’s meeting of the JAC will discuss these issues and take suitable decisions to continue our campaign and efforts for further improvement.

The Department of Telecommunications ( DOT) is examining the issue of forming a new company while demerging the VSNL land, that has not been given to the Tatas at the time of privatisation. The 773 acres of land spread over five locations in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Pune was kept with the DOT, while the VSNL was handed over to Tata Telecommunications.
But it seems that the main target of the government is to sell the lands in the prime locations in the metro cities since there are pressures from the big businees for usurping the lands at low price.
The Govenment which has been selling the PSUs for one tenth of the price may do the same thing with the lands also unless the issue is focussed before the sale takes place.

The Indefinite strike by Central Governement Employees, started from 11th July 1960, was the first major strike in Independent India. The strike was organised under the auspices of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers ( including the National Federation of P and T Employees), All India Railwaymens Federation and All India Defence Employees Federation. It lasted for 5 days and was withdrawn after the facing the fury of the government machinery, which arrested, punished, jailed, terminated, suspended and punished thousands of workers. Railway workers were killed in Bikaner and Pathankot. The government brought in to force for the first time the draconian ‘Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance’ against the striking workers. Although the strike was supressed by the state machinery, the Government was compelled later to take back all the dismissed employees and reduce the punishments. And it was also compelled to concede some of the demands, even though after some years.
The 1960 strike inspired a whole generation of workers like me, who was a young participant and punished.

Though a small country and victimised by its big neighbour United States by decades long economic blocade etc. Cuba still continues as number one in the world for health care. It has got one of the best hospitals in the world as also large number of motivated doctors and nurses.
It is no wonder that this socialist nation can boast of more than 1551 centenarians at present, the seniormost being a person who have completed 126 years. The life expectancy in Cuba is 76-78 for men and 80.2 for women. There is a separate department for the elderly in addition to Public Health’s Social Assistant Department.
During the
‘Longevity, as an indicator of quality of life, is a significant social accomplishment’. And the socialist countries are always insistent on the same.

Due to non-settlement of urgent issues of the casual and contract workers, BSNLCCWF has been compelled to call for a massive dharna in front of Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, corporate office of BSNL, on 26th August 2011. It has sought the solidarity and co-operation of BSNLEU in making the programme a complete success.
Circle Secretaries have to intimate the number of participants to the Secretary General BSNLCCWF immediately so that the arrangements for accommodation etc. can be made available. This is to be treated as urgent.