NFTE and FNTO are not participating in the meetings of the Joint Action Committee for some time past. NFTE and its allies have intimated that they will not be part of the JAC since there are some differences with BSNLEU. This is not logical since different unions will have different opinion on many matters and still they can come together on common issue of workers as in the case of the Central Trade Unions. FNTO has informed that they are not participating now, but they will implement the decision of the JAC based on issue to issue.
The three lakh BSNL workers as also the company itself is facing serious challenges and it is the time to jointly make all efforts for strengthening the organisation. There can not be any different opinion on the matter. In the same way no union can have any difference on the programme chalked out by the JAC to observe May month as ‘Customer Delight Month’ and ensure that BSNL is able to provide a better service and get the support of the people. But unfortunately NFTE has not come forward to work jointly. FNTO units in some places are joining with the common platform.
As Convener of the JAC I personally request these unions to come back to the JAC and work together for the common cause. It is the call of the time.

The leaders of the Joint Action Committee met Sri Garg, Director (HR), BSNL today, 20th May and discussed about the issues which had to be sorted out to improve the service and to strengthen BSNL. The suggestions given by the JAC were discussed and mostly agreed by the Director(HR). The details of the discussion will be published later.

Shri R.K.Upadhyay, newly appointed CMD BSNL has stated that he is working with MTNL officers to streamline their businesses and synergising the operations. This may be part of the preparation for a later merger of the two telecom PSUs.
Joint Action Committee of the BSNL Unions/Associations have already indicated its opinion on the issue of merger of BSNL-MTNL. While it welcomes the proposal, there are certain issues like disinvestment of MTNL etc. to sorted out.

The attack on the PSUs has been sharpened after the assembly elections. The UPA Government which could not divest any PSU during its first term due to the strong opposition of the Left Parties, without the support of which it could not continue in power and which could only start with some disinvestments only during its second tenure till now, has been emboldened by the recent elections to start the sale of family silver – the privatisation of the central PSEs.
It has started with the Cabinet taking a decision on 19th May to sell the Scooters India Limited which is in loss, of course due to the anti-PSU policy of the government. Instead of trying to make it financially viable, the Government has decided to sell to help the private companies in the sector. Scooters India Limited was started in 1972 and was producing three wheelers till the eighties in competition with the private companies.
There is no doubt that it will be sold cheap as in the case of Balco, CMC, Hindustan Zinc, HTL, IPCL, Jessop & company and VSNL which were privatised during the NDA regime.
The Trade Unions and the people of the country have to move immediately to ensure that this process of privatisation is stopped forthwith. Otherwise, there will be no PSUs left within some 10 to 15 years. The slogan of the NDA government that ‘Business is not the business of the Government’ will be fully implemented.

One year is over after the All India Conference of the BSNL Employees Union held at Thiruvananthapuram from 12th to 15th May 2010. That AIC was historic in all respects, including the disciplined manner in which it was conducted.
The growth of BSNLEU since its inception on 22nd March 2001 was truly reflected. The union which started with about 60,000 members has grown to be the biggest union in Telecom and reached a membership of 1,40,000. The Union had won in three consecutive membership verifications with huge majority. It had settled a good wage revision and Promotion Policy for the workers. Hundreds of important issues were settled. Workers had got confidence in BSNLEU.
Another important issue was the change of office-bearers. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, who is the founder General Secretary of the union and who continued till the Conference was elected as President and Com.P.Abhimanyu who was Asst. General Secretary and later Deputy General Secretary elected as General Secretary. Com.P.Asokababu who was Assistant General Secretary since inception was elected as Dy. General Secretary. Com. S.C.Bhattacharjee continued as Treasurer. It was a smooth change over. The decisions of the conference were also important.
After the Conference we have faced another Membership Verification in which also we won with good majority. The workers continue to support BSNLEU as they see in it their true friend and supporter.
This is the time to assess the situation and prepare for further advancement and strengthen the organisation.

Kerala saw a massive strike and protest demonstrations against the increase in petrol prices. After deregularisation of petrol price, the same is increased 5 times this year. Now the petrol price has reached Rs. 63 – Rs 65 according to the concerned states.
There is no justification for the price hike except to satisy the oil compamies and big private business. Petrol price increase will result in the increase of all prices. The government will be benefitted by getting increased taxes. But the poor are the maximum sufferers.
Let us also join the protest of the people.