Disruption continues unabated
Instead of accepting the unanimously elected office bearers with Moni Bose as President and V.A.N.Namboodiri as General Secretary, the few who walked out of AIC, floated a parallel list of office-bearers with M.B.Vichare as General Secretary. Once again, they were at the game of disruption of the union.
The list of elected office-bearers was submitted to the DOT by the out-going General Secretary Moni Bose. But the DOT became a partner in the disruption and refused to recognize the list stating that a dispute has arisen, citing the fake list.
Workers react
Branches of the union throughout the country reacted sharply and sent protest telegrams to Chairman Telecom Commission demanding recognition of the duly elected office-bearers. The telecom establishments reverberated with slogan shouting against the conspiracy hatched by the disruptors and DOT.
High Court accepts Petition
The wrong decision was questioned by the CHQ through a petition to the Delhi High Court, which took note of it.
OPG Calls illegal meeting of Circle Secretaries.
Once again, OPG tried to misuse the deleted Article 25© of E.III Union Constitution, by issuing notice for meeting of Circle Secretaries again misusing his position as SG, NFTE. This was brought to the notice of the Delhi High Court. OPG was compelled to give an assurance to the Court that he will not hold the meeting. The game was thus defeated.
Verification ordered by Court.
The High Court issued directions to DOT to conduct verification of membership as per New Recognition Rules to decide on the dispute in E.III Union. The request of the DOT for modification (not to conduct verification) was outright rejected.
DOT Orders Membership Verification
DOT ordered verification of membership on 22-11-1995 under check off system as per the direction of the High Court. The time-schedule was changed twice on the request of OPG & Co. They were afraid to face verification, but there was no escape from the High Court Order.
TU Facilities
All the existing unions at the time of implementation of New Recognition Rules were granted trade union facilities. After the High Court order for verification, E.III Union led by Moni Bose – V.A.N.Namboodiri also applied. After dilly-dallying for a long period and afraid of court verdict, we were granted limited facilities which were completely inadequate.
‘Neutral Role’ of OPG exposed
OPG, while being the main disruptor and leader of M.B.Vichare Group always propagated that he was neutral in the E.III dispute. His neutral mask flew away when he directly jumped in to the fray and openly canvassed for Vichare group. The NFTE official journal, ‘Tele-Labour’, was misused to slander and malign us. OPG used all his long time influence on DOT to subvert the verification in their favour. Eventhough NFTE was not a party in the verification, OPG used all his influence on the administration.
Irregularities and Favouritism
Finding that the trend was against them and there was no chance for them to win in a free and fair election, OPG-Vichare group started all kind of manipulation, rigging etc. In Maharashtra and Bombay Circles, the verification form itself was changed to help Vichare. Ragging and snatching of forms took place in MP, AP and Maharashtra. Workers, especially ladies, were threatened and forced to vote for them.
Group D & Line Staff allowed to vote in E.III Verification.
In the verification of E.III Union, more than 10,000 Group D and Line Staff , who are not eligible to vote in E.III Union, were allowed to vote. The DOT kept mum; in fact it tactically supported it.
The Union brought all these irregularities to the notice of the DOT, but in vain. As such, a writ was filed in the Delhi High Court, pointing out all the irregularities.
Conspiracy
The apprehension about manipulations in membership proved to be correct. The report submitted by the DOT to the Delhi High Court on 10-04-1996 exposed the deep rooted conspiracy once again.
According to this manipulated report, Namboodiri group got 34,646 votes and Vichare group 39,985 votes. While the former was all from members of E.III Union alone, the 39,985 included about 10,000 votes of Line Staff and Group D officials, who are ineligible to vote in E.III Union. This was purposely allowed by the administration as part of the conspiracy to hide the truth that Namboodiri group got 5,000 votes more than Vichare group. Further, while telegraph class III workers supporting OPG group voted, the T.III Union leadership supporting Namboodiri group, about 8,000, did not vote as per the direction of their union. Had they voted, there would have been a very good majority, crossing 35% and getting recognition without any difficulty. But unfortunately, the T.III Union took an unhelpful decision.
DOT, mischievously suggested that the court to grant recognition to Vichare group by adding the votes of Namboodiri group to get the qualifying position by 35%.
DOT’s application was dismissed by the court and recognition was not granted to any group as they did not get the required 35% individually. Once again, the conspiracy failed.
Another illegal meeting and Fake list
OPG again called for an illegal meeting of E.III CWC at Vellore, T.Nadu, which he had no power to call. On a petition from Com.K.Arumugham, Circle Secretary, E.III Chennai, to the District Munsif Court against holding of the meeting, OPG was compelled to give assurance to the court that the meeting will not be held. However, they held a meeting in violation of the orders and submitted a parallel list to DOT. However, DOT, well aware of the Court order, did not accept the list. Reverification became inevitable. (To be continued)