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A National workshop, on wage revision in the Central Public Sector Undertakings, was held in the Sundaraiya Vigyan Kendra at Hyderabad, on 22-10-2017. It was jointly organised by INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, LPF, JAF of the Bengaluru based Public Sector trade unions and the Coordination Committee of the Hyderabad based Public Sector trade unions. Independent trade unions / federations of various sectors, including BSNLEU, also participated. Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, president, INTUC, inaugurated the Seminar. Com.Tapan Sen, MP, General Secretary, CITU, com.H.Mahadevan(AITUC), com. Ellaiah(HMS) and com. Shanmugam(LPF) addressed. This was followed by deliberations by the delegates.

The main focus of the discussion was wage revision. However, serious concerns were expressed about the mad drive of the Narendra Modi government, for disinvestment and privatisation of the Public Sector, increasing contractualisation of permanent jobs, need for fresh recruitment, wage revision of the contract workers, etc. It was also strongly insisted that the trade unions should not accept 10 year wage agreement and should fight for 5 year settlement.

Participating in the debate, com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, highlighted the one day strike held in BSNL on 27.07.2017, on wage revision issue and the decision of the entire unions and associations of BSNL to go on a two day strike in December, demanding wage settlement and opposing formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company. He also explained how successfully the BSNL employees are facing the cut throat competition of Reliance Jio. Com.Ramanandan, Secretary, CITU, explained the wage settlement reached in the Coal India Ltd. The Seminar decided that the Public Sector trade unions should closely coordinate among themselves to successfully settle the wage revision and against disinvestment and privatisation.<<<views of the meeting>>>

(source:BSNLEU website)