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UNITED STRUGGLE TO SAVE THE PSUs.

The aggressive attack on the Public Sector by the Modi Government is intended to finish off all the existing PSUs, which have greatly contributed to the growth of the country, and hand over them to the greedy corporates. Whether profitable or not, all the PSUs one by one are going to be disnvested, sold and or closed.

United/Joint Struggles by the entire workers, executives and management with the support of the people are essential for saving the public sector. Leave aside other differences and unite to fight the anti-PSU policy of the government and save the PSUs

Niger: The WFTU strongly condemns the death of more than 40 refugees

02 Jun 2017
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The World Federation of Trade Unions strongly condemns the death of more than 40 refugees, 20 of them children, crossing the desert of northern Niger to Libya and probably to Europe.

These innocent people are added to the thousands of refugees who die in the land or sea to avoid the consequences of the wars generated by the imperialists, they are not accidents, they are crimes. Immigrants and refugees are forced into this position by the imperialist policies of NATO, the United States and the European Union, through their aggressiveness and intervention in Libya, Syria, Iraq, Mali, Yemen, etc., by the policies of the Multinationals and the plundering of the natural resources of the people in Africa and the Middle East, by the destruction and manipulation of the economies of the countries and finally by the inhuman policy of the European Union and Governments against migrant workers.

The World Federation of Trade Unions with its anti-imperialist and internationalist position and action struggles for the elimination of the aggressiveness against the people of North Africa and the Middle East, for the dissolution of NATO and for the utilization of the natural resources by the people for their own interests and for the popular development that will bring the reconstruction and the prosperity of the people.

The Secretariat

WAGE REVISION AND PENSION REVISION-Meeting of BSNL unions / associations take historic decision FOR A PHASED PROGRAM CULMINATING IN A STRIKE- AIBDPA TO JOIN.

 

The meeting of all unions / associations that was held at New Delhi on 02-06-2017, has unanimously finalised the following action programme, to settle the wage revision issue and to protect trade union rights of unions and associations in BSNL.

 

Action programme:

 

(i)     Day long dharna throughout the country on 20.06.2017.

(ii)    Hunger strike on 13.07.2017.

(iii)  One day strike on 27.07.2017.   

 

Demands:

 

(i)    Settle wage revision and pension revision w.e.f. 01.01.2017.

(ii)  Settle superannuation benefits to the Directly Recruited Employees.

(iii) Unconditionally withdraw the Corporate Office letter dated 08.05.2017, banning all trade union activities in BSNL.

 

The meeting also decided that the dates of the struggle can be changed, if necessary. It is decided that the notice for the agitational programme should be signed by all the General Secretaries of unions and associations. Further, the meeting decided that all other communications to the government / Management would be signed by com.P.Abhimanyu, Convenor.

]It is a “Do or Die” situation now. Circle and district unions are requested to immediately plunge into action.

Everyone knows that, as per the Affordability Clause of the 3rd PRC, the employees of BSNL are not eligible for wage revision. The Affordability Clause reads as follows:-

 

“Additional financial impact should not be more than 20% of the average PBT of the last 3 financial years preceding the year of implementation.”

 

Since BSNL has not earned any profit from 2009–10 onwards, naturally it’s employees are not eligible for wage revision. The unions and associations of BSNL have demanded that BSNL should be exempted from the Affordability Clause of the 3rd PRC, so that the employees can get wage revision. BSNL Management is in support of this. DoT was also in support of this, so long as Mr. J.S. Deepak was the Secretary, DoT. However, DoT’s stand has changed now. In the last meeting on wage revision, headed by the Cabinet Secretary, the DoT did not demand exemption to BSNL from the Affordability Clause of the 3rd PRC. Without any doubt, we can say that the DoT has let down the entire Non-Executives and Executives of BSNL.  Now, the decisions of the government, on the recommendations of the 3rd PRC are being finalised. At least at this juncture, the BSNL employees have to unitedly raise their voice, through appropriate action programme, that they should be given wage revision. It is a “do or die” situation now. Keeping all these factors in view, the meeting of all unions / associations, which met at New Delhi today, have decided to go on strike on 27.07.2017. All circle and district secretaries are requested to immediately plunge it to action. Coordinate with all the unions and associations, meet each and every employee and make the dharna, hunger strike and one day strike successful.

 (source:BSNLEU website)

AIBDPA IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORT AND JOIN THE AGITATIONAL PROGRAM AND ALL AIBDPA UNITS ARE REQUESTED TO GET IN TOUCH WITH THE RESPECTIVE LEVEL OF THE UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS AND JOIN THE PROGRAMME ENMASSE 

Govt.’s Privatisation Mania – Railways, Air India, Defence Factories, BEML

The privatisation mania of the Modi Government is going to cost the people dear. Earlier, the centre used to say that the loss making PSUs will be privatised. Now it is going on with massive privatisation of all the PSUs, irrespective of loss making or profit making.

23 major Railway Stations, including Kozhikode and Chennai are identified for sale to the private companies and the tender is being finalised. On NITI Ayog’s has recommendation, Civil Aviation Minister is moving for  sale of Air India. Defence Equipment PSU, BEML is being strategically sold. NITI Ayog has recommended a similar fate to BSNL.

All these PSUs/Government Departments are considered as important areas connected with the security of India. BSNL was not allowed to buy Chinese equipment citing security risk.

Now the national importance or security concerns are all gone. Only one thing is there. That is to sell these important institutions to the private companies for increasing their  (corporates) profit. The people, who are the real owners will lose heavily. The services will cost much more. The national wealth is looted. It is all in the name of modernisation, reducing the loss etc. etc.

There is no other way but to oppose with joint struggles and defeat these anti-national decisions and save the precious PSUs. Yes, it s happening;  The central trade unions and the national federations have come together to fight this menace.

 

 

Air India – Punish the guilty, not the public

The NITI Ayog has recommended strategic sale of Air India, the national carrier, as part of its revival. The so called  justification is that Air India is in loss and that it has a debt of about Rs.  50,000 to Rs.60,000 crore.

The loss is only due to mismanagement  and anti-PSU decisions of government. CBI is looking in to the loss of Rs. 70,000 crore to Air India due unnecessary purchase of about 111 planes during UPA GOvt. Profitable air routes have been transferred to private companies causing huge loss to central government.

Instead of punishing the culprits for the loss, govt is moving to sell the PSU. Oppose and defeat this sinister move and save the PSU.

ANOMALY IN PENSION DUE TO POINT TO POINT FIXATION IS PENDING UNRESOLVED DESPITE CONTINUOUS EFFORTS AND STRUGGLES. NOW BSNLEU HAS AGAIN TAKEN UP THE ISSUE SERIOUSLY WITH DOT FOR EARLY SETTLEMENT.

FROM BSNLEU WEBSITE.

30-05-2017-On settlement of Pay aberration of seniors due to point to point fixation in 1st wage revision- BSNLEU representatives met Director (Estt.), DoT.

The problem of pay anomalies, being suffered by seniors, due to point to point fixation from CDA to IDA payscale w.e.f. 01.10.2000, is pending with the DoT for a long time despite of our repeated persuasions. The file has been moved by the Director (PSU), DoT after a long time. Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS, and com. Gakul Borah, Treasurer discussed the issue with shri Pawan Gupta, Director (PSU-I). Since, the case is forwarded to the Estt. Section, of DoT, both the representatives met Ms. Vandhara Sethi, Director (Estt.), DoT and requested for expeditious action in the matter. The Director (Estt.) assured to do the needful at the earliest.