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CENTRAL GOVT EMPLOYEES STAGE MASSIVE PROTEST ACTION AGAINST RETROGRADE PAY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS.

 

New Delhi: 19th January, 2016 – On the clarion call of the National Joint Council of Action(NJCA), three day (19th to 21st Jan, 2016) sit-in programme in all the state capital and industrial centers started today, wherein affiliates of All India Railwaymen’s Federation, National Federation of Indian Railwaymen, All India Defence Employees Federation, National Defence Workers Federation, National Federation of Postal Employees, Federation of National Postal Organisation, Confedration of Central Government Employees & Workers participated en mass.

At Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi, thousands of Central Government Employees, including the Railwaymen started peaceful sustained struggle, demanding redressal of long pending genuine demands of the Central Government employees, removal of retrograde recommendation of the 7th CPC, scrap Natioal Pension System(NPS) and restore Guaranteed Old Pension Scheme, payment of arrear of Productivity Linked Bonus, filling-up of vacancies, stop indiscriminate outsourcing, stop amendment in Labour Laws in favour of corporate, non-creation of new posts for new assets,

On this occasion, a mammoth peaceful rally of thousands of Central Government Employees, including the Railwaymen, was organized at Jantar-Mantar, New Delhi, which was addressed by Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, Convener, NJCA and General Secretary, AIRF-NRMU, Shri S.K. Tyagi, President/NRMU, Shri B.C. Sharma, General Secretary URMU, Shri R.N. Parashar, General Secretary NFPE, Shri A.K. Kanojia, ITEF, Shri V. Bhattacharjee, Civil Accounts, Shri Giriraj Singh, President NFPE, Shri Devendra Kumar, FNPO, Shri R.K. Singh, General Secretary, Diploma Engineers’ Federation.

Giving stern warning to Government of India, all the speakers said, if their aforementioned demands are not resolved by the end of February 2016, all the Central Government Employees will be compelled to go on “Indefinite Strike” in the month of March 2016.

GADAG DISTRICT CONFERENCE HELD SUCCESSFULLY.

Inaugurating Gadag District Branch biennial conference, Com.G.G.Patil, CHQ Organising Secretary exhorted to make the ensuing triennial All India Conference at Tirupati a grand success. The conference,held at old telephone exchange premises on 21-01-2016 was presided over by Com.S.S.Naregal, District President. Com.S.A.Bilagi also addressed the conference and explained the pending issues including 78.2% IDA merger and the efforts being taken by CHQ for its settlement. Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com.S.S.Naregal (President),Com.P.Y.Kathare (District Secretary) and Com.S.S.Kulkarni (Treasurer).

CAT Reserves judgment in Full Pension on Superannuation after 10 years of service by Pre 2006 Pensioners

 

Details of arguments in CAT Delhi on 13-1-2016

Our Review Application to cover full pension after 10 years on superannuation or absorption in PSUs/Autonomous Bodies was taken up by the CAT Bench on 13th afternoon.

The GOI Advocate made the following points which were duly countered by our Advocate:

(i) Since the verdict dated 21-4-2015 was based on OA 1165/2011 as the lead case, which did not seek pro-rata pension after 10 years on superannuation or absorption in PSUs/Autonomous Bodies, this issue cannot be raised now. Also, as per Apex court verdicts, if a verdict is silent on any particular prayer, it is relevant rulings for which the Bench said that this should be done within 2 days beyond which they would not wait.
Our Advocate effectively countered this contention by pointing out that:

* Although OA 1165 initially did not cover this plea of full pension after 10 years on superannuation/absorption in PSUs, the other two OAs filed subsequently, specifically covered this aspect. And since all the 3 OAs were clubbed together in the verdict dated 21-4-2015 for a common verdict, this prayer cannot be ignored;

* Notwithstanding this, it was brought to the notice of the Bench that as early as in 2013 (much before the verdict dated 21-4-2015) while filing our Rejoinder, it was specifically sought to amend our prayer in OA 1165/2011 to include this aspect also. Since GOI did not object to it at that time, the same is deemed to have been amended and this issue cannot be raised now.

 

* In any case, since all 3 OAs were clubbed together in a common verdict and this aspect was missed, it is well within the right of the Applicants to seek a Review of the order.

(ii) GOI Advocate mentioned that since this aspect was not raised in OA 655/2010 as mentioned in the verdict dated 1-11-2011, while seeking modified parity, this aspect cannot be raised now.

Our Advocate countered this by pointing out that:

* While considering the Writ of S 30 Pensioners Association seeking full parity with post 1-1-2006 pensioners, Delhi High Court remanded the case back to CAT with the direction to ignore paras 1-11 of verdict dated 1-11-2011 in our case (which formed the basis of adverse verdict in S 30 case also) and consider the matter afresh. As a result, the Full Bench allowed their plea of full parity in pension between pre and post 2006 pensioners, subject to the condition that the pension of a pre 2006 retiree from the higher grade cannot get a lower pension than the maximum pension of lower grade post 2005 retiree. He placed on record a copy of this verdict. Hence the reference of GOI to CAT verdict dated1-11-2011 was no longer relevant.

* The fact remains that the issue of denial of full pension after 20 years on VR and 10 years on superannuation/absorption in PSUs etc is covered by the same common instructions which have been quashed by Full Bench of the Tribunal and which decision has been upheld upto the highest level of Supreme Court while dismissing Curative Petition against CAT verdict dated 1-11-2011 in OA 655/2010. Consequently, discrimination between VR pensioners getting the benefit but not pensioners after superannuation/absorption on par with post 2005 retirees cannot be justified.

(iii) GOI Advocate again mentioned that they are going to file a Writ against earlier verdict dated 21-4-2015, to which the Bench reiterated that unless a stay is granted it does not matter. (Incidentally, as indicated in my mail of 6-1-2016, we have already filed a Caveat in Delhi High Court on 8-1-2016 to forestall any ex-parte stay in the matter).

The Bench has since reserved the verdict which we hope to be out very soon.

 

WFTU Statement on the Situation in Tunisia

20 Jan 2016

The World Federation of Trade Union declares its solidarity with the people of Tunisia who have been protesting against the high unemployment rate and are struggling for their right in employment. We strongly believe that the right of employment is non-negotiable; we call the workers of Tunisia to strengthen their struggle for full-time employment and higher salaries. We call them to strengthen the class-oriented trade union movement.

We denounce the state violence used as a response to the slogan “work is a right” expressed by the Tunisian people, which resulted to many protesters injured. The majority of the Tunisian people, especially the youth are pushed to unemployment and poverty, as their lives are gambled according to the interests of the foreign monopolies.

On behalf of the 92 million members of WFTU, in 126 countries of the world, we demand full satisfaction of the demands of the people in struggle. We express our solidarity with our affiliates in the country, the Tunisian trade union movement and the Tunisian people fighting for their rights and we support their just demands.

KOLKATA TF & STORES CIRCLE CONFERENCE HELD SUCCESSFULLY.

The Circle Conference of Kolkata Telecom Factory & Stores has been held successfully on 20-01-2016 at Alipore Telecom Factory premises. Veteran Leader Com.Sisir Bhattacharjee inaugurated the conference. Com.A.K.Bhattacharjee, CHQ President, Com.Susanta Ghosh, Circle Secretary, West Bengal, Com.Sanjib Banerjee, Circle Secretary, Kolkata, Com.Biplab Das, General Secretary, Co-Ordination Committee of BSNL Unions, Com.Om Prakash Singh, Vice President, BSNLEU addressed the conference. The report presented was adopted after discussion.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. Sujit Kr Mukherjee (President), Com.Adhir Kr Sen (Circle Secretary) and Com.Biswajit Halder (Treasurer )

The conference elected 5 delegates and 3 observers to the Tirupati All India Conference.

COM.P.ABHIMANYU, GENERAL SECRETARY, BSNLEU RELEASES TIRUPATI AIC POSTER.

In a brief but spirited function held at GM office, Tirupati on 20th January, 2016,Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU released the poster of 2nd triennial All India Conference of AIBDPA being held at Tirupati on 2-3, February, 2016. Addressing the gathering Com.P.Abhimanyu  explained the current position on 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners, revival of BSNL and the SWAS programme initiated by Forum.  Com.Venktathri, District President, BSNLEU presided and Com.V.Subramonia Raja, District Secretary welcomed.

Rich become Richer, the Poor, Poorer – 62 Rich persons own as much as half of the world population

What the working class and their leaders have been telling all along, is being proved again and again. According to Oxfam, an anti-poverty charity organization, 62 rich persons have accumulated wealth equal to that of the half poorest population of the world.

Earlier it was 388 rich persons who had equal wealth of half of the population in 2010. Next year it was reduced to 177 persons. After the next four years, in 2015, it has reduced to the present position. There is no limit to the unbelievable growth of the rich persons.

Oxfam suggests the following to change the scenario:

  1. Pay Living Wage to the workers and close the gap with executive rewards
  2. Promote women’s economic equality and women’s rights
  3. Keep the influence of powerful elite in check
  4. Change the global system for R&D and the pricing of medicines so that everyone has access to appropriate and affordable medicines
  5. Share the tax burden fairly to level the playing field.
  6. Use progressive public spending to tackle inequality
  7. World leaders should agree a global approach to end the era of tax heavens

Suggestions are welcome. But the capitalist and imperialist leadership of the world will induct policies which will further sharpen the economic divide. Sustained struggle by the working class unitedly all over the world will only make some change. Socialism is the Future. ( With inputs from EconomicTimes)

78.2% IDA MERGER- FILE NOT RETURNED FROM DEPARTMENT OF LAW.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor had a meeting with Shri. Prachish Khanna, Director (Estt), DoT on 19th January, 2016 regarding 78.2% IDA Merger to BSNL pensioners. The Director has stated that the file sent to the Department of Law is yet to be received back. However, he expected the return of the file within a week after which it will be submitted to the cabinet for approval.

ATTENTION CIRCLE / DISTRICT SECRETARIES- CHANGE IN CHQ ADDRESS.

Dear Comrades,

The building allotted to BSNLEU, D-7, Telegraph Place , Gole Market, New Delhi where our CHQ was functioning is vacated as this place is sold to Jharkhand government by the DoT. Therefore all further communications may please be made in the following new address;

ALL INDIA BSNL DOT PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION

CHQ, T/18/C, ATUL GROVE ROAD,NEW DELHI-110001

PHONE: 011-23352848

KIndly bring it to the notice of all the comrades and well wishers.

With regards

K.G.Jayaraj

General Secretary