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OROP- PRIME MINISTER SAYS GOVERNMENT YET TO REACH A RESOLUTION.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged today that he is yet to reach a resolution on the One Rank One Pension demand of ex-servicemen, but promised that his government had “accepted OROP in principle.”

An announcement on the implementation of One Rank One Pension or OROP was expected to be the centrepiece of the PM’s Independence Day address today. But talks between ex-servicemen and the government got stuck at the last minute on what the PM today called “nitty gritty details”.

“It has been stuck for 20 years… OROP was considered by all governments, but there is no resolution yet. Even I haven’t been able to solve it,” the PM said at the end of nearly 90-minute address to the nation from the Red Fort.

But he promised, “Let me assure all veterans… we are committed and we are in the final stages of deciding.”

Not far from the Red Fort, ex-servicemen sitting on a relay hunger strike at Jantar Mantar, the designated site for protests in Delhi, watched the PM’s address on a large TV screen and said they were severely disappointed that he had not announced OROP.

‘PM says Team India , Team India. Are we not Team India,’ asked an angry army veteran, referring to the phrase that the Prime Minister generously used in his speech this morning.

Former Army officers and soldiers have demanded the same pension as those of the same rank who are retiring now. Right now, an officer who retired many years ago is paid far less than someone several ranks junior to him.

Talks are said to be stuck on the date of commencement. The veterans have rejected the government proposal to benchmark pensions at 2011 rates. They insist that 2014 rates must apply as that is when the Modi government promised OROP.

Government sources say to do that, it will need to provision for a massive Rs. 20,000 crore, rather than the Rs. 8,000 crore that the scheme is otherwise expected to cost.

BSNLEU AND SNEA(I) LEADERS DISCUSS KERALA ISSUE WITH CMD,BSNL.

 

Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, com. A.P. Dhaiya, AGS, SNEA(I) and com. Khan, senior leader of SNEA(I) in Corporate Office met CMD BSNL, Shri Anupam Shrivastava today, the 14th August, 2015 and strongly argued for implementation of agreed issues of Kerala circle, viz., CGM posting, to withdraw victimisation against leaders of both BSNLEU and SNEA(I) in Kerala and wages issues of Contract Workers. The CMD BSNL informed that Director (CFA), shri N.K. Gupta is being sent to Kerala in next week for settlement of these issues in consultation with Union / Association and the circle administration of Kerala. Meanwhile, Shri R.M. Subbaiah, Sr.GM has been ordered today by the Corporate Office to look after the CGM, Kerala.

(COURTESY: BSNLEU WEBSITE)

FREE NIGHT CALL FACILITY FOR CDMA/WLL CUSTOMERS OF BSNL FROM 01-09-2015.

According to press reports, BSNL, has decided to introduce an Unlimited Free Night (from 9 PM to 7 AM) On-net Calling Facility to CDMA/WLL postpaid customers across India starting from the 1st of September 2015.

As per the information, CDMA/WLL customers will be able to enjoy unlimited free night calls (Local & STD) to all landline and mobile networks from BSNL.

This is a good decision which will further increase the connection of BSNL or at least will reduce the surrender of BSNL connections.

POSTAL WORKERS ON STRUGGLE PATH.

The Joint Action Committee of the Postal Federations, NFPE, FNPO and GDS have unanimously decided to go on agitation demanding that the VII CPC should include recommendations on Gramin Dak Seva (GDS) employees, new recruitment should take place etc.  The following programme of action has been decided:

PROGRAMME

1.      Observe protest day on 19th August 2015 by  lunch hour demonstration in front of all Divisional, Regional and Circle offices.

2.   One Day Dharna on 26th August 2015 at all Divisional, Regional and Circle Offices.

3.   One Day Dharna by All India Leaders of PJCA (NFPE+FNPO+AIPEU GDS (NFPE) + NUGDS) in front of Dak Bhawan (Postal Directorate) New Delhi on 22nd September-2015).

The struggle is fully justified. We should give full support to the struggle of the Postal workers.

BSNL KERAL STRUGGLE CONTINUES- EFFORTS FOR SETTLEMENT.

The struggle by the Kerala BSNL comrades are continuing under the leadership of CCLU, BSNLEU and SNEA. The non-cooperation started on 12th August is continuing with full participation of the workers and employees.  The non-implementation of the agreement with regard to the interim relief of Rs. 100/ per day for the contract workers by the management has created the new situation and renewed struggle.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron BSNLEU and President, BSNLCCWF  spoke to Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL from UK and impressed upon him the urgency to approve the agreement on the interim additional wages and create an amicable situation.He informed that even now the wages of contract labour are far below the ordinary wages of workers in Kerala which are about Rs. 650/- per day. Though the demand was for an additional Rs. 200/, the interim relief agreed was Rs. 100/ only.CMD stated that he has already directed Shri N.K.Gupta, Director to go to Thiruvananthapuram next week and discuss with all concerned and settle the issues. He also assured that the issue will be settled early.

ALLAHABAD DISTRICT BRANCH FORMED.

Allahabad District Branch has been formed in a well attended meeting of BSNL and DOT pensioners on 13th August, 2015. Com.G.R.Verma, Circle Secretary, UP(E) inaugurated the meeting and explained the issues of the pensioners including the present position of 78.2% IDA merger.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with the following important functionaries.

Com. R. N. Yadav (President)  Dr. R.V.S.Yadav (District Secretary ) and Com. Ram Murthi Yadav (Treasurer)

JOINT PENSIONERS CONVENTION AT KRISHNAGAR,WEST BENGAL.

  A well attended joint convention with AIBDPA, CGPA, State and Rail was held at Krishnagar on 11.8.15 at ABPTA Hall on 7th Central Pay Commission and pension security. The two main speakers were Pijush Chakraborty (AIBDPA) and Manab Sensarma (CGPA). Other speakers were Asoke Banerjee, Dist Secretary, AIBDPA, Sushit Chaki, Dist Secretary CGPA and State Pensioners’ organisation leader. The convention was presided over by the Presidium consisting of Biswanath Dey, S Biswas and Pranab Sanyal.

VRS FOR BSNL AND MTNL EMPLOYEES ?

 

It seems that certain manias of government never end. It is now about Voluntary Retirement Scheme in BSNL and MTNL. While VRS was implemented thrice in MTNL, the staff unions in BSNL strongly opposed it and never allowed VRS to take place in the company. Every time, the government had to go back on the scheme due to the mighty opposition and struggles of the unions under the leadership of the Forum, the umbrella organisation.

 

Once again, the central government, now NDA is taking the old proposal from its store. The proposal as per press reports  target  about 70,000 – 1,00,000 employees in BSNL. We have told and proved with examples in other PSUs, that VRS always have been bad for the service and the PSU itself. But a government, which is pro-private and is not interested in the growth of PSU,  may again try to implement VRS, making it a CRS (Compulsory Retirement Scheme).

The government is to be told emphatically, that the BSNL employees and their unions will never allow any  VRS in BSNL which is against the interest of the workers, the service and the country itself.

CABINET APPROVES SPECTRUM SHARING.

The Central Cabinet, in its meeting on 12th August, has approved the spectrum sharing by the telecom operators, provided they are having the same wave lengths of airwaves in the circle. It is a demand of the private telecom operators for some time. At the same time the demand for spectrum trading has not been decided.

Whether BSNL can take any advantage of of the present decision is yet to be known.