Saddened and rather frustrated at the undue delay in announcing One Rank One Pension (OROP) despite assurance after assurances four former Service Chiefs have written to President of India requesting for an early order in the matter.  AIBDPA extends full support to the demand which is fully justified.

One of the major decisions of the strike agreement between the BSNL Circle Management and BSNLCCLU, BSNLEU and SNEA that the wages of the contract workers will be increased by Rs. one hundred per day is yet to be implemented, resulting in the continuation of the struggle. The agreement has been reached after detailed discussion as a result of the sustained struggles of the workers. Even by increasing the wages by Rs. 100, the wages of the contract workers will be far below that of the ordinary daily workers in Kerala.

We demand the management to implement the agreement without any delay so that the services are normalized for the betterment of all the concerned.

According to the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Statement tabled in Parliament by the Government, the salary outgo of central government employees will go up by 9.56 per cent to Rs 1,00,619 crore in 2015- 16. It will increase further in the next year.

The Pension amount also is expected to increase, since a large number of employees are retiring every year.

The government seems to be finding out justification for its decisions on VII CPC in advance.

Aadhar card will be optional for availing various welfare schemes of the government, the Supreme Court today said and ordered that no personal information of the holders of such cards shall be shared by any authority.

A three-judge bench, which in the forenoon referred to a larger Constitution Bench a batch of petitions challenging the Aadhar scheme and the issue whether right to privacy is a fundamental right, recorded the statement of Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi that “no personal information of Aadhar card shall be shared by any authority”.(Courtesy: PTI)

The working class must give a massive, militant, decisive response to the Greek Government and monopolies which are pushing for the imposition of the 3rd protocol measures that will demolish what remains of the workers’ rights. Unions must strengthen their presence in the workplace. Organization fight with faster pace in every workplace and neighborhood. The day that the government will put the – Butcher – Protocol to the Agreement Parliament there has to be a militant mobilizing thousands of workers in the initiatives of the union movement class. (Courtesy: TUI (P and R)

Against the non-implementation and violation of the Strike agreement made between the Circle management and BSNLCCLU, BSNLEU and SNEA, all the three unions have started Non-Cooperation from 12th August 2014.

The violation of the agreement seems to be a deliberate attempt to provoke the workers and make them go on further agitation, so that the charges against the management for  its inefficiency can be shelved and also the private telecom companies can benefit.

The government has imposed total penalty of 10.80 crore on telecom operators for exceeding prescribed electronic frequency (EMF) limits, Telecom Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said in a written reply to Rajya Sabha.

According to the statement, the maximum penalty of Rs 2.15 crore was imposed on Bharti Airtel, followed by Rs 1.80 crore on Vodafone, Rs 1.65 crore on Reliance and Rs 1.45 crore on Tata Teleservices. A penalty of Rs 95 lakh was imposed on Idea, Rs 90 lakh on Aircel, Rs 70 lakh on BSNL, Rs 55 lakh on Loop, Rs 15 lakh on MTNL, Rs 5 lakh on Sistema Shyam Teleservices, Rs 35 lakh on Uninor and Rs 10 lakh on Videocon.

He said that during 2015-16 (upto May 31), 6 base tower stations (BTSs) were found exceeding the prescribed radiation limit on actual testing. The number of towers exceeding the limit stood at 103 in 2012-13 and 77 in 2013-14, while none of the towers were found to exceed the limit in 2014-15. (Courtesy: Financial Express)

As per the communications from Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary, Staff Side, JCM National Council, the report of the VII Central Pay Commission may be delayed by about one month. The report was expected to be submitted by the last week of August 2015.

Com. Mishra had met the Chairman and Secretary of the VII CPC on 7th August 2015, during which this news was conveyed to him.

Lakhs of CG employees are eagerly waiting for the report. Most of the state governments also implement the recommendations. It will have its own impact on the Pay Revision/Wage Agreement in the the central Public Sector also.

Hearty Congratulations to the Kerala BSNL Workers! Agreement reached between the Circle management and Unions – Strike and agitation withdrawn.

We heartily Congratulate the casual and contract workers and employees of Kerala Circle for their great victory. Agreement has been reached between the three unions, BSNLCCLU, BSNLEU, SNEA and BSNL Circle management on the demands of the casual and contract workers as also in vacating the victimisation.

After the transfer of MSS Rao, CGM, the new CGM in-charge Shri Subbaiah had discussions with the unions represented by Coms. K.Mohanan, CS, BSNLEU,K. Sudheer, President, SNEA,N.R. Somasekharan Nair, CS CCLU at 17.30 hours. The following agreement was reached:

1. Rs.100/- will be increased in daily wage of contract workers from the present Rs. 336/-
2. A Committee including the Management and the representatives of the 3 unions is constituted to discuss on the demands of the workers.
3. All the victimisation imposed in connection with the present agitation will be vacated.
4. All the victimisation imposed on SNEA leaders in the last SNEA struggle will be vacated.
5. The Strike of the CCLU and the Hunger Strike by BSNLEU and SNEA are withdrawn on the basis of the agreement.

We Congratulate the valiant workers of Kerala for their great Victory! We thank the CHQ of all the three unions. The struggle was necessitated due to negative and stubborn attitude of Shri.M.S.S.Rao, CGMT,Kerala and he has been shifted from Kerala and asked to proceed on leave for 21 days after which his postings will be done. The timely intervention of the Kerala MPs, Com.K.N.Balagopal, Com.C.P.Narayanan, Com.T.N.Seema, Com.K.K.Ragesh and Shri.K.V.Thomas and their meeting with the Communications Minister helped to apprise the Minister the seriousness of the struggle and the negative role of the CGMT. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNL CCWF ,though in London, was in constant touch with the CMD,BSNL urging for early settlement. Com.P.Abhmanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU and Com.K.Sebastian, General Secretary, SNEA took a very firm and pivotal stand demanding the shifting of the CGMT and reaching reasonable agreement on the issues which was instrumental for effective intervention of CMD,BSNL.

Our Patron Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan played a crucial role in creating a high tempo through out the struggle and giving valuable advices at every stage. Above all it is the unprecedented unity of the workers and unions that has brought in the historic victory.