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WFTU TUI SOLIDARITY TO LONDON TUBE WORKERS UNDERGROUND AND RAILWAY WORKERS.

The TUI Transport of WFTU adresses it’s full support to the tubeworkers on strike on the London Underground, to the railwayworkers of First Great Western and Southern Rail.

The TUI Transport of WFTU particularly salutes all the members of the Rail Maritime Trade Union in their struggle to defend jobs, to keep the guard on the train, in their legitimate fight aimed at ensuring acceptable working and wage conditions for all workers who will deliver the 24H service on the London Underground.

Since the privatisation of British Rail, the railways have become a symbol of the disastrous consequences of privatising public services. The World Federation of Trade Unions has organised several exchanges and visits of British railwayworkers from the RMT to other countries in Europe (more recently so in France and Portugal) aimed at explaining and spreading the word to railwayworkers of as many countries as possible about the consequences of this privatisation and what awaits them if they don’t fight back !

It was said that private enterprise would somehow deliver greater efficiency, better services, lower fares, and on top of that, even the massive investment needed on the railway ! But with one disaster and catastrophy after another, continously rising fares, deteriorating services, that claim has been widely exposed for what it is : another shameless lie !

The recent strikes that have been held and organised by the RMT across different railway companies, the recent upturn in industrial action in the railway and London Underground, and also Network Rail, has proven our class ennemy wrong in many aspects. Many of them thought that the perspective of a rail strike was a thing of the past in Great Britain, even more so at a national scale.

The workers on strike deserve the overwhelming support of all workers, in Britain and abroad.

The TUI Transport of WFTU hopes that the industrial action undertaken recently in the british railway and London underground, amidst declared government attacks on the right to strike of british workers, will enbolden the rest of the working class that has had enough of the greediness and parasitism of the shareholders who will stop at nothing in their never-ending quest for more profits

CENTRAL TRADE UNION LEADERS INVITED FOR TEA BY THE PRIME MINISTER.

It is reported that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited trade union leaders for tea on 19th July at his residence. Well and good! The moot question is whether the invitation is to convince them about the justification of the anti-labour laws that is being brought to be enacted or to hear the justified demands of the workers and consider them favourably. The invitation has been made on the eve of the Indian Labour conference is to be noted.

MODI GOVERNMENT ALLOWS PRIVATE ENTRY IN NAVAL ARMAMENT.

More private entry in government. Now the government has allowed private entry in naval armament industry also as per the following report in the Economic Times. As every body knows, this is part of the privatisation of armament industry. The NDA government is busy with its privatisation agenda.

“NEW DELHI: Government has issued industrial licences for naval armament business to large public and private sector companies including Larsen & Tubro, Pipavav and BHELBSE 2.36 %. Industrial licences have also been awarded to ABG ShipyardBSE -0.11 % and Alpha Design Technologies.

These licences have been given for works relating to warships, sub-marines, weapon platforms, high-speed boats and patrol research vessels. ” (Economic Times)

NET NEUTRALITY- DOT PANEL FOR REGULATION ON VOICE CHAT ON MESSAGING PLATFORMS.

MUMBAI, JULY 16:

Messaging application providers such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Blackberry will be subject to licence conditions applicable to traditional telecom companies if they want to continue offering voice calling facility on their platform.

A committee set up by the Department of Telecom has said that existing internet-based applications, called Over-The-Top (OTT), offering voice telephony have an advantage compared to traditional telecom companies as the latter are subject to a number of regulatory controls.

“Under existing telecom licensing conditions, Internet Telephony is permitted under restricted conditions. However, pricing arbitrage of OTT domestic voice communication services has the potential of significantly disrupting existing telecom revenue models. This may decelerate the pace of telecom infrastructure expansion, whereas the need is to boost investment in telecom infrastructure to increase broadband reach, speeds, bandwidth capacity and enhanced quality of service,’ the committee said in its report.

“In case of domestic calls (local and national), communication services by telecom service providers and OTT communication services may be treated similarly from a regulatory angle for the present,” the committee said.

The nature of regulatory similarity, the calibration of regulatory response and its phasing can be appropriately determined after public consultations and TRAI’s recommendations.

The committee’s stand is in line with the demands of telecom companies such as Airtel and Reliance Jio, which had written to the TRAI seeking a level playing field with OTT players. In a recent interview with Business Line, Airtel CEO Gopal Vittal had said that voice telephony is subject to regulatory rules like spectrum charges and USO fund contribution whereas players like WhatsApp are offering voice chat without any such rules governing them.

Overall, the DoT panel has recommended adherence to core principles of Net Neutrality.

“The primary goals of public policy in the context of Net Neutrality should be directed towards achievement of developmental aims of the country by facilitating “Affordable Broadband”, “Quality Broadband” and “Universal Broadband” for its citizens. Over-The-Top (OTT) application services should be actively encouraged and any impediments in expansion and growth of OTT application services should be removed,’ it said.

( COURTESY: THE BUSINESS LINE.)

FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS LEADERS DISCUSS 78.2% ISSUE WITH SECRETARY, DOT.

 

[16.07.2015]Core Committee of the Forum meets Secretary, DoT.Members of the Core Committee met Shri Rakesh Garg, Secretary, DoT today, and ascertained the steps taken by the DoT on the important demands of the Forum, with regards to the revival of BSNL.

(1)   Payment of Rs.1,250 crore to BSNL as subsidy from USO Fund.

The Secretary, DoT informed that the Telecom Commission has already approved this and now it will go for the approval of the Cabinet.

 

(2)   78.2% IDA merger to the pensioners.

It was brought to the notice of the Secretary, DoT that the Department of Expenditure has not so far sent its comments on the Cabinet note. The Secretary, DoT directed the Member (Finance) to send a letter to the Secretary, Department of Expenditure immediately in this regard. He also assured that the Note will be sent to the Cabinet expeditiously.

 

(3)   Refund of BWA spectrum charges.

The Core Committee members expressed their concern on the delay in getting the refund of BWA spectrum charges. The Secretary, DoT replied that the issue is being taken up with the Finance Ministry, by the Honb’le Minister of Communications. (Subsequently the Core Committee members came to know that an amount of Rs.830 crores will be refunded to BSNL, being the Licence Fee paid by the Company in 2013-14.)

 

(4)   Calculation of pension contribution.

It was pointed out to the Secretary, DoT that this demand is not yet settled and that pension contribution is still being calculated on the maximum of the pay scale, instead of on the basic pay. The Secretary replied that it would be looked into.

 

(5)   Transfer of assets.

It was pointed out to the Secretary that not much development has taken place on this issue, since the discussion that took place on 01.05.2015. The Core Committee members also complaint that the DoT is taking over BSNL’s buildings and lands in many places. They also demanded all needful steps should be taken for the immediate transfer of entire assets to BSNL. Secretary, DoT assured needful would be done.

 

(6)   Repayment of salary paid to the employees deputed to Term Cell.

The Core Committee members told the Secretary that the salary paid by BSNL, to the employees deputed to the Term Cell, is not yet refunded by the DoT. Secretary, DoT assured needful would be done.

(7)   Merger of BSNL and MTNL.

DOT Secretary said that final decision will be taken only by the government.

( BSNLEU website)

PROTESTS GALORE IN GREECE AGAINST THE BAILOUT PACKAGE AS PARLIAMENT ADOPTS.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/popup/2015/7/greece4.jpg

Alexis Tsipras has managed to sail through the bail out package in the Parliament but with stiff opposition from his own law makers and wild protest by the people in the streets. In the 330 member Parliament 229 voted in favour while 64 voted against and 6 abstaining.

In January,2015 election Alexis Tsipras’s Syriza party had fought on anti-austerity promises. Also in the referendum held on 5th July consequent on the deadlock in the talk for a bailout package with the Eurozone majority, say 61% had voted against further austerity measures. But the deal reached by Greece with the Eurozone contained many stringent austerity measures which clearly breached the earlier stand of Alexis Tsipras and his party. This has reflected in the open revolt of 32 members voting against and 6 abstained including former Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, Head of Parliament Zoe Constanto Poulouv and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis.

There were wide spread protest rallies against the bailout package by the workers and the people at large as the  people had suffered much due to the austerity measures and they are much concerned of further austerity measures.

78.2% IDA MERGER- COMMENTS FROM EXPENDITURE DEPARTMENT YET TO BE RECIEVED.

ACCORDING TO INFORMATION RECIVED FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM THE COMMENTS FROM DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE ON CABINET NOTE SENT FOR EXTENDING THE BENEFIT OF 78.2% IDA MERGER IS YET TO BE RECIEVED. WE ARE PURSUING THE ISSUE WITH THE CONCERNED OFFICERS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE. THE DIRECTOR, DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE STANDS RELIEVED AND THE NEW INCUMBENT HAS NOT TAKEN CHARGE.

HOWEVER FOR ONE OR OTHER REASON THE ISSUE IS BEING DRAGGED UNECESSARILY AND THEREFORE WE SHALL GO AHEAD WITH THE 2 DAYS HUNGER FAST ON 21-22, JULY, 2015 BEFORE ALL THE CCA OFFICES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

OIL PRICES TUMBLE AFTER THE NUCLEAR DEAL.

Iran and the six global powers reached a land mark nuclear deal on 14th July, 2015 consequent on which the oil prices were dropped. The historical agreement was hailed by both the US President, Barack Obama and the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The nuclear deal would help easing of sanctions against Iran and a gradual increase in its oil exports.

Under the deal -, sanctions imposed by the US, European Union and the United Nations would be lifted in exchange for curbs on Iran’s nuclear program. How ever there were no immediate details on how sanctions would be eased on oil. But even a modest increase in Iran’s oil export would be enough to pull international oil prices down as the market is already producing around 2.5 million barrels per day above demand.

( Courtesy: The Hindu.)

GULBARGA DISTRICT HELD GENERALBODY MEETING ON 12TH JULY.

A well attended general body meeting of Gulbarga District Branch in Karnataka Circle was held on 12th July, 2015. Com. M. A. Khan, Retired CTS presided over the meeting.

Welcoming the gathering Com. M. R. Ujalambakar, District Secretary explained the issues of the pensioners with particular focus on the progress on 78.2% IDA merger and the two days relay hunger fast on 21-22, July 2015 before the CCA offices across the country to exert further pressure on the demand of 78.2% as well as restoration of medical allowance. Some of the members actively participated and raised the issues of anomaly, delay in payment of pensionary benefits by GMTD, Gulbarga etc which were later clarified by the District Secretary.

Shri. Restompur, Branch Manager, LIC, Gulbarga participated as the chief guest and spoke on ‘Varshita Bima Yogana” a scheme of LIC advantageous to the elders.

Some of the new participants were enrolled as members of AIBDPA in the meeting.

With vote of thanks by senior pensioner Com. Mohd Hameeduddin the meeting came to an end.