It has been intimated by BSNL Management that the meeting with Secretary DOT to discuss strike demands has been rescheduled and now will take place at 05.00 PM on 27th April 2015.
The meeting was fixed earlier on 25th April 2015.
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TWO DAYS BSNL STRIKE SPECTACULAR SUCCESS- HEARTY CONGRATULATIONS!
BSNL employees have once again shown that they will do everything possible to save BSNL. The example is before us. The Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 has been a complete success with maximum participation by the employees, both executives and non-executives. Sufficient time was given to the BSNL Management and the government to discuss and sort out the matter. Though BSNL Management held discussion with the Forum, former could not assure anything since almost all the issues are to be decided by the DOT/Minister.
The SAVE BSNL Campaign has reached crore of people. About 35 lakhs signature have been collected for the Memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister. More are coming from the circles/SSAs/Branches. These are all being sent to Prime Minister. In places like Kerala our employees have organised hundreds of meetings in rural areas and reached the ordinary people in support of the BSNL. Many circles have taken their own method for reaching the people. The BSNL Casual and Contract Workers, who are also a party to the 2 Days Strike has campaigned well, despite threat from the contractors and management that they will be retrenched.
But there has been no discussion, no settlement. This is a strange situation. If issues are not discussed and settled, the Forum will be compelled to organise further struggles including strike. Let us be ready for the same.
I take this opportunity to thank all the employees for the excellent strike.
LET US MARCH AHEAD WITH DETERMINATION AND COURAGE TO SAVE BSNL.
–V.A.N.NAMBOODIRI,CONVENOR, FORUM.
WFTU PROTESTS AND MOURNS THE DEATHS OF REFUGEES IN THE MEDIERRANEAN.
MURDERERS AND HYPOCRITES
The World Federation of Trade Unions representing 90 million workers in 126 countries of the world expresses its grief and frustration for the tragedy that took place in the Mediterranean resulting to the death of hundreds of immigrants and refugees on April 19th, 2015.
The deaths of hundreds of people in the Mediterranean and particularly South of Italy are added to the long list of immigrants finding their death looking for a better livelihood while being exploited by smugglers.
However, these are not accidents, they are crimes. Immigrants and refugees were forced to this position by the imperialist policy of NATO, of USA and of the European Union, by their aggressiveness and intervention in Libya, in Syria, in Iraq, in Mali, in 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 countries’ economies and finally by the inhumane policy of the European Union and its Governments against the migrant workers.
With anger and frustration we listen to the Heads of the Governments in Italy, in France, in Greece and other EU countries expressing their sorrow for the incident and repeating generic phrasing for “a new policy” while their countries Governments have fully supported the imperialist wars actively and while they have co-signed and fully implemented the policy of the European Union against the immigrants and refugees.
That makes them both Murderers and Hypocrites!
The World Federation of Trade Unions with its anti-imperialist and internationalist position and action denounces the murderous and hypocritical policy of the European Union and its Governments and 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.
We demand the immediate end of all imperialist interventions. We ask from the International Organizations to support the countries of origin of economic immigrants and of the political refugees.
The phenomena or racism, neofascism and xenophobia must be fully confronted.
We express our condolences to the families of the victims who lost their lives in the Mediterranean Sea.
VISIT OF EGYPTIAN TEXTILE TRADE UNION FEDERATION TO WFTU HQ.
21 Apr 2015
A delegation from Egypt’s Textile Trade union Federation visited the WFTU Headquarters in Athens today, April 21st 2015. The delegation was headed by Mr. Abdel Fatah Ibrahim, President of the delegation. WFTU delegation was formed by George Mavrikos, General Secretary, Valentin Pacho Quispe Deputy General Secretary and Mohhamed Iqnaibi, Arab Relations Adviser.
During the meeting, the delegations discussed about issues concerning the textile sector in Egypt and the Arab world. Highliting the fraternal relations between the Egypt Textile trade union Federation and the WFTU, the delegation discussed ways to strengthen even more their cooperation and planned joint activities. The Egyptian union will also visit Greek trade unions and hold bilateral talks.
WFTU GENERAL SECRETARY’S VISIT TO SPAIN.
The visit of WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos in Madrid was successfully held on April 17th 2015.
Besides bilateral contacts and discussions, the WFTU General Secretary had a working session with WFTU Affiliates and friends from Spain and Basque Country. The meeting was held at the offices of AST trade union in Madrid.
The debate was substantial and produced various proposals. The working session decided session that a Coordinating Secretariat of the WFTU in the Region should be formed shortly and that events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the WFTU
TWO DAYS NATIONAL STRIKE IN BSNL IS TOTAL.
BSNL STRIKE TOTAL.
The country wide two days Strike has started today and it is total everywhere.
The strike called by the Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations was necessiated due to the utter negative approach of the central government by not even holding a negotiation on the demand of ‘Revival of BSNL’.The strike will continue on tomorow also.
All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association members joined the striking workers in the demonstrations held before the BSNL offices. Com.K.G.Jayaraj addressed the demonstration conducted at General Managers’ office, Alappuzha.Coms P.Monikandan, M.P.P.Panicker, P.Surendran,P.R.Shajimon etc participated.
PRESS STATEMENT ISSUED BY FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS ON TWO DAYS STRIKE.
FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS
D-7, Telegraph Place, Gole Market, New Delhi – 110001
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Press Release 20th April 2015
BSNL Employees’ Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 Demanding Revival of BSNL
As per the call of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, the BSNL Employees, both executives and non-executives numbering around 2.25 lakhs, will resort to Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 demanding immediate action from the Government and BSNL Management for the Revival of BSNL.
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited was the No.1 telecom company in India and was having an annual revenue of about Rs.40,000 crore and profit of about Rs 8,000 – 10,000 crore till 2006. The non-implementation of the government assurances on financial viability, continued cancellation of the BSNL tenders of mobile equipment, confiscation of the cash balance of the company by the government on one pretext or other, discriminating BSNL in favour of private companies -all these deliberate decisions have pushed BSNL in to loss for the last five years.
The government has withdrawn from its assurance to pay ADC, refund of licence fee and liberal subsidy from the USO fund, for compensating BSNL for the loss of about Rs.10,000 crore per year for providing services to the villages and rural areas in the country which is as per the universal connectivity policy of the government. The present loss of the company around Rs. 7,000- 8,000 crore per year will be covered and there will be profit for BSNL if these assurances are honoured and implemented.
Immediate purchase of various equipments for providing mobile, broadband etc. services are most important. Sufficient funds are required for the same, which BSNL is not having at present.
An amount of Rs. 6,700 crore is due to be paid to BSNL by Government towards the cost of spectrum, which the BSNL has surrendered. An amount of Rs. 1,250 crore, allotted to BSNL in lieu of ADC for providing loss making connections for 2012-13, is still pending payment. The employees are demanding that these two amounts be paid immediately so that BSNL can purchase required equipment.
The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations has suggested various proposals for providing better service to the customers on which also no action is taken.
The Forum also demands that BSNL should start 4G services without any delay. It also has demanded that it should be made mandatory for the Central/State Governments and PSUs to take BSNL service as was done in the case of Air India.
The strike Demands submitted by the Forum are mainly intended to improve the services and to better the financial viability of the company. However, neither the Secretary, Department of Telecom nor the Communications Minister have so far called the Unions/associations for any discussion or settlement of the issues. The entire responsibility for the strike and its adverse affect on the services and difficulties to the public lies upon the Government and the Management.
The Two Days Strike on 21-22 April will start from the mid-night of 20-21 April 2015. We solicit the support of all in our effort to improve the BSNL services and revive it.
V.A.N.Namboodiri
Convener, Forum
Mobile: 9868231431.
MAY DAY MESSAGE FROM WFTU.
17 Apr 2015
The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) on the occasion of the International Workers Day – May 1st 2015 sends a warm militant salute to the international working class and the 90 million organized workers of the WFTU member-organizations in 126 countries of the world.
The International Workers Day is a day of memory and honor to the workers who sacrificed their lives for the rights of the working class, for the abolition of the exploitation of man by man. The struggles of the working class internationally, from the sacrifice of the workers in Chicago in 1886 up to our days, have proven that the working class is not only the creator of the social wealth but also the vanguard, able to lead and rally on its side other oppressed popular strata, in the struggle for the overthrow of capitalism.
The acute and major problems that make the life of the working class difficult continue to exist. The capitalist governments serving the orders of the Capital and the transnational corporations intensify and expand the anti-labor policies: Salary and pension cuts, flexible labor relations, privatizations, destruction of the social security schemes, elimination of trade union rights and liberties and state terrorism. Unemployment, continues to remain and open wound for the working class and continues to attack the rights of the workers. This is the recipe of the world capitalism for the “exit” from the capitalist crisis and the increase of the monopolies’ profit.
In international level the attack by employers and capitalist governments in the right to strike continues in every country but also at international level, within the International Labor Organization. The ILO pushes the issue to the international courts, controlled by the international bourgeoisie and imperialism. This cannot be accepted. The right to strike was not handed over to the workers, but gained by struggles and it can only be defended through the working class’ struggles.
The policies of the international monopoly groups and the competition amongst the imperialist forces has been intensified with disastrous results for the people of the world. The imperialist intervention and the revival of Nazism is to blame for the carnage in Ukraine with thousands of our colleagues as victims.In Syria the imperialist intervention continues. In Venezuela, the US government and the imperialist multinationals promote plans of intervention, destabilization and coup against the democratically elected government. The attacks against the unyielding Cuban people continue with the embargo still in force.
The position of WFTU remains stable and consistent that the workers and the peoples of the world must be the masters in their own countries and free to decide for the present and future of their country without imperialist interventions.
In front of this situation, the World Federation of Trade Unions calls the workers, the international class-oriented trade union movement to organize mass strikes, demonstrations, rallies for the 1st of May in every country of the world, celebrations that will honor the 129 years since the revolt of the workers in Chicago and will project their internationalism and demand contemporary rights for the working class in each country, better wages, labor and trade union rights and liberties, social security, policies to confront unemployment.
Working men and women, youth, unemployed, migrant workers,
The May Day 2015 must be a step forward for the international for the labour and trade union movement in each country, region and sector. We appeal to you to unite your voices with the class-oriented movement in each country, to unite your voices with the voice of the WFTU. With militancy and internationalism we can strengthen our struggle for better working relations, for better living conditions, for a society without exploitation, for a society where the needs of the working class and the people will come first.
Dear brothers, workers, unemployed, pensioners,
This year, in 2015, we celebrate the 70th anniversary since the foundation of the WFTU.Since its creation the WFTU became and continues to be the home, the family, the defender of each workers family.
This common home that we share, this family, let’s honor it by making it stronger everywhere. Let us make WFTU stronger, more militant, more class-oriented, more internationalist, more active, more efficient in every corner of the planet. By strengthening the trade union Organizations in every sector, in all regions, by organizing new members in the trade unions, by building new trade union cadres and more workers leaders, we will move forward.
WITH DETERMINATION – WITH INTERNATIONALISM – WITH STRUGGLES
THE SECRETARIAT
FORUM MEETING EXHORTS TO MAKE THE STRIKE ON APRIL 21-22,2015,A GRAND SUCCESS.
The meeting of Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations held today, the 20th April, 2015 has decided to go ahead with the two day strike on April 21 & 22 as there has been no response from the central government or the Department of Telecom on the strike notice served well in advance for the strike by all the unions of both executives and non executives demanding revival of BSNL. THE MEETING HAS APPEALED TO ALL THE EMPLOYEES AND OFFICERS IN BSNL TO MAKE THE STRIKE COMPLETE AND HISTORIC.
OF COURSE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IN THE HISTORY OF INDEPENDENT INDIA,THAT A GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN TOTAL CONTEMPT OF THE STRIKE NOTICE SERVED BY ALL THE UNIONS WHICH IS UNDEMOCRATIC AND SO DEPLORABLE. THEREFORE THE BSNL EMPLOYEES HAVE TO RISE TO THE OCCASION TO SEE THAT A FITTING REBUFF IS GIVEN TO THE GOVERNMENT BY MAKING THE STRIKE FULL.
TRAI PROPOSES EXEMPTION OF LICENCE FEE FOR LANDLINE BROADBAND.
The proposal of the TRAI to exempt licence fee for the broadband based on landline is a correct step. The landlines are mostly loss-making or with hardly any profit. Under such circumstances, universal service by land-lines becomes difficult. If licence fee is exempted companies will be able to provide more landlines and promote broadband.
Further this will benefit BSNL, which is the leader in the landlines and hold the majority market share.