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‘INCREASE IN TARIFF IS NOT A PROBLEM’-SAYS THE COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER.

After the spectrum auction, the private telecom companies have hinted about a possible tariff hike in the wake of larger bid amount they have to pay for the spectrum. This demand of the greedy private telecom companies has been endorsed by none other than Shri. Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communications. He has made the following statement;

‘According to TRAI estimates, each mobile user talks for 350 minutes per month on an average. With about 97 crore mobile connections, we get a figure of 4,07,400 minutes of calls a year. If you divide this by yearly payout of Rs. 5,300 crore, the load on every consumer will come to about 1.3 paise per minute. Therfore increase in tariffs is not a problem.’

Now, the hike in tariff is a forgone conclusion, the question is whether the government will be able to restrict the hike only according to the TRAI estimates.

SPECTRUM AUCTION- IDEA CELLULAR IS THE LARGEST BIDDER.

Supreme Court has lifted the embargo on 26th March on publishing the list of successful bidders in the just concluded spectrum auction. So the government has released the list and Idea Cellular, India’s third largest telecom company has secured the spectrum for the record amount of Rs. 30,306.98 crore for 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz bands.

Other successful bidders are as follows;

Bharti Airtel- Rs. 29,130.20 crore,    Vodafone- Rs. 29,959.74 crore in the same bands.

Reliance Jio of Mukesh Ambani and Anil Ambani led Reliance Communications bid bought spectrum in 800 MHz and 1800 MHz bands for Rs. 10,077.53 crore and Rs. 4299.13 crore respectively.

Tata Teleservices will pay Rs. 7851.33 crore for 800 MHz and 1800 MHz and Aircel has bought spectrum in 1800 MHz band for Rs. 2250 crore.

However,Telenor, the Norway’s telecom company is the only company participated,not to win any spectrum.

SPECTRUM AUCTION- WINDFALL GAIN FOR CENTRAL GOVERNMENT.

The auction for spectrum has concluded on 25th March,the 19th day which was started on 4th March, 2015. The auction was very aggressive and competitive between the 8 telecom companies as it stretched to 115 rounds. It has brought a windfall gain of Rs.1,09,874 crore to the government and this is the highest in the history of India. The central government’s expectation was Rs. 82,000 crore and still 11 per cent spectrum remained unsold.

In the spectrum auction held in 2010, the government had got Rs. 1.06 lakh crore which included the amount of Rs.30,000 crore forcibly taken from BSNL and MTNL. This time the auction amount is exclusive of BSNL and MTNL money.

Airtel,  Vodafone, Idea Cellular, Reliance Communications, Aircel, Reliance Jio Infocom, Uninor and Tata Teleservices were in the fray for 2G and 3G spectrum auction. The name of the successful bidders will be announced only after order on a case pending in the supreme court. However,it is learnt that Vodafone payout for the spectrum is likely to be the highest, followed by Airtel, Idea, Reliance Jio and Reliance Communications.

Telecom companies are required to pay an upfront payment of 33 per cent in case of 2100 MHz, 1800 MHz bands and 25 per cent for 900 MHz and 800 MHz bands within ten calendar days of the close of the auction. The winners have to pay the rest of the amount over a period of 12 years- two years moratorium and then ten yearly instalments.

The private telecom companies have already hinted of a hike in call and sms rates in the name of payment of higher cost for the airwaves in the auction.

Another important factor of the spectrum auction is that it has thoroughly exposed and belied the zero loss theory of the former Telecom Minister, Kapil Sibal. 

“SAVE BSNL,SAVE NATION” -THE IMPORTANT DEMANDS- V. A. N. Namboodiri.

 

The 2.25 lakh executives and non-executives are going on Two days Strike on 21-22 April 2015 demanding that the government takes necessary measures to revive BSNL and strengthen it. The strike notice signed by the General Secretaries of the unions/associations have been served on the CMD BSNL and Secretary DOT with copy to the Hon’ble Communications Minister on 12th March 2015. Neither the DOT nor the BSNL Management has called the Forum of Unions/Associations to discuss the demands so far.

As per the call of the Forum, a massive Parliament March, participated by thousands of BSNL employees, Pensioners and casual Contract workers was organised on 25th February 2015 as a prelude to the Strike. Earlier a three days dharna was organised on 6-8 January 2015. Circle level conventions have been organised in many circles with the General Secretaries participating and preparing the workers for the strike. Call has been given for holding SSA level conventions as part of the SAVE BSNL Campaign. Serious campaign is going on in preparation for the strike. This is a “DO OR DIE” battle and every employee should be part of it.

What are the main demands raised by the Forum? Let us examine one by one.

1. Immediate Procurement of Equipments

One of the main reason for the present unenviable situation of BSNL is the lack of equipments. The mobile lines, Broadband Modem, Drop wire, telephone instruments, cables etc. are in acute shortage, which are required for the expansion and maintenance of service. Since 2006, this shortage continues,resulting blockade of advancement. While the private companies are free to purchase equipment without tender, BSNL has to go through a series of procedures before any purchase has to be made. Secondly, there is no fund with BSNL. When funds were available, the government did not allow purchase. The government should  now allow BSNL to take loans from Banks with its guarantee, otherwise banks will not give loans.

While the private companies are allowed to purchase from the Chinese companies which are comparatively cheap and efficient, BSNL is denied permission for the same citing national security. This should be cleared.

Management is purchasing towers from private companies, while the Telecom Factories of BSNL are producing the same, citing low cost for the private towers. This should be stopped. The towers manufactured in Factories should be made cost-friendly and the same should be purchased by the  BSNL, which can save a lot of money.

Many equipment could be manufactured in the Telecom Factories. (It is better to call them BSNL Factories instead of TFs.) These would be of good quality and cost-friendly and suitable for the BSNL network.

The undue and unnecessary delay being caused by the Quality Assurance in checking the equipment manufactured by the BSNL Factories should be reduced, so that equipment are made available quickly. 

WFTU CALLS FOR CELEBRATION OF 70TH ANNIVERSARY.

 
24 Mar 2015
 

In October 3rd, 2015 our historic Organization celebrates its 70 years of militant and internationalist struggle. On this Occasion the Presidential Council of the WFTU has decided to appeal to all members and friends of the WFTU to commemorate in every country this great anniversary.

With events, seminars, lectures, open rallies and mass activities we call all members and friends to celebrate the 70th Anniversary of the WFTU throughout the year 2015. To pay tribute to the struggles of the working class and the class-oriented trade union movement in every country, to pay tribute to the martyrs who fought for the betterment of the working class and humanity, to educate the next generations with the achievements, the difficulties and the importance of the class struggle, to spread the awareness about the positions and the tremendous role of the WFTU in the struggle against imperialism, colonialism, apartheid, exploitation.

After the end of the anniversary celebrations, the Secretariat announces that a Special Publication will be released for the 70th Anniversary Events around the world to collect in one publication the activities, the pictures, the articles about the events.

We ask from all members and friends to inform us about the activities they organized, to send us pictures, speeches and articles in the media about these events.

All materials to be send in the emails of the WFTU: international@wftucentral.org,
info@wftucentral.org and
press@wftucentral.org

THE SECRETARIAT

 

FAVOUR TO MINISTERS AND BUREAUCRATS BY CORPORATES-SUPREME COURT ISSUES NOTICE.

The supreme court on 23rd March, 2015 has issued notices to the central government, CBI and Essar on a PIL petition seeking probe into a political-bureaucrat-corporate nexus exposed in the email leaks where the corporate house, Essar, allegedly granted favour to Ministers and bureaucrats for promoting its business. A three judge bench issued notices and sought response within six weeks on the PIL filed by NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation.

                                                                                                      ( source: The Hindu )

PRE-2006 PENSIONERS-FULL PENSION FOR LESS THAN 33 YEARS; SUPREME COURT REJECTS GOVERNMENT’S APPEAL.

There is unconfirmed report that the Supreme Court also has rejected Govt’s appeal against CAT,Ernakulam order in favour of the pensioners for payment of full pension to those retired before 2006 with less than 33 years service.

As per the recommendations of the sixth pay commission, central government pensioners retired after 01-01-2006 with 20 years service are eligible for full pension. However the government had rejected the demand to implement the same to those retired before 2006. Some of the pre 2006 pensioners approached the Central Administrative Tribunal, Ernakulam and got a fovourable order.But the government filed appeal in the Kerals High Court which was dismissed. The government then filed an appeal in the Supreme Court also which is now reported to be dismissed.

The government may still go for a revision petition and further legal proceedings as in the case of modified parity in pension for the pre 2006 pensioners. 

 

PROTESTS GALORE IN SPAIN AGAIST AUSTERITY MEASURES.

 

Madrid, Mar 22 Thousands of demonstrators from across Spain gathered at one of Madrid’s main squares to protest against the way the government has tackled the financial crisis by implementing harsh austerity measures.

Organisers had hoped to attract 20,000 protesters to the event, labelled Marches for Dignity, and yesterday evening much of Colon Square and part of Paseo de Recoletos boulevard were packed with people carrying republican flags and banners calling for a general strike.

Hairdresser Dolores Cerezo, 32, who had arrived from southern Sevilla, said the government had cut back “savagely” on public services such as education and the national health service, “but we are seeing many of them now appearing in court suspected of fraud and corruption, of stealing money.”

Scuffles broke out after the main rally ended. Riot police clashed with about 200 protesters who had attacked a bank and a police car.

FOUNDATION DAY OF BSNL EMPLOYEES UNION- 22-03-2015.

BSNL Employees Union is celebrating the 15th Foundation Day of the mighty organization on 22nd March, 2015 all over the country.

It was on 22nd March,2001 the seven telecom unions merged together at Visakhapatnam and formed the BSNL Employees Union in the National Convention held on 21st & 22nd March, 2015. Prominent leaders like Com.E.Balalnandan, President, CITU, Com.K.Adinarayana, Secretary General, NFPE etc had participated in the foundation convention. Office bearers were elected with Com.Sisir Bhattacharjee and Com.Moni Bose, Patrons, Com.J.N.Mishra, President and Com.V. A. N. Namboodiri, General Secretary.

BSNL Employees Union conducted a series of agitations including strikes for the settlement of the genuine demands of the workers. This naturally enthused the workers to rally behind BSNLEU and enabled its victory in all the membership verifications barring the first one. Now,when the 15th foundation is being observed ,BSNLEU has taken the initiative to launch a two day strike on 21-22 April, 2015 under the banner of Forum of BSNL Unions/ Associations for the revival of BSNL.

All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association and BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation were formed at the initiative of BSNLEU, which have become major organisations in the respective sectors. And as such, BSNLEU is our parent organization and we are also bound to observe the foundation day of BSNLEU.

46 PSUs TO BE REVIVED AND 9 TO BE CLOSED-SAYS MINISTER FOR HEAVY INDUSTRIES

 

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The fate of 9 sick  PSUs and their staff are sealed. The Heavy industries minister has stated in the Parliament that out of 55 sick units, efforts will be made to revive 46 and the rest 9 will be closed down.

The 9 sick units which will be closed include HMT Bearings, Tungabhadra Steel Products, Hindustan Photo Films, HMT Watches, HMT Chinnar Watches, Hindustan Cables and Spices Trading Corporation.

These were all profit making companies. HMT watches was one of the best PSUs manufacturing the best watches in India. It is only due to the anti-PSU policy of the government that all these PSUs have become loss making.

The government is on the move to close down the PSUs, one after another. These should be opposed and defeated.