Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA and President, BSNLEU has met Ms. Annie Moreas, Member(Finance), DOT on today, the 27th October, 2014 and urged early action to prepare the cabinet note on extending the benefit of 78.2% IDA merger to both pre 2007 and post 2007 BSNL pensioners. Member (Finance) assured that it will be done without delay.

Com. V. A. N. Namboodiri also met Shri. Rajeev Agarwal, Member (Services) and discussed the issue of 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners. Member (Services) gave necessary instructions to the DDG (Esst) for preparing the cabinet note.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri had met Shri. Rakesh Garg, Secretary, DOT in this regard on 24th October.

Trichy District Conference, in Tamil Nadu was held on 25th October, 2014. Com. P. Kumaravel, District President presided over the conference. Com. S. Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President and Circle President hoisted the flag and inaugurated the conference with an effective speech covering all the issues of the pensioners. Com. C. K. Narasimhan, Circle Secretary delivered the key note address and focused mainly on organizational issues. Com. Devaraj, District President and Com. Sundarraj, Asst District Secretary, BSNLEU addressed the conference.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. P. Krishnan (President) Com. I. John Basha (District Secretary) and Com. Marcos (Treasurer)

The World Federation of Trade Unions expresses its class solidarity with the working people of Italy and its affiliated trade union center Unione Sindacale di Base (USB) ahead of the General Strike in Italy, on October 24th 2014. The General Strike of the Italian working class is taking place in a period of a deep anti-workers aggression, not only in Italy, but all over Europe and the world, led by the capitalists, transnational corporations and their governments. The antilabor policies imposed by the troika of the European Union, European Central Bank and the IMF have led to cutbacks in salaries and pensions, loss of workers rights and trade union rights, worse working and living conditions, privatization of public wealth, dismantlement of public health and education systems, high unemployment and poverty for the working class and the masses of the people. The October 24th general strike in Italy is a response to the antilabor policies the Italian government is implementing, policies of labor casualisation in public and private sector, cutting down workers rights, trying to place the burden of the capitalist crisis on the backs working class. The class unity among the workers, regardless the sector they work in, if they have a permanent or a temporal job and their class oriented struggle can defend the workers rights, generate gains and set the foundations for the struggle for a world without capitalist exploitation. On behalf of the 90 million workers around the world the WFTU represents today, we reiterate our full solidarity with the workers and the people of Italy, and our affiliated organization, USB of Italy, in the eve of the general strike of October 24th 2014. THE SECRETARIAT

Com. V.A. N Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA and President BSNLEU has met Shri. Rakesh Garg, Secretary, DOT on today, the 24th October, 2014 and discussed the issue of extending the benefit of 78.2% IDA merger to the BSNL pensioners. Com. Namboodiri pointed out that undue delay has already been occurred and the file is now received back at DOT from the Department of Expenditure with the directive to seek cabinet approval for both the pre 2007 and post 2007 pensioners. He urged the Secretary DOT to cause early action to prepare the cabinet note and circulate simultaneously to other departments and get it back for submitting to the cabinet. The Secretary DOT had a patient hearing and assured to do the needful with minimum procedural delay.

But our experience is that such assurances are implemented rarely; only when further pressure is exerted.Therefore let us conduct the Sanchar Bhawan March with maximum participation on 20th November,2014. 

A national convention of central government employees is proposed to be held in New Delhi on 11-12-2014. The decision to this effect was taken by the Staff side of JCM, including Railways, Defence and Confederation. The convention will seriously discuss the issues of DA merger, Interim Relief, inclusion of GDS in 7th Pay Commission, Scrapping of PFRDA Act etc and take appropriate decisions on future course of action.

The 7th All India Conference of BSNL Employees Union is being held at Kolkata from 6th to 9th November, 2014. Both Circle Units of AIBDPA, Kolkata Telephones and West Bengal are actively associating in the functioning of the Reception Committee formed for the successful conduct of the AIC. Our Kolkata Circle Branch has already donated Rs. I,50,000 to the Reception Committee. CHQ heartily congratulates Kolkata comrades for this ideal gesture and solidarity.

Foundation Day was celebrated by Jamnagar District Branch in Gujarat on 21-10-2014. Most of the members participated in the meeting held in this regard at the Union Office, K.V. Road, Jamnagar. Com. R. B. Patel presided over the meetng. Com. M. B. Chaniyara, Circle Secretary spoke elaborately on the achievements and growth of the organisation.

Com. Pijush Chakraborty, Assistant Circle Secretary, West Bengal reports- All the districts observed the foundation day by flag hoisting, offering homage to martyrs and holding meetings. Kolkata district and Circle jointly celebrated the Foundation Day on 21-10-2014.

BIJAPUR, KARNATAKA : The meeting was held at the union office under the presidentship of Com C. S Sajjan and was addressed by Com.M. M. M. Bhavikatti, District Secretary, Com. S. L. Hiremath and Com. G. B. Salakki. Sweets were distributed.

Reports received from various circles indicate that the 6th Foundation Day of the mighty organization, All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association is celebrated befittingly, through out the country.

TRIVANDRUM : Com. P. V. Chandrasekharan, All India Patron, hoisted the flag and inaugurated the meeting held there after at P&T House. Com. N.Vikraman Nair, District Secretary presided. Com.G. Raveendran Nair, Com. R.R.Warier and Com. R. Muraleedharan Nair, AGS, BSNLEU addressed the meeting. Braving heavy rain, a large number of pensioners participated.

ALAPPUZHA : Com. V. Achuthan, veteran leader hoisted the flag. Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, inaugurated a well attended meeting held at BSNLEU hall. Com.K. P. Kesavan Nair, District President was in the chair. Com. N. Guruprasad, Circle Secretary and Com. K. Muraleedharan Nair, Convenor, NFPE spoke. District Executive Committee Meeting was also held,there after under the presidentship of Com. K. P. Kesavan Nair. Com. P. Surendran was elected District Secretary, in place of Com. N. Guruprasad elected Circle Secretary.

KOLLAM : AIBDPA Flag was hoisted by Com. M. D. Rajan, District President and the meeting held at K. G. Bose Centre inaugurated by Com. R. Aravindakshan Nair, Circle President. Com. C. Muraleedharan Pillai, District Secretary, BSNLEU delivered the key note address. Com. L. Krishnakumari, Circle Vice President, Com. M. D. Rajan and Com. N. Saidharan Nair, District Secretary spoke.

AS REPORTED EARLIER, THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE, IN THE ABOVE LETTER SAYS CABINET APPROVAL BE SOUGHT FOR BOTH PRE 2007 AND RETIRED BETWEEN 01-01-2007 AND 09-06-2013.