VIEW LETTER >Pension Rvn-78.2%
VIEW THE LETTER >Pension Rvn pre 2016-7cpc
Editorial
No permanent job means nothing but enslavement of the workers.
Whether we are going back to the period of slave- master system..? Yes, it is hard to believe; but that is the reality. The government of India notification replacing permanent job with term based employment and extending the Fixed Term Employment to all establishments is nothing short of enslaving the workers and throwing them to the mercy of employers. No discussion was held with the trade unions in the country who are the important stake holders and Parliament also was not taken into confidence before issuing the draconian notification. This unilateral and high handed action of the central government led by NarendraModi reflects its anti-worker and anti-poor stand. Of course, the government is committed to pursue the neo-liberal policies more vigorously to appease the corporates and the attack on the workers and the poor people.
The government started the attack on the workers with the amendments of labour laws taking away the hard won rights of the workers. Indian Trade Union Act, 1926, Industrial Employment Central Rules,1946, Industrial Disputes Act,1947, Factories Act, Child Labour Act etc were compelled to be enacted through so many sacrificing struggles of the working class. . Certain state governments like Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh were first to resort to amendments of labour laws and shamelessly the central government is following these states to deny the workers some of the important rights as also diluting their fundamental rights.
Modi government came to power by giving the people so many promises. One of the important promises made was generation of 2 crore jobs every year. But nothing worthwhile has been done in this regard. According to Labour Bureau report, 1.35 lakh jobs were created in 2015 and 4.1 lakh in 2016-17. Mass scale job losses due to the demonetization is not taken into consideration by the LabourBureau . Ever since implementation of LPG ( Liberaisation, Privatisation and Glabalisation) started in India in 1991, the number of casual and contract workers increased steadily and has , of late, out numbered the regular workers in most of the establishments. Meanwhile, the central government is not keen to fill up the vacant posts in various government departments. In a reply to a question, it was revealed in the Parliament on February, 2017 that 4,12,752 posts are lying vacant as on 31-03-2016.
It is a surprising coincidence that the attack on pension also was during the earlier BJP government. Statutory pension with defined benefit was replaced with the contributory pension during the A.B.Vajpayeeled BJP government with effect from 01-01-2004. Later the Congress government led by Manmohan Singh got it legalized by enacting the PFRDA in the Parliament with the active support of BJP.
These onslaughts on workers and pensioners are to be fought unitedly and defeated. We have heard earlier about the “Hire and Fire” and it is now legalized by the Modi government with the notification making significant amendments to the Industrial Employees Central Rules,1946. It will definitely create a chaotic situation in the labour sector. The central trade unions have condemned it and resolved to fight against the draconian move and in Kerala, the entire trade unions barring BMS has rightly decided for a one day strike on April 2, 2018.
In a letter, signed by representatives of the eight unions, they have also flagged possibility of job losses in case of privatisation.
Air Corporation Employees Union, All India Service Engineers’ Association, Air India Employees Union, Aviation Industry Employee Guild, Air India Aircraft Engineers’ Association, All India Aircraft Engineers’ Association, Air India Engineers Association and United Air India Officers Association have written the letter.
Together, these unions represent more than 10,000 Air India employees.
The Civil Aviation Ministry has sought Expression of Interest (EoI) from potential bidders for a 76 per cent stake sale in loss-making Air India as well as divestment of two of the carrier’s subsidiaries.
“We strongly protest Government of India’s move to privatise or disinvest Air India/subsidiaries as it is against the interest of the country and urge the government to review its decision… and explore the possibility of an alternative to disinvestment/ privatisation,” it said.
According to the letter, a copy of which has been seen by PTI, the unions said Air India can be restored to its “pristine glory” if debt worth Rs 30,000 crore is waived off or the loan is restructured and a proper roadmap is put in place with effective management.
Referring to the previous NDA government’s decision to sell two Centaur Hotels properties in Mumbai, the letter said there have been job losses after it.
“In our view, privatisation of Air India should be completely avoided with an effective revival plan with the participation of employees. It is also urged to write off/ restructure the loan for Air India revival instead of giving benefit to any private entity,” the letter, dated April 3, said.
Among others, the unions noted that the airline has never defaulted on interest repayments.
The three day Central Executive Committee Meeting of BSNL Employees Union held at Agartala from 3rd to 5th April , 2018 is concluded successfully. The open session was inaugurated on 3rd April by Com.K.Hemalatha, President, CITU with an educative speech. Coms.V.A.N.Namboodiri, founder General Secretary, P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary and Swapan Chakraborty, Deputy General Secretary addressed.
The CEC deliberated extensively on the issues being taken up by All Unions and Associations under the initiative of BSNLEU and have taken suitable decisions.
Ms.Chandrasena, GMTD with the office bearers after opening the new District Association office
The conference of AIBDPA Prakasam district iwas held on 04/04/2018 under the presidentship of Com.G.Venkateswarlu. Com. S.K.Aziz,District Secretary submitted the activities Report and Com.K.Subbaiah, Treasurer submitted the accounts.
Department of Public Enterprises has issued the order for 0.3% hike in IDA from 01-04-2018 and the total IDA is 127.2%.
view the order >IDA from Apr,2018
Com. Madhavan Maniyara, President, Cheruvathur Panjayath inaugurated the biennial Area Conference of Cheruvathur under Kannur District on 03-04-2018. Coms. P.V.Unnikrishnan, Circle Patron, K.Rajan, Circle Asst Secretary, K.Kunhiraman, District Secretary etc addressed.
Coms.Dr.M.S.Nair, U.Krishnan and K.V.Balakrishnan were elected President, Secretary and Treasurer, respectively.
A well attended special general body meeting of Balasore District Branch was held at Bhadrak on 01-04-2018. Com.Gadadhar Panda, District President controlled the proceedings.Coms.A Dhupal, Circle Patron, Adwaita Prasad Mohanty, Circle President, S.R.Das, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, P.K.Nayak, All India Asst. Treasurer and District Secretary, BSNLEU, Jaganath Mallick, Circle Organising Secretary and Sreedhar Das, Asst District Secretary addressed the meeting. The leaders explained the current developments with regard to pay revision, pension revision and the efforts being made by AIBDPA and All unions and Associations of BSNL and the ongoing struggle to achieve the demands and to protect BSNL. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks by Com. Pratap Jena, District Organising Secretary.