THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD COME FORWARD TO SETTLE THE WAGE REVISION.

The one lakh eighty thousand executives and non-executives working in the BSNL as also the one lakh casual-contract labourers have gone on two-days strike on 12th and 13th December 2017 as per the call of the All Unions & Associations in BSNL and also BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation,demanding wage revision with 15% fitment from 01-01-2017.I The strike has been completely successful with almost all the employees on strike and the 30,000 or more BSNL offices almost closed. The demands are fully justified and do not need any further explanation.

In such a situation, why the DOT, BSNL and the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) keeping silence? Of course, the pressure from the BJP government will be there to ignore the struggle of the workers as seen in the case of CG employees, GDS etc. But workers will not keep silence. More and more struggle will erupt.

We demand that the government should ask DOT and BSNL to start discussion with the Unions and associations and settle the issue.

3515 farmers in Karnataka committed suicide between 2013 and 2017

As many as 3,515 farmers in Karnataka committed suicide between April 2013 and November 2017, out of which 2,525 were due to drought and farm failure, statistics provided by the State Agriculture Department said.”3,515 farmers were reported to have committed suicide from April 2013 to November 2017, and from April 2008 to April 2012, as many as 1,125 farmers were reported to have committed suicide,” it said.
Out of the 3,515 suicide cases reported, agriculture department accepted 2,525 cases which were due to drought and crop failure. (Courtesy: PTI)

Both the Central and state Governments are responsible for this tragedy. They can not wash away the blood of the kisans on their hand. At least implement now the poll assurance of waiving their loans and providing minimum price so that further suicides can be stopped.

HOW FAST WAR VETERANS’ DEMANDS ON OROP IS CONSIDERED BY THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT….!

 We are reproducing below the relevant portion of the reply given by the Defense Minister on anomalies in implementation of One Rank One Pension to the war veterans. It may be remembered that the government was compelled to implement the OROP after pro-long and sacrificing struggle by the ex-servicemen. There were lot of complaints after implementation of OROP from the war veterans and the main complaint was that what is implemented is not at all OROP. But the Modi government was not prepared to look into the complaints and the war veterans had to launch another sustained struggle. There after the government agreed to appoint a Judicial Committee to examine the complaints and to make necessary recommendions . The Judicial Committee was appointed on 14-12-2015 and the report was submitted after 10 months, 0n 26-10-2016.
And the government slept over the report for 9 months and appointed another committee, called the internal committee on 19-07-2017, presumably after getting the question from the MP in this regard. The “sincerity and eagerness” of the government on such vital issue is thoroughly exposed.

Excerpts of reply by the Defense Minister in Parliament.

Some Ex-Servicemen Associations have been demanding changes in methodology for fixation of pension,periodicity of its revision, coverage of future Pre-mature retirees (PMR) cases, etc. The Government appointed One Member Judicial Committee (OMJC) onOROP to look into anomalies, if any arising out of implementation of OROP on 14.12.2015. The Terms of Reference of the Committee was as under:-

To examine and make recommendations on references received from the Central Government on the following matters:-

(i) Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise in implementation of the OROP Letter No.12(1)/2014/D(Pen/Pol)/Part-II, dated 7.11.2015.

(ii) Measures for the removal of anomalies that may arise out of inter-service issues of the three forces due to implementation of OROP order ibid.

(iii) Implications on service matters.

(iv) Any other matter referred by the Central Government on implementation of the OROP or related issues.

In making its recommendations, the Committee shall take into account the financial impact of its recommendations.

Around 3200 representations for addressing the anomalies on OROP were received from individuals / Associations which were examined and issues referred to the Judicial Committee on OROP for its recommendations. The Committee submitted its report on 26.10.2016. An Internal Committee has been constituted by the Government on 19.07.2017 to examine the recommendations of OMJC with respect to feasibility and financial aspects.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL

As per the reply given in the Parliament, process for merger of BSNL and MTNL has already started. BSNL and MTNL were part of DOT and government service, till they were separated from DOT and made two separate companies. Workers were against the separation, but government implemented it. Now it is almost two decades after the separation and much waters have flown. MTNL is divested to the extent of more than 46%, while BSNL is100% government owned. MTNL is having heavy loans on its head, while BSNL is managing and is on operational profit. The pay scales are also different. These issues have to be got settled, before any merger can take place. All Unions and Associations in BSNL have demanded that the divested shares of the MTNL should be bought back, the heavy loans should be written off, the wages should be equalised and financial help extended by the government. Till that time, merger is not to be implemented.

It is well understood that the government uses merger and bifurcation in order to weaken the PSUs. This has been done in the case of Banks, Airlines and even in telecom itself. The workers are determined to ensure the bright future of BSNL and MTNL and any move to destroy the same will not be allowed.

COM.N.M.SUNDARAM PASSED AWAY.

With profound sorrow, it is intimated that Comrade N.M.Sundaram, former General Secretary of  All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) and  veteran trade union leader, has passed away at 08.20 AM today,26thDecember 2017, at his residence, Chennai.He suffered a massive heart attack.

Com.NMS, as he was fondly called, was the General Secretary of AIIEA for long years. He is the author of many books on trade union etc. He was a powerful speaker and was closely associated with BSNLEU during his tenure as General Secretary, AIIEA.

AIBDPA pays respectful homage to the departed leader and conveys heartfelt condolences to his family , AIIEA and other comrades.

PONDICHERRY DISTRICT CONFERENCE HELD SUCCESSFULLY.

Com.C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary inaugurated the 3rd District Conference of Puducherry at BSNLEU Building in Pondicherry on 23-12-2017. Com.S.Jayaraman, District President was in the chair and Com.P.Sakthivel, District Secretary welcomed the gathering. Coms.P.Manickamurthy, Circle President, Muthukumarasamy, Special invitee to Circle Executive Committee, I.M.Mathialagan, District Secretary, Cuddalore, Haridas, District Secretary, SNEA, A.Subramonian, District Secretary, BSNLEU, N.Kolanjiappan, District Vice President and B.Mahalingam, District Secretary, TNTCWU addressed. The report and audited accounts presented by the District Secretary and Treasurer were adopted after discussion.

New team of Office Bearers were elected unanimously with Com. P.Sakthivel (President), V.Ramakrishnan (District Secretary) and M.Balasubramonian (Treasurer)