The sustained and militant struggle by the Tamil Nadu Contract Workers Union ably supported by BSNLEU against the unjust retrenchment of 11 workers concluded today in a winning note. A powerful Dharna was organised before the CGMT’s office, Chennai on 18-11-2016 despite desperate attempts by the BSNL circle administration to ban the Dharna calling a large number of police. The dharna was addressed by Coms.S.Chellappa, AGS, BSNLEU, Babu Radhakrishnan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Murugaiah, Secretary, TNCWU, C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA and a host of leaders. Finally, the circle administration had to agree to take back the 11 contract workers.

AIBDPA congratulates all the comrades for this  great achievement by the sustained struggle.

A new flag mast was erected at Tiruvattipuram by the branch and AIBDPA flag hoisted by Com.Chinnapian on 16-11-2016. The meeting held in this connection was presided over by Com.Panneerselvam, Branch President. Com.Arumugam, Branch Secretary welcomed. Coms.V.Elumalai, District President, Krishnamoorthy, Circle Organising Secretary and Jothisudanthiranathan, District Secretary spoke.

Com.V.Sivaraman Nair, one of the forefront leaders of the P&T Trade union movement in Kerala has passed away on 18-11-2016 at Thiruvananthapuram. He has held many posts in the organisation including Circle Treasurer of E-III union, Divisional Secretary of Trivandrum Telegraph Division, District President of BSNL Employees Union  and Circle Vice President of AIBDPA. He also served as the President of P&T Co-Operative Society, Trivandrum for a long period. CHQ pays respectful homage to the departed leader and conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family and comrades.

Com. K. G. Jayaraj, General Secretary had a discussion with Member (Finance) and Director (Establishment) on 18-11-2016 regarding extension of pensionary benefits to BSNL absorbed retirees as per the changed pension rules consequent on implementation of the 7th Central Pay Commission recommendations. He pointed out that all the benefits like  DCRG, Commutation, Qualifying service for pension etc were made applicable to BSNL pensioners after implementation of 6th Pay Commission recommendations as BSNL absorbed retirees are covered under CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 amended from time time. The additional pension being granted after 80 years also has to be extended to the BSNL absorbed retirees. The Director stated that it is being processed.

The biennial district conference of Silchar, Assam was held on 05-11-2016 with Com.Manik Choudhury in the chair. Com.M.R.Das, Assistant General Secretary inaugurated the conference with an elaborate and inspiring speech. Biennial report and audited accounts were presented by Coms. Dipak Chakraborty, District Secretary and Ajoy Chakraborty, Treasure respectively and adopted after discussion.

The open session held in the evening was addressed by a host of leaders including Coms. Abhijit Choudhury, Divisional President, LIC Employees Union and Chayan Gupte, Secretary, EWTCC.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Debabrata Das (President), Dipak Chakraborty (District Secretary) and Ajoy Chakraborty (Treasurer)

CHQ has written a letter to Shri.J.S.Deepak, Secretary, Department of Telecom demanding alternate arrangement for pension disbursement to the BSNL and DoT pensioners as the banks and post offices continue to be crowded with unending long queues consequent on the demonetisation of currency notes of Rs.1000 and 500. General Secretary, Com.K.G.jayaraj tried to meet the Secretary, DoT on 18-11-2016 but was not available and his Private Secretary received the letter and promised to hand over to the Secretary on 21-11-2016.

Thereafter General Secretary met Shri. Prahlad Singh, Member (Finance) and discussed the issue after handing over the copy of the letter. He was sympathetic and agreed to the ordeal and distress the pensioners have to face to draw their pension from both banks and post offices in the present situation. He stated that he would explore the possibility of some alternate arrangements to mitigate the hardships of the pensioners. <<view letter>>

The meeting of all the unions and associations in BSNL held at BSNLMS office on 16-11-2016 has decided to fight unitedly against the move of the government to form a subsidiary tower company with the ulterior motive of weakening BSNL. The meeting decided to organise mass dharna at SSA,Circle and Corporate office level on 25-11-2016 and ONE DAY STRIKE on 15-12-2016. Coms.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary also participated in the meeting.

All the AIBDPA units are requested to support the program and participate in the dharna en masse on 25-11-2016. 

Smt.Sharadamma, mother of Com.C.K.Gundanna, veteran leader and Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Karnataka has passed away today after a brief illness. She was 88. 

AIBDPA conveys heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members.