A meeting of BSNL DOT Pensioners held at Bilmora on 18-08-2016 has formed the Valsad district branch in Gujarat circle. The meeting was presided over by Com. R.D.Singh. An 18 member office bearers were elected for the next biennial period with the following important functionaries.
Com.M.G.Chaudhari (President), Com. K.K.Patel (District Secretary) and Com. L.M.Surati (Treasurer)
The Union Cabinet has at last approved the allotment of Rs.1,250 crore made by the USO Fund to BSNL towards compensation for the loss being made by the PSU in providing loss making connections in the rural areas and villages. The amount being paid was due in 2012 itself, but was delayed due to non-sanction by the government. At last it is decided now, but with the condition that no further such concessions will be made.
The payment of this amount was one of the important demands of the strike organised on 21-22 April 2015 by the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations. In the meeting with the Secretary DOT on 1st May 2015 on the strike issues, secretary DOT had assured that all efforts will be made to make the payment at the earliest. But it took one more year afterwards.
Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor and Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary AIBDPA met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL on 20-09-2016 and demanded for early settlement of the restoration of Medical Allowance to Pensioners, Pay anomaly of seniors getting less than their juniors in connection with the 2000 IDA wage revision, Reduction of rent to quarters to 10% of pension and Broadband concession to DoT pensioners. The association representatives pointed out the difficulty of pensioners due to non-settlement of these long pending issues. CMD assured that these issues will be favourably considered.
As per the call of the United Forum of BSNL Unions, hunger strike was organised on 20th September 2016 in Corporate office and all SSAs/Circles in the country demanding discussion and settlement of the demands raised in the Charter submitted by it. Bonus (PLI), Stagnation, E-1 pay scale, Wage negotiation etc. are the demands raised. Employees belonging to BSNLEU, BSNLMS and SNATTA participated in large numbers. Members of AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF participated in many centres.
At BSNL Corporate office premises hunger strike was held with about 100 leaders and workers participating from Corporate office, NTR, Haryana and UP West. Com.R.S.Chauhan, CS NTR presided. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary BSNLEU, V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron BSNLEU, K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA, Suresh Kumar, GS BSNLMS, Sunil Gautam, AGS SNATTA, Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS BSNLEU, M.S.Kadian, CS, Haryana, Kuldip Singh, Asst. Treasurer, BSNLEU & Org Secretary, AIBDPA and other leaders addressed and explained the Charter of Demands. Slogans were shouted focussing the demands.Before the hunger strike started the workers paid homage to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the country.
The speakers pointed that the demands raised are long pending one and have to be settled early, failing which further struggles will be organised.
It was on this day in 1968, the central government employees went on a token strike demanding need based minimum wage which was agreed in the tri-party labour conference in 1957. Despite ruthless oppressive measures let loose by the then Indira Gandhi led Congress government the workers stood firm and the strike was a grand success. But the victimisation was so severe; 18 comrades were martyred,hundreds of workers retrenched and thousands suspended. More were charge sheeted and punished. But these were not sufficient to distract the workers and they could overcome all these victimisation with in no time and got prepared for another strike to achieve the genuine demands.
When central government employees and pensioners observe the 48th Anniversary of the glorious Strike throughout the country, the situation is not better. Let us reaffirm and dedicate ourselves to continue the fight against all attacks on the labour laws, wages and even pension.
RED SALUTE TO THE MARTYRS.!
The lies being spread by the government and the employers stand exposed before the people. As per the news analysis by the Hay Group Division of the Korn Ferry, India’s salary growth stood at a mere 0.2% for the last 8 years. At the same time the GDP has grown by 63.8%.
Further, there is wide unequal wage growth. While the top level employees are 30% well off after the recession period, the lower employees are 30% worse off.
Both the UPA and the NDA governments have only been looking in to increasing the wealth and assets of the rich, the affluent and the corporates. They have been completely ignoring the demands of the toiling masses. The struggles and agitations by the central trade unions and other unions/federations for justice to the workers have been ignored and sidelined.
The fruits of the economic growth of the country have been usurped by the rich. Where is justice for the poor employees? It is not surprising that more than 18 crore workers participated in the 2nd September 2016 strike fought for the betterment of the workers and the common people.
The UPA and NDA leaders should apologise to the people and toiling masses for the fraud. They should immediately retract from the anti-people neo-liberal policies; They should hear and accept the demands of the workers.
The 2nd District Conference of AIBDPA was held on 15th September 2016 at the BSNL Conference Hall, Ludhiana. . The District President, Com. S.K.Thamman presided. Com. Pritam Chand, District Secretary AIBDPA welcomed and comrades garlanded the guests and office-bearers. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA, Balbir Singh, President, BSNLEU, Tarsem Singh, Circle Secretary AIBDPA, Darshan Singh District President, BSNLEU, Avtar Singh, DS, BSNLEU, Shingara Singh ACS BSNLEU, Amarjit Chander, ADS BSNLEU, Budh Singh, Circle Treasurer and other leaders addressed. Com. Namboodiri in his speech narrated the struggles organised by AIBDPA, BSNLEU and Forum on the demand of 78.2% IDA pension fixation and the glorifying role of the AIBDPA in settling the same. He congratulated the pensioners for their active participation. He also mentioned about the major demands of the pensioners, about the role of the senior citizens in the society and the contributions of AIBDPA in this respect. During the last 7 years of its existence, AIBDPA has grown and is the biggest pensioners organisation in BSNL. It is part of the NCCPA and Trade Union International (Pensioners and Retirees). Com. Namboodiri called upon the delegates to strengthen the organisation.
The report and accounts presented by the Dist. Secretary and Treasurer were approved. The office bearers were elected with Com.K.S.Thaman as President and Com.Pritam Chand as District Secretary
The 3rd Circle conference to be hosted by Kharagpur District will be held on 11 and 12 February 2017 at Midnapore town. In connection with this a meeting was convened by the Kharagpur District at Midnapore Karmachari Bhavan on 12.9.16 to form the Reception Committee. Leaders from various mass organisations such as CITU, different Pensioners’ organisations, 12 July Committee etc were present in the meeting and assured all sorts of assistance to make the said conference a grand success. Coms Susanta Ghosh CS, Ajit Nandan and Pankaj Saha both ACS attended the meeting on behalf of the Circle Branch.
A strong Reception Committee has been formed with Com. Kanailal Das (a veteran leader of the state Govt employees’ organisation), Com Sankar Prasad Dhabal (District President, AIBDPA), Com. Anupam Saha (District Secretary, AIBDPA) and Com. Tapas Kr Pal (District Treasurer, AIBDPA) as President, Working President, General Secretary and Treasurer respectively