4

WFTU statement of the International Seniors Day

30 September, 2022

World Federation of Trade Unions, the militant and class voice of more than 105 million workers from 133 countries of the 5 continents expresses its solidarity with the retirees and pensioners all over the world on the occasion the International Seniors Day. Moreover, we salute the militant initiative of the TUI P&R to organize the 7th World Day of Actions for the strengthening of the struggle of pensioners and the working class as a whole, for the satisfaction of their contemporary needs.

This strengthening is closely related to the consolidation of relationships and activities between active workers as well as retirees, so as to promote our struggles, which have the common goal of better living conditions for the labor force of past and now, and that have as a common enemy, the capitalist system that creates imperialism and consequently crisis and poverty, for the great majority of humanity. For this reason, the title of this Manifesto constitutes the slogan that we must promote: “The class unity of active and retired people.

The pensioners have been already victims of capitalist exploitation throughout their working years. Now they are victims both of the assault on pension funds, and of discrimination, due to the condition of being elderly, and for dragging different health problems, which are mostly the result of appalling living conditions to which they are subjected. Obviously, in exchange for increasing the millionaire profits for the bourgeoisie and the transnationals, after increasing the labor exploitation rates.

The just struggle of Pensioners, who are an integral part of the working class, is a struggle of the whole international class-oriented trade union movement and we call the WFTU affiliates to support and strengthen the 7thWorld Day of Action of the TUI P&R.

LONG LIVE THE STRUGGLE OF THE WORKING CLASS!

LONG AND DIGNIFIED LIFE FOR PENSIONERS!

Trade Union International (Pensioners & Retirees ) had given a call well in advance to observe the International Elders Day befittingly on 1st October, 2022. The issues to be highlighted in this connection were also specified; A decent and dignified life to the elders with proper housing, health facilities, transportation, potable water, entertainment etc. To ensure these facilities a decent pension has to be given to each and every elder and the need for a universal pension scheme. CHQ is happy that the call has been responded well by most of the circles and wherever possible the Day was observed jointly with other constituent organisations of NCCPA. Congratulations to all the participants.

The Central Cabinet meeting held on 29-09-2022 has approved 4% increase in Dear Allowance to Central Government Employees and 4% Dearness Relief to Central Government Pensioners from 01-07-2022. The total DA/DR will be 34%+4% = 38%. It is payable on issuance of orders by Department of Expenditure for the employees and Department of Pension&Pensioners Welfare for the pensioners.

As per Consumer Price Index released by Labour Bureau on 30-09-2022, IDA rates on 2007 Pay Scales and Pension is expected to increase by 5% with effect from 01-10-2022. Now, the total IDA will be 190.8%+5%= 195.8%.. It is payable only after issue of orders by DPE.

When the 3 recognised Federations in DOT, ie. NFTE, FNTO and BTEF agreed for corporatisation of telecom services, against which the employees were fighting tooth and nail, one of the conditions was that all employees being absorbed in BSNL will be granted a lumpsum of Rs. 1000/- along with pay, which will not be counted for any other purpose, with the payscales being the same as in government.

Once BSNL was formed, these unions took the position that since BSNL is a public sector, PSU wages in IDA scales should be given from 01.10.2000, the date on which the PSU was formed. The full justification of the suggestion compelled the three federations to join the demand and the higher IDA payscales were achieved after tough negotiations.

But once recognition was received after the first membership verification and NFTE became the recognised union, it agreed in the National Council for imposition of VRS/CRS and reduction of 10% workforce. Agreement was reached in National Council to change the higher IDA scales in to lower CDA scales. It was only through the strong protest of BSNLEU after it became the recognised union, that the agreement reached with NFTE on VRS/CRS and change over from IDA to CDA scales was stopped.

Had NFTE had continued as recognised union, 10% of staff would have been reduced, VRS/CRS and CDA scales re-introduced. What would have been the payscales, increments, allowances etc, if NFTE continued as the recognised union ? What would be the pension of the retirees ? Majority of BSNL Pensioners, compared to their counter parts in government who already got pension revision in 2016, are getting higher pension even without pension revision in 2017 due to the correct stand taken by BSNLEU in restoring the IDA scale as also achieving the historic wage revision wef 01.01.2007, despite the financial loss to the company.

In fact, NFTE and FNTO addressed letters to the BSNL management at the time of wage negotiations of II PRC, accepting the lower scale and lower span of payscales proposed by the management. The clever move was to compel the recognised union for a lesser agreement and then accuse the BSNLEU so that in the next verification, they can get recognition. It was only due to the sustained struggles and extremely strong bargaining by BSNLEU, that management was compelled to accept the best scales and higher span of the payscales.

Workers Participation in Management was another point raised by BSNLEU. As part of this , many Joint Committees of management and recognised union were formed to discuss and decide about major issues, including 4 promotions, increasing of perks, loan from Banks, Gift of HMT watch, Modernisation of Telecom Factories instead of their closure, Works Committees at Circle and District levels, the biggest Group Insurance through LIC etc etc.

A new culture was brought , instead of meekly submitting to the proposals of the management. BSNL Employees Union from the start till now is continuing this approach. Save BSNL, Save Nation has been another motto of the union, well realising that to achieve even their own demands, workers have to ensure a better service to the nation, at the same time ensuring the viability of the company. The union took initiative for united platform like Forum/Joint Forum/AUAB etc. to fight for the demands of the workers and for saving BSNL.

Another correct approach was about the recognition of unions. Three federations were recognised in DOT, two of them NFTE and FNTO, participants in the JCM. In the first verification in BSNL, when NFTE became first and BSNLEU second, both with more than 15 % votes, the DOT and management were prepared to recognise both unions as was done in DOT. But it was dropped and only the first union was recognised on the threat of SG NFTE, that they will go to court if the second union is recognised. This unjustified stand resulted in non-recognition of NFTE from the second membership verification, when it lost to BSNLEU and became the second union. Had NFTE agreed for recognition of the second union earlier, they could have continued with recognition, even when they were in the second position.

It was only through the correct demand of BSNLEU that the second union also should be given recognition that NFTE started getting recognition later. Thus it can be seen that BSNLEU always took the correct and justified stand. Now the 9th verification is going to take place on 12th October 2022. I am sure that the BSNL workers will certainly ensure that BSNLEU is voted as the first recognised union.

VOTE FOR BSNLEU.

V.A.N. Namboodiri

Tamil Nadu Circle Executive Committee Meeting was held at Madurai on 22-09-2022. Com. S Mohandoss, CHQ & Circle Vice Prsident presided over the meeting. Com. R Rajasekar, Ciorcle Secretary welcomed one and all and presented a brief reportof activities during the intervening period. Com. R Muraleedharan Nair, AGS inaugurated the CEC with an elaborate and impressive speech. He narrated the activities and struggles of CHQ during the period, especially the just concluded three phased agitational programme culminating in the Sanchar Bhawan March on 24-08-2022 for the settlement of important issues of pension revision and timely payment of medical benefits. He also appealed to ensure a resounding success to BSNLEU in the 9th Membership Verification on 12-10-2022. and make the ensuing AIC at Mysure on 20-21 December a grand success. Com.K Pankajavalli, CHQ Asst Treasurer also addressed CEC. All the District Secretaries and some of the office bearers actively participated in the discussion that followed. The queries raised were replied by both the Circle Secretary and AGS.