PEN

PENSION REVISION- ILLUSIONS AND REALITIES.

Shri.. John Brittas M P has made an effective and strong intervention on the issue of Pension Revision to BSNL Pensioners with 15% fitment delinkIng wage revision from 01-01-2017.

The first letter dated 30-07-2021 in this regard to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications, Shri. Ashwini Vaishnaw was replied by the Minister on 06-09-2021.The reply was the same that his predecessor Shri. Ravi Shankar Prasad had stated earlier in Parliament. Pension Revision is intrinsically linked with wage revision .BSNL is not in a position to implement wage revision in view of its financial constraints. Moreover, there will be anomaly in Pension to the future retirees if pension revision is implemented without wage revision.

Shri.John Brittas MP countered these arguments of the Minister effectively and convincingly in his second letter to the Minister, of course, with the inputs provided by our CHQ. He categorically stated that Pension Revision of BSNL absorbed Pensioners is no way connected to the affordability condions or bad financial position of BSNL, as the pension contributions of these retirees with combined service were paid to the government, that too at the maximum of their pay scales. There was an agreement with the then Staff Federations during the formation of BSNL that pension of the BSNL absorbed retirees will be paid by the government. Necessary amendments were also made in CCS ( Pension) Rules, 1972 to this effect. Further, the 60:40 condition was also scrapped by a Cabinet decision in 2016. Thus, the entire liability of pension and pensionary benefits of BSNL absorbed pensioners solely lies with the government.

Regarding anomaly in Pension to the future retirees, Shri.John Brittas pointed out that anomalies are common in almost every pay revision and pension revision and being settled with appropriate formula.The letter when published was well appreciated by the Pensioners through out the country.

May be due to this, one of the pensioners organisations, which had lost faith in the settlement through negotiation and struggles, filed case in the PCAT, New Delhi has managed a letter from an MP to the Minister of Communications. In this letter, it is demanded to convert IDA pay scales to CDA pay scales and pension revision with CPC fitment. It is also suggested that the possible loss in pension be compensated with grant of personal pension.!! This letter was circulated widely and drew flak from their own members.

OLD WINE IN NEW BOTTLE.

So this organisation has come out with another letter addressed to the Secretary, DoT. In this letter, they don’t prefer pension revision by conversion of IDA pay scales to CDA pay scales presumably due to the strong opposition. Once again they are for pension revision in IDA pay scales with 7th CPC fitment and have provided a calculation sheet also showing a benefit of 14.55% for both pre and post 2017 retirees.

The letter is intended to create illusions and utter confusion among the pensioners. Some innocent pensioners have started calculation of their benefit as if it is going to be ordered tomorrow. The fact is that no serious discussion has taken place in this regard. This organisation had claimed earlier also that their demand of 7th CPC fitment has been agreed to by DoT and DoP& PW. So let us not be befooled by these gimmicks.

We shall continue our efforts and fight for the pension revision with 15% fitment, recommended by the 3rd PRC and approved by the Government, delinkIng wage revision from 01-01-2017. Our demand on pension revision is based on Rule 37 A of CCS (Pension) Rules, 1972 and the precedence of pension revision from 01-01-2007. We cannot endanger the great achievements being enjoyed due to the first pay revision w e f 01-10-2000 and pension revision w e f 01-01-2007.

The District Conference of Dhenkanal in Odisha Circle was held on 30-01-2022. Com. A Dhupal, CHQ Vice President inaugurated the conference and explained the issues of the pensioners and the necessity to stregthen AIBDPA. Com.S R Das, Circle President, BSNLEU made a special address and narrated the pathetic situation in BSNL due to the pro-corporate policies of the Modi government. Com. R N Sahu, District Secretary presented the report and audited accounts and adopted after discussion. The conference unanimously elected the office bearers with Com. Pitambar Patra (President) Rabi Narayan Sahu (District Secretary) and Com.Benudhar Behera (Treasurer).

The two days GENERAL STRIKE of 23,24 February, 2022 called against the anti-people policies of Modi government by the Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations has been postponed to 28,29 March, 2022. The decision of the Central Trade Unions is in view of the elections to the five state legislatures and the scheduled budget session of the Parliament. Naturally, the Solidarity action also stands postponed.

Press Release

The following statement was issued to the press by the joint platform of Central Trade Unions and Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations today – 29 th January 2022

DATES FOR TWO DAYS COUNTRYWIDE STRIKE CHANGED

The online meeting of the Joint Platform of Central Trade Unions and Sectoral Federations/ Associations held on 28.01.2022 has changed the dates for Two Days’ Countrywide General Strike Against the Anti-worker, Anti-people, Anti-national Policies of the Govt. to 28-29 March, 2022 from the earlier dates of 23-24 February, 2022. The meeting recalled the decision of the National Convention of Workers held on 11th November 2021 to organize two days countrywide General Strike during the Budget Session of Parliament in 2022 and accordingly the dates of the strike on 23-24th February 2022 were decided in the joint meeting of the Platform held on 3rd December 2021. The meeting noted that preparations for the strike have taken-off in several states and sectors, with joint state level conventions and even district level conventions having taken place in some states. However several states have also reported severe constraints placed on strike preparations due to rising third wave of Omicron pandemic. Besides, several factors such as one phase of state assembly elections in UP falling on 23rd February, local body elections in Tamilnadu, Odisha, West Bengal etc. close to 23-24 February were taken note of. Therefore the Joint Platform of the CTUs and Sectoral Federations/ Associations have decided to defer the General Strike dates to 28-29 March, 2022, when the second phase of the Budget Session of Parliament will actually be in session. The Joint Platform of CTUs calls upon the working people and their unions irrespective of affiliations to intensify the ongoing preparatory campaign and activities to make the Two Days Countrywide General Strike on 28-29 March 2022 a massive success to assert their pledge to Save the People and Save the Nation from the destructive, anti-national policy regime. The Joint Platform also calls upon the workers and their trade unions in the election-bound states to vigorously campaign for defeating the BJP Govt. whose policies have forced the National Convention of Workers to give a call for two days countrywide strike.

INTUC AITUC HMS CITU AIUTUC TUCC SEWA AICCTU LPF UTUC And Independent Sectoral Federations/Associations.

USB: Public Health Strike and National Mobilization Day Friday, January 28 to fight the Covid and get out of the economic crisis

26 Jan 2022

The Draghi government has decided that we must “learn” to live with Covid. The indiscriminate reopening of all production activities has in fact put the virus back into circulation in an overbearing way, with the complicity of companies that have lowered the threshold of protection and prevention measures. Choosing to put in first place the GDP rather than the health of the population, returns the alarm of a new collapse of the national health system, with the saturation of hospitals and sick people of all kinds left without care and assistance.
In the budget maneuver, most of the funding is diverted to support businesses and workers are left without economic support tools. No funding for emergency income or for the Covid redundancy fund, while hundreds of companies (especially in crisis sectors) threaten mass layoffs. No support for “fragile” workers or those who are quarantined in case of close contact with a positive.

In addition to the pandemic crisis, there has also been a resounding increase in the prices of raw materials and energy products, with heavy repercussions on utility bills and basic necessities, and with the inevitable effect of further increasing disparity and inequality, especially for the weakest sectors of the population.

After almost two years of health emergency and faced with continuous evolution of the virus and an increasing number of infections, it is even more urgent that:

– Essential health personnel be hired to ensure continuity of service and relieve those who are subjected to grueling shifts;
– The creation of healthcare facilities and intensive therapies capable of eliminating the risk of running out of available places or having to reduce assistance for other pathologies;
– Hiring of personnel in the school system and the creation of all those facilities necessary to reduce crowding and ensure the continuation of teaching in attendance but in safe conditions;
– To strengthen urban and interregional public transport, increasing the number of vehicles in circulation, to prevent the achievement of maximum capacity;
– Distribute free Ffp2 masks and encourage free plugging for all workers and students of all grades;
– We return to finance both the extraordinary redundancy fund for the affected sectors and the emergency income as well as refreshments for activities forced to periods of suspension or slowdown (tourism, catering, sports and cultural activities, etc.);
– We return to finance the quarantine and the equalization of illness for fragile workers who can not operate in smart working, thus averting the risk of being forced not to report contact with “positive”, just not to lose part of the salary.

The vaccination of a large part of the population has unfortunately already proved to be an insufficient measure to protect us from the unpredictable evolutions of the virus, also in view of the fact that most of the world’s population has not yet been vaccinated, nor will they be for a long time yet. Instead of continuing to favor the profits of big pharmaceutical companies, it is time to eliminate patents on vaccines.

USB calls for Friday, January 28 – coinciding with the strike of public health – a day of national mobilization throughout Italy

The health of citizens comes before the economic interests of companies and banks

At work, at school, in hospitals, on public transport

THE RIGHT TO HEALTH AND SAFETY

Our great country is celebrating the 73rd Republic Day on 26-01-2022. It was on 26-01-1950, the Nation adopted its Constitution and declared as a Republic. Let us remember the heros who fought for the freedom and sacrificed their valuable lives for the country. We are also indebited to the entire team of the constitution assembly, particularly, Dr. B R Ambedkar, the main architect of the constitution. We have to take note of the serious challenges being faced by the country. Attempts are being made to scuttle the very fundamental principles of the constitution. Unity in diversity is the main aspect of secularism and serious threats are there to divide the people in the name of caste and religion. The neo-liberal economic policies being pursued by the government has widened the gap between the poor and rich. The nation’s asstets including the public sector units are being handed over to the corporate at throwaway prices. Therefore when we celebrate the Republic Day, let us take the pledge to continue our fight to safeguard the constitution, protect our hard earned freedom and against all the injustices being meted out to the majority of the people.

The 17th District Branch in Gujarat Circle has been formed in Amreli. The formation convention of BSNL and DoT pensioners was held on 23-01-2022. Com.M L Kherani, District Co-ordinator welcomed one and all and explained the necessity of an AIBDPA District Branch in Amreli. Com. M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and CHQ Organising Secretary inaugurated the convention and delivered the inaugural address explaining the issues of the pensioners and the recent dvelopments. Thereafter, office bearers were elected unanimously with the following important functionaries; Com. D R Ramani (President) Com.(Ms) Ashaben J Dave (District Secretary) and Com.Kirti A Joshi (Treasurer). Com. Ashaben J Dave may be the first and only woman District Secretary of AIBDPA and CHQ heartily congratulate the new office bearers of Amreli led by Com. Ashaben J Dave.

CHQ is saddened to report the sad demise of Smt. Hardei Devi (92), mother of Com.Kuldeep Singh, Circle Secretary, Haryana on 21-01-2022. CHQ pays homage to the departed mother, share the grief of the family and conveys heartfelt condolences to Com.Kuldeep Singh and other family members.