Archives-News
Kannur district unit held its annual conference on 28-8-2016.
Kerala Circle President Com. Pada Nair and Vice President com. T Ramachandran attended.
SOME FRIENDS WANT COPY OF THE ORIGINAL ORDER FROM CGHS DIRECTORATE/MINISTRY OF HEALTH FIXING THE RATE OF CONTRIBUTION FOR AVAILING CGHS FACILITIES AFTER IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 6TH CPC REPORT.
THE ORDER IS ATTACHED HERE. cghs-dte-rate.pdf
Finally, Department of Telecom has issued an order to all CCAs and Pr CCAs to make an entry in the PPOs of BSNL retirees mentioning their basic pay and corresponding grade pay. The Grade Pay is the basis for determining the monthly/yearly/life contribution to be paid for availing the CGHS facilities. The rate of monthly contribution is also mentioned in the order.
The order is attached herewith. Click on the Link:
GENERAL STRIKE ON 2-9-2016
Trade unions said they will go ahead with nation-wide strike on September 2, rejecting as ‘completely inadequate’ the government’s 42 per cent hike in minimum wage to Rs 350 per day. “The government’s minimum wage announcement is completely inadequate. The strike stands and we demand they should enact a law to fix minimum (universal) wage,” All India Trade Union Congress General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta said.
Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley announced a slew of labour-friendly measures including hiking of minimum wage to Rs 350 a day for unskilled non-agricultural workers for ‘C’ category areas in central sphere.Calculated monthly, it comes to Rs 9,100 minimum income (for 26 days) which is way below the unions’ demand of Rs 18,000. Initially, the unions had demanded Rs 15,000 as minimum monthly income for daily wagers but the demand was revised after the government accepted the recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission.
Asked whether this will be a benchmark wage for the entire country, Labour Secretary Shankar Aggarwal said that this is for workers in central sphere and states can fix a minimum wage lower or higher than this rate.Explaining further, Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya said that an amendment in the Minimum Wage Act is required for fixing a universal minimum wage and an initiative has been taken in this direction.
“Finance Minister’s statement clearly shows that the government has not considered any of the demands in our 12-point charter. The unions have no other alternative but to fight for their rights,” Indian National Trade Union Congress Vice-President Ashok Singh said.
However, RSS affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh has lauded the government’s announcements and decided to abstain from the general strike on September 2. “We welcome it and are satisfied by the increase in minimum wages. BMS will not participate in the strike,” BMS General Secretary Virjesh Upadhyay said.............................................. [NEWS ITEM IN THE MEDIA ]
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We support the collective trade union action by Indian Working Class organisations.
Earlier, INTUC played in the hands of Government. Now, it is the turn of BMS!
31-8-2016: SPECIAL CONFERENCE, BANGALORE:
18-9-2016 10 AM TO 1.30 PM
Bihar comrades confirm their participation in the special conference in Bengaluru on 18-9-2016.
All India Consumer Price Index for Industrial Workers for the month of July 2016 has been declared by Labour Bureau.It is 280 points. There is an increase of 3 points from previous month of June.IDA rate from October can be known on 30, September when the Index for August will be declared.If there is no decrease and the Index remains at 280 points, then, there can be an increase of 6% IDA from October.
It will be confirmed on 30-9-2016 evening only.
A good meeting was held at Dhuria, Punjab on 31-8-2016 to celebrate the victory in 78.2% and annulment of 60% limitation.
Com. G S Bajwa (CS Punjab), Com. Mangat Ram (Circle Treasurer) etc. attended.
PATNA BRANCH CELEBRATED THE VICTORY IN THE CASE OF 78.2 AND THE ANNIVERSARY OF OUR FORMATION DAY ON 21-8-2-016.
COM. A. K.CHOUDHARY, CIRCLE VICE PRESIDENT, COM. A.K. SINGH, CIRCLE SECRETARY, COM. H. N. SINGH, DISTRICT SECRETARY AND OTHERS SPOKE.
Our Karnataka Circle has added a new branch in Hassan SSA on 30-8-2016. Com. Abdul Jaleel and Com. Budan Sharief are elected as President and Secretary of the new branch. Com. R Changappa (Circle Secretary) and Com. Rangayakulu (Bangalore Dist President) attended the formation meeting.
THE SPECIAL CONFERENCE ON 18-9-2016 TO BE HELD IN SHEESH MAHAL, PALACE GROUND, BENGLURU IS FROM 10 AM TO 1.30 PM ONLY.
IN THE AFTERNOON, BANGALORE DISTRICT CONFERENCE WILL BE HELD IN THE SAME VENUE.
IT IS A MISTAKE THAT I COMMITTED STATING THE TIMING AS FROM 10 AM TO 5 PM. I REGRET FOR IT.
OUTSTATION COMRADES CAN LEAVE ANY TIME IN THE AFTERNOON OF 18-9-2016.
.... P S Ramankutty
The foundation Day of AIBSNLPWA was celebrated by Nagpur branch on 20th August 2016 with great enthusiasm and 25 senior members completing 75 yrs of age were honored with Shawl and Roses by the President Shri Sherke and Circle secretary Shri M J Pillay. About 200 members were present in CTO Aminity hall for the celebrations from 1300 hrs.
Com. C M N Nambisan, a veteran Trade Union leader of P&T workers of South India expired yesterday at Calicut, Kerala. He was 94 years old.
Com. Nambissan was a pioneer of P&T Trade Union movement and one of the founder members of NFPTE. He was Circle Secretary of The All India P&T Administrative Offices Employees Union of undivided Madras Circle (which was trifurcated in 1961 into Tamilnadu, Karnataka and Kerala Circles). After opting for Kerala Circle, he continue his activities in Trivandrum. Com. CMN was a very close associate of late Com. O P Gupta.
We convey our heartfelt condolences on the demise of the stalwart.
WELCOME DAVANGERE COMRADESA new branch has been formed in Davangere SSA of Karntaka yesterday with Comrades Raghava Reddy, Mohankumar and Nandagopal as President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.
Com. R Changappa (CS, Karnataka) and Com. K Gururajan (Treasurer, Karnataka) attended the meeting and explained the significance of the gains in 78.2 and annulment of 60% stipulation.
Dept of Pension issued orders on 4-8-2016 for revision of pension, implementing the seventh CPC report.
On 22-8-2016 the Department of Telecom has endorsed the said orders.
We are meeting once again in Bengaluru city in a jubilant mood. A special conference will be held from 10 AM to 5 PM on 18-9-2016, in the spacious Sheesh Mahal in Palace Grounds, near Cantt Railway Station, Bengaluru to celebrate the victory in the matter of IDA merger and freeing BSNL from sharing the pension liability. It is not just for celebration.The main purpose is to move further.We are not travelling back to the PAST; we have to move forward to the FUTURE.
FUTURE REVISION
Future Pension revision is most important. Every time, the exercise of preparing Cabinet Note, taking consent from four nodal ministries, then going to the Cabinet and waiting for 2-3 years may not be possible. Political situation may change and there may not be a minister to help us. There should be a system that ensures periodic revision of our pension in future.
TO BE NOT TO BE?
We do not want to quarrel with anybody. We represent all cadres of BSNL staff retired; from GM to RM. We can not and we shall not surrender interest of any section.We have no mentor to please.We discussed the matter in two CWC meetings; considered various options like approaching PRC and CPC, prepared a document and circulated it to other organizations representing BSNL pensioners and sought their cooperation. Then we took a decision. Once we take a stand consciously we are firm on that. Now everybody wants that future pension revision in BSNL should be delinked from the Pay revision in BSNL. After demanding it some people went and asked next Pension revision along with the pay revision. One organization went to PRC one day and demanded PRC benefit and very next day wrote to Secretary, Telecom demanding 7th CPC benefit. We shall not make such sudden changes in our stand.
100% GOVERNMENT LIABILITY
With annulment of 60% stipulation, the liability to pay pension to us is totally of the government of India. Government need not depend upon a PSU or a company working under it for taking decisions.
NO LINK WITH PAY
There is a wrong notion that pension revision is linked with pay revision. In 2015 Government granted One Rank One Pension to Ex-serviceman. There was no pay revision then. Now the orders are issued for pension revision for central pensioners. The Pension is multiplied by the factor of 2.57. Pay is not multiplied. Minimum pension in each grade is related to the minimum pay, no doubt. It benefits the senior pensioners who retired 2-3 decades ago. In our case, such seniors are DoT pensioners, not BSNL retirees and hence nothing to do with BSNL pay scales. In future, suppose BSNL is privatized. How can we link with the minimum pay in a private company?
WE SHOULD BE COVERED
Government of India has issued order on 4-8-2016 for revision of pension implementing the recommendation of seventh Central Pay Commission.It is endorsed by the Department of Telecom on 22-8-2016. The para 2.1 of DOP&PW order says;
“These orders shall apply to all pensioners/family pensioners who were drawing pension/family pension before 1.1.2016 under the Central Civil Services (Pension) Rules, 1972, Central Civil Services (Extraordinary Pension) Rules and the corresponding rules applicable to Railway pensioners and pensioners of All India Services, including officers of the Indian Civil Service retired from service on or after 1.1.1973. A pensioner/family pensioner, who became entitled to pension/family pension with effect from 01.01.2016 consequent on retirement/death of Government servant on 31.12.2015, would also be covered by these orders.”
We are receiving pension under the above CCS (Pension) Rules 1972. Hence, technically and legally we should be covered by the above orders endorsed by DOT. The order does not mention IDA pensioner or CDA pensioner at all. We can go to a court and get the favourable verdict. Then government will drag the matter with appeal, revision petition, review petition, Special Leave petition, Curative petition etc.4-5 years are to be wasted in court verandas. Finally it depends upon the government to take a decision and issue orders. This is the judiciary system in our country. So, instead of wasting our time on legal fights we want to approach the Government directly now itself and get the benefit.
WE ARE COVERED
The para 2.3 of the order dated 4-8-2016 from Pension Ministry further says;
“2.3 These orders also do not apply to retired High Court and Supreme Court Judges and other Constitutional/Statutory Authorities whose pension etc. is governed by separate rules/orders”.
We are not in the excluded category. It means we can be covered, we should be covered. We have clear locus standi to demand extension of the said order.
MOVEMENT ESSENTIAL
If we keep quiet no body will give any benefit. We should create a pressure. Please remember that the Ex-Servicemen fought for 45 years to get OROP. Very senior officers retired from Army came and sat on dharna. We should shout aloud. We should launch a movement for it. The decision making process should be influenced through some persons who matter.
Hence we meet in Bangalore. Please come and join this movement. Please come to Bangalore on 18, September 2016.
Let us jointly begin a new journey to ensure a definite, tension-free future for us.
With regards,
P S Ramankutty
AP CIRCLE SECRETARY COM. K S KOTESWARA RAO HAS INFORMED THAT MINIMUM 100 COMRADES WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE SPECIAL CONFERENCE IN BENGALURU ON 18-9-2016. THE NUMBER MAY INCREASE.
ORISSA COMRADES HAVE CONFIRMED PARTICIPATION
COM. M J PILLAY, CS MAHARASTRA INFORMS THAT FIVE COMRADES FROM NAGPUR WILL ATTEND.
COMRADES FROM LATUR, BHANDARA, MUMBAI, SOLAPUR AND AMRAVATI ALSO WILL ATTEND THE BANGALORE CONFERENCE.
JABALPUR COMRADES HAVE CONFIRMED THEIR PARTICIPATION
A view of the venue of our special conference. Karnataka comrades are making all arrangements. We expect minimum 1000 comrades from Bangalore itself and another 1000 comrades from other stations in India. Pan India should be present in Bangalore on the day. We can do it. We are the only organisation of BSNL retirees who can and who will organise it. Come and join .
CHHATISGARH COMRADES CONFIRM THEIR PARTICIPATION