4 Days' All India Bank Strike from 25th February to 28th February

Wed, Feb 18, 2015 at 6:27 PM

INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 16TH MARCH 2015

ñ    INDIAN BANKS' ASSOCIATION BACKTRACKS FROM ITS ASSURANCE

ñ    UNITED FORUM OF BANK UNIONS DECIDED TO REVIVE THE STRIKE PROGRAMMES

ñ    4 DAYS STRIKE FROM 25TH FEB. to 28^th FEB.  2015

ñ    INDEFINITE STRIKE FROM 16TH MARCH 2015 

On the decision taken and call given by United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU), officers and employees in all the Public Sector Banks are going to observe  4 Days' All India Bank Strike from 25^th February to 28^th February 2015 to demanding

 ¨                  Immediate Wage Revision

¨                  To stop Banking Reforms

 For the preparation of 4 days' strike, Punjab Bank Employees Federation (Ludhiana) held a General Body Meeting at Punjabi Bhawan, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana.  Com. S.K.Gautam, Joint Secretary, All India Bank Employees Association and General Secretary, Punjab Bank Employees Federation, Com. P.R.Mehta, President,  Com. Amrit Lal, Chairman, Com. G.K.Joshi, Secretary, Punjab Bank Employees Federation and Com. Pawan Thakur, President, Punjab Bank Employees Federation (Ludhiana Unit) addressed the meeting.                                      

  

While addressing the bank employees, Com. S.K.Gautam said that in the background of the assurance given by Indian Banks' Association (IBA) towards expeditious wage settlement and considering the positive developments since last conciliation meeting, United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) put on hold its call for 4 days' strike from 21^st January 2015.  In the meeting held on 3^rd February 2015,   IBA finally proposed to improve their offer from 12.5% to 13% and expected UFBU to scale down its demand.  Our sincere and persuasive efforts to negotiate a reasonable and mutually acceptable wage increase are being misunderstood by the IBA and the Government as its weakness. With utmost patience, for the past two years, UFBU has been making its best efforts to settle the demands amicably. At every point of time, we have shown our flexibility. But unfortunately, it is not being reciprocated by IBA.

 Com. Gautam further stated that wages and service conditions in the banking sector are governed by the industry level bipartite settlements signed between the Indian Banks Association and the trade unions of bank employees and officers. Public Sector Banks, Private Sector Banks and Foreign Banks who give their mandate to the Indian Banks Association are party to the Settlements and hence are covered by the same. The 9th Bipartite Settlement came to an end on 31-10-2012. Consequently, revision of wages and other service conditions have become due as from 1-11-2012. In view of this,  common set of demands for the employees and officers was submitted to the Indian Banks Association on 30-10-2012. UFBU requested the IBA to adopt a time-bound programme to hold the negotiations on the demands and to expedite the Settlement as early as possible. Even though the formal negotiations started in February 2013, a few rounds of discussions have taken so far. It will be appreciated that the alarming and unabated price rise have seriously eroded the income of the employees and hence the wage revision has become all the more important. The Consumer Price Index has gone up by almost 2400 points under (1960=100) Index series since November, 2007. Hence wage revision to catch up with the high inflation and price rise has become an urgent necessity. Similarly, the workload in the bank branches has gone up substantially due to increase in total volume of business and also due to non-provision of adequate staff and officers in the branches. Employees and officers are working under a lot of stress and strain. The job profile of the staff has also undergone a change and all these require to be properly remunerated with adequate increase in wages. For this reason also the wage increase has become important. But unfortunately, the IBA is delaying the Settlement.

The fact is otherwise :                      Profits of Public Sector Banks

Year	Total Profit	Provision for bad loans  etc	Net profit
31.03.2012	1,16,000 crore	66,000 crore	50,000 crore
31.03.2013	1,21,000 crore	71,000 crore	50,000 crore
31.03.2014	1,27,000 crore	90,000 crorer	37,000 crore

 Thus the total profits are increasing but obviously net profit is less due to provision for bad loans which burden should not be passed on to the shoulders of the ordinary employees. In fact, the Unions have assured that we can find out the ways and means to recover the bad loans through stringent measures and improve the profits through better productivity etc but it is unfair to deny their legitimate wage crease.

When the entire workforce in the banking industry is making every effort to implement the various programmes of the Government including the recent Jan Dhan Yojana, when employees and officers are working under lot of stress and maximum difficulty due to manpower shortage and increased volume of work, it is regrettable that the Government is remaining a passive spectator without initiating any steps to find an amicable solution to the genuine expectations of bank employees for a better and reasonable wage revision. We have been once again pushed to the path of struggle.

March to Parliament on 12th December 2013

Sun, Dec 8, 2013 at 4:24 PM

AITUC Rally in Basti Jodhewal Ludhiana

Speaking on the occasion, Com. Kuldeep Singh Binder

Ludhiana: 7 December 2013: Addressing the rally of Hosiery Workers Union Regd. (AITUC) at Basti Jodhewal  Chowk today, Com D P Maur – General Secretary Joint Council of Trade Unions Ludhiana said that the Govt. is more inclined to respond to the demands of the international finance capital and the MNCs while hitting the common man hard, even denying them basic amenities like food, shelter, health and education.  Therefore there is an urgent need for the working people to unite in strength to lead the struggle against these policies so as to meet the goal of sustainable development in the interest of all the people of the country. On that score, the job insecurity and the job losses on the one hand and increased trends of  outsourcing,  contractualization and casualisation of labour is norm of the day. There is attack on unionization itself and pressure on existing unions to suppress and intimidate them to contain their activities. The government has been responsible for unprecedented rise in corruption at higher places with loss to national revenue and denial of rightful share of common people in the wealth being produced in the country. He further deplored that accumulation of wealth in the hands of few, whereas the vast majority is suffering under acute poverty and unemployment. The latest reports have indicated that 100 top rich families own assets to the tune of 16 lakh crores of rupees whereas 70% Indians are forced to live on meager spending of Rs.16.60  per day. With the policies being pursued will further hasten these gaps. 

General Secretary AITUC Ludhiana  Com O P Mehta Advocate  said that the govt. continues to act in ruthless manner against the common people and the response to people’s agitations by the Prime Minister and some of his ministers are arrogant to the core. Corruption at the higher places has become rampant which is obvious  from the scandal like 2-G Spectrum. The Gas price hike in connivance with the Ambanis will cost a loss of nearly 2.20 lakh crores to the exchequer, he highlighted.

Addressing the gathering Com Feroze Master senior leader of the Hosiery Workers Union said that the Trade Unions have decided to intensify their joint agitations and march to Parliament on 12th December 2013 on the charter of demands which includes seeking check on price rise of essential commodities, end to labour law violations, for social security and pension to all workers, abolition of any ceiling on Provident Fund, gratuity and bonus, abolition of contract labour, steady regularization of them and equal pay for equal work, no disinvestment of public sector/ govt. sector enterprises and resources, national minimum wage to be raised to not less that Rs. 10,000 universal entitlement of maternity benefit to working women etc. He further demanded that the piece rate for the cutter master should be revised or they should be given a salary of Rs.20000 for eight hours work.

Com. Ramesh Rattan said that taking advantage of this situation the rabidly communal RSS and BJP have floated Modi as their Prime ministerial candidate. This is a very serious danger before the nation which the workers have to fight back tooth and nail.

Speaking on the occasion, Com. Kuldeep Singh Binder,  Com Gurnam Singh Sidhu, Com Manjit Singh Boota, Com. Master Shafeeq, Com. Ram Partap Singh and Com. Amarnath called upon the hosiery and other workers to participate in large numbers in the march to parliament on 12th December 2013.

All India Bank Strike on 18TH Dec. 2013

Demonstration by UFBU ON 6TH DEC. 
Protest In front of STATE BANK OF PATIALA, ZONAL OFFICE, LUDHIANA AT 2.15 P.M.
Ludhiana: 5 December 2013: (*Naresh Gaur//Punjab Screen Bureau):On the call given by United Forum of Bank Unions, officers and employees in all the public sector banks are observing  All India Bank Strike on 18th December, 2013 demanding
 Immediate Wage Revision
 To stop Banking Reforms
 Publish the list of Bank Loan Defaulters of Rs. 1 crore and above
 Make Willful default of bank loan a criminal offence
 Order investigation to probe nexus and collusion
 Amend Recovery Laws to speed up recovery of bad loans
 Take stringent measures to recover bad loans
 Do not incentivise corporate delinquency

A chain of agitational programme has been framed by United Forum of Bank Unions. To start with the agitation, on 6th December, 2013 at 2.15 P.M.,  United Forum of Bank Unions is going to hold a massive demonstration in front of State Bank of Patiala, Zonal Office, Miller Ganj, Ludhiana. The prominent leaders of United Forum of Bank Unions will address the bank employees.*NARESH GAUR is the Convener of the UFBU  

BSNL employees held a massive demonstration

Fri, Oct 11, 2013 at 5:26 PM
Demonstration held in front of office of GMTD

Ludhiana:11 October 2013:(*Com. Harjinder Singh//Punjab Screen Bureau): Activists of the Forum of BSNL Executives & Non-Executives Unions/Associations comprising of BSNL Employees Union, Sanchar Nigam Executives Association, All India BSNL Executives Association, AIGETOA, National Federation of Telecom BSNL Employees, National Federation of Telecom Employees, and SC/ST Welfare Association of BSNL held a massive demonstration in front of office of GMTD, BSNL Bharat Nagar Ludhiana against the threatenings of BSNL contractor. The entire workforce of BSNL Ludhiana gathered at Bharat Nagar Chowk. A massive march was carried out to the offices of Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of Police Ludhiana and handed over memorandum demanding lodging of FIR against the contractor immediately.
        Addressing the gathering Com. Balbir Singh Circle Secretary BSNL Employees Union and Com. Gurpreet Singh , Circle president , SNEA(I) told that the contractors are looting BSNL in the name of House keeping to the tune of Lacs of Rupees. Unions and associations are fighting against these malpractices. The contractor is threatening the union leaders over phone. On 09-10-2013 he threatened Com. Harjinder Singh, District Secretary SNEA (I) Ludhiana as he has called upon all the Executive officers not to sign bogus bills of the contractor. The matter was reported to Sr. General Manager Telecom, Ludhiana but the GMT has not taken any action against the contractor. 
Addressing the gathering Com. Jasbir Singh , CWC member, Punjab Circle said that he has taken up the issue with the Circle Union and the entire Executive/ Non Executive are united on this issue. He demanded immediate cancellation of all the contracts. Com. Harjinder Singh, District Secretary SNEA (I), declared that their agitation will continue till the action against the contractor is not taken and loot of the BSNL is not stopped.  After holding the demonstration the workers gathered at Bharat Nagar Chowk and burnt the effigy of the Contractor at the Bharat Nagar Chowk.  Mass demonstrations were also held in front of the offices of the Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner Ludhiana.  Later on memorandum demanding immediate arrest of the contractor were also given to the Deputy Commissioner and Police Commissioner Ludhiana.
Com. Paramjit Singh. Distt. President, BSNLEU Ludhiana, Com. Kamaljit Singh Shanker, District President, SNEA (I), Com. Pritam Chand Distt. Secy, NFT BSNL Employees, Com. Baljinder Singh Khalsa, Distt Secy AIBSNLEA, Com. Vijender Singh, Distt, Secy AIGETOA,  Com. Surjit Singh Distt Secy NFTE BSNL, Sh. Navin Kumar Asstt. Distt. Secy SEWA of BSNL and Avtar Singh Jhande, Asstt. Distt. Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed the gathering.

*Com. Harjinder Singh is the Chairman: FORUM OF BSNL UNIONS/ASSOCIATIONS,Ludhiana and his mobile contact number is:: 9417000806

However, when contacted, Mr. Rohit Sabbharwal said that he has detected two-three big scams in BSNL in which top office- bearers of BSNL are involved. This is the reason for their protest against me. They had rather threatened me, what to talk of me giving them any threats. I am surprised to hear about their allegations of corruption by contractor when all bills have been signed by officers. They should rather contact the ones who sign the bills. Now wait and watch for the final truth.

Anti Corruption Day observed by BSNLEU

Aggressive lunch hour demonstration in front of office
Ludhiana: 19 September 2013: (*Balwinder Singh//Punjab Screen): Activists of the BSNL Employees Union held an aggressive lunch hour demonstration in front of the office of the General Manager BSNL, Bharat Nagar Chowk, Ludhiana against the rampant corruption in BSNL and against bogus billing by the contractors. The call to observe Anti Corruption Day was given by BSNL Employees Union Punjab Circle.
Addressing the gathering Com. Balbir Singh, CS said that a rampant corruption is going in BSNL. The worst affected is the BSNL Ludhiana. The expenditure in BSNL Ludhiana is more than its earnings. Where as in the all other districts of Punjab, it is less than its earnings. The over expenditure is due to the Rampant corruption by some of the officers and bogus billing by the contractors. One of the contractors who have been awarded the contract of housekeeping is raising huge bogus bills since a long time. It has come to the notice of the union that said contractor is billing for watering more than Six Thousand plants in Ludhiana. The number of actual plants is far less than billed for. Interestingly the Sub Divisional officers who have verified the bogus bills were seen planting the plants in their respective premises. The matter was brought to the notice of sr. General Manager Telecom Ludhiana but nothing. In fact the contractors are looting BSNL. The workers of BSNL Employees Union organised massive Lunch hour demonstrations observing Anti Corruption Day all over the Punjab today. 
Com. Balwinder Singh, District Secretary BSNLEU and Com. S.P. Singh , Circle Secy NFT BSNL Employees while addressing the demonstrators told that not only the plants the contractor is raising bogus bills for cleanliness of open area of Ludhiana BSNL to the tune of more than 1.5 lacs monthly. This area he never got cleaned. Similarly he is raising bill for cleanliness of Tables, Almirah, Chairs, doors, Racks which he never got cleaned. The Proprietor of M/s Swift International Sh. Rohit Sabharwal is claiming that he is a social worker and RTI activist. Whereas he is a contractor in BSNL since a long time and to protect his malpractices and monetary interest he is misusing the RTI Act 2005 to frighten the employees. Not only in BSNL he is blackmailing the other departments and individuals. He further said that their agitation will continue till the erring officers and the contractor is not punished. 
Others who spoken on the occasion includes Com. Budh Singh, Circle Treasurer, Com. Paramjit Singh District President, Com. Balbir Singh Khanna, Com. Pritam Chand Distt Secy, NFT BSNL Employees, Com. Avtar Singh Jhande , Asstt. District Secretary BSNLEU Ludhiana, Com. Rajiv Sharma, Asstt. District Secretary BSNLEU Ludhiana, Com. Pritam Chand Com. Amarjit Chander, District Treasurer, Com. Jaswant Singh, Gurcharan Singh, Darshan Singh Gill, Surinder Singh, Surjit Singh, Avtar Singh Focal Point, Tejinder Singh, Avtar Singh Sudhar, Sudesh Joshi, Amrik Singh, Atul Sharma, Jogesh Kumar, Prem Singh,  Surjit Singh Raikot, Bhagwant Singh Jagraon, Narinder Singh Doraha, Sohan Singh Khanna, Avtar Singh Dehlon, Gurmukh Singh Samrala,  Balwant Singh Dugri, Shingara Singh Mullanpur Som Singh Dehlon , Vijay Kumar, Kashmir Chand, S.P. Jakhu, and Mohinder Singh Sunder Nagar. 


*Balwinder Singh is the Distt. Secy of BSNLEU. His Mob. No. is:94170-00241                                                                                                                             

BSNLEU exposed Bogus Billing Scam

Sat, Sep 14, 2013 at 7:01 PM
Trade union action from September 19
Ludhiana:14-Sep-2013:(Balwinder Singh*//Punjab Screen):BSNL Employees will start trade union action against the BSNL Ludhiana Management as the management is not taking any action against the contractor who has raised bogus bills to the tune of lakhs of rupees. The management is also shielding some erring officers who have verified the bogus bills. Some of the officers are hand in gloves with the contactor.  Fearing from action the contractor and some of the erring officer are trying to implant the indoor/outdoor plants in the empty pots. They want to hide their misdeeds and trying to complete the number of plants to that the extent which they have verified in the bogus bills. Activists of BSNL Employees union foiled such attempt today at Kohara telephone exchange. It was brought to the notice of branch secretary Sahnewal by members that the contractor and Sub Divisional Engineer Sahnewal have called some labourer to implant indoor /out plants in empty pots at kohara exchange. Branch Secretary BSNL Sahnewal discussed this matter with available JTO in the exchange who confirmed that SDO has ordered him that he is coming and some cleanliness work is to done in the exchange. Due to presence of union leaders in exchange they did not dared to enter the exchange and the labourers called for also left the exchange.

Branch Secretary Com. Sudesh Joshi when contacted the security guard of Meharban exchange he told that the SDO has got implanted plants in the empty pots yesterday and day before yesterday. Not only the plants, the contractor is raising bogus bills for around rupees 1.6 lacs per month for cleanliness of uncovered areas of exchanges, which he never cleaned. They are also trying to cut the jungles which have come up in the compounds of various exchanges for which the contractor has raised bogus bills years together. Com. Balwinder Singh in a press statement today said that their members will not allow the contractors and erring officer to omit the evidence. He further said that they will start agitation against the management from 19-09-2013.

*Balwinder Singh is the District Secretary of BSNLEU. Hic contact number is:94170-00241