RSS-affiliate holding national convention on Dec 19 to oppose privatisation

New Delhi: Upping the pitch against what it dubbed as the "the Central government's lopsided policies," RSS-affiliate Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) is set to hold a national convention in the capital city on December 19 against privatisation to PSUs. The national convention comes close on the heels of a nationwide strike observed by BPCL (Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd) against privatisation in November. Girish Arya, Deputy in-charge, Public Sector Employees National Confederation, an industrial unit of BMS, said, "This convention will be attended by a total of 10 BMS federations and 1 PSU lakh employees from across the country. We are organising the convention to oppose the policies being pursued by the BJP government… privatisation, corporatisation, disinvestment, strategic sale, FDI and mergers. If the government fails to meet our demands, we will continue the stir and decide the future course of action. And tomorrow's convention is a step in that direction."

Convention will take firm decision against privatisation

BMS is hosting the convention to take a firm decision to protest against the Central government's "lopsided" policies on privatisation, disinvestment, strategic sale of PSUs, FDI, merger of banking and insurance sectors, corporatisation of Railways and defence production units, a statement released by BMS said.

Who all are participating?

The convention is being organised by BMS' Public Sector Employees National Confederation, which represents employees cutting across PSUs in various sectors. "Representatives from LIC, banks, oil, coal sector, non-coal mining, shipyard, steel, railway and PSENC, which encompasses more than 200 PSU companies, shall take part in the convention," Arya said. "The committee will also discuss the issue of wage negotiations, clear salary/wages/retirement benefits, revive/diversify sick PSUs and pension revision for retired BSNL, MTNL employees etc as per Central Pay Commission," the statement said.

The backdrop

The news comes as the government is pursuing privatisation with renewed aggression as it aims to raise Rs 1.05 lakh crore by the end of this financial year. In November, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave an in-principle nod to the disinvestment of five PSUs — BPCL, SCI, CONCOR, THDC and NEEPCO.

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