GS' Report presented in EC meeting

This Report was presented during NOINO's 13th EC meeting at Dharwad. This is our All India GS' Report for his last term of three years - from January 2008 to December 2010.

GENERAL SECRETARY’S REPORT FOR THE PERIOD JAN 2008 TO DEC 2010

               Respected Shri Prakash Javadekarji, our beloved President, our Chief Guest, Shri Prahlad Joshiji, Member of Parliament, and other dignitaries sitting on the dais, & my delegate brothers & sisters, I am happy to present this triennial report for the period January 2008 to December 2010. I have divided this report into five parts:-

FORMATION OF UNITS IN THE PERIOD

• 1.3.2008-------Jaipur unit formed in NZ.
• 26.3.2008----- NOINO unit formed in Audit Centre, Delhi in NZ.

• 27.10.2008----NOINO hoists its flag in Andaman in EZ. All officers join NOINO.
• 14.12.2008----NOINO units formed in Varanasi in NCZ & Satara in WZ.
• 27.12.2008----Mysore unit formed in SCZ.
• 14.2.2009-----NOINO unit formed in Silchar in EZ.
• 23.2.2009----EZ committee for 2009-2012 formed.
• 27.7.2009----NOINO units formed in Kharagpur in EZ & Vadodara in WZ.
• 9.8.2009------NOINO unit formed in Raichur in SCZ.
• 5.9.2009------NOINO unit formed in Howrah in EZ.
• 2.10.2009----WZ committee for 2009-2012 formed at Anand in Gujarat
• 23.12.2009---Dehradun unit (NCZ) of NOINO formed.
• 15.1.2010-----Indore unit (CZ) of NOINO formed.
• 20.2.2010-----Nadiad unit (WZ) of NOINO formed.
• 11.4.2010-----Absolute majority achieved in Nadiad. 110 out of 143 officers join NOINO.
• 22.5.2010-----Delhi DO 2 unit of NOINO in NZ formed.
• 29.7.2010-----Delhi DO 1 unit of NOINO in NZ formed.
• 1.8.2010------NCZ committee formed.
• 19.8.2010-----Amravati unit of NOINO in WZ formed.
• 7.11.2010-----Chandigarh unit of NOINO in NZ formed.
• 19.12.2010----Bhagalpur unit in ECZ formed.
• 9.1.2011-------Bhavnagar unit in WZ & Shimoga unit in SCZ formed.

Thus 19 divisional units were formed in these 3 years.

ACHIEVEMENTS IN THE PERIOD

       There were various achievements, nay, mile-stones in this 3 year period. Some of these are:-

• 17.1.2008-----Submitted a comprehensive 12 page report on the issue of ‘Delay in Back-up of data & its reasons’ complete with 10 solutions on the problem. This was based on a sample survey of 257 branches all over the country. The exercise was necessitated because one of the reasons of late-sitting of the officers in branches is delay in back-up. One of the solutions suggested was centralized back-up. The management accepted the demand after vigorous follow-up & the process of centralization of back-up has started now. Till date, 27 branches across 10 divisions in the country are back-up free thanks to our initiative.  

• 28.3.2008-----Huge victory for NOINO as management accepted our demand to remove the condition of age limit for marketing posts. This came after relentless struggle & dogged follow-up.
• 23.1.2009----Protest letter submitted on the arbitrary extension of Jeevan-aastha plan. Management took immediate cognizance & issued immediate instructions withdrawing the extension.

• 25.9.2009------Huge victory for the single handed pursuit of NOINO to fight back the highhandedness of Election Commission. The efforts culminated in the Mumbai High Court passing a verdict that The EC can employ only a minimum of staff that too with the consultation of the nodal officers (i.e. Manager (P & IR) of the respective divisions) without the business of LIC being disrupted.
• 5.4.2010-----Victory for persistent efforts of NOINO as management accepts our demand to bear tax on perquisites relating to staff quarters, newspaper reimbursement & car loan under scheme VI(revised)
• 12.6.2010----Letter submitted to ED (P) protesting the delay in issue of administrative instructions in revision of Actuarial allowance. Instructions issued on 14.6.2010

ISSUES TAKEN UP IN THE PERIOD

1. 17.1.2008-----Submitted a comprehensive 12 page report to the ED (IT) on  the issue of ‘Delay in Back-up of data & its reasons’ complete with 10 solutions on the problem. This was based on a sample survey of 257 branches all over the country.
2. 16.5.2008----Meeting with ED (P) on the issues of charter, housing loan, forced de-rotation of marketing officials, PLLI etc.
3. 9.7.2008-----Protest letter to ED (P) on the policy of transfer of Officers on refusal of promotion
4. 28.8.2008----Protested the delay in results in WZ for promotion to AAO after interviews concluded on 16.8.2008
5. 13.9.2008----Meeting with Chief (Personnel) Shri Rajkumar. Raised several issues like charter, Housing loan, ITSG-1 payment, recruitment in Class III etc
6. 8.10.2008-----Submitted a comprehensive letter to ED (SBU/OS/Estates) on issues of security of LIC offices. It is important to note that the attacks in the vicinity of Yogakshema building happened on 26.11.2008
7. 18.3.2009----Comprehensive letter submitted to ED (Personnel) on election duty anticipating large-scale drafting of LIC employees by Election Commission.
8. 23.3.2009----Memorandum submitted to Chairman on the arbitrary imposition of Key Performance Indices.
9. 1.4.2009----Protest letter submitted to ED (OS/SBU/Estates) on the issue of the employees having to purchase the Corporate jingle ‘Na fikar na chinta’, a property of LIC from Vodafone, a private company.
10. 9.4.2009----Joint letter submitted to ED (Personnel) along with five other unions on Election duty.
11. 11.4.2009---Letter submitted to ED (P) on the issue of Election duty quoting court cases against large-scale drafting of employees by Election Commission. Management takes cognizance & files petition in Mumbai High Court on 16.4.2009.
12. 16.4.2009---Letters submitted to SRDM’s in Mumbai for treating the employee’s on-duty on the day of training for election duty as many cases reported where HOD’s tried to compel the employees to attend office after training. Management took immediate cognizance & the employees were not forced to attend office after half-day training.
13. 20.4.2009----Protest letter submitted to ED (Marketing) on arbitrary withdrawal of the original circular of Ace Competition denying the employees their rightful due.
14. 27.5.2009----NOINO/NOIW delegation meets Shri Dinesh Mehrotra, MD, on the issue of Ace Competition.
15. 16.6.2009/17.6.2009----Information sharing meeting. NOINO rejects 15% wage-rise offer. Raises other issues like injustice in ACE Competition, Navratna status, election duty, late sitting, 5 days week, KPI, Housing loan etc. Management modifies circular on ACE Competition on 30.6.2009.
16. 21.7.2009----Letter submitted to ED (OS/SBU/Estates) on the issue of impending Election duty for Maharashtra Assembly elections.
17. 7.8.2009----Letter submitted to ZM, WZ on the issue of employees of Kolhapur & Satara having to face interview at Pune in the wake of swine-flu threat. Management took cognizance & allowed interviews of those requests at other venues.
18. 13.8.2009----Meeting with ED (P) on issues like Charter, Pension, housing loan & PLLI.
19. 7.1.2010-------Letter submitted to Chairman pointing out the drawbacks in the recent modifications in Housing loan & suggesting several solutions.
20. 9.1.2010-----Exclusive meeting of Female officers in Mumbai to discuss on ‘Difficulties while working in LIC’.
21. 20.2.2010-----Letter submitted to ED (Mktg) & MD to demand that LIC should bear tax on perquisites.
22. 20.2.2010-----Letter submitted to ZM, WZ to intervene & stop further implementation of E-FEAP until the experiment stabilized in the first three branches as the module threw all the three branches into disarray.
23. 26.2.2010-----Memorandum submitted to ED (P) regarding problem of Female officers in LIC.
24. 17.3.2010------Letter submitted to Chairman & ED (P) to remind about our demand that LIC should bear tax on perquisites in the light of SBI decision to do so vide their circular dated 13.3.2010.
25. 8.4.2010------ Letter submitted to MD Shri A K Dasgupta for inclusion of other perquisites like Housing loan, vehicle loan to administrative side officers, other interest free advances.
26. 9.4.2010------Letter submitted to ED (P) pointing out flaws in 360 degree feedback concept & suggestions given.
27. 15.4.2010----Letter submitted to ED (P) pointing out the abusive mails being circulated in the name of NOINO.
28. 11.5.2010----Letter submitted to ZM, WZ demanding sanction of drought advance to employees (about 250) of Amravati division who were un-justly denied this facility. Management accepted our demand.
29. 12.6.2010----Letter submitted to ED (P) protesting the delay in issue of administrative instructions in revision of Actuarial allowance. Instructions issued on 14.6.2010.
30. 12.7.2010---Letter submitted to ZM, WZ protesting the transfer of the officers who refused to accept promotion.
31. 7.8.2010-----Letter submitted to ED ( F & A) protesting the circular issued by F & A which specified that the Perquisites tax on staff quarters on behalf of the employees would be borne by LIC from 2009-2010 onwards only & demanded bearing of this liability with retrospective effect i.e. from 1995-1996. Management accepted our demand.
32. 9.8.2010---- Letter submitted to ZM, WZ protesting the inordinate delay in selection of ABM(S) as well as the protested change in the existing transfer policy of ABM(S). Management accepted our demand & continued with the old policy of transfer.
33. 13.8.2010---Letter submitted to ED (P) pointing out the continuation of anomaly in the charter.
34. 1.9.2010-----Protest letter submitted to Chairman on the issue of Meal Coupons benefit being linked to attendance & withdrawal of existing facilities.
35. 18.9.2010---Letter submitted to Chairman protesting the publishing of an article in Mumbai Mirror painting the LIC employees in a derogatory manner. LIC shot a protest letter to Mumbai Mirror the next day.
36. 27.9.2010---Letter submitted to Chief Engineer on the issue of in-operative lifts at Yogakshem since a long time & the consequent inconvenience caused. Repair/ Renovation Work started immediately.
37. 26.11.2010---Letter submitted to ED (P) on the issue of modification of leave rules. E.g. HRA to be a part of salary while calculating encashment of PL, minimum 15 days leave availment not to be compulsory, 5 days week, no ceiling on SL etc.
38. 11.12.2010---Letter submitted to ED (P) on the issue of pending revision in the Conveyance allowance of Physically Handicapped employees.
39. 16.12.2010---Letter submitted to ED (P) on the issue of linking the filing of property returns to promotion of the officers.

  

AGITATION/MEETINGS DURING THE PERIOD

• 20.2.2008----Massive demonstrations at Yogakshem for initiating talks on charter.
• 30.7.2008-----Demonstrations at Yogakshema against anti-employee attitude of management on the issue of ACE Competition for branches (year 2007-2008) particularly in the case of WZ. Management took immediate cognizance & the aggrieved employees particularly in Nanded & Surat got justice.
• 23.12.2008---Observed 1 day strike against Bill on increasing FDI in Insurance Sector.
• 9.6.2009-----Huge demonstrations at Yogakshema on the issues of Charter, Ace Competition & Key Performance Indices.
• 24.7.2009----Dharna by NOINO/NOIW activists at Yogakshema against the injustice in the issue of ACE Competition. Our President Shri Prakash Javadekarji also participated in the Dharna & interacted with the employees. Management took cognizance of Dharna & yet again revised circular on ACE Competition in the previous evening i.e. on 23.7.2009.
• 22.12.2009----1 hour walkout strike to secure a handsome charter.
• 6.1.2010-----Massive demonstrations of joint front in front of all divisional offices for a handsome charter.
• 13.1.2010-----Massive demonstrations of joint front in front of all divisional offices for a handsome charter.
• 20.1.2010---- Massive demonstrations of joint front in front of all divisional offices for a handsome charter.
• 21.1.2010-----1 day strike for a handsome charter observed all over India.
• 6.3.2010-----Massive central Dharna of joint front in Delhi. NOINO was successful in roping in former Cabinet minister (labour) Satyanarayan Jatiya, BJP MP & Shri Rudranarayan Pani, BJP MP from Orissa who attended the Dharna & promised their total support for LIC employees.
• 8.3.2010 to 12.3.2010----Signature campaign among employees on issue of charter.
• 15.3.2010 onwards------‘No extra co-operation’ agitation commences. Management had to take cognizance & immediately invited the unions.

  

NOINO’S EFFORTS ON THE CHARTER FRONT

• 23.7.2007----First to submit Charter of demands complete with running scales before it was due i.e. 1.8.2007.
• 20.2.2008----Massive demonstrations at Yogakshem for initiating talks
• 16.5.2008----Meeting with ED (P) on the issues of charter, housing loan, forced de-rotation of marketing officials, PLLI etc.
• 26.5.2008----NOINO takes initiative & writes letter to all unions to form a joint front on charter & other pending issues.
• 17.7.2008----Information sharing meeting with management. Raised several issues like wage-revision, housing loan, one more pension option etc.
• 13.9.2008----Meeting with Chief (Personnel) Shri Rajkumar. Raised several issues like charter, Housing loan, ITSG-1 payment, recruitment in Class III etc.
• 22.12.2008/23.12.2008-----NOINO/NOIW delegation under the leadership of NOINO President Shri Prakash Javadekar, Rajyasabha MP meets Shri Prithviraj Chavan, Minister of State, PMO; Shri Pawankumar Bansal, MOS, Finance; & Shri Arun Ramnathan, Secretary, Finance, to break deadlock on Charter & to demand Navratna status. Management took immediate cognizance & invited unions on 24.12.2008 for first round of wage negotiations on 5^th & 6^th January 2009.
• 5.1.2009/6.1.2009----First round of wage negotiations. NOINO summarily rejects meagre 12% wage-rise offer.
• 27.5.2009----NOINO/NOIW delegation meets Shri Dinesh Mehrotra, MD, on the issue of Charter & Ace Competition.
• 9.6.2009-----Huge demonstrations at Yogakshema on the issues of Charter, Ace Competition & Key Performance Indices.
• 16.6.2009/17.6.2009----Information sharing meeting. NOINO rejects 15% wage-rise offer. Raises other issues like injustice in ACE Competition, Navratna status, election duty, late sitting, 5 days week, KPI, Housing loan etc
• 24.7.2009----Dharna by NOINO/NOIW activists at Yogakshema on Charter & against the injustice in the issue of ACE Competition.
• 24.7.2009---NOINO delegation under the leadership of NOINO President Shri Prakash Javadekar, Rajyasabha MP, meets Chairman Shri T S Vijayan & MD (Shri A K Dasgupta) on the issues of Charter, Navratna status & ACE Competition.
• 13.8.2009----Meeting with ED (P) on issues like Charter, Pension, housing loan & PLLI.
• 8.9.2009----NOINO delegation meets MD, Shri A K Dasgupta on issues of PLLI, Housing loan, Charter, Election duty etc.
• 7.10.2009------NOINO delegation met ED(P) Smt D. Vijayalakshmi on the issues of Charter, Housing loan, One more pension option & other issues like transfer policy.
• 12.10.2009---NOINO delegation led by our President Shri Prakash Javadekar along with our NZ ZS Shri S B Sharan, our NZ ZP Shri S K Saini & NZ VP Shri H K Dhiman met Minister of State for Finance Shri Namonarain Meena & Secretary, Finance Shri Ashok Chawla on issues of Charter, de-linking of Charter from that of banking industry, Granting of Navratna status to LIC, Pending issues in LIC like Housing loan etc. Within a week, LIC management invited unions for wage-revision talks on 3^rd November.
• 3.11.2009----Talks on wage revision. Management offers 17.5% rise. NOINO summarily rejects the offer. Improvements as per NOINO demand in GI such as inclusion of DAB & enhancing of limits.
• 3.11.2009----Joint front of AIIEA, NOIW, NOINO, NFIFWI, LIFE, BVKS, INTUC formed. Joint action plan decided in this meeting.
• 18.11.2009------A chart showing the comparison between LIC & banks with clear proof that LIC was ahead of all banks including SBI was submitted to ED(P)
• 8.12. 2009-----NOINO President Shri Prakash Javadekar raised issue of our charter in RS. Shri Namonarain Meena, MOS, Finance replied that the matter was under consideration & management was discussing the issue with unions. Management invited the unions immediately on 16^th Dec 2009.
• 16.12.2009----Management repeated the old offer of 17.5%. Joint front immediately decided to boycott the individual sessions as a mark of protest. Massive demonstrations at Yogakshema gate.
• 22.12.2009----1 hour walkout strike to secure a handsome charter.
• 6.1.2010-----Massive demonstrations of joint front in front of all divisional offices for a handsome charter.
• 13.1.2010-----Massive demonstrations of joint front in front of all divisional offices for a handsome charter.
• 20.1.2010---- Massive demonstrations of joint front in front of all divisional offices for a handsome charter.
• 21.1.2010-----1 day strike for a handsome charter observed all over India.
• 18.2.2010----All India delegation of NOINO meets ED (P), ED (Mktg), ED (CRM), & ZM, WZ to discuss various issues like Charter, transfer policy, delay in housing loan instructions, perquisites tax, cashless mediclaim, and implementation of E-FEAP etc.
• 6.3.2010-----Massive central Dharna of joint front in Delhi. NOINO was successful in roping in former Cabinet minister (labour) Satyanarayan Jatiya, BJP MP & Shri Rudranarayan Pani, BJP MP from Orissa who attended the Dharna & promised their total support for LIC employees.
• 8.3.2010 to 12.3.2010----Signature campaign among employees.
• 12.3.2010-----NOINO President Shri Prakash Javadekar raises issue of LIC wage-revision in Rajyasabha through special mention. He raised the issue of delay in wage-revision as well as the issue of un-necessary comparison of LIC with banks regarding the wage-revision.
• 15.3.2010 onwards------‘No extra co-operation’ agitation commences. Management had to take cognizance & immediately invited the unions.
• 19.3.2010------Discussions with management on the issue of charter & agitation. MD & Chairman reiterated in separate meetings that employees’ aspirations of a satisfactory wage-revision would be met. Joint front meets in the evening to decide further strategy.
• 20.3.2010----MD gives written assurance to unions reiterating management’s resolve to grant a satisfactory charter. Joint front again met in the evening & decided to suspend agitation in the light of the written assurance.
• 23.3.2010----Joint front delegation met Chairman & handed over a letter urging him to take immediate steps for delivering the assurance given to the employees on a satisfactory wage-revision.
• 26.3.2010-----Meeting with ED (P) for follow-up of charter issue.
• 3.4.2010-----NOINO delegation meets MD on issue of charter, housing loan, tax on perquisites.
• 19.4.2010----Meeting with ED (P) for follow-up of charter issue.
• 12.5.2010----Meeting with ED (P) for follow-up of charter issue.
• 2.6.2010-----NOINO President Prakash Javadekar discussed the issue of charter with Finance Secretary Ashok Chawla for early resumption of charter talks & wage-rise as per paying capacity of LIC.
• 12.6.2010---Group meeting of members at Yogakshem to brief about the status of charter.
• 19.6.2010-- Group meeting of members at union office to brief about the status of charter.
• 26.6.2010---- Group meeting of members at union office to brief about the status of charter.
• 19.7.2010----Management invites unions & gives revised wage-proposals substantially increasing the pay-scales. The consensus of the joint front was the revised proposals were satisfactory.
• July & August 2010-----Group meetings at Parle, Borivli, Jeevanvihar, 902, Bombay Mutual,
• 20.9.2010---- NOINO delegation led by our President Shri Prakash Javadekar met the Finance Minister, Shri Pranab Mukherjee. The delegation consisted of our NZ Secretary Shri S B Sharan; Shri S K Saini, our NZ President & Shri H K Dhiman, VP, NZ. The delegation insisted the speedy expedition of our notification & approval of parameters of PLLI. The FM assured to do the same after the return of Shri Gopalan, Secretary (Insurance) from abroad on 22^nd. True to his word, the wage-proposals were cleared on 22^nd itself thus paving the way for notification.

      This was an attempt to present our activities in the three year period. It is my contention that No union in LIC is as active as our organization; no other organization has been as successful in solving the issues of the employees; no other union is growing as fast as NOINO is growing.

      I wish to thank all our office-bearers, activists, members & sympathizers in the country without whose co-operation I would not have been able to discharge my duties efficiently. Thank you.

Brotherly yours,

Sd/-

Ganesh Kamath

GS, NOINO.