Monthly Archives: February 2013

Mobile loss – a Calicut experience

23 Saturday Feb 2013

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It was an interesting experience. My son Shaji and me had gone to the SBI Branch, Calicut for getting an ATM card for him. After submiting the application, we took an auto riksha to go to SBI Branch at Kallai, about 8 kms from the town for settling a loan taken earlier. We paid the auto and started for the Bank. After two-three minutes, Shaji told me that his mobile phone is missing and probably it was forgotten in the auto while getting down. We rushed back to the road, but the auto has already gone. We waited there for some time. Then we went to the nearby auto stand to find out whether the auto was there. But no sign of it.
We tried calling the missing telephone. Ring was going, but nobody took the phone. Number of times we called but still No reply.
It was a costly mobile but more costly were the information in it. Immediately we came back to the city and filed a compalint in the Town Police Station.They passed the complaint to the concerned Police Station.
Calicut has a tradition of missed things being returned by the auto drivers. Though fully not convinced myself, I told my son that there is every chance that the mobile will be got returned. Some times the drivers hand over such missed articles to the Union offices. Hence I contacted the Secretaries of CITU and INTUC, Com.T.Dasan and Advocate M.Rajan respectively and requested to help. All of us were together in the workers movement here and it was a pleasure to speak to them. They were also happy to speak to me. Both of them assured that the mobile may be found out by evening or tomorrow. It gave some relief to us, though we were not much hopeful.
After half-an hour again we rang the lost mobile number. Somebody answered. My son told him that it is his telephone which was lost in auto. The person at the other end told that he is speaking from the City Traffic police station and the mobile is with him. We rushed back to the Traffic Police Station. The constable on duty asked us about the details of the mobile as also how we lost it. Getting convinced he handed over the phone to us. He told that one auto driver Mr. Mahendran has brought the mobile to the Police Station and had handed over the same stating that some body has forgotten to take his mobile and he found it later.
We thanked the police and returned. I called the number of Mr. Mahendran, auto driver and expressed our thanks and wanted to meet him and thank in person. He said that it was not at all necessary and he was in another part of the town at that time. And so, we could not meet him.
Within 3-4 hours of the loss, we got it back. When we told our friends here, they said it is not a surprise at all. They cited many cases where the auto drivers have returned such missed things either to the police or to their union offices.
Our experience in both the police stations were much helpful. The honesty of the auto-driver is also much appreciated.
I am very much happy that Calicut, even after becoming a big city, is keeping its tradition by the auto-drivers. Not only that they ply wherever the customer wants to go, but also they charge exactly what the meter shows and they return the missed things to the owners. Congratulations and thanks to you all for such good service.

The Unprecedented Historic Strike – Salient points

23 Saturday Feb 2013

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My Hearty Congratulations and Greetings to the BSNL workers, Casual and Contract Workers and DOT-BSNL Pensioners, who stood together in making the 48 hours strike in BSNL a complete success. The reports received from all over India indicate that vast majority of the BSNL workers have enthusiastically participated in the historic strike. All the non-executive unions in BSNL have given call for the strike called for by all the 11 Central trade Unions in the country. It would have been really a 100% strike if the executive associations had also given call for strike, instead of only extending solidarity and support. However it is also reported from some areas that many of the executives have also absented themselves on the day.
This strike was historic in many ways as can be seen below:
1. It was a strike for which call was given by all the 11 Central trade Unions in the country.
2. This strike was the biggest since Independence in 1947. More than 12 crore workers participated.
3. Factory workers, agricultural workers, central and state government employees, public sector workers, daily and contract workers – in short workers in all sectors participated in the strike. There was no section which was not a party to the strike.
4. In many states like Kerala, the strike became a virtual bandh. No shops or business concerns opened on these days. It was not by threat, but by their own, they have closed.
5. The demands were the pressing demands of the workers; more, they were directly connected with the issues of the common people like protest against price rise etc.
6. The Independent Federations and All India Unions, which are not affiliated to the 11 Central Trade Unions, also participated in the strike. The entire central and state government employees along with the PSU workers participated.
7. The preparations for the strike started early. After the New Delhi National Convention on 4th September 2012 declared the strike, state level conventions, union wise meetings etc. were held systematically and the demands propagated. Country saw during the last few months one of the biggest campaigns that the country has seen so far.
8. The Central trade Unions kept up its rock-like unity till the last. The compulsions from the government and pressure from the corporates and big business could not make any dent in the unity a of the CTUs. Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, President, INTUC, despite much pressure from the top congress leaders stood his ground.
9. Even the media and newspapers controlled by the corporates which usually ignores the strikes by the workers could not do so this time. They were compelled to give the news.
10. The statement by the leaders of the central trade unions after the strike, that they will continue the struggle till the demands are met have inspired the workers for sustained struggles.
11. The 2 days strike was really the implementation of the slogan ‘Struggle for Unity, Unity for Struggle and Struggle and Unity for Progress’.
In short, the strike was unprecedented, historic and a mighty action of the workers against the anti-worker policies of the government; and for achieving their own demands.

We strongly condemn the Hyderabad blasts

22 Friday Feb 2013

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We express our strong condemnation and protest at the bomb blasts in Hyderabad city yesterday, February 21. By the method of the operation and the experience of previous such attacks,it is clear that this is done by terrorist groups. 15 people have lost their precious lives and more than 60 people have been injured, some of them very seriously. We express our heartfelt sorrow and convey our condolences to the bereaved families and injured.
It is reported that the Centre has received warnings about the attack and the same have been conveyed to the state government. Despite prior intimation, this has happened.
The Central and State governments should thoroughly enquire in the matter and catch the culprits and punish them. It is also very important that utmost vigil is stepped up to ensure that such ghastly attacks do not occur in future.

MPs criticises Govt.for neglect of workers – Press Report

22 Friday Feb 2013

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New Delhi, Feb 22 : Against the backdrop of two-day nationwide strike, the Lok Sabha today saw members attacking the government for its “apathy” towards workers and warning that there could be another agitation if trade unions are not engaged in talks.
The issue was raised during Zero Hour by Gurudas Dasgupta (CPI), who is also leader of All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC).
He said 44 crore workers, who are the mainstay for production in the country, were not getting appropriate remunerations and the government was neglecting them.
Referring to the two-day strike which ended yesterday, Dasgupta said the trade unions did not want to resort to such actions but were forced by the government.
He attacked Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, saying that after the trade unions announced the strike he had made an “innocent appeal through press” for talks.
“The Prime Minister offers talks to trade unions through the press,” the CPI leader said and questioned if he talks to corporates also through the press.
He said the Prime Minister has formed a committee of four ministers to talk to trade union leaders but in the meeting that took place, Finance Minister P Chidambaram was not present.
“Was it arrogance or apathy,” Dasgupta asked. He said Labour Minister Mallikarjuna Kharge also called trade union leaders for talks but he had “nothing to offer”.
Dasgupta warned that if the government does not engage with trade unions, there will be another nationwide strike.
CPI(M) leader Basudeb Acharia and JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav associated themselves with Dasgupta.

Towards Extended CEC at Warangal

22 Friday Feb 2013

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Only a few days are left for the Extended CEC of BSNLEU to be held at Warangal on 26-28 February 2013. The Extended CEC is being held specially to prepare the organisation for facing the VI Membership Verification in April 2013 in a very successful manner getting more than 50% of votes and becoming the recognised union.
In addition to the circle Secretaries and Central Office-bearers, more than 400 district secretaries of BSNLEU will also participate in this crucial Extended CEC.
All other issues including the action plans for achieving the demands of the workers will be serriously discussed in the Extended CEC.

Congratulations to BSNL Workers, Pensioners and Casual/Contract Workers!!

21 Thursday Feb 2013

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My Hearty Congratulations and Greetings to the BSNL workers, Casual and Contract Workers and DOT-BSNL Pensioners, who stood together in making the 48 hours strike in BSNL a complete success. The reports received from all over India indicates that vast majority of the BSNL workers have enthusiastically participated in the historic strike. All the non-executive unions in BSNL has given call for the strike called for by all the 11 Central trade Unions in the country. It would have been really a 100% strike if the executive associations had also given call for strike, instead of only extending solidarity and support. However it is also reported from some areas that many of the executives have also absented themselves on the day.
Let us continue our struggles for fully achieving the demands.

The Historic Strike – Congratulations by Central TUs

21 Thursday Feb 2013

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Following is the press release issued by the Central Trade Unions on the success of the 20-21 February Strike and congrtulating the workers. Issued by All Central Trade Unions on the First day of General Strike
Strike is total in all sectors by all workers
“All the Central Trade Unions (BMS, INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, AICCTU, UTUC, TUCC, SEWA, LPF) hereby congratulate the working people of India for their overwhelming and magnificent response to the united call of two day countrywide general strike that commenced this morning.

Unprecedented response to the call of strike throughout the country much beyond our expectations reflects truly the anger of the people against the persistent increase in the prices of diesel, gas, coal, electricity and other essential goods for the bare need of the common people. It is also a protest against the total inaction of the Government to address the basic problems of the workers arising out of the inflation and slowdown of the economy. All the central trade unions supported by thousands of unaffiliated unions have given a two day strike call on the basis of 10 point demand of the workers as approved in the All India Convention held at Talkatora Stadium on 4th September, 2012. The strike has been totally peaceful. Even then there has been attack on the workers, lathi-charge and indiscriminate arrest. In Noida, there was brutal lathi-charge on a peaceful demonstration causing serious injuries to a number of workers and death to one worker. Even a leader of Haryana Roadways Corporation union affiliated to AITUC has been killed in Ambala Transport Depot by the miscreants to disrupt the strike.

The strike has been all out throughout the country affecting all vital sectors bringing the life to a standstill. Banking system has come to a collapse. Transport sector has responded magnificently except in two States, Delhi and Maharashtra. There has been massive strike in Petroleum sector, telecom, mining, coal, non-coal, defence, power including atomic power projects, port and dock, insurance, Plantation, State Government employees. Post offices have been closed, income tax offices have largely been hit by the strike. Industrial workers all over the country had shut down the production. Public and private industrial centres have been heavily affected.

Unorganised, agriculture, non-agriculture, rural and urban, anganwadi, ASHA workers have participated in lakhs. Contract workers have joined the strike in a magnificent way.

All the States from Arunachal to Gujarat from Kashmir to Kanyakumari everywhere the impact of the strike has been significant. Strike has been significant. Strike has been magnificent in Assam, Bihar, Orissa, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Kerala, Andhra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka. Despite vindictive and victimising threat and attack by the State Govt machinery, in West Bengal, response to strike has been magnificent. There has been strike even in Gujarat, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. In Goa strike has been inspiring. Even in Meghalaya where election is to be held on 23rd February there has been strike in Shillong.

The central trade unions while congratulating the workers for the strike call upon them to continue the same till tomorrow and build up massive pressure on the Government for a change of policy and peaceful settlement of the 10 point demands.

Right to strike is a constitutional right. No State government has any authority to break the peaceful strike with indiscriminate use of the State machinery. We call upon the Government to realise the gravity of the situation and unparallel anger among the masses and take corrective steps having meaningful dialogue with the trade union.”

The report from all parts of the country on the strike on 21st also confirms the success of the strike. As demanded by the Central TradeUnions, the government should come down, discuss and concede the fully justified demands of the working class.

-:-

Strike continues for the second day

21 Thursday Feb 2013

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The 48 hours strike on the first day, 20th February was unprecedented as per the Central trade unions who called for the strike.The strike had its affects through out the country on the first day itself.
The strike is continuing for the second day, 21st February. It is expected that some more workers may join the strike.
The 2 days strike is a strong weapon against the neo-liberal policies that the government is continuing.The struggle will continue even after the strike.

Red Salute to Com. Chittabrata Majumdar!

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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It is difficult to accept that 6 years are over after the passing away of Com. Chittabrata Majumdar, the General Secretary of CITU and one of the top leaders of the Indian Working Class. He had been a Minister in the W.Bengal Government was also a Member of the Parliament later. He passed away on 20th of February 2007, after a brief illness.
Com.Chhittabrata was closely associated with the BSNL Employees Union and guided the organisation in its critical period. I still remember that despite his failing health, he attended the Pune CEC meeting of the BSNLEU and inaugurated the same. On his ongoing journey to Pune, he had to be taken to the flight in the wheel chair. Yet he insisted in attending the same. His contribution in the Guwahati AIC for bringing in new blood in the organisation helped us much.
On his 6th death anniversary our Red Salute to Com. Chittabrata Majumdar!

Budget Session of Parliament starts on 21st February.

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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The Budget Session of the Parliament will start on 21st February and will end on 10th May 2013.
This session will be stormy and eventful since a lot of issues of controversy are going to be taken up including the PFRDA Bill. The session is starting on the second day of the strike and the same will be raised by the opposition. The rampant corruption once again revealed in the Choppergate scandal is going to rock the Parliament.