Monthly Archives: February 2013

Strike – A Wake-up Call to the Government

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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The two-days strike is a wake-up call to the government to seriously consider the demands raised by the workers, stated the Central Trade Unions, who gave call for the strike.The strike has been an unprecedented strike, stated the Central Trade Unions.
The strike has been full in Kerala, Tripura, Bihar, T.Nadu etc. It was successful in all the states in various manner. This was the biggest strike action of the workers since Independence.
In BSNL also, the strike was most successful. There was complete strike among the non-executives, while the executives gave solidarity and support. The pensioners under the leadership of the AIBDPA participated in the demonstrations in most of the places. The casual and contract workers under the leadership of the BSNLCCWF participated in the strike in all places, despite the threat from the management that they will be terminated.
In addition to the success of the strike, the unity among workers of various hues and ideologies have been cemented. The slogan of Unity for struggle, Struggle for unity and Unity and Struggle for Progress has been implemented in practice through this historic strike. Red Salute to the Workers who made the strike completely success!

Central Trade Unions keep its rock-like solidarity

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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The government’s effort to break the solidarity of the Central Trade Unions has utterly failed. The government wanted the INTUC to go back from the strike decision and strongly persuaded its leaders through political pressure.
It is to the credit of the INTUC leadership with Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy at its head, that it utterly defeated the game plan of the government to break the strike.
The 20-21 February Strike has started with the rock-like unity of all the 11 Central Trade Unions.
Congratulations to the unity of the Central trade Unions!

First Martyr of the Strike – TU leader crushed by bus on strike day at Ambala

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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A report from Hindu is reproduced below about a leader of the strike crushed by a bus at Ambala.
“A trade union leader, who was squatting along with a group of workers near the local bus depot as part of the two-day nationwide strike call on Wednesday, died when he was hit by a bus in his bid to stop it from plying, a senior Roadways official said here.

“The incident took place around 4 am this morning when Narender Singh, a bus driver by profession, tried to stop the vehicle which was being taken out from the Ambala Depot despite the strike,” district president, Haryana Roadways Workers Union’s, Inder Singh Bhadana told reporters here.

Mr. Bhadana alleged that the district administration tried to forcibly ply the bus, which hit Mr. Singh, who was also the treasurer of a AITUC union, killing him on the spot.

After the incident, the other workers resorted to violence damaging vehicles belonging to the Ambala’s Deputy Commissioner of Police and SHO of the Baldev police station area, police said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bhadana demanded a case to be lodged against the General Manager of the Roadways, failing which they will not allow the body to be cremated.” ( Courtsey: Hindu )

Central Government snubbed by the workers – Strike a big success.

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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My congratulations to the leaders of the 11 Central trade Unions who have squarely snubbed the offer of the Central Ministers that they will look in to the demands of the workers raised with the request that the 48 hours strike be withdrawn.

The government very well knows that the demands are fully justified, they are based on the universally accepted principle of trade union rights, based on the statutes of the country and the pressing issues of the people and toiling masses. Each and every demand has been fully explained through resolutions, statements, representations and have been furnished to the government before months back after the Strike resolution was adopted by the National Convention of the Workers held in New Delhi in September 2012. Most of the demands are the same as raised in the One Day Strike called by the Central trade Unions on 28th February 2012.

The government and its Ministers, including the Prime Minister, who find sufficient time to meet the Corporates, MNCs and big business almost every day, concede their unjustified demands for concessions after concessions, did not have time to meet the leaders of the Unions representing more than 12 crore workers for the last 5 months after the Memorandum was given as per the decision of the National Convention. Although Cabinet Ministers A.K.Antony, Sharad Pawar, Mallikarjun Kharge and P.Chidmabaram were authorised to meet the CTU leaders, Chidambaram did not attend showing scant respect by the Finance Minister. And no assurance was given on the demands except that they can be discussed later. Requesting the unions to withdraw the strike without assuring / conceding even one demand, is nothing short of arrogance of power. It is to the credit of the union leaders that they have given a clear snubbing to the government by continuing with the decision for the strike.

The working class has to react with all its might to make the 48 hours Strike a magnificient and historical struggle in the forward march of the Indian Working Class! Let us march ahead with determination and dedication to the cause of the workers!

The Strike Started – Enthusiastic Response

20 Wednesday Feb 2013

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The 48 hours strike has started with enthusiastic participation by the workers all over the country. Reports received from the circles indicate that maximum workers are particvipating in the strike from BSNL. The country is watching the biggest strike action of the Indian Working Class since Independence. Even many of those unions which did not initially took decision are seen participating in the strike.
In Kerala the Strike is just like a full Bandh.
Hearty Congratulations to all the strikers and the leaders! Let the government tremble before the mighty protest action!

Towards the Historic 48 Hours National Strike on 20 -21 February 2013!

19 Tuesday Feb 2013

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The working class in India is moving towards one of the biggest strike action the country has ever seen. About 10-12 crores of workers, 10% of the total people, will be on complete strike for 48 hours from 24.00 / 00.00 hours on the mid-night of 19th / 20th to midnight of 21st / 22nd February 2013 protesting against price-rise, anti-worker policies and demanding the basic demands of the workers. The demands are fully justified and have been raised years back. The government did not take any action. Even in the discussion in the last moment, yesterday, the government did not assure anything, but only requested for withdrawal of the strike, which the union leaders naturally declined.
It is the duty of each and every worker to stand strong with the strike, fully participate and give a strong message to the government that unless the demands are met the struggle will continue by the workers. The government should be taught a tough lesson for ignoring the fully justified demands of the workers.
Yes, as pointed out in my blog yesterday this is going to be another fierce battle like the workers waged in 1946 and 1974,
March forward with determination to the great struggle, the 48 hours Strike!

1946, 1974 and 2013 – is there a pattern?

18 Monday Feb 2013

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What is the relation between 1946, 1974 and 2013? At first there seems to be nothing. But if you go through the history of the struggles of the working class in India, you will find a pattern connecting these periods.
1946 was a period of historical struggles of the people and workers of India against the British Empire for realising the demand of Independence for India. The Royal Indian Navy Mutiny, the Postal Strike etc. are part of this great struggle. And Britishers had to quit India and India got independence in 1947.
In 1974 also there were serious struggles by the working class of India. The 22 days massive strike of the Railwaymen participated by about 12 lakh workers along with other central government employees on the issue of Bonus and other demands, though suppressed by the government through ESMO and brute force, started a process which culminated in the defeat of the Congress Government at Centre in 1977 for the first time despite the efforts of the government to continue with declaration of Emergency. Again a big change for the country.
The 48 hours general strike on 20-21 February 2013 called by the 11 Central Trade unions and supported by almost the entire All India Federations and trade Unions, is going to be another historical struggle. It is for the first time since Independence that such a big strike is taking place. 10-12 crore workers are expected to participate in the strike. The demands raised are the demands of the people and the working class. There is no doubt that the strike will be a great success and it will have serious repercussions on the government, today or tomorrow.
That is why I stated in the start that there is a very big similarity in the three big struggles. A change has to certainly come.

BSNL – DOT Pensioners an asset to the Organisation

16 Saturday Feb 2013

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Yesterday, 15th February, Dharna as per the call of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations was held in all SSAs in a massive way. Since I am at Calicut, the comrades here invited me to inaugurate the same. The dharna was organised at the GM office premises. A large number of participants were there. After shouting of slogans by comrades on the demands raised, I started my address. I spoke in detail about the main issue of grant of 78.2% IDA fixation as also on the necessity of improvement of BSNL Services, about the 20-21 February strike etc. The comrades were very attentive. As usual such programmes are always successfully organised here. Leaders of the Forum of Unions/Associations also addressed.

Before returning to my home, I met old friends and comrades and discussed general matters for some time. Interestingly I found out that a good number of pensioners also have attended the dharna. After the AIBDPA has been formed, the leaders and members are fully co-ordinating their activities with that of the regular employees. Now AIBDPA comrades are working to make the 20-21 February strike a big success. It is the same way with regular employees also. They are fully co-ordinating their activities with the pensioners.
Our decision to form AIBDPA – the united organisation of the DOT and BSNL Pensioners – has been proved correct once again.

Position of Forum proved correct – ITS Petition dismissed

16 Saturday Feb 2013

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The stand taken by the Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations that those ITS officers who did not opt for BSNL should be repatriated as per government orders has been once again proved correct.
The Delhi High Court on 15th February 2013 dismissed the petition of the BSNL and ITS not to implement the government orders/ delay implementation with the direction to BSNL/DOT to repatriate all the non-optee officials within two weeks. This is a great achievement for the Forum and the unions/Associations who have been demanding the same and had gone on sustained agitation. The relevance of the demand increased in view of the set back to BSNL due to non-performance of the BSNL top management, mainly occupied by the ITS officers.
We welcome the judgment of the Delhi High Court. The BSNL Management/DOT has to immediately take necessary action in the matter.

Red Salute to Com. N.J.Iyer, Revolutionary Leader!

13 Wednesday Feb 2013

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Today is the 13th death anniversary of Revolutionary Leader of the P and T and Central Employees movement, Comrade N.J.Iyer. He left us on 13th February 2000.
Com.Iyer’s life is completely intertwined with the P and T union movement since 1945, the year in which he joined the P and T Department. He was elected as the General Secretary of the All India RMS and MMS Employees Union Class III in the All India Conference of R-III Union held at Amritsar from 8-13 September 1963. He continued as the General Secretary till Jabalpur AIC held in 1985, when he voluntarily stepped down and handed over charge to Com.B.K.Banerjee as GS.
Com.Iyer was elected as the President of NFPTE in 1992 and continued as such. Com.Iyer was arrested and kept in custody during Emergency.
Iyer’s contribution in making the R III as a militant trade union is beyond words.
Iyer was a manifestation of how a true trade union leader should be. Simple living and high thinking was his life style. He never tolerated the reformist path and fought against it in the TU movement. After Com.KG Bose passed awayin 1974, it was Com.Iyer who led us on the corret path. There are a lot of incidents of his high integrity and straight dealings with the workers and comrades, which I remember and which I may narrate later. The tradition has been maintained by the R III Union and its General Secretaries Com.B.K.Banerjee, C.C.Pillai and the present GS Com. Giriraj Sharma.
Red Salute to Com.N.J.Iyer!