26 Friday Apr 2013
Posted in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners
I received a copy of the souvenir issued by the Reception Committee of the Triennial Conference of All India BSNL – DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) held at Kannur on 6-7 February 2013, send by the Reception Committee.
I went through the articles, photos and other matters. It is worth reading and is full of helpful information.
My congratulations to the Reception Committee and the Editorial Board for the excellent Souvenir.
26 Friday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - International
On the occasion of May Day, 2013, the day of the international solidarity and unity of the working class, the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) extends warmest revolutionary greetings to the entire fraternity of the working class and the toiling people of the country and of the world. On this great occasion, CITU reiterates its commitment to scientific socialism and its resolve to fight for ending the regime of exploitation of man by man.
Fraternal Greetings
CITU conveys warm fraternal greetings and expresses solidarity with the struggles of agricultural workers, poor and middle peasantry for their right to better wages, employment, right to social security; right to land, remunerative prices, public procurement and marketing facilities, institutional loans etc and also against the severe fall out of the deep agrarian crisis in the country as a result of neoliberal economic policy regime. CITU aspires for a countrywide joint struggle of workers, peasants and agricultural workers for reversal of the neoliberal policy regime which calls for urgent initiative in that direction at all levels of the organizations.
CITU conveys its fraternal greetings and message of solidarity to the struggles of the youth and students organizations for the right to education and employment; against commercialization and privatization of education and their democratic rights to organize and act. CITU expresses solidarity to the struggles of women’s organizations against discrimination, against violence and for their right to appropriate representation and empowerment at all forums and levels, while extending fraternal greetings to them.
CITU salutes the working class and the democratic people of Tripura for their frontline role in re-electing the Left Front Government there in the last Assembly election in a more resounding manner. It is a resounding endorsement of the performance and people centred policies of the Left front government in the state.
CITU reaffirms its international solidarity with the working class of the Socialist countries for their struggles in defence of the socialist system there. CITU strongly desires and also firmly believes that all conspiracies of the counter revolutionary forces, backed by imperialism to weaken the socialist system and restore capitalism, will finally be defeated by the working class and people of the socialist countries.
CITU also greets the working class and toiling masses of the developed capitalist countries for their grim struggle including strikes and militant mobilizations against the atrocious onslaught on their rights and livelihood by the crisis-ridden neoliberal capitalist order in the name of so called austerity measures. CITU upholds the spirit of the most appropriate slogan—”ninety nine per cent versus one per cent” raised from the struggles and mobilizations there and longs for the same to be voiced much louder throughout the world as the battle-cry of the working people against the most atrocious and inhuman face of the capitalist system under neoliberal format.
The CITU reasserts the bondage of solidarity with the working class of the developing countries for their bitter struggles simultaneously against imperialist machinations on their country’s socio-political and economic governance on the one hand and onslaughts on their rights and livelihood by their respective ruling polity on the other under the influence of the imperialist driven neoliberal order.
On this occasion of May Day 2013, CITU reiterates its solidarity and support to the ongoing struggles against imperialist aggressions and hegemonistic ploy, particularly by the US imperialists at various parts of the globe by the people of the respective countries.
CITU denounces the continuing illegitimate interventions and intimidating maneuvres against Syria and Iran which tantamount to shameless and arrogant infringement of sovereignty of other states and calls upon the peace and freedom loving people to raise their voice of condemnation against the same. The US imperialist clique with the support of their European allies has also been openly aiding and abetting the brutal suppression of the genuine up-surge of the people against the autocratic rulers of Bahrain, Yemen, Jordan, Morocco, and Saudi Arabia and so on with money and war weapons. CITU condemns US and its allies provocation building tension in Korean peninsula. The US also in violation of world opinion has been continuing with illegitimate sanctions against Cuba and Iran.
CITU strongly condemns the continuing Israeli onslaught on the Palestinian people and frequent bombing of West Bank and Gaza with the support of the US administration. Such politico-military intimidation, interventions, maneuvres by US and its allies with an aggressionist and hegemonic strategy has gained momentum during last one year along with deepening economic crisis worldwide. CITU reiterates its support to the struggle of the Palestinian people against US-backed Israeli onslaughts joins the working people worldwide in demanding recognition of an independent sovereign Palestinian State with the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
CITU firmly upholds that the fight against imperialism is an integral part of the class struggle against exploitation by the neoliberal capitalist order and undertakes with priority the task heightening the anti-imperialist consciousness of the working class movement as well as the consciousness for the international solidarity.
Liberating the people of the Arab world from the direct or indirect clutches of the imperialist forces and installation of genuine popular rule of democracy in the African and Middle
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26 Friday Apr 2013
Posted in Uncategorized
BSNL Management has issued orders granting recognition to BSNLEU as the Main Recognised Representative Union and NFTE as Second Representative Union based on the % of votes. The order is put on BSNLEU website.
25 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - International
Tags
WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS Class oriented – uniting – democratic – modern – independent – internationalist!
MAY DAY 2013
WE WILL NOT BECOME THE SLAVES OF THE 21ST CENTURY
The World Federation of Trade Unions appeals to all the trade union organizations in the world to organize on the occasion of May Day 2013 rallies and activities in all countries, in all continents, honoring the International Workers’ Day and the martyrs of the working class. The WFTU proposes, based on its resolution at its Presidential Council Meeting on March 7-8,2013 in Lima Peru, the slogan: ”
CHICAGO SHOWED US THE WAY” to be used next to the respective slogans of each union organization.
The international trade union movement bears great responsibility to protect and defend the International Workers Day from the efforts of capitalist governments, employers, various institutions and non governmental organizations to vanquish this day or completely alter its meaning.
The May Day is for the international working class a
SYMBOL of the irreplaceable role that the workers hold in the society and the production, of the important and the victorious achievements of the class struggles historically, of the fact that all the rights are the fruit of bloody struggles. Nothing was handed over to the working people.
The May Day is a DAY OF MEMORY AND TRIBUTE to the martyrs of the working class who sacrificed themselves in the crucial and decisive strikes of the American workers in Chicago (1886) demanding 8 hours of work, 8 hours of recreation, 8 hours of rest, as well as the struggles for the working hours in many countries all over the world before and after the Chicago strikes, throughout the history of the class struggle until today. We pay tribute to the martyrs of the working class who were killed, tortured, imprisoned and were forcibly disappeared by the anti-popular and anti-labor governments of the capital in all continents.
The May Day is a LESSON FOR THE NEW GENERATIONS that includes the principles of the working class such as the proletarian internationalism, the class unity, the irreplaceable value of the decisive struggles with class-orientation.
Most of all, the May Day is a DAY OF STRUGGLE where the International Working Class meets in the streets of the fight for the contemporary labour and social rights. For the right to less working hours with dignified salaries which was realistic in the 1880’s and cannot be unrealistic in the technological progress of the 21st century!
Nowadays, while capitalism being in its deep crisis exposes in all the spectrum its barbaric, brutal and ruthless face confiscating any ounce of right from the working class and the popular strata; Nowadays that the competition of the monopolies creates more battlefields and new imperialist interventions; Nowadays that the state violence, repression of social and labour struggles and the violation of the trade union freedom escalate internationally let’s move:
Chicago showed the way – NO to the contemporary capitalist slavery
We fight for a world without exploitation of men by men
On May Day, the WFTU expresses its internationalist solidarity with the people of Cuba, Palestine, Syria, Lebanon, Mali, Colombia, Venezuela etc.
THE SECRETARIAT
Athens, Greece – April 16
th 2013
25 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
There are about 3450 casual labours working in BSNL for the last 15 to 20 years. They are attending to all kinds of works from line and cable work to clerical and technical jobs. They have been engaged during the DOT period ie. before 01-10-2000. At the time of formation of BSNL, the government assured that all these left-out casual labours will be regularised in BSNL provided that the casual labour has worked one year for 240 days without break. About 6,000 casual labours were regularised accordingly. But due to delay in forwarding their cases to BSNL corporate office by the SSA/Circle administration these 3450 were again left out.
They are getting wages at the lowest pay scale in CDA scale. But they should get in the IDA scale. On the plea of a Supreme Court judgement, they are being denied regularisation. But based on the same judgement, casual workers in Income Tax, Customs etc. are regularised. Despite maximum efforts by BSNLEU and also BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation, the management is adamantly refusing to regularise them. This is most unjust. These workers who have spent the best of their youth for DOT/BSNL is being deprived of their rightful claim of regularisation.
Most of these casual labour (2270) belong to W.Bengal. Not a single casual labour was regularised from W.Bengal only due to administrative delay. Had their claims sent in time to Corporate office, they would have been regularised. These poor labours are being punished for the laziness of the heads of SSAs and Circles. And these top officers are enjoying all the benefits that from the company. This injustice can not be tolerated. Even as per Supreme Court judgement, regularisation can be done, but the management is insensitive and completely against regularising them. There is no other way but sustained struggle to end this injustice.
That is exactly what the W.Bengal Circle Union has decided. Two days back, more than 1000 casual workers went on an Indefinite Strike. After certain assurances from the CGMT W.Bengal, the hunger strike has been deferred. CHQ also discussed the issue with the management. But the management is not prepared to concede the demand of regularisation.
This is a black-mark on the face of the BSNL Management. While the Government departments can regularise their casual labour, while the PSUs are even regularising their contract workers, why not the BSNL management can’t do the same. Struggle is the only way to fight against the injustice and make the management to do justice to the labour.
BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF should move together and ensure that justice is meted out to these toiling workers.
25 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in Left News, Uncategorized
New Delhi, Apr 25 : Amid talk of early general elections, Left parties today decided to step up all-India campaigns on some crucial issues as part of their strategy to jointly intervene in the evolving political scenario and provide an alternative platform against Congress and BJP.
Top leaders of the four parties met and decided to organise an all-India political convention here in the firstweek of July to work out the next steps in this regard.
The hour-long meeting was attended by Prakash Karat (CPI-M), D Raja, S Sudhakar Reddy (both CPI), Debabrata Biswas, G Devarajan (both Forward Bloc) and Abani Roy (RSP).
“At this convention, we will discuss the emerging political scenario and how the Left parties, as a united group, could intervene. The convention will also set out the tasks before these parties,” Raja told PTI after the meeting. Biswas, the Forward Bloc General Secretary, also said the Left parties, through this convention which would be attended by activists of Left parties from across the country, would “unitedly provide an alternative to the BJP and the Congress”.
An agenda on the alternative policy platform would be adopted at the convention which would also work out the future course of action, Biswas said.
The Left parties have already decided to work for the creation of a non-Congress, non-BJP formation which would adhere to a policy platform as an alternative to the ‘neo- liberal’ policies pursued and supported by the two major parties.
This was the second meeting of the Left leaders in as many weeks. At the last meeting, they had opposed thecrucial Land Acquisition Bill and demanded that it be referred back to the Standing Committee or a Joint Select Committee.
25 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - India
The Central government employees have demanded for VII Central Pay Commission for effecting next wage revision. The demand has been jointly raised by the All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF), Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers and All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF). These organisations have jointly called for massive demonstrations on 29th April 2013 on the demand of VII CPC and Withdrawal of PFRDA Bill.
I welcome this development of joint action by all the Central Government employees! This is most necessary and appropriate.
25 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in BSNLEU, Obituary, Tributes
Comrade Mrinal Kanti Dasgupta, veteran leader of the Telecom Trade Union movement passed away today, 25th April 2013, at Ruby hospital in Kolkata. He was 82.
Comrade Dasgupta was one of the senior most leaders and was the President of the E.III Union Calcutta Telephone circle as also that of 12th July Committee, Central Govt. Employees Co-ordination Committee and Pensioners’ organisations. His great contribution in the growth of E.III (N) Union and BSNLEU is well appreciated.
I express my deep grief at his sad demise and convey my condolences to the bereaved family, Kolkata Circle Union, comrades and friends!
23 Tuesday Apr 2013
Posted in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers
More than one thousand casual and contract workers started Hunger Strike on 22nd April in front of CGM Office, W.Bengal Circle, demanding regularisation of casual labours, IDA wages instead of CDA wages to casual labour, payment of arrears of wages to contract workers etc. The Hunger Strike was led by Com. Tapas Ghosh, General Secretary, BSNLCCWF and others. Com. Animesh Mitra, Dy.GS, BSNLEU and Vice-President BSNLCCWF addressed.
In the evening I met Shri R.N.Rai, Director (HR) BSNL and informed about the critical situation and asked for intervention and settlement of the issues which are fully justified. He assured that he will contact with CGM and find some solution. The leaders at Kolkatta discussed with the CGM WB and on the basis of the assurances given by him deferred the hunger strike. Myself met the Dir(HR) again on 23rd and demanded settlement with out any further delay. My Congratulations for the W.Bengal Comrades for the massive hunger strike that has been organised.
The various issues of the Casual/Contractual Workers are as follows:
(i) Regularization of Left out listed Casual workers,
(ii) Timely payment of monthly wages to Casual/Contractual Workers,
(iii) Timely payment of VDA,
(iv) Retirement benefits after 60 years,
(v) Death benefit from Circle welfare Fund on the event of death of a Causal/Contractual Worker,
(vi) Payment of wage to Casual/Contractual Workers as per IDA Pay scale.
22 Monday Apr 2013
The results of the membership verification has been announced on 18th April 2013. Since the orders on the same have not been issued so far till today evening, I met Shri A.N.Rai, Director (HR) BSNL and explained to him the urgency for issuing the orders expeditiously. After some discussion, he agreed that the orders recognising the eligible unions ( BSNLEU and NFTE) will be issued tomorrow.
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