Monthly Archives: May 2013

WFTU Protests Israeli strike against Syria

06 Monday May 2013

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WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS Class oriented – uniting – democratic – modern – independent!

1 40, ZAN MOREAS STREET, ATHENS 11745 GREECE TEL. (+30) 2109214417, (+30) 2109236700, FAX (+30) 210 9214517 http://www.wftucentral.org E-MAILS : info@wftucentral.org, international@wftucentral.org HM 05.05.2013

Athens, May 5 2013

INTERNATIONAL SOLIDARITY OF THE WFTU WITH THE WORKERS AND THE PEOPLE OF SYRIA AGAINST THE RECENT ISRAELI AIR STRIKES

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) strongly condemns the continuing Israeli airstrikes against Syria during these last few days.

The recent Israeli attacks are one more episode of the imperialist campaign against Syria. The main aim of the imperialists is to control the raw materials of the region, the energy and commodity transport routes, the share of the market, the weakening of the economic and political influence which other rival powers have in the region.

The World Federation of Trade Unions expresses its internationalist solidarity with the workers and the people of Syria and stresses that the Syrian people alone, and nobody else, are entitled to decide about their present and future.

THE SECRETARIAT

Workforce in China and India – some comparisons

06 Monday May 2013

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I was going through the latest issue of  The Economic Times Magazine. There are two articles on China, one of them comparing the condition of the work force in both the countries.  I will give some of the comparative figures that have mentioned therein, which are interesting:

India                  China

Total Workforce                  438 million          761 million

Women workers                   39%                   71%

Casual/contract workers        84%                  41%

Education Index                    71%                  39%

Both India and china together it is almost half of the world work-force.

A lot of revealing facts.

 

 

Karl Marx 5th May 1818 – 14th March 1883

06 Monday May 2013

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The greatest philosopher the world has ever seen, Karl Marx was born on 5th May 1818, almost two centuries back. Through his writings and activities along with Frederick Engels, he showed a path for the emancipation of the toiling masses – the socialist and communist society.

On his 195th birth day anniversary, my revolutionary homage to Karl Marx!

The Status and Role of Women in Cuba

05 Sunday May 2013

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In the 28th April issue of Peoples Democracy, the weekly organ of CPI(M), there is an article by Com. Brinda Karat titled “Women, Workers and Changes in Cuba”. It explains the role of the women and their status in the society etc. I am giving some information which are contained in the article, which is based on the visit and experience in Cuba by the author. A comparison with the role and status of women in India will be educative.

  1. The first and last impression of Cuba is the presence of working women in every sphere from the security guards at the airport tarmac to the shop assistants, to the customs and immigration officers to those at the tourist desk to teachers in schools, doctors and nurses in hospitals. The women have the leading role in public offices, in every profession in public service and they have got economic independence. Women are safe in the streets of Cuba, in all places. They can travel day or night at any place at any time without fear about their security. Cuba does not need policing to protect its women; women and men together ensure that it is so.
  2. Women have equal status in the work place with men. They are given equal wages. The % of women various work-places are not less than men. In many areas they are more. For example, University enrolment – 60%, Graduates 62%, Scientists 58%, Health professionals 78%, Doctors 80%, Educational sector 60%, State sector jobs 48%. In judiciary also women are well represented.
  3. Rights and benefits of working women are ensured by the state. Working mothers have got crèche to leave their children during working hours, which are mostly free of charge, except for highly paid. Maternity leave four and half months with full salary. One years leave with 60% salary and another year of unpaid leave if required.
  4. Representation in elected bodies are ensured for women. They have got about 48.5% representation and out of 15 provinces, women head the government in 10.
  5. In the Central Committee of the Communist Party, which rules the country, 42% are women. 58 municipalities are headed by women.

The Socialist Cuba, despite the economic blockade by US for decades, has the best health care system in the world. The superiority of the socialist system compared to the capitalist system can be well understood from the experience of Cuba.

National Conference of Confederation

05 Sunday May 2013

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Yesterday, 4th May 2013, I have been to Kolkata to attend the 24th National Conference of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers which is being held from 4th to 6th May. I reached the Conference site near Phool Bagan along with Coms. Saibal Sen Gupta, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU Kolkata Telephones, Om Prakash, Circle Secretary, TF and Biplab Das, Convener Co-ordination Committee. The procession participated by the all India delegates and the workers from Kolkata has just reached the site. The homage to the martyrs were going on. We also paid floral homages at the martyrs column.

The Conference Hall was named after Com. Moni Bose, veteran leader of P and T employees and Ajoy Bhowmik, leader of central govt. employees. The hall was full and overflowing. The leaders of all the central govt. organisations were. I could meet Coms.S.K.Vyas, KKN Kutty, M.Krishnan, R.L.Bhattacharjee, S.S.Ray, Ananta Bhattacharjee, Pabitra Chakraborty, Jyotsna Bose, MS Raja, Rajagopalan, Giri Raj Singh, Sobhana, , Mihir Das Gupta and many other leaders of the Central government employees movement. Though I could not speak with all the leaders since the Open Session started quickly, it was sufficient that we could meet and greet each other. BSNL leaders, including the circle secretaries, were also present in good numbers.

Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, National President, CITU inaugurated the Open session and called upon the central government employees for jointly fight against the anti-worker neo-liberal policies of the government. He also congratulated the employees for their good participation in the 48 hours strike on 20-21 February and the CGE strike in 12-12-2012. I spoke next and greeted the Conference. As I had to attend another meeting, I could not sit there till the end.

BSNL employees were part of the great CGE movement and the Confederation. After BSNL was formed, naturally the BSNL workers became part of the Public Sector employees movement. But still the bond and closeness continued. In many conferences of the Confederation, I could participate on invitation. It is a happy opportunity to meet the comrades with whom we had decades of close affinity and the experiences of struggles.

I wish the Conference of confederation every success!

 

 

 

Meeting of BSNL Workers at Kolkata

05 Sunday May 2013

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During my visit to Kolkata to attend the Open Session of National Conference of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers on 4th May 2013, a meeting was organised by BSNLEU at the CTO Hall, which was participated by a large number of workers. Com. Sunir Sennel presided and circle Secretaries Coms. Animesh Mitra (W.Bengal and Dy. GS), Saibal Sen Gupta (Kolkata), Om Prakash (TF) and Adhir Kumar sen (Telecom Stores)  addressed. Com. Tapas Ghosh, General secretary BSNLCCWF also spoke.

In my speech, I congratulated the workers of all these four circles who have held the red flag of the union very  high in the recent membership verification and have achieved mor than 66% of the total votes in favour of BSNLEU. I spoke in detail about the post-verification situation when there are two recognised unions and also representations of more than one union in the negotiating councils. The decision of the Forum of BSNL Unions on the revival of BSNL, on achieving 78.2% IDA fixation etc. were also briefed. The issues of casual and contract workers with specific mention of regularisation of casual labour and the agitation in W.Bengal was appreciated.

In the evening a meeting of the leaders of the casual and contract workers federation was held and it was decided that the Memorandum of Demands finalised by the BSNLCCWF Central Executive Committee should be submitted to the CGMs in June with massive participation.

National Conference of Confederation

05 Sunday May 2013

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The 24th National Conference of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers was inaugurated at Kolkata by Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, National Secretary of CITU on 5th May 2013. In his inaugural speech, he congratulated the Confederation  for their good participation in the 20-21 February Strike called by the  11 Central Trade Unions and also for the strike on 12th December 2012 on their own demands. The fight against the neo-liberal policies of the government will continue. The demands raised by the central trade unions in the February strike are the genuine demands of the workers and the common people and struggle will continue for settlement of the same.

The Open Session held on 5th May was presided over by Com. S.S.Ray, Convener, 12th July Committee,the united organisation of the Central, State, Public sector employees of W.Bengal. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNL Employees union, Pradip Biswas, General Secretary, BEFI and other leaders of fraternal organisations greeted the conference. Coms. S.K.Vyas, Chairman, Confederation, K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE and other leaders of the Confederation also spoke. Veteran leaders Com. Ananata Kumar Bhattacharjee, President, AIBDPA, R.L.Bhattacharjee, Secretary general, NCCPA and other leaders were also present in the dais.

The Conference will continue on 5th and 6th May and will discuss organisational issues as well as the demands of the Central Government employees like Appointment of VII Central Pay Commission etc.

We Wish the Conference all success.

Sexual Harassment – GM Faridabad transferred

03 Friday May 2013

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BSNL Management was compelled to transfer P.K.Shrivastava, Sr GM, Faridabad (Haryana)to Ranchi (Jharkhand) in the face of strong protest from the workers against the sexual harassment of one women executive at Faridabad for the last few years. Her complaint to the higher officers were of to no avail.

Today, about 100 officials from Faridabad and Corporate office, a good number of them women workers, gate-crashed to the office of the Director (HR) and demanded immediate action against the Sr.GM for his harassment of the official, including 13 local transfers within a span of 2 years! At last the Director (HR) agreed to transfer the Sr.GM immediately and the order was issued then and there transferring him to Ranchi. The demand of the unions for suspension was also agreed, which will be issued after approval from the controlling authority, in this case, Minister. The Unions/Associations also demanded that the Sr.GM should be repatriated to DOT immediately.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU along with Com.M.S.Kadian, Circle Secretary, Haryana, Com. Kuldeep Singh, Asst. Treasurer, CHQ were also present along with the General Secretaries of AIGETOA, SNEA etc.

Hearty Congratulations to the workers for their relentless fight and success!

Meeting of Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations

03 Friday May 2013

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A meeting of the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations was held on 2nd May at BSNLMS office. The main issue was about the revival and strengthening of BSNL. It discussed about the memorandum to be given to the Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister P.Chidambaram. A sub-Committee was formed to prepare the memorandum which will be finalised in the meeting of the Forum to be held on 7th May.  Further details of the meeting is being put on the BSNLEU website.