Protest Telegrams to DOT demanding recognition to Com. Moni Bose

As per the direction of the CHQ hundreds of telegrams/Savingrams were sent by the District /Branches of the E.III Union  to the Secretary, DOT demanding recognition of Com. Moni Bose as General Secretary. It was felt that the DOT will be compelled to accept the democratic verdict of Bhopal AIC.

All India Trade Union Convention on 17^th September 1991

The collapse of the USSR in the 1980s changed the equation of world powers. The capitalist countries  led by USA with a uni-polar power centre had its implication world over. India was no exception. The Congress government with Prime Minister Narasimha Rao initiated the anti-worker new economic  policies by the early 1990s.  Attacks on the working class increased.  Many proposals for privatization loomed large. CITU and other progressive trade unions strongly opposed these anti-people and anti-worker industrial policies. The All India Trade Union Convention held at New Delhi on 17^th September 1991 by the Central trade Unions, called for an Industrial General Strike on 29^th November 1991 against these anti-people policies.

All India Convention of CG Employees & Workers on 10-11-1911

An All India Convention of the Central Government Employees and Workers was held at Azad Bhawan Auditorium, New Delhi on 10^th November  1991 to discuss about the new developments. The Confederation, All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF), NFTE and NFPE were the sponsors. AIRF and other Federations were participating. A total number of 357 delegates from the Federations and different State Co-ordination Committees participated. The Presidium consisted of Comrades  O.P.Bhasin(Confederation), K.Adinarayana (NFPE), S.Jagannathan (NFTE) and Ganguly (AIDEF).

Com.S.K.Vyas, Secretary General of the Confederation of CG Employees & Workers presented the Declaration for the consideration of the All India Convention, which narrated the latest developments and the need to fight back the anti-worker economic policies of the central government.  The Declaration was supported by the various speakers including Comrades K.M.Mathew (AIDEF), K.Adinarayana (NFPE), O.P.Gupta (NFTE), G.L.Dhar (Secretariat Employees Fedn), Bhangu (AIRCE), K.K.N.Kutty (ITEF), Baroda Bhattacharjee ( CGCC W.B), Prabhakaran Nair (CGCC AP), Moni Bose (E.III), M.B.Vichare (CGCC Bombay) and Bhavani Bhattacharjee (Audit & Accounts). Most of the speakers stressed upon the necessity of not only extending solidarity and support but also directly participating in the strike called by the Central trade Unions.

The Declaration adopted by the Convention decided to organize country wide campaign on the following demands:

1. Reformulate the industrial trade and Economic policies in consultation with the trade unions.
2. Stop privatizations of government departments and no computerization without employees consent.
3. Concede wage parity and grant 20% wage increase
4. Regularise ED/Casual employees
5. Lift ban on recruitment and fill up vacancies.
6. Grant bonus to all employees drawing pay up to Rs. 3,500 per month
7. Income Tax exemption for those drawing salary up to Rs. 3,500 etc.

The convention called upon the CG employees and workers to express solidarity to the strike by holding rallies, demonstrations, wearing of badges etc. as also direct participation in the 29^th November 1991 strike called by the All India Trade union Convention.

The Postal and telecom unions decided for direct participation in the strike and call was given for the same.  Certain other federations also gave call for strike. The new leadership in E.III took the strike call in right earnest and made all out efforts for the same.

Nationwide Industrial General strike on 29^th November 1991

The 29^th November 1991 General strike was a big success. Railways, banks, insurance, transport, heavy industries all were seriously affected by the strike. Discontent of the workers against the new economic policies was expressed through the strike.

The CG employees participated in large numbers. The new leadership in E.III union gave valuable contribution in taking the correct decision by the workers. In E.III, there was complete strike in Kerala, W.Bengal, Assam, N.E.Region. In T.Nadu Circle, E.III Union observed one hour strike, while a full day strike was observed in Madras Telephone District.  Where full day strike was not possible, the workers participated in mass demonstrations, dhrnas etc. en masse with virtual stoppage of work. The CG employees have joined the fight along with the working class in one form or another. This was a unique feature.

In Delhi, a massive rally was held on 29^th November 1991 at Boat Club, participated by thousands of CG employees. The same was addressed by Coms. S.K.Vya, OP Gupta, K.L.Moza, G.L.Dhar, O.P.Bhasin, Moni Bose and others.

The role of the new leadership in E.III was much appreciated by the entire central government employees and their organizations. Within 2 months after the Bhopal AIC, the workers understood the change for the better.

Massive Signature campaign

The Meeting of the Central Secretariat of E.III Union held on 3^rd February 1992 strongly protested against the non-recognition of Moni Bose as General Secretary and congratulated the branches for the large number of telegrams/savingrams sent to the DOT demanding recognition. The meeting decided to organize a massive Signature Campaign on the issue. The members were called upon to sign a  Memorandum addressed to the Chairman, DOT on the following demands:

1. Recognise Shri Moni Bose as General Secretary of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III.
2. Stop Privatisation of Telecom Services and Telecom Industry and
3. Stop all measures resulting in reduction of staff, redundancy and mass scale transfers on account of closure and conversion of Telephone exchanges.

The signature campaign was a big success with many thousands of employees signing the same and sending to DOT. (To be continued)