Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Indian TU Delegates visited WFTU Monument in Athens, Greece

09 Saturday Sep 2017

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WFTU CIRCUAR Dated 07-09-2017

The Delegations from South Africa and India visited the WFTU Monument in Kaisariani-Athens, Greece
The delegation of CITU India composed by the CITU President Dr Kandikuppa Hemalata, CITU General Secretary Tapan Sen and the member of the WFTU Secretariat Swadesh Dev Roye and the delegation of the South African Affiliates of WFTU composed by General Secretary of NUM, comrade David Sipunzi, General Secretary of NEHAWU, comrade Zola Zapetha, General Secretary of POPCRU, comrade Nkosinathi Theledi and the POPCRU leaders, comrades Amelia Mahlatsi, Boitumelo Pheleo, Hangwani Mashao, Mosadiwamaje Mokokong. headed by the WFTU President Mzwandile Michael Makwayiba and the WFTU General Secretary George Mavrikos visited the monument of WFTU in the municipality of Kaisariani in Athens, Greece and paid tribute to international working class and its leaders.

‘Health never a political priority in UP’ – In India also.

09 Saturday Sep 2017

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Soumitra Ghosh, Asst. Professor, Centre for Health Policy, Institute of Social Sciences Mumbay, in his article published in Hindu dated 9th September, has stated that health was never a priority in U.P. He has examined the issue in detail and furnished statistics and other particulars. According to him, there has been scant consideration for improving the health system or the hospitals. The per capita public expenditure was only a meagre Rs.452, much less than many other states. During the period from 2002 to 2015 the primary health centres were reduced from 3,808 to 3,497. It is to be noted that the population has increased much during the same period.

It is not the case with UP alone. The central government has also reduced its expenditure on health year after year. At present it is only just above 1% of GDP. In most of the countries, it is around 5% or more. The rich and affluent can get treatment from high level private and specialty hospitals. What about the poor and ordinary people? During elections, all kinds of promises are given to people, but after getting elected, the people and their issues are forgotten. According to latest report of the Global Burden of Disease Study, India is at No. 154 far below China and even Sri Lanka and Bangla Desh.

Central Govt. should take up Rohingya issue with Myanmar Govt.

09 Saturday Sep 2017

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Reports have been published that hundreds of Rohingya Muslim refugees are killed in Myanmar and thousands are leaving leaving the country as refugees to nearby countries including Bangla Desh and India. This is a big humanitarian issue. It is necessary that as a neighboring country, India should take up the matter with Myanmar. Government should also treat those came to India as refugees and they should not be pushed back or deported.

Similarity between the murder of M.M.Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh

09 Saturday Sep 2017

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The forensic examination of the bullets found on the body of Gauri Lankesh has confirmed the similarity with the bullets found from the body of the murdered University Professor M.M.Kalburgi, who was murdered allegedly by the Sanatan Sanstan, part of the Sangh Parivar. The bullets found in the bodies of murdered Narendra Dhabolkar and Govinda Pansare in Maharashtra was of the same type. This was confirmed by the Scotland Yard also.

The entire nation has condemned these murders, except hard core Hindutwa Right extremists and certain BJP leaders, which clearly indicate the thinking of the RSS, Sangh Parivar and BJP. The large scale protests all over the country condemning the murder of Gauri Lankesh and demanding immediate action to arrest the culprits has to be taken seriously by the Karnataka Government. This is pointed out especially due to the unpardonable delay in catching the culprits in the Kalburgi murder.

Start the wage negotiation in BSNL

08 Friday Sep 2017

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The last wage settlement in BSNL was w.e.f. 01-01-2007. Ten long years have passed. While the demand raised during the last wage revision was five years, it was not accepted. In many PSUs Five Year agreement is being made. But in BSNL, even after ten years, the management has not taken any action for the same.

The plea of the management is that no guidance has been received from the DPE for starting discussion. Secondly, as per the III Pay Revision Committee report for the PSU executives, there will be no pay revision for loss making companies. The ‘Affordability Clause’ in the PRC is another hindrance. Despite demand from the union for starting wage negotiation, the management is silent.
What is the justification for wage revision? What is to be done in this situation?
Justification:
1. 10 years are over after last wage settlement. As well as practice as also to move with the times, a fresh wage settlement is required.
2. The workers are not the culprits for the loss of the company and hence they should not be punished with wage-freezing. The Government and the Management are fully responsible for the present situation of the company. The details are well known to the workers as well as the management.
3. BSNL is a PSU converted from the government. It was assured at the time of corporatisation that all assistance will be given by the government to BSNL. Now the assistance required is funds for the wage revision. The government which gives huge subsidies to the corporates should also ensure assistance to its own company.
4. Since last wage revision, the pay bill for BSNL has not increased as large number of workers are being retired and there are only very few recruitment.
5. The company is gradually coming towards profit making. As per CMD BSNL, it may be profitable by 2017-18 or next year.
6. If the employees did not get absorbed in BSNL, the government would have made pay revision as granted to ITS.
7. The salary Bill will not increase much due to the large number of officials retiring.
Similar and further justifications are there.

It is necessary that the workers are mobilised for action. All effort should be made to bring all unions in the struggle.This only will make the government to concede the demands.
Delay will be suicidal.

Confederation of CG Employees on struggle path

08 Friday Sep 2017

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The Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers has decided to organise struggle programmes to achieve the common demands of the workers and the specific demands of the CG Employees
Demands
Part-I – 12 point Common Charter of Demands of all workers:
1. Urgent measures for containing price rise through universalization of public distribution system and banning speculative trade in commodity market.
2. Containing unemployment through concrete measures for employment generation.
3. Strict enforcement of all basic labour laws without any exception or exemption and stringent punitive measures for violation of Labour laws.
4. Universal social security cover for all workers.
5. Minimum wages of not less than 18000/- per month with provisions of indexation.
6. Assured enhanced pension not less than Rs.3000/- per month for the entire working population.
7. Stoppage of disinvestment and strategic sale in Central/State Public Sector Undertakings.
8. Stoppage of Contractorisation in permanent periennial work and payment of same wage and benefits for contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work.
9. Removal of all ceilings on payment and eligibility of bonus, provident fund; increase the quantum of gratuity.
10. Compulsory registration of Trade Unions within a period of 45 days from the date of submitting application and immediate ratification of ILO Conventions C-87 and C-98.
11. Against Labour law amendments.
12. Against FDI in Railways, Insurance and Defence.

Separate demands of CG employees are added.

Action Programmes
(1) 19th September 2017 (Tuesday) – Mass dharna at all District Headquarters.
(2) 17th October 2017 (Tuesday) – Mass dharna at all State Capitals.
(3) 2017 November 9th, 10th and 11th – Three days “Maha Dharna” at New Delhi along with Central Trade Unions and other independent Federations.
(4) Indefinite strike in 2018 jointly with Central Trade Unions and other independent Federations.
2017 November 9th, 10th, 11th – Delhi Maha Dharna:

We fully support the demands and extend full solidarity.

8th September – International Literacy Day

08 Friday Sep 2017

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Today, 8th September 2017 is the International Literacy Day. UNESCO and countries over the world are observing the day with the theme of ‘Literacy in a Digital World’. The world is changing rapidly to digital and no country can keep away from this process.

The literacy in India is even below than some African countries. The rulers of the country are not serious about the issue. The central government and majority of the state governments are reducing budget provisions for primary education, while favouring higher education. However, the states ruled by the Left are far above the country’s average in Literacy. Tripura stands first with Kerala following closely.

Literacy is power. People have to be empowered with learning and knowledge. This should be the priority of the government.

Stop victimising union leaders in BSNL

08 Friday Sep 2017

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It is understood that Com. K.Sebastin, General Secretary of SNEA, the recognised association of BSNL executives, has been victimised for trade union activities. This is completely wrong and gives a wrong message from the management. When the entire workers are on the track for improving the services and making the company profitable, such action on the part of the management is unwarranted.

We demand the BSNL Management to withdraw the charge sheet etc. and completely drop the disciplinary proceedings.

Demonetisation, an utter failure and and torturer of common people.

08 Friday Sep 2017

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Now it has been completely exposed that the demonetisation ordered by the Modi Government is an utter failure on all the goal posts mentioned by the Prime Minister. Neither black-money could be unearthed, black-marketeers caught, nor any terrorist group captured. Neither it could digitalise the entire nation.

What demonetisation achieved is something else. It put the entire country and especially the common people to great miseries due to shortage of cash for day to day expenses, arranging functions, marriage ceremonies, studies of children, treatment of sick people and so on. It resulted in closure of so many small business and small traders. It took about 30 lives, people who died standing on the long queue for hours together to get a few thousands of cash. The GDP has gone down drastically. Of course, it benefitted the BJP in putting black money in to banks in the last moment with prior knowledge , helped the corporate house to increase their business by destroying the small groups etc. The multinational corporates like Master Card and Visa also profitted due to the increase of ATM use, since a portion of the using charges go to them.

After demonetisation, we are where we were. One comparison can be with the capital shifting of Mohammed-Bin Tuglak from Delhi and return to Delhi itself. It is told that he was foolish and realised his mistake later. But not so Modi. The Prime Minister continues to praise and defend the demonetisation, despite it being an utter failure.

Massive protests against the murder of Ms. Gauri Lankesh

07 Thursday Sep 2017

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Massive protests erupted all over the country against the brutal murder of activist and journalist Ms. Gauri Lankesh. In all the metros including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai etc. big protest rallies were organised. In Bengaluru, there were continuous and massive demonstrations. In Kerala, demonstrations and rallies were held in hundreds of places with massive participation by several organisations and political parties.

It is now further revealed that the Sangh Parivar and its goondas have several times threatened her with dire consequences for exposing the Parivar and also strongly criticising its brazen activities.The murder has similarities with the murders of social activists and free thinkers like Narendra Dhabolkar, Govind Pansare and Kalburgi. Even the bullets are stated to be the same type.

But these murderers forget one thing. By murder they can kill the person, but not the fire of ideas and thinking that has been started. Fascism will not be allowed in this secular democratic Republic.