Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

RaulCastro, Cuban President, warns people of ‘real intentions’ of US

17 Sunday Apr 2016

Posted by in WORLD NEWS

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HAVANA, April 16 (Xinhua) — Cuban President Raul Castro on Saturday called for political and constitutional reforms to the island’s socialist system and warned of the U.S. “real intentions” in mending ties with the Caribbean nation.

During a keynote address at the opening of the Seventh Congress of Cuba’s Communist Party (PCC), Castro said the Constitution should be amended to reflect “the new era” of modernization, and to set term limits on political leaders.

“The next five years will be decisive for our country and we propose a systematic policy to renovate all government and party officials,” the first secretary of the party said.

Castro proposed all top political leaders be eligible for one-time re-election to a second five-year term, then leave office to make way for younger generations.

He also proposed an age limit to enter the party’s Central Committee and its top decision-making bodies.

The renovation of the leadership, said the president, will take place over the next five years leading up to the party’ s next congress in 2021, though Castro himself will be stepping down earlier.

“It is no secret that my second term as president of the councils of State and Ministers will come to an end in 2018, and I will hand over my responsibilities to whoever is elected,” Castro said.

Regarding the recent rapprochement between Cuba and the U.S. following half a century of enmity, Castro said all Cubans should know Washington’s intention toward the government in Havana remain the same — regime change — but the White House is today taking a different tack.

“We must be more vigilant than ever, since the U.S. has changed its strategy, but not its objective,” said Castro, warning “the methods used will be more difficult to counteract.”

Nonetheless, both countries continue to work to normalize ties and the Cuban government is committed to fully developing “beneficial cooperation” for both sides, said Castro.

“We must work on what unites us and build new bridges of cooperation for mutual interests,” he said.

Castro called on the PCC and political organizations to foster greater participation of the people in the decision-making process, “since only frank, honest discussion among revolutionaries can produce solutions.”

 

Great Tradition of NFPTE

17 Sunday Apr 2016

Posted by in CG Employees, P&T TU History

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I am going through the old records of NFPTE, including its journal, P&T Labour and the all India journals of the affiliated unions, for preparing the P&T TU History. In fact, I was surprised by the  systematic and well oiled functioning of the Federation and the unions.

The All India Conferences were being held every year as also Federal Council. A large number of Federal Executive Committee meetings  are held in which the NFPTE Office-bearers and General Secretaries participate. NFPTE and most of the All India Unions functioned in the same rented building, ‘P&T House’, in Pusa Road. The journals are regularly published. Not only the issues of the P and T workers, but general issues of the people are also included.

The  minutes of the committee meetings and conferences are well documented in the journals. The names of the speakers and what they spoke are given in nut shell. In the case of elections and contests, the proposals, the names of the proposers and seconded, the votes received etc. etc. are given in detail. It must have been a herculean task to prepare all these things.

Accounts were published every month in the journals, so that the members can understand the financial position of the union/Federation. Parliament discussion on P&T and Central Government employees issues were published in detail. It also included the branch/circle union reports. Photoes were not much, but whatever were there, were good ones.

Manual composing, proof reading and printing might have taken a good time of the leaders. From the accounts, one can see that the Federation/Unions were functioning with limited funds.

NFPTE had close connection with many trade unions outside India. It was affiliated to Posts, Telegraph, Telephones, International(PTTI). Some of the Presidents of the all India Unions and Federation were ‘outsiders’, who were Members of Parliament/Trade union leaders.

Many more things can be mentioned about the systematic functioning of the Union. I am writing the above taking note of the functioning during the few years after the formation of NFPTE.

Naturally, NFPTE was looked upon that time as a mighty organisation of the workers. I got inspired by the massive struggles organised by NFPTE including the 1960 Five Days Glorious Strike.

A Great Victory to Pre-2006 Pensioners!

16 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, Uncategorized

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50% of Last Pay Drawn as Minimum Pension to all Pre-2006 Pensioners with less than 33 years of service also!

A Great Victory to Pre-2006 Pensioners!

After a long legal battle the Government conceeds 

another point to Pre-2006 Pensioners!

            After a long battle the pre-2006 pensioners got another issue sorted out with the Government conceding grant of full pension to pre-2006 pensioners with less than 33 years  as recommended by 6th CPC! This comes after the Govt deciding to extend the judgment given out by Supreme Court in the case of Inasu from Kerala.

            Now all those pre-2006 pensioners who got only proportionate pension for want of 33 years qualifying service, will get the refixation from 1.1.2006 and get arrears also.

(Courtesy : Confederation News)          

BCPC Meeting held on 16-04-2016

16 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, CG Employees

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The meeting of ‘main stake holders’ of BCPC convened on 16-04-2016 at Gurudwara Singh Sabha, Janakpuri, Delhi for revival of BCPC decided to hold a full fledged General Body Meeting according to constitutional provision during August/September, 2016 for election of office bearers. The meeting was presided over by Com.S.C.Maheswari, Chairman, BCPC and was addressed by Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, NCCPA, Com.N.M.Sasthry, Advisor, BCPC, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, K.G.Jayaraj General Secretary, AIBDPA  Com.K.Raghavendran, General Secretary, AIPRPA and others.

The meeting was called by the Chairman to revive the functioning of BCPC which had become almost defunct after the sad demise of Com.S.K.Vyas, Secretary General.

Coms. V.A.N.Nambbodiri and K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary represented AIBDPA in the meeting.

BCPC Meeting to be held on 16th April 2016

15 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners

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A meeting of the Bharat Central Pensioners Confederation (BCPC) will be held at New Delhi on 16th April 2016 to discuss about various items, including the issues of pensioners included in the recommendations of the VII Central Pay Commission. AIBDPA representatives will participate in the meeting.

Manual Scavenging – Stop this Shame on the Nation

15 Friday Apr 2016

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Safai Karmachari Andolan (SKA) organised a demonstration in Jantar Mantar, with hundreds of manual scavengers from various parts of the country protesting against manual scavenging and demanding putting an end to it. They raised the slogan “Stop Killing Us” , citing thousands of incidents, where the scavenging workers have dies in septic tanks. (courtesy: Times of India)

Manual scavenging is a shame on India. Though Parliament has enacted law in 2003 prohibiting manual scavenging, this heinous and demeaning practice continues unabated. The system continues due to non-enforcement of law by the governments and also due to the apathy of the society in this respect.

This shame on the nation and the people of this country has to be stopped forthwith. This can be one good thing that can be done, when the entire nation is observing Ambedkar Jayanti, These workers be given alternate jobs for their living.

Connaught Place – Rajiv Chowk, Gurgaon – Gurugram

14 Thursday Apr 2016

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Haryana Government has decided to change the name of Gurgaon to Gurugram. It will become  full decision  after the Central Government approves the name.

The reason for the change  mentioned is that it is the place where Dronacharya taught Kauravas and Pandavas and that this village was gifted to him. Hence Gurugram. The paper reports indicate strong opposition to the move. They want the millennium city to continue with its brand name Gurgaon. Opposition seems to be very strong.

It has been pointed out that according to the Mahabharata,  Dronacharya refused to teach Ekalavya on the ground that he was a dalit and demanded chopping of his finger, when he found out that Ekalavya was learning archery chanting Guru’s name.

Congress government changed the famous Connaught Place to Rajiv Chowk. But the people still use the name Connaught Place and not Rajiv Chowk. Will Gurgaon will continue Gurgaon, despite the name change to Gurugram? Most probably so.

Change of Calcutta to Kolkata, Bombay to Mumbai and Madras to Chennai was on the persistent demand of the people and they have taken the name to change to their hearts. But ‘Gurgaon’ to ‘Gurugram’ seems to be lacking the support of the people.

WFTU’s May Day Greetings!

14 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by in TU News - International, WFTU

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May Day

World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU)  on the occasion of the International Workers’ Day – May 1, 2016 expresses its militant greetings to all men and women of the working class and its 92 million members in over 120 countries.
Women and men, young and old, employed or unemployed, immigrants and refugees: the WFTU wish them the strength, determination and courage in their small and large struggles.
Transnational corporations, governments reactionary forces, neo-fascist and racist, imperialist structures dread this day. Because it is a symbol of internationalism, symbol of the struggle, a symbol of class unity. They are our indispensable in our struggles for a better life, stronger tools against poverty and wars generated by capitalist barbarity.
Building on the strong, classist, mass, democratic, militant grassroots unions, we give strength to the WFTU.
And strengthening of the WFTU as class organization with roots at the base, internationalist and solidarity, we are strengthening our unions.
In all countries of the world with all kinds of actions, we demand the satisfaction of current needs, our employment, labor and social rights.
Our reality of poverty, unemployment, poverty and war, in contrast to the technological and scientific progress and wealth we produce, show how unrealistic rotten is the model of capitalist production.
We join forces and build our social alliance with the popular sectors against exploitation and capitalist barbarism.
On the occasion of the first of May 2016, we reiterate our internationalist solidarity with the people of Palestine, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Afghanistan, Yemen and all peoples who suffer imperialist attacks and fighting for their right to decide for themselves on their present and future.
This year, 2016, the representatives XVII World Congress of Trade Unions will add class trade union movement, in the heroic land of South Africa. October 5 to 8, 2016, thousands of delegates, trade unionists real fighters from all continents will gather in Durban, they analyze the global and regional situation and resolve on the strategy and the WFTU Action Plan for next 5 years.
With this Congress, we take an essential step for the world-class labor movement. “Go ahead” for meeting the current needs of the working class, poverty and unemployment caused by capitalist barbarity.

WFTU Secretariat

RBI’s stand that defaulters’ list is not available is unacceptable

14 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by in General, PSU

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To an RTI enquiry, the Reserve Bank of India is stated to have replied that it has no list of wilful defaulters of bank loans! This is surprising and shocking. Another report states that the RBI is not willing to disclose the names of the defaulters and even the default amounts.

This position is completely unacceptable. It seems that the above decision is influenced by the policy of the government supporting the big business and corporates, the involvement of VVIPs in granting loans without sufficient security and also involvement of the top Bank Management.

Strong protests should come and compel the RBI to change its stand. The wilful defaulters should be exposed and the due amounts paid back.

French Workers oppose proposed anti-labour laws

14 Thursday Apr 2016

Posted by in TU News - International

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The reform proposals of the French Government, curtailing the rights of the workers are being strongly opposed by the unions. The young people are also opposing since it will reduce employment opportunities.

In almost all European countries, the governments are on the move to reduce the wages, pension etc. and also to curtail the trade union rights.