Author Archives: VAN NAMBOODIRI

Comrade K.Arjunan, undaunted fighter.

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNLEU

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This is not the original Arjunan of Epic  Mahabharata, who doubtless was an undaunted fighter who led the Pandavas to victory.

This Arjunan is another undaunted fighter who has led and fought many struggles in the cause of the workers and toiling masses. Comrade K.Arjunan, former Circle Secretary of All India Telegraph Traffic Employees Union, Class IV, has been part of the might Co-Ordinating Committee of P and T Unions, Kerala Circle and a veteran leader of the P and T workers. He was victimised in all the struggles of the P and T Employees. I knew him earlier, but we became close associates, after I came to Thiruvananthapuram from Calicut, after my election as President and later as Circle Secretary of the AITE Union Class III.

The P and T Co-ordinating Committee organised several mighty agitations, in all of which Comrade Arjunan was an important part of the leadership. He had no doubt or vacillation at any time for moving to struggle. He fully involved in all these struggles and was greatly respected as such.

I met him once again yesterday, 18th March 2014, in the Convention of the AIBDPA,  held at Thiruvananthapuram, which he presided. Since his eye was operated recently he did not absent himself, but came wearing dark glasses as per advice of the Doctor. Despite the fact he is 75 years and retired about 17 years back, his speech still has its strong accent and the energy for many more struggles. He is an important leader of the AIBDPA, who I am sure will lead the pensioners in the correct direction.

My Revolutionary Greetings to you, Comrade Arjunan.

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Celebrate BSNLEU Day on 22nd March 2014!

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNLEU

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On 22nd of March 2014, BSNL Employees Union will be completing 13 years. Formed on 22nd March 2001 at the National Convention of Telecom Employees at Visakhapatnam, called by the progressive unions in the newly formed BSNL,  BSNLEU during the last 13 years have grown to become as the biggest union. It was the only recognised and representative union in BSNL since the second Membership Verification in 2004 to 2013, till it took initiative for grant of recognition to a second union also.

During the last 13 years of its existence, BSNLEU has been able to achieve two wage agreements for the employees, a new Promotion Policy as also many other achievements. It has taken the lead fight against disinvestment and privatisation and stopped the government from selling its share. It has taken initiative in forming the Joint Action Committee/Forum  of the Associations/Unions of Executives and Non-Executives which has organised many struggles and strikes to save BSNL and improve its services as also on the demands of the workers. The workers have rallied around BSNLEU due to its sincere and committed functioning. It took initiative in forming the organisations for the Pensioners (AIBDPA) and Casual, Contract Workers (BSNLCCWF) and jointly fought for settling their issues. BSNLEU has also done its due role amongst the PSU Unions. Now it has also taken initiative to form the Joint Action Committee of Non-Executive Unions/Associations for focussing and organising struggles for settling the urgent demands.

Another achievement of the union is the purchase of a new union office building at New Delhi at Shadipur area. The building has been purchased and was inaugurated on the BSNLEU Day, 22nd March 2012. The purchase could be made only due to the whole hearted support of the members throughout the country. The purchase was made by the balance amount in the union accounts and a loan of Rs. 1.5 crore from the bank. CHQ has called for further donations and we are sure that the members will donate generously again to repay the loan. By purchasing the building within 2 years of taking the decision in the Thiruvananthapuram All India Conference, CHQ has been able to fulfil the long cherished dream of the BSNL workers.

We have been celebrating the BSNLEU Day every year by organising some social service like blood donation camps, helping the poor school children by donating uniform and books, kambals and dresses to the poor and old etc. I have no doubt that our Branches/Districts will continue this social service this year also on the BSNLEU Day.

BSNLEU has grown to the present position only with the wholehearted support of our members and well wishers. We thank them and congratulate them ! Let us observe the BSNLEU Day in a befitting manner.

CEC meeting of BSNLEU, Kerala Circle

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNLEU

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The Circle executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU Kerala Circle was held at P and T House  Thiruvananthapuram on 19th March 2014.  Com. A.V.Kuriakose, Circle President, presided.  Com. K.Mohan, Circle secretary, welcomed all.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President, BSNLEU, addressed the CEC and explained the decisions of the CEC Rajkot for effective implementation. He also spoke on the decisions of the Forum as well as the newly formed formed JAC of Non-Executive Unions/Associations.

The CEC discussed in detail about the issues and organisation matters. The task of the workers in the present situation, the general elections also were discussed.

Tomorrow, a Circle Convention of BSNL Employees is also being held.

 

 

 

BSNLCCWF Kerala Convention

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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A Circle Convention of BSNL Casual Contract Labour Union, Kerala Circle was held today, 19 March 2014, at Bankmen’s Hall, Thiruvananthapuram. More than 500 workers from all parts of Kerala participated. Com. K.Mohan, Circle President BSNL CCLU and Circle Secretary BSNLEU presided over the Convention. Com. Somasekharan Nair, Circle secretary BSNL CCLU welcomed all the participants and the invitees.
Comrade K.N. Balagopalan, MP and President of the CCLU inaugurated the convention. He congratulated the CCLU Kerala for organising the 16 days strike through which many achievements could be made. He analysed the election situation and called upon the workers to support those who support them. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President BSNLCCWF and BSNLEU explained in detail about the issues of the casual and contract workers and the struggles organised to achieve them. Coms. P.V.Chandrasekharan, Circle President AIBDPA and senior leader of P and T workers, R.Muralidharan Nair, AGS BSNLEU, A.V.Kuriakose, Circle President, BSNLEU, Suresh, AGS, BSNLCCWF , V.Bhagyalakshmi, Mahila Committee Convener, Ashok Kumar, Convener, Confederation, Trivandrum and other leaders addressed.
In response to the appeal of the CHQ BSNLCCWF for donations to help Com. S.P.Tiwari, Circle Secretary of BSNL CCWF, UP East who is victimised and retrenched for the last few years and who is in serious condition in hospital due to cancer, a generous donation of Rs.9,100 was received from the house. Another Rs.5,000 was donated by the BSNL CCLU Circle Union. The total amount of Rs. 14,100 was handed over to Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri to be given to Com. Tiwari. Com. Namboodiri thanked the Kerala Circle and the comrades for the spontaneous and generous response to this noble cause.
The  meeting came to an end with vote of thanks by Com. C. Vamadevan, District Secretary BSNLCCLU.

Comrade P.V.Chandrasekharan, a dynamic leader

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNLEU, TU News - Telecom specific

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Whenever you think about the BSNL Trade Union movement in Kerala, there is one outstanding leader, who is still vibrant and is the guide and Advisor of the movement, not only of BSNL but the entire P and T TU movement. He is Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, former Circle President of BSNLEU and earlier Circle Secretary of the AITE Union Class III for long 25 years. At present he is the Circle President of AIBDPA and all India Patron of the same, in addition to Vice-President of CGPA Kerala.
A charming personality with intimate connection with all the workers and leaders, he has been in the progressive movement since his student days. Through the Students Federation and later through the P and T movement after joining P and Department, he continues to be one of the strongest leaders fully committed to the working Class ideology.
During his service, he was victimised cruelly several times through punishments, suspension, transfer to isolated places despite his frail health etc. After my tenure as Circle Secretary and when handing over the same to Com.PVC, as he is fondly called, I had the full confidence that here is one comrade who will be faithful to the working class and make all out efforts for the onward march and achievements of the workers.
The telecom workers, nay central Govt. Employees and Pensioners also, look to Com. PVC for continued leadership and guidance in their sustained struggles and organisational activities.
He is now engaged with preparation of a book on the P and Trade Union movement in Kerala. The P and T Workers are eagerly waiting for the book to be released.
My Best Wishes and Revolutionary Greetings to Comrade P.V.Chandrasekharan. We expect more and more contributions from him to the cause of the working class!

Red Salute to Comrade EMS Namboodiripad!

19 Wednesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNLEU, Obituary, Tributes, TU News - India

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Times move so fast. It is difficult to think that it is 16 years since Com. EMS Namboodiripad, one of the great Communists the world has ever seen, has passed away. Yes, it was on 19th March 1998 that the veteran ideologue and all rounder in the fields of politics, culture, agitations and what not, left us forever.
Born in a rich landlord family, EMS, left all material assets to the Party to start the Party Journal Deshabhimani. At the time as a student in school/college itself he organised the young and fought for the liberation of the Brahmin women who were just like slaves in the interiors of home. He fought with other youngsters like him against the age old anarchic systems like untouchability.
While studying itself he jumped in to the struggle for the independence of the country. There was no looking back afterwards.
As a Congressman, Congress Socialist and then Communist, his contribution to the people and the country is well known. Just like any other communist leader, Com.EMS also faced all attacks, jail, underground etc. from the British first and then by the Congress government in free India.
He became the first Communist Chief Minister, when the Communist Party was elected in the first ever state elections in Kerala in 1957. All the reactionaries, vested interests,communal forces combined together under the leadership of Congress to oust the government, but could not, due to the strong and solid support of the people. In one of the most shameful acts of Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, the EMS Government, which brought many progressive and beneficial acts like land reforms, Education etc. was dismissed.
Along with Com.A.K.Gopalan, the firebrand agitator and leader of the toiling masses, and other legends of the communist movement, Com. EMS strengthened the Communist and working class movement specially in kerala and generally all over the country. During his tenure as the General Secretary of the CPI(M), the party rose to great heights in organisation.
Comrade EMS has written continuously for more than half a century on all matters and the same have been published after his death in 100 big volumes by the Party.
I had the good fortune to meet him several times in connection with the organisation of the central government employees and P and T specially. His inaugural speech in the All india Conference of AITE Union Class III at Trivandrum on 1994, focussing the idea that both the intellectual and manual workers should jointly contribute for the growth of the industry and the working class movement is still in our memory. We have put in to practice by organising and conducting struggle of all the sections of workers in the Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations, in our own sphere. There are many other instances of his guidance and support to the P and T movement, which I am not mentioning here, for brevity’s sake.
On the 16th death anniversary of this great Communist and Working Class leader, we pay our respectful homage and pledge to follow the revolutionary path shown by him.
Red Salute to Comrade EMS!

Remember Paris Commune?

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in General, History

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About one half centuries back, in 1871 on 18th March, the workers revolted against the French Government and formed the Paris Commune. It had got inspiration from the French Revolution of 1789 to 1799 and wanted to completely to change the system in favour of the workers. But it was crushed by the Government by 21 May of the same year. 20,000 were killed, 38,000 jailed and 7,000 deported.
But the memory of that great uprising of the French people will inspire the working class all over the world.

what the BSNL Board is contemplating?

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News

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The BSNL Management has invited the Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations for a presentation of its decision to form a Tower Company out of BSNL. Good that the Unions / associations are called for briefing.

But one serious question come to the fore. Why the BSNL Management or BSNL Board discuss the issue with Forum/Unions/Associations which are important stake holders of the BSNL, before taking any decision?

When the Forum knew about the arbitrary decision of the Board, it has strongly protested against this anti-BSNL, anti-worker decision. The 2.5 lakh of workers are putting their best to improve the services and financial position of the company and is fully co-operating with the Management on the strengthening and efficiency. Employees are fully convinced that forming a separate tower company will be completely against the interest of BSNL and its workers and hence strong protest.

Dropping the decision of the Board to form the Tower Company will be best decision. That is our demand to the BSNL Management/Board.

P and T House Trivandrum, the Centre of TU Activities

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

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After some time, today, 18th March 2014, I got an opportunity to be at P and T House, Thiruvananthapuram, the citadel of service trade unions in Kerala.
P and T House is the Union office of NFPTE/NFPE/BSNLEU for the last more than 50 years. It was inaugurated in 1961 after the formation of the Circle Co-Ordinating Committee of P and T Unions (NFPTE) to accommodate all the 9 unions of NFPTE in Kerala.At that time onwards it became a place where not only P and T Unions, but various unions/associations of Central / State government employees met and discussed various issues and prepared for struggles.
As the Circle Secretary of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III, I stayed at Trivandrum and functioned from the P and T House for about 4 years. All the 9 NFPTE unions functioned from there.
After formation of BSNL and BSNLEU, the latter is also functioning from P and T house which continues till today.
The rented house was purchased by NFPTE and constructed a new building in the 1980s. In this connection it is to be noted that all the District (SSA) headquarters in Kerala have their own buildings to accommodate the NFPE / BSNL union offices.
It was a joy to meet many senior comrades there. It was indeed an inspiration to me at P and T House, cherishing the memories of sustained struggles and organising the Union.

Crimea now part of Russia

18 Tuesday Mar 2014

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MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday signed a treaty making Crimea part of Russia, in a historic redrawing of Russia’s borders after he declared that the Black Sea region has always been “in the hearts” of his countrymen.

In a fast-moving sequence of events following Crimea’s secession referendum on Sunday, the Kremlin said Crimea was now considered part of Russia and no longer Ukrainian territory, shrugging off strong international objections. (Times of India)