Category Archives: P&T TU History

P&T TU History

A visit to Comrade Sisir Bhattacharya, veteran P and T union leader

08 Sunday Nov 2015

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It was an educating experience to meet Comrade Sisir Bhattacharya, the senior mot leader of the P and T Trade Union movement. Today, along with Com. Mihir Dasgupta, former AGS of BSNLEU and Com. Om Prakash Singh, Circle Secretary Telecom Factory, I visited Sisirda at his residence in Kolkata.

Sisirda was happy to meet us. We discussed about the past experience in his life connected with the Union activities as well as his interest in sports. He gave us breakfast and we chatted for about two hours. I could gather a lot of information and knowledge about the trade union movement in Bengal and India.

At 95, he still maintain comparatively good health and memory to tell us the past events with full clarity.

Thank you Comrade Sisirda. Wish you good health and many more years to guide us!

How NFPTE and Affiliate Unions functioned ?

23 Friday Oct 2015

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I am going through the early documents of the NFPTE and affiliated Unions for preparing some articles. The documents reveal a highly developed sense of democratic functioning, open debate and also thoroughness in the work.

NFPTE and most of the affiliated unions were functioning in a rented building at 9,Pusa Road, New Delhi -5. (Although the particular building has been demolished and new building constructed in its place, you can see old similar buildings in the nearby plots). The P.III Union functioned at 9A/52, Western Extension Area, Karol Bagh, New Delhi – 5, which is nearby.The Secretary General and General Secretaries used to meet almost every day.

NFPTE had its journal “P and T Labour” and the affiliated unions their own journals. In the journals, the accounts of the union (unaudited) are published every month.

The meetings of the Central Working Committee are reported in detail with the decisions, the discussions with the points made by the speakers etc. so that the reader will be able to understand the essence of it. The constitutional provisions are strictly adhered to. Even the name of all the executive committee members are printed.

The Common issues are taken by the Federation, while the sectional issues are  taken by the concerned unions. The Parliament discussion on P and T issues are reported in details with the speakers’ name and what they said.

It is very interesting to go through these records which will  inspire the workers for their future activities. Red Salute to these great leaders who built up the P and T movement!

How T.III Union purchased a Typewriter in 1955?

23 Friday Oct 2015

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Immediately after the formation of the National Federation of P and T Employees on 24th November 1954, an office was taken at 9, Pusa Road, New Delhi – 5 for the Federation and the affiliated unions. T.III Union also functioned there. It had an old type writer and wanted to purchase a new one. Donation @ Re. 1/- was appealed by Com. B.K.Mukherjee, President of the Union. The Typewriter was purchased first and then after collection, the amount of about Rs.800.00 was paid.

It was through such hardships and difficulties that NFPTE and the affiliated unions were built up.

“Organise if you want real Living Wage……” – Babu Tarapada

23 Friday Oct 2015

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“Organise if you want real living wage, if you want to have your demands met, if you desire better treatment from your officers, if you want that you should be consulted on all administrative measures affecting you..”

(From 1921 Lahore AIC Speech of Babu Tarapada Mukherjee.)

Telecom TU Movement (10) – Calcutta CWC Meeting and Sanchar Bhawan March

13 Tuesday Oct 2015

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Calcutta CWC Meeting – 18-20 March 1993

The Central Working Committee of E.III Union was held at Calcutta from 18th to 20th of March 1993. Calcutta comrades had made convenient arrangements for the holding of the CWC. It was held at Yuba Kendra, Moulali, in the centre of the city.

The three day CWC gave a clarion call to the leaders and workers to rise above the differences and help settling the problems in E.III Union through discussions so that the Telecom workers can unitedly  organize struggles for defending their rights and interests in the face of severe attacks  due to the retrograde policies of the central government resulting in the threat of massive and indiscriminate computerization and consequential danger of redundancy, retrenchment, mass scale transfers etc.

The CWC was presided over by V.A.N.Namboodiri, President and Moni Bose, General Secretary, presented the report on activities. It strongly protested against the move of corporatization and privatization of telecom services. A strong and united movement is required to resist the anti-worker proposals. The CWC meeting adopted a 30 Points Charter of Demands, including the upgradation of all officials to the restructured cadre after training and re-training. The CWC appealed to SG, NFTE to end disruption of E.III Union and accept democratic functioning.

In order to achieve the demands in the charter, the following programmes of action were decided:

  1. 09-23 April 1991 : Charter of Demands Campaign
  2. 04 May 1993 : Charter of Demands Day
  3. 17-21 May 1993 : Demonstration Week
  4. 04 June 1993 : Dharna

E.III Union requested for joint programmes to SG, but he flatly refused.

However, all these programme were successfully implemented by the E.III Union.

March to Sanchar Bhawan – 18th August 1993

On the call of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III (E.III Union), about one thousand telecom workers made their presence felt on the streets of the capital culminating in a massive dharna in front of Sanchar Bhawan on 18th August 1993. They came from almost all states by train, buses and other public vehicles. The well decorated and commodious hall of Hindu Mahasabha provided the accommodation for those coming from distant places that needed overnight stay. Others who came by buses/tempos etc. assembled in front of the Mavlankar Hall and finally these streams converged in to the dharna in front of Sanchar Bhawan, the office of the Secretary, DOT.  The Sanchar Bhawan March was in continuation of the four phased programmes adopted at the Calcutta CWC meeting for the realisation of the 30 Point Charter of Demands.

Section 144 was in vogue in the entire area and the telecom administration denied entry inside Sanchar Bhawan as a matter of routine practice. The only course left was to defy the 144 and hold the dharna in the prohibited area, just in front of Sanchar Bhawan. Banners and festoons, posters and placards and shouting of slogans – all these indicated the militancy and the struggle-mood of the workers. The whole area was surrounded by van loads of police and para-military forces. They contemplated mass arrests for violating the law. It was the direct intervention of the TU leaders and MPs which saved the situation.

Exactly at 10.00 AM, the dharna started with V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President of the union, in the chair. The General Secretary, Moni Bose, welcomed the participants and explained that the purpose of the programme was to break the stalemate and securing justice from the department for the settlement of the fully justified 30 Points Charter of Demands. It was also to show the solidarity of the telecom workers to fight the menace of large-scale privatisation, which was in the offing. The President hailed the workers’ indomitable spirit exhibited in their massive participation. A good number of women comrades were also present.

Com. Suseela Gopalan, M.P., Chairman of the  Co-Ordinating Committee of P and T Unions in Kerala and a Member of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee of Communications Ministry, inaugurated the dharna. She hailed the fighting spirit of telecom workers and assured full help and co-operation in the struggle. Com. Saifudheen Choudhary, M.P., greeted the participants  and declared that their struggles for realization of the justified demands will get support from all sides. Com. Ram Vilas Paswan, M.P., strongly criticized the government policies and called upon the telecom workers  to fight for the reversal of such anti-people policies. Com. Chitta Basu, M.P., spoke and gave full support. The leaders of the P and T TU movement, Coms. B.K.Banerjee, RL Bhattacharjee, P.S.Raman Kutty, R.S.Yadav and others addressed the dharna.

The leaders urged upon the telecom workers to play the van guard role in organizing a joint united movement of all central government employees for the realization of basic demands and ensure that the  proposed strike of CG employees by the end of September be a resounding success. The “United Struggle Day” on 25th August is to be organized in an effective manner to prepare the ground for the strike in September, in case the demands are not conceded by the government.

All the leaders appealed the telecom workers to respond to the call of the union and participate in the General Strike and Bharat Bandh on 9th September 1993, to fall in line with the people of our country for  the reversal of the wrong economic policies of the central government and against communalism.

After the Dharna was over, the important functionaries of the union at Circle and district levels assembled at the Dharmashala Hall under the presidentship of V.A.N.Namboodiri. R.S.Yadav, B.P.Singh, J.Sampath Rao, A.C.Shah, K.M.Pillai, Shibdas banerjee, Harcharan Singh, H.S.Dhillon, K.D.M.Tripathy, Tundam, S.R.Nayak and Amina Banerjee addressed the meeting.

General Secretary Moni Bose summed up the discussion and declared amidst cheers that the progressive leadership in E.III Union, while fighting against the disruption from within and outside, will carry forward the crusade for unity and united action against the massive privatization for which a continuous discussion with the Federations/Associations would be carried on. (To be continued)

“Workers are not Beggars, They are the Salt of the Earth” – Babu Tarapada

11 Sunday Oct 2015

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Babu Tarapada

” Ah! Brothers, workers are not beggars, they are the salt of the earth, they are the only people who produce wealth. Wealth consists of the labour imprinted on material substance; and in the absence of workers, where is the labour to come from, which is necessary to create wealth?”

“Organise if you want a Living Wage, Organise if you want to have your working hours reduced, Organise if you desire better treatment from your superior officer, Organise if you want that authorities should consult and consider your opinion on all administrative measures affecting you.”

” Take it from me, Brothers, that petitions and memorials and supplications will count for nothing as long as you do not organise yourselves in a manner to convince the government that you will no longer stand nonsense.”

( Excerpts from the historic Presidential speech of Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, Pioneer of the P and T Trade Union movement at the Lahore Conference of All India( including Burma) Post Office and RMS Union on 9th October 1921. Please remember that he spoke thus when the mighty British were ruling the country. Babu Tarapada was charge-sheeted and dismissed for this speech. The Director General Posts had offered him no action if he apologized. But he refused. Even after dismissal, he continued  leading the movement till his death on 29th September 1929. P and T Trade Union Movement has been led by such stalwarts who had stood their ground for the cause of the workers.)

Telecom TU Movement 1991-2015 (9) – Campaign for National Unity

07 Wednesday Oct 2015

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Babri Masjid Demolished – 06-12-1992

6th December 1992 was a sad day for the country. The reactionary forces which roused serious communal tension were able to demolish the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya (Faizabad) on that day. The state government and the Central Government both utterly failed to tackle the situation, although it was well known earlier that the RSS Parivar was preparing for the same for months. The whole nation condemned the incident. It was a serious attack on the secular fabric of the nation. The demolition of Babri Masjid had serious repercussions.

Peace Movement and Demonstration on 13th December 1992

The demolition of Babri Masjit  resulted in much tension and communal disharmony in the country. Many untoward incidents happened. It was the duty of the working class to bring back normalcy and communal harmony. The Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions called for a Peace Rally in Delhi on 13th December 1992. Although the government did not give permission for the rally, a meeting attended more than 3,000 workers were held at Mandi House, in which CG employees including telecom employees participated.

The police arrested the leaders, but were released after intervention of CITU President, E.Balanandan, M.P.

1993

Campaign for National Unity – 30th January 1993

The Sponsoring Committee of Central Trade Unions as part of its progressive movement called upon the workers to organize 30th January 1993, the death anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, as Campaign for National Unity and to take pledge to preserve and strengthen India’s unity and communal harmony. This was implemented by BSNLEU also.

Help to Cuba – ‘Cuban Princess’

In order to help the Cuban people, who were reeling under the economic blockade of the US and other imperialist countries, Indian people decided to send a ship full of food grains   to this socialist country. The ship “Cuban Princess”, sailed from Calcutta with 10150 tons of food grains, which was received by Fidel Castro, President of Cuba, who stated that this donation will strengthen the relations between the two countries. BSNLEU comrades from many places also helped the food grain collection.

Com.A.S.Rajan, former SG NFPTE expired

Com. A.S.Rajan, former Secretary General of NFPTE as also former General Secretary of P.III Union, passed away on 10-01-1993. He was one of the veteran comrades, who along with Com. KG Bose contested against the revisionist leadership in the Federal Council 1990 and won with good majority.

Amendment to Indian Telegraph Act proposed

The central government in its move in implementing the neo-liberal policy of liberalization, globalization and privatization started targeting the telecom sector for its implementation. A committee with D.N.Nanda, Member (Telecom). DOT as Chairman was constituted to recommend amendments to the Indian Telegraph Act 1886, in order to change the act to bring in private companies. The committee submitted its report on 9th September 1992, recommending formation of a Telecom Regulator, with the aim of privatization. (To be continued)

Telecom TU Movement 1991-2015 – (8) – Strike on 16th June 1992

21 Monday Sep 2015

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16th June 1992 Strike

The Strike was called for by the National Convention totally protesting against the government’s IMF/World Bank oriented policies, the danger arising out of indiscriminate privatisation  of Postal and Telecom Services, Public Sector, LIC, Banks, retrenchment, closure of government departments, telephone exchanges, mass scale transfers, denial of DA, denial of regularization of casual and ED employees, implementation of arbitration awards etc. etc.

The 16th June Strike was a tremendous success participated by tens of  lakhs of workers. The new leadership in E.III Union took initiative in organizing the strike. Instead of keeping aloof from the mainstream as was the policy of NFTE leadership, the new leadership wanted to be in struggle with the mainstream. And to a good extent it could be achieved.

In Telecom, besides the traditional strong areas such as Kerala, W.Bengal or Assam, the strike elicited good response from many places like A.P., U.P., T.Nadu, Madras TD, M.P., Nagpur and a few places in Maharashtra.  While NFPE gave call for full participation, NFTE had called upon their workers to take suitable decision on strike, on the basis their capacity. Had NFTE given a clear all, the strike in telecom would have been much more effective.

Show cause notices and dies-non were issued to employees in many places for participation in the strike. E.III Union took up the cases strongly with the administration. While some cases could be settled, the victimization continued putting many employees to untold difficulties. It is only through struggles that the working class can advance. It is only through their own experience that the working class can learn the lessons of class struggle.

Telecom organizations  writes to Communications Minister on Structural Changes

The major telecom organizations including E.III, T.III, FNTO, BTEF, TESA, AIP&TFASOA met on 15-08-1992  and decided to oppose the proposed structural changes being proposed by DOT and decided to address a letter to the Communications Minister. NFTE leadership did not cooperate. According to the decision, a detailed letter was sent to Rajesh Pilot, Minister of State for Communications on 17th August 1992 conveying the strong protest. It was demanded that the Athreya Committee report which recommended the structural changes be scrapped and no step taken for implementing the same.  The letter was signed by Ch. Raghubir Singh, Leader Staff Side, JCM, R.Venkatraman(FNTO), V.P.Chawla(BTEF), S.Basu(TESA), G.L.Jogi(JTOA), K.Satyanarayana (AIPTAFSOA), P.E.Jaipaul(NUTEE), P.S.Ramankutyy (T.III) and Moni Bose(E.III).

National Trade Union Convention on 13th September 1992

A National Trade  Union Convention was organized by the Sponsoring Committee of Trade Unions at Mavlankar Hall, New Delhi, participated by delegates from all over the country. It strongly opposed the New Economic Policy of the government and decided for a massive March to Parliament on 25th November 1992.

It  also decided to hold State/District level conventions, demonstration & rallies to make effective preparation for the Parliament March.

Parliament March on 25-11-1992 – A Land mark

A million people – workers, peasants, women, students, youth –  all strata of society joined the mighty March to Parliament  on 25th November 1992. They came all the way from  different states with flags and festoons displaying their identity and marched to the Boat Club lawns, where the rally was held. Hardly was there any region or state which was unrepresented. It was truly a confluence of never ending stream of people and the march surpassed all previous records in terms of participation.

The rally was organized by the seven Central Trade Unions viz. AITUC, CITU, HMS, UTUC, UTUC (Lenin Sarani), AICCTU & TUCC. More than 40 Federations also participated. M.K.Pandhe(CITU), A.B.Bardhan (AITUC), Chitta Basu(TUCC), Umraomal Purohit(HMS), Swapan Mukherjee (AICCTU) & other leaders addressed.

The Indian economy was brought to the brink of virtual collapse and has thrown the common man to untold miseries. The increasing prices of essential commodities together with legislation of closure, lock-outs and retrenchment  have brought a colossal disaster to the nation. All programmes of rural development were being abandoned on the dictates from the IMF-World Bank bosses who have heaped upon the Indian people the burden of Rs. 2.25 lakh crores. The country has got in to a debt trap. The negative export growth and inhuman liberalization of trade have helped imperialism o penetration to the country’s economy like never before.

The March on 25th November 1992 is a land mark in the history of the Indian Democratic and Trade Union movement. The Central Government employees felt proud for throwing their entire weight and energy for the ever biggest mobilization along with the toiling masses. Large contingent of CG employees came from all parts. Workers of Delhi gave a colourful and befitting welcome to the marchers. The entire CG employees organizations at Delhi with all constituents of the Sponsoring Committee took upon themselves the task of playing host to those coming from distant places. CG employees from Delhi and adjoining states thronged in thousands for whom it was not necessary to provide accommodation. A well knit Preparatory Committee, a large volunteer force working day and night contributed for the success of the March.  All these added glory to the organization. (To be continued)

The Historic One Day Strike of 19th September 1968 – Red Salute to Martyrs!

18 Friday Sep 2015

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It was nothing less than history created by the more than 40 lakhs of Central government employees. The One Day Token Strike of 19th September 1968 will ever remain as a Red Star in the minds of all those who participated and those who heard about it. The martyrs who sacrificed their lives before the gun shots of the cruel government or the Railwaymen who were crushed under the Railway engines will ever be remembered by the Central Government employees. It was only a One Day Token Strike, but it was dealt with like a rebellion or mutiny by the despotic government.

The demands were fully justified. Grant of Minimum Wage recommended by the 15th Labour Conference of 1957, Full Neutralisation of cost of living, Merger of DA with Pay, No casual-Contract-Contingency system, Settle issues of the ED and Casual labour – these are nothing but the ground level demands. But the Central Govt. was not prepared to concede them. It wanted to crush the workers movement, never to come back again. Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance(ESMO) was issued making the strike participants liable to be arrested and sent to jail. Even those outsiders who support the strike also will be arrested.

Thousands and thousands of workers were arrested. All India leaders in Delhi were arrested and sent to jail. Thousands were suspended, terminated and heavy punishments imposed. It was state terror on the poor CG employees who were only asking for a minimum wage to maintain their families. Rarely can be seen such cruelty in the annals of history.

In Kerala, when the then Chief Minister Com. EMS Namboodiripad heading the Left Ministry refused to implement ESMO, the Central Government threatened that the state government will be dismissed. But Com. EMS stood to his ground and openly supported the strike. The anger against the state government resulted in more victimisation by the Central Government.

As a participant of the strike, I still remember the people who gathered in thousands in front of each exchange and office and supported the workers despite the ESMO and Black Rules. Calicut, where I was working was one of the divisions, which had to face the maximum punishment and victimisation. Along with a few comrades, we were under suspension for about long three years and then transferred outside the division. Criminal cases were filed against us. Leaders were banned from entering offices.But all the comrades faced the brutal attack without any complaint. This was the case every where. The workers  understood that the Indira Gandhi government wanted to crush the CGE movement and especially the Posts and Telegraph movement. But we never surrendered or moved an inch back. We fought back to the last to ensure that each and every worker dismissed and terminated is taken back.

The strike was utilised by the government to float a new union, FNPTO, to support its policy. But it did not make any dent in the TU movement.

There are pages and pages to be written on the sacrifices of the workers in connection with the strike, which can be done later. The strike was historic in more than one sense. The same government which refused to accept the demands were compelled to implement some of them afterwards. Each and every struggle is not vain. The result may come immediately or later. Secondly, the government understood that the P and T movement can not be crushed.

On this 47th Anniversary of the One Day Token Strike of 19th September 1968, our Red Salutes to those Comrades who held the Red Flag of the Union till their last moment and  sacrificed their  valuable lives for the cause of the working class.

Telecom TU Movement 1991- 2015 (6) – Disruption at Mysore CWC Meeting

09 Wednesday Sep 2015

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1992

Mysore CWC – Disruption by the defeated leadership

OP Gupta, as Secretary General, issued notice for holding of the Federal Council of NFTE at Mysore from 14th to 17th March 1992. Federal Council consists of the office-bearers of the Federation, all the General Secretaries of the affiliated 9 unions and the Federal Councilors elected from the All India Conference of the respective affiliated unions on the basis of their respective membership. As part of the conspiracy against the new leadership of E-III Union, the defeated leadership requisitioned for a CWC meeting of the E-III Union.

The CHQ E.III Union, after receiving the requisition, called for a  special meeting of the Central Working Committee at Mysore on 14th March 1992 for the specific purpose of discussing the non-acceptance of Moni Bose as GS of the union by the DOT. This was also to enable the CWC members, who are also Federal Councilors to participate in the Federal Council being held at Mysore.

From the very beginning, some of the  CWC members from the OPG group tried to obstruct the proceedings on one issue or another. But unfortunately for the disruptors, the majority of the CWC members fully supported the CHQ. When they found out that they are in minority, they wanted to create dispute and scuttle the meeting. They demanded without any justification that the District Secretaries of Ahmedabad, Bangalore etc. be treated as circle secretaries. This was against constitutional provisions and as such was rejected by the President.

OPG and group tried to create pandemonium and started beating some of the CWC Members. This was naturally resisted. Again finding that they are not getting any support from the majority, they walked out. That was the plan  to create a dispute.

Later, a circular was issued by OPG that he does not accept the verdict of the Bhopal AIC and the old office-bearers will continue. Com.S.Jagannathan was nominated as Officiating General Secretary, followed by Com. M.B.Vichare. OPG also wrote to the department stating that they are the real office-bearers of E.III Union.

DOT supports disruptors

Instead of rejecting the bogus claim of the disruptors outright as was required under the circumstances, DOT accepted the letter and treated the same as a dispute. It was most shameful on the part of the DOT to support a dispute after five months of the All India Conference, thus helping the disruption to butcher democracy and truth.

The Mysore CWC condemned the non-recognition of Comrade Moni Bose and strongly demanded that he should be accepted as General Secretary.

Federal Council at Mysore, 14-17 March 1992

There was sharp difference on the policies to be adopted by the Federal Council. The acceptance of reduction of staff by the three Federations, viz. NFTE, FNTO and BTEF,  in the name of cadre restructure was severely criticized by many Federal Councilors.

Shri B.S.Verma, Director (SR), who attended as official observer, openly praised O.P.Gupta, in his speech, possibly to influence the election in his favour. This in any way, was a breach of rules and democratic principles. A resolution moved by Com. Moni Bose criticizing the NFTE leadership on cadre restructure received 42.3% votes, though it could not be passed.

Stiff contest to the election took place.  Coms. J.N.Mishra, P.S.Ramankutty and Tirlok Sharma who contested to the posts got 43% votes. Com.O.P.Gupta was elected as Secretary General, but with  a low margin of votes, which reflected that he was losing support even from his own comrades. Later, some more comrades deserted OPG.

Unfortunately, the NFTE Executive decided to recognize the disruptor group of M.B.Vichare as  the General secretary of E.III Union, thus supporting disruptors of the movement. The duly elected General Secretary of E.III union, Moni Bose, was kept out. All doors were being closed in the face of the democratically elected leadership.

NFTE Office demolished

The accommodation allotted to NFTE and occupied by it at  Gole Market, New Delhi,  was demolished on 27-03-1992 by a large number NDMC workers supported by the police. The NDMC wanted the site to construct certain buildings, including a hotel. The unexpected demolition resulted in the loss of valuable documents, furniture, type-writers etc. The offices of the P&T Administrative and T.IV unions were also destroyed. NDMC claim was that notice was given earlier for vacating and since not vacated they are demolishing the same. Com.OPG, Secretary General, NFTE, who was in the office protested. He was arrested and taken in to custody and kept at the Mandir Marg Police Station.

Coms.VAN Namboodiri and K.M.Pillai, who were in the Dada Ghosh Bhawan, hearing the news rushed to the NFTE office. The demolition was continuing. Despite protest, the demolition did not stop. They went to the Police Station and met OPG. The police stated that he has not been arrested but is in custody only and after some time will be released. But nothing happened.

Demolition of NFTE office and arrest of the Secretary General were serious matters. Com. Moni Bose, GS, was out of station. Com. Namboodiri immediately contacted the leaders of three Federations and wanted immediate protest action. E.III Union gave immediate Sit-in-Strike call in the night itself, which was followed by the 3 Federations next day. Complete dislocation of telecom services was the result. Detailed  discussions took place at high level. On the assurance of the Cabinet Secretary that alternate accommodation will be allotted to NFTE, the agitation was called off by the evening of 28th March 1992. Com.OPG had been released in the late night of 27th itself.  NFTE was allocated quarters in  Bangla Saheb Street, near VSNL Office (now Tata Communications). (To be continued)