17 Friday May 2013
Posted in TU News - India
New Delhi, May 17 (PTI) Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government was serious about the issues raised by trade unions during the recent general strike as there could be “no disagreement” on some of them and that it was willing to engage “constructively” with the workers’ bodies.
The Prime Minister was inaugurating the 45th Indian Labour Conference which is being participated by the Government, Employers’ and Employees’ organisations. Further details follow.
16 Thursday May 2013
Posted in TU News - India
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Finance Ministry has notified 8.5% interest for EPF subscribers for the year 2012-13. It was 8.25% in 2011-12. The Unions have been in continuous demand for increasing the interest rate to 9.5%. But only 8.5% has been announced.
07 Tuesday May 2013
Posted in TU News - India
The strike by the Railway men in May 1974 which was participated by about 19 lakh workers and continued for about three weeks is the biggest strike known so far. It started on 8th May 1974 on the demands of Bonus and other issues. The government brutally suppressed the strike by arresting and jailing tens of thousands of workers, dismissing and terminating and through other victimisation.
A section of the Central Government employees under the leadership of Confederation of Central Govt. employees led by Com. S.K.Vyas also participated for 5 days. ( I was chargesheeted and punished for participation in the strike). The section led by Com.O.P.Gupta, not only did not participate, but worked against the strike and supported the government.
The strike was suppressed, but the result came after a few years. After the Janatha Government came in 1977, Bonus was first declared for the Railway workers and later for all Central Government employees.
on this 39th anniversary of the strike I pay Red Salute to all those comrades who participated and faced the brutal victimisation of the government.
05 Sunday May 2013
Posted in TU News - India
Yesterday, 4th May 2013, I have been to Kolkata to attend the 24th National Conference of Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers which is being held from 4th to 6th May. I reached the Conference site near Phool Bagan along with Coms. Saibal Sen Gupta, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU Kolkata Telephones, Om Prakash, Circle Secretary, TF and Biplab Das, Convener Co-ordination Committee. The procession participated by the all India delegates and the workers from Kolkata has just reached the site. The homage to the martyrs were going on. We also paid floral homages at the martyrs column.
The Conference Hall was named after Com. Moni Bose, veteran leader of P and T employees and Ajoy Bhowmik, leader of central govt. employees. The hall was full and overflowing. The leaders of all the central govt. organisations were. I could meet Coms.S.K.Vyas, KKN Kutty, M.Krishnan, R.L.Bhattacharjee, S.S.Ray, Ananta Bhattacharjee, Pabitra Chakraborty, Jyotsna Bose, MS Raja, Rajagopalan, Giri Raj Singh, Sobhana, , Mihir Das Gupta and many other leaders of the Central government employees movement. Though I could not speak with all the leaders since the Open Session started quickly, it was sufficient that we could meet and greet each other. BSNL leaders, including the circle secretaries, were also present in good numbers.
Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, National President, CITU inaugurated the Open session and called upon the central government employees for jointly fight against the anti-worker neo-liberal policies of the government. He also congratulated the employees for their good participation in the 48 hours strike on 20-21 February and the CGE strike in 12-12-2012. I spoke next and greeted the Conference. As I had to attend another meeting, I could not sit there till the end.
BSNL employees were part of the great CGE movement and the Confederation. After BSNL was formed, naturally the BSNL workers became part of the Public Sector employees movement. But still the bond and closeness continued. In many conferences of the Confederation, I could participate on invitation. It is a happy opportunity to meet the comrades with whom we had decades of close affinity and the experiences of struggles.
I wish the Conference of confederation every success!
05 Sunday May 2013
Posted in TU News - India
The 24th National Conference of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers was inaugurated at Kolkata by Com. A.K.Padmanabhan, National Secretary of CITU on 5th May 2013. In his inaugural speech, he congratulated the Confederation for their good participation in the 20-21 February Strike called by the 11 Central Trade Unions and also for the strike on 12th December 2012 on their own demands. The fight against the neo-liberal policies of the government will continue. The demands raised by the central trade unions in the February strike are the genuine demands of the workers and the common people and struggle will continue for settlement of the same.
The Open Session held on 5th May was presided over by Com. S.S.Ray, Convener, 12th July Committee,the united organisation of the Central, State, Public sector employees of W.Bengal. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNL Employees union, Pradip Biswas, General Secretary, BEFI and other leaders of fraternal organisations greeted the conference. Coms. S.K.Vyas, Chairman, Confederation, K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE and other leaders of the Confederation also spoke. Veteran leaders Com. Ananata Kumar Bhattacharjee, President, AIBDPA, R.L.Bhattacharjee, Secretary general, NCCPA and other leaders were also present in the dais.
The Conference will continue on 5th and 6th May and will discuss organisational issues as well as the demands of the Central Government employees like Appointment of VII Central Pay Commission etc.
We Wish the Conference all success.
01 Wednesday May 2013
Posted in TU News - India
May Day was observed world over with participation of lakhs of workers in rallies, meetings and other activities. The International Workers Day was observed with enthusiasm in India also.
I attended the May Day Rally organised by CITU at Bengaluru. The same was held at Freedom Park after a big procession. There were large number of workers especially women workers from garments factories, domestic workers etc. In addition to CITU, it was jointly organised by AIIEA, BEFI, BSNLEU, State government employees etc. Com. Umesh, Secretary CITU, Prakash (CITU), Geetha (AIIEA) and other leaders addressed. I was given the privilege of presenting the domestic workers with the Identity Card issued by CITU. I thanked the organisers and congratulated the organisers and participants for the grand May Day Rally.
27 Saturday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - India
The 24th National Conference of the Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers will be held at Kolkata from 4th to 6th May 2013.
The Confederation of CGEW since its inception in 1957 has always been in the front of the struggle for improving the conditions of the Central government Employees. It played a pivotal role in the 5 days glorious strike of 1960, One Day Token Strike of 1968, Bonus Strike in 1974 and so on. And now, along with the AIRF and AIDEF it is on struggle path for the appointment of VII Central Pay Commission w.e.f. 01-01-2011 (5 years after the VI CPC in 2006), and for withdrawal of the anti-worker PFRDA Bill.
The oncoming National Conference of the Confederation is expected to take important decisions on the demands of the central government employees, which will have important bearing on the demands of the PSUs and other sectors.
I have been invited to attend the Inaugural Session on 4th April. I will be attending the same. It will be an occasion to meet many of our old comrades in the CGE movement and share the experiences of struggles and achievements.
25 Thursday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - India
The Central government employees have demanded for VII Central Pay Commission for effecting next wage revision. The demand has been jointly raised by the All India Railwaymen Federation (AIRF), Confederation of Central Govt. Employees and Workers and All India Defence Employees Federation (AIDEF). These organisations have jointly called for massive demonstrations on 29th April 2013 on the demand of VII CPC and Withdrawal of PFRDA Bill.
I welcome this development of joint action by all the Central Government employees! This is most necessary and appropriate.
21 Sunday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - India
Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) has decided to pay 8.5% interestfor EPF subscribers for the financial year 2012-13. The government is yet to approve the same. There are more than 5 crore EPF subscribers with the EPFO.
20 Saturday Apr 2013
Posted in TU News - India
A tripartite body set up by the Labour Ministry has accepted the recommendations of the EPFO recommendation to club the various allowances with wages for calculating the contributions to the Employees Provident Fund. However, this proposal has been strongly opposed by the employers’ organisations. They have been opposing the recommendations on the basis that they will have to contribute more to the EPFO since it should be on the same amount that the employees are contributing.
The Labour Ministry should accept the recommendations and issue orders without any delay.
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