Category Archives: TU News – India

TU News from India

” I want trade unions to be non-political” – Labour Minister

01 Sunday May 2016

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Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya has stated that he wants ” the trade unions to be non-political”. He also opposed the present labour laws which provide outsiders to be office-bearers of the trade unions in organised sector and outsiders should be limited to two in the unorganised sector.

The mindset of the Labour Minister has come out. In India, before independence as also after, the trade unions were having political leaders as office-bearers. This was necessary as the trade union leaders were victimised. The position has not changed even after independence. The trade unions are  having their political connection and naturally political leaders also will be there. Neither the trade unions can be non-political. Trade union politics is part of its structure.

The statement of the Labour Minister can only be seen as his frustration due to the recent developments that the government had to withdraw at least three decisions with regard to the EPF, which were strongly opposed by the trade unions.

 

May Day Celebrations

01 Sunday May 2016

Posted by in General, TU News - India, Uncategorized, WFTU

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The workers all over the world are celebrating May Day, the International Day of the Working Class! Massive rallies are being held in many cities with huge participation. In Delhi, a massive rally will be held at Ramlila Grounds in the evening.

In the morning at 10.00AM, Red Flag was hoisted in AKG Bhawan starting May Day. Com. Hanan Molla and other leaders addressed. A large number of workers participated. Revolutionary songs were sung and cultural programmes organised.

In India, as elsewhere,attacks on the working class are on the increase. Hard won rights being taken away. Pension is being cut in many countries. Free speech is being curtailed. Mighty struggles have to be organised. 2 September 2016 strike is part of the same. Prepare and organise for the 2nd September Strike!

 

MAY DAY GREETINGS!

30 Saturday Apr 2016

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May Day

Revolutionary Greetings to all comrades on May Day!

Organise hoisting of the red flag of the union, Demonstrations, Rallies, Meetings to celebrate the International Day of the Working Class!

Pay Respectful Homage to the thousands and thousands of martyrs who sacrificed all for defending workers interests all over the world!

Remember the Chicago Martyrs whose sacrifice  for an 8 hour day benefited the entire working class!

Prepare the workers for the 2nd September 2016 strike in defence of the people and on the most important demands of the Indian Workers!

WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!

Govt. move to reduce EPF interest rate defeated – 8.8% interest will be paid.

30 Saturday Apr 2016

Posted by in General, TU News - India

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The government has been compelled to restore the EPF proposed interest rate, before the strong protest of the trade unions.

Though EPFO has recommended 8.8 % interest for its subscribers for 2015-16, the Finance ministry decided to reduce it arbitrarily to 8.7%, with out any justification. Strong protest action was organised by the trade unions on 29th April. There were severe criticism in Parliament also.

Now, the government has been compelled to retract its decision. Yesterday the government announced in the Parliament that 8.8% interest will be paid and there will be no reduction from the proposal of the EPFO.

Immediate reaction had its results. Government should not be allowed to take away the had earnings of the workers.

REVOLUTIONARY GREETINGS ON MAY DAY 2016!

29 Friday Apr 2016

Posted by in BSNLEU, General, TU News - India, TU News - International

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1st May, May Day, the International Day of Working Class, is here again. The May Day is being observed and celebrated through out the world by the workers and other toiling masses. The World federation of Trade unions and the Central trade Unions have given call to observe the day. The memory of the Chicago workers who were hanged for demanding and agitating for the 8 hours working day inspire the working class. It is through such struggles and strikes that the working class have been able to achieve many gains and victories.

May Day 2016 comes at a time when the working class is facing many challenges. The neo-liberal policies being implemented by the imperialist and capitalist class has created misery and heavy burden on the people. For maximising their profits, the corporates and financiers can go to any length, as we have seen. At the same time struggles are going on in many countries against these anti-people policies.

It is not different in India. The Central Trade Unions are unitedly fighting against the neo-liberal policies of the government. The workers rights are being attacked by the NDA government. The hard won gains of the working class are being snatched away. The struggle to defend the already achieved rights and for further improvement will continue.

The struggle to save BSNL has started and many things are to be done in this respect. We have to make BSNL stronger and give far better service to the people.

BSNLEU has to be strengthened and converted in to a militant organisation to fight and achieve the demands of the workers. The organisations of the Pensioners, viz. AIBDPA and that of casual-contract workers viz. BSNLCCWF, have to be strengthened and their issues focussed and exploitation ended.

Let us pledge to march forward with determination and dedication. Organise May Day and participate in the joint programmes being organised on the trade unions.

Unity for Struggle! Struggle for Unity !
Unity and Struggle for Progress !

Revolutionary Greetings on May Day!

Protest the reduction in EPF interest

27 Wednesday Apr 2016

Posted by in CITU, PSU, TU News - India

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Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya told to the Parliament on 25th April 2016 that the Government has decided 8.7% interest for EPF for 2015-16, while the Board of Trustees of EPFO has recommended 8.8% interest.

The decision of the government reducing the interest rate proposed by the EPFO is condemnable. The government has no moral authority to reduce the interest rate of the hard earned money of the wage earners. This is one more instance of the anti-working class of the NDA government. This should be rescinded. All the 11 Central TUs, together and separately has opposed the government decision and demanded its roll back.

Strong protest should erupt through out the country.

Government compelled to cancel orders denying EPF withdrawal – Great victory for workers

24 Sunday Apr 2016

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Before the strong protest of the trade unions and workers as also the huge protest rallies in Karnataka, the central government is compelled to retract from its decision not to allow full withdrawal from EPF before retirement. The Press Statement issued by the government on 21st April 2016 is given below:

This is a great victory for the working class!

 

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
21-April-2016 17:51 IST

            Government had issued a notification dated 10th February 2016 regarding rules for withdrawal from EPF Funds by the members. Under the revised rules, the employee was permitted to withdraw the employees’ share from the fund (which is 12% of the wages). However, it was prescribed that the employers’ share of contribution towards the Provident Fund (which is 3.67% of wage) would be allowed to be withdrawn only at the age of retirement (58 years). The objective was to provide a minimum social security to the workers at the time of retirement. It was noticed that over 80% of the claims settled by EPFO belonged to pre-mature withdrawal of funds, treating the EPF accounts as savings accounts, and not a Social Security instrument. 


 In order to address the issues the amendment stated above was carried out with the consent of Trade Unions and with the intention of promoting a decent accumulation of provident fund for the members at the end of their working lifetimes. 

 However, considering the representations received from various quarters and after consultations with the various stakeholders, Minister of State (IC) Labour and Employment, Sh Bandaru Dattatreya announced that the government has decided to withdraw the said 10th February 2016 Notification with immediate effect. 

Accordingly, the workers are now allowed to withdraw the entire amount from the provident fund as per existing provisions of the EPF Scheme 1952 including the employers’ share of 3.67%

 

EPF interest rate for 2015-16 may be increased to 8.9% from 8.8%

12 Saturday Mar 2016

Posted by in CG Employees, General, TU News - India

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Press reports indicate that the EPFO is examining whether the interest rate for 2015-16 can be increased from the declared 8.8%. The Central trade Unions have been demanding that it should be increased to 9.5%. Now it is understood that EPFO is considering of increasing the same to 8.9%. Our demand is that since there is a surplus of more than Rs.1,100 crore is available, 9.5% should be granted.

‘Protest Day’ on 19th January 2016 by CITU, Kisan Sabha and Agricultural Workers Union

19 Saturday Dec 2015

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Ranchi, Dec 18: The Centre of Trade Unions of India (CITU), All India Kishan Sabha and All India Agriculture Workers Union have decided to observe a nationwide ‘protest day’ on January 19 on their charter of demands.
“The trio decided to observe the day as ‘Virodh Diwas’ where labour force and farmers will hit the streets in support of their demands like genuine rates for agriculture produce, wages and other social security issues”, CITU General Secretary and MP Tapan Sen said here.
“The protest will also cover farmer suicides due to agriculture crisis and the existing 12-point charter of demands”, he told a press conference.
The unions in the coal sector were also discussing on their action plan to firm up protests against reported 10 per cent disinvestment in the sector by the Centre, he said.
Accusing the Centre of “taking” the 13 major ports in the country on the path of corporatisation, Sen said all the federations in the ports had written to the Centre against any repeal in the existing Port Trust Act as it was integral with the security of the country.
The trade unions in ‘Anganwadi’ sector would stage demonstration sometime in February near the Parliament against cut in allocations in welfare projects.
The ongoing four-day General Council meeting of the CITU is also deliberating to include the unemployed as about 40 per cent of the participation marked on September 2 strike had been outside union affiliations. (Ganashakti)

Lakhs of Tea Garden workers on strike in W.Bengal

01 Tuesday Dec 2015

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Lakhs of tea garden workers and employees   went on a  historic strike in North Bengal defying the tea garden owners and the TMC’s fatwa not to join the strike convened by the joint forum of the tea garden employees including the CITU led Chia Kaman Majdoor Union. The strike call was fully successful in the over 260 tea gardens out of a total of 276 tea gardens spread across   Darjeeling hills, terai and dooars. Baring a few handful few which clocked partial shutdown as to the presence of   TMC ‘s union all the other tea gardens remained closed as CITU State Secretary Dipak Dasgupta rushed to  North Bengal to hand over economic support to families of famished tea garden workers of the state. At the call of the major trade unions all the other unions of various industrial sectors too demonstrated in the state in support of the Strike call given by the tea sector trade Unions. It can be recalled that yesterday at the call of the Joint forum of tea garden workers, the tea workers observed relay hunger strike at 44 places in the region. The strike, convened by a Joint Forum of 24 different tea workers unions, comes against the backdrop of the death of 22 workers in the tea gardens of north Bengal since May 2015 due to malnutrition and diseases caused by hunger.

The W. Bengal Government should immediately act for discussion and settlement of the issues of the tea garden workers.