23 Wednesday Sep 2015
Posted in CG Employees, TU News - India
The Joint Council of Action of Income Tax Associations, an umbrella body of Income Tax employees and officers, had stated that the Income tax workers and officers will go on strike on 8th October 2015 demanding filling up the large number of vacant posts. It is stated that there are more than 20,000 posts lying vacant.
18 Friday Sep 2015
Posted in P&T TU History, TU News - India
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.
29 Saturday Aug 2015
Posted in TU News - India
There is a propaganda going on that the Govt. has come down and offered many favourable proposals on the demands of the Central Trade Unions raised in connection with the 2nd September 2015 strike. But the reality is different. The government proposals and our demands are given below to understand the actual position. As such, the strike will take place and maximum efforts should be continued to make it a big success.
EXPOSE THE GOVERNMENT’S DECEPTIVE PROPOSALS
| GOVERNMENT PROPOSAL | OUR DEMANDS | |
| 1. | Formula based minimum wage from Rs.7000 per month”
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Minimum wage for all as per 44th ILC decision,not less than Rs.15000 per month
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| 2. | “ we will guaranty minimum wages for contract workers” | Minimum wages already legally guaranteed for contract workers
We demand “Same wages and other benefits to contract workers as regular workers for same and similar work”
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| 3. | “ we will have tripartite consultations before labour law amendments”
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Scrapping of all anti worker labour law amendments both proposed by the centre and enacted by some state governments, such as Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh which imposes slavery
Labour laws should be amended to expand coverage and improving labour rights. ‘we demand Withdrawal of the prime ministers’ office directive to the states for labour law amendments in line of Rajasthan government
|
| 4. | “social security coverage for ‘volunteers’ such as anganwadi, asha and mid day meal workers under consideration”
|
We demand
Regularisation, minimum wages and pension for all scheme workers as per the decision of the 45th ILC No cut in budget for the schemes including ICDS, NHM, MDMS and MNREGA, full budgetary allocation for the schemes
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| 5. | Will enhance the bonus ceiling to rs.21,000 and rs.7000’
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Remove all ceilings for bonus and gratuity payment, upward revision of gratuity calculation
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| 6. | Government claims of arresting the price rise
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We demand
Arrest price rise Universalise public distribution system and Ban speculation of food items
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| 7. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND EMPLOYMENT FOR ALL
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| 8. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND STOPPAGE OF DISINVESTMENT OF PSUS
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| 9. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND WITHDRAWAL OF LAND ACQUISITION AMENDMENT BILL
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| 10. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND NO FDI IN RAILWAYS, INSURANCE AND DEFENCE
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| 11. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND RATIFICATION OF ILO CONVENTIONS 87&98
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| 12. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND ASSURED PENSION NOT LESS THAN RS.3000
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| 13. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND UNIVERSAL SOCIAL SECURITY FOR ALL
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| 14. | NOTHING TO OFFER | WE DEMAND STRICT IMPLEMENTATION OF LABOUR LAWS
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29 Saturday Aug 2015
Posted in TU News - India
The two days discussion by the Minister’s committee headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely failed to deliver goods and the Central Trade Unions will go on strike on 2nd September 2015. Since the BMS feels that there is some forward decisions on the part of the government, it feels that the strike be deferred and wait for six months. Any how, after all other unions have moved for the strike, BMS is meeting today to discuss the issue again and take decision.
We hope that the BMS will review the entire situation and decide to continue with the strike, thus cementing the unity of the working class.
28 Friday Aug 2015
Posted in TU News - India
Tags
Workers Unity Zindabad!
26 Wednesday Aug 2015
Posted in General, TU News - India
The meeting between the Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely and the Central trade Union leaders did not make any headway since there was no concrete proposals from the government for settling the major demands raised by the CTUs. The talks will continue tomorrow.
The Central TU leaders called upon the workers to fully prepare for the strike since no concrete proposals have come from the government. Anyhow, they will attend the meeting tomorrow.
Make the 2nd September Strike a big success.
25 Tuesday Aug 2015
Tags
The Government had stated that it will be difficult to announce Rs.15,000 as Minimum Wage as demanded by the Central trade Unions, but some increase will be there. But despite many weeks, no orders have been issued. Workers will not be happy with any amount less than Rs. 15,000 as demanded by the Central TUs.
Is the government waiting for the strike to take place? In that case, the government will certainly see the anger of the workers. There is nothing surprising in the government in-action, since it has a tradition of promising and not delivering.
25 Tuesday Aug 2015
Posted in BSNL News, General, TU News - India
While most of the unions/associations in BSNL have given notice for strike on 2nd September 2015 called by the 11 Central Trade unions on the major demands of the working class and the demands of the BSNL employees, the major executive associations in BSNL is vacillating. So far they have not given the strike notice and it seems that they may not go on strike also.
Many associations of officers/executives in government sector and public sector have decided for strike. In the private sector also, this is the situation. In certain sectors, the union/association includes both executives and non-executives and the decision for strike is there.
The anti-worker, anti-people policies of the central government are adversely affecting all the workers, including executives/officers. Even at this late stage a rethinking can be undertaken and a correct decision to go on strike taken, which will benefit all.
22 Saturday Aug 2015
Posted in TU News - India, TU News - International, WFTU
| WFTU Supports General strike on 2nd September 2015 in India
The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) That Represents more than 92 million workers all over the world expresses strong STI Solidarity with our class brothers and sisters of India, Who prepared a National General Strike for September 2nd. During the last years India has met great financial rise. It is a member of BRICS, you’ve nuclear arsenal and space program. But This financial boom is not a benefit for MOST of the one billion people of India. Skyscrapers are built next to the slums. Gathered Extreme wealth is next to starving people. Become richer while the rich, the wretched are the victims Once More. The growth of the capitalist economy is always based on the escalation of the exploitation of the working class. That India Today and Its bourgeois political forces take pride on the economic and military strength of the Indian Nation; the vast majority of the people live the contradiction of pauperization. These conditions in the struggle and the Demands of the Trade Union Movement of India is just. The WFTU affiliates in India Have Been preparing esta strike for months, showing the determination and the will of the class forces to Mobilize the great force of the working people. The success of the National General Strike in India, on September 2nd will be a success for the working class of the world. Especially This Year, STI When the WFTU celebrates 70th Anniversary Year, we would like to highlight the historic contribution of the class trade union movement of India to the World Federation STI since foundation. That it is a fact without the Struggles and the contribution of the trade union movement of India, the international trade union movement class would not be the same. The WFTU expresses ITS internationalist support and solidarity to the struggle of its Indian brothers and calls all trade union Organizations of WFTU to stand in Solidarity with the National Strike of the Indian working class. Long Live International Solidarity! THE SECRETARIAT WFTU
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21 Friday Aug 2015
Posted in PSU, TU News - India
Tags
More than 13,000 employees of the Neyveli Lignite Corporation (NLC) are on strike since 20th july demanding wage revision. The workers demand is for 24% increase in wages, but the management is only prepared to grant 10%.
NLC is a central government PSU and is under the Coal ministry. We fully support the struggle of the NLC workers.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 