The Industrial Strike of today (20.7.2018) on the justified demands of the workers & employees of Delhi was a thunderous success. The strike call was given by 11 Central Trade Unions (INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, AIUTUC, TUCC, SEWA, AICCTU, UTUC, LPF, MEC) against the anti-labor & anti-people policies of both the Kejriwal government of Delhi as well as the Modi government at the centre. Main demands of the strike were:

1. Pay the minimum wages as declared by the Delhi Government.

2. Ensure safety and security of workers at work place.

3. Regularise the Contract Workers.

4. Start the registration of Construction Workers.

5. Stop attacking the livelihood and harassment of the self employed street vendors.

6. Stop ignoring the Trade Unions and honor the commitments made to them.

7. Start Recruitment in MCD and other departments of Delhi government.

8. Implement the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission.

9. Withdraw the provision of Fixed Term Employment.

In Narela industrial area of Delhi workers started their picketing from 7.00 am onwards and around 10,000 workers participated as the day progressed. In Badli around 8000 workers participated in the strike action as the industrial area remain closed. In Rajasthani industrial area there was a worker’s march with 3000 participation and overall 12,000 workers participated in the strike. The same number for Wazirpur industrial area was 2500 and 10,000 respectively. In GT Karnal road industrial area the workers demonstration had participation of 1000 and strike participation was 5000. (Courtesy : Press report)

New Delhi, Jul 19 : An all-party delegation from Kerala, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said their meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi today over issues related to the state’s development was “not satisfactory”.
The delegation met the prime minister in the Parliament complex and submitted a memorandum raising various issues including reiterating the demand for a rail coach factory, enhancing allocation of food grains for the state, and a relief package in view of the damage caused by the ongoing monsoon there.
“We feel that the response with regard to the matters concerning Kerala was not satisfactory,” Vijayan told reporters here.
State Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala, who was also part of the team, expressed disappointment and said that the delegation failed to get any favourable response from the prime minister.
“Until reaching here, our hopes for a coach factory at Palakkad was alive. But now it was clear the Centre has no such plans. We explained the need for such a project to the Prime Minister,” Vijayan said.
The delegation also sought enhancement of the allocation of food grains for the non-priority sector to 11.22 lakh million tonnes (MT) per annum by providing additional allocation of 72,3476.88 MT of food grains to Kerala as the state has very low food grain production and mainly depends on Centre and other states.
“The prime minister said that it was not possible to enhance the allocation of food grains for the state alone. He said Kerala will get its part as per the Food Security Act,” Vijayan said.
The all-party team also demanded that Angamali-Sabari railway line be constructed to facilitate those visiting Sabarimala temple.
The delegation was informed that the Centre would take appropriate steps to tackle the monsoon woes of the state.
“Kerala is experiencing heavy rains leading to the catastrophic loss to life and property in 965 villages. Over 30,000 individuals have been relocated, 90 lives have been lost, crop loss in 10,000 hectare and 350 houses have been fully damaged and over 9,000 houses are partially damaged,” the delegation told Modi in the memorandum.
The state leaders urged the Centre to consider deputing a central team at the earliest to assess the damages caused by the ongoing southwest monsoon.
The delegation has also asked the Centre not to sell its stake in the Hindustan Newsprint Limited, a subsidiary of Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd (HPCL).
Earlier, the Kerala legislative Assembly had unanimously passed a resolution requesting the Centre to retain the unit under public sector.
It has also informed the prime minister that the state was willing to take over its assets through mutual discussions.
However, the delegation failed to get a favourable decision in this regard also, Chennithala said.
The delegation also comprised state Congress chief M M Hassan, state ministers P Thilothaman, Kadannapalli Ramachandran, G Sudhakaran, MPs E T Mohammed Basheer, Jose K Mani (Kerala Congress-Mani) among others.
The chief minister had earlier expressed displeasure over the manner in which his previous requests to meet the prime minister were turned down.
Vijayan was allegedly denied an appointment on June 21 to meet Modi for the fourth time in a row.(PTI)

CPI(M) PB issued the following statement:

The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) strongly condemns the brutal attack on Swami Agnivesh in Pakur, Jharkhand. The guilty are identified as belonging to the BJP Yuva Morcha. As has now become the norm, the BJP state government can be expected to treat them with great leniency. The Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that proper and adequate medical attention be provided to Swami Agnivesh and that the culprits be punished immediately.

This attack on Swami Agnivesh happened despite the severe indictment of mob violence by the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court observations on mob lynching have held up a mirror to the Prime Minister and the BJP Central Government under whose watch such crimes are being committed and private armies are allowed to rule the roost. The very fact that the culprits, even when identified, go unpunished speaks volumes of the patronization provided by RSS/BJP to them.

Following the Supreme Court verdict, the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) demands that a comprehensive law be enacted in the current session of Parliament to meet the apex court direction: “It is the duty of the State to ensure maintenance of law and order so as to protect secular ethos and prevent mobocracy.” (CPI(M) Press release)

The Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) has fixed the next date for hearing as 12-09-2018 in the case filed by NFPE and AIPEU-GDS for grant of ‘Civil Servant Status’ to GDS. The postponement was due to paucity of time.

Federation and AIPEU-GDS have been long demanding for grant of Civil Servant Status to the GDS, who are working for years together in the Postal department.The central government was compelled to accept the recommendations of the GDS Committee, only after a glorious strike for 16 days by the entire GDS workers and solidarity strike by the Postal employees.

After continued efforts by AIBDPA and BSNLEU, the Medical Allowance without voucher to the BSNL retirees have been restored by BSNL. Orders have been issued. But the quantum is reduced to 50% and the minimum will be Rs. 12,000 in a year, paid in 4 installments. AIBDPA has strongly protested and demanded for restoration.

Telecom Trade Union Movement – A Saga of Struggles, Sacrifices and Achievements

Introduction

The P and T (including BSNL) employees and their unions/associations are observing this year, the 50th anniversary of the historic One Day Token Strike of 19th September 1968. Four years back in 2014, the 60th year of the formation of National Federation of Posts and Telegraph Employees (NFPTE), the militant organisation of the P and T employees, was celebrated.
The central government, whether headed by UPA or NDA, has been continuing the implementation of its anti-worker, anti-people neo-liberal policies, which are completely detrimental to the interest of the nation and the people. All-important PSUs are in the list of the NITI Ayog for privatisation or closure to suit the requirement of the corporates, whose influence on the government is well known.
Both the Postal and the BSNL workers are in sustained struggles to save the Postal and BSNL services from privatisation and to provide a better service. It is a hard battle and requires the whole hearted support of the entire trade unions and the common people to defeat the nefarious policies of the government.
In this context, it will be appropriate and a requirement for the Postal and BSNL workers to know the past and the various struggles organised. In this connection, I have authored a book “History of the P and T TU Movement” , published by NFPE and released in its All India Conference last year at Bengaluru by Comrade Tapan Sen, M.P., General Secretary of CITU. The book reviews the period from the start of the TU movement till 1986, when NFPTE was bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE, consequent to the bifurcation of the Department in to Postal and Telecom. The appreciation received by the book as also request from many comrades has made me to think about writing about the history of the movement since 1986. First I am thinking of writing about the telecom unions (including BSNL) from 1986 to the present period. This will be serially posted in this blog, for the present.
Our senior comrades, who were part of the movement, are requested to guide and help me in improving, modifying and correcting, if there is any thing missing, mistake etc.
The articles will start from tomorrow serially.
V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union.

As per the decision of the All Unions Associations in BSNL (AUAB), mighty demonstrations with maximum participation of regular workers, pensioners and casual contract workers were held all over the country on 10th July, demanding immediate wage revision, pension revision, grant of 4G Spectrum to BSNL and also pension contribution to the government strictly on the basis of the wage of the employee. These were agreed to by the Minister in his meeting with the AUAB.

The unions demanded the BSNL, DOT and the Minister to ensure and implement the assurances given by the Minister.

On 11th July 2018, the CG employees observe the 58 th year of the historical 5 days strike of July 1960. We pay homage to the martyrs of the 1960 strike, who were killed at Dahod Railway station:

1. Com.Ranjit Singh

2. Com.Dakharam

3. Com.Sitaram

4. Com.Kripa Shankar

Com. Ekambaram Telephone Operator who committed suicide after terminated from Service.

(The name of other comrades who were killed are not available now.)

Red Salute to the Martyrs of 1960 Strike.

Thousands of Argentinians protest against IMF on the Independence day of Argentina.

Today is a shiny day for the entire world. The 12 boys and the coach, who  were trapped in a cave in Thailand for the last 16 days have been brought out safely. It was a herculean and dangerous operation, in which one of the divers in the rescue time died due to lack of oxygen. For the last two days, four  boys each were brought out and today the left out 4 boys plus the coach are rescued. They have all been taken to the hospital immediately by helicopters after the rescue. It is reported that all are safe.

As in the case of Nipah virus treatment in Kozhikode, in which Nurse Lina died, in the Thaliand rescue operations, one diver passed away due lack of oxygen. They are the martyrs who sacrificed their lives to save the life of others. Their sacrifice will always be remembered.

Our hearty congratulations to the  Thai Government, the rescue team and all those connected with for the unparalleled fight and success in saving the children!