Today, 13th July 2017, is the 79th death anniversary of Henry Barton, Pioneer of the P and T trade union movement in the country. He passed away in England on the same day in 1938 after ailing some time in the hospital.

Founder of the ‘Indian Telegraph Association’ in 1908 and the journal ‘Telegraph Recorder’ in the same year,  Henry Barton, who was affectionately called as Harry Barton by his friends was a dynamic man  who organised many struggles for the workers. He had to resign from the service after he was transferred to an isolated place and devoted his entire life to the service of the workers. He was the General Secretary of the ITA from 1908 to 1936.

He was a member of the Telegraph Enquiry Committee, Postal Enquiry Committee and also was nominated as a Member of the Bengal legislative Assembly. He left for England in 1936 for better treatment and passed away on 13th JUly 1938.

Red Salute to Comrade Henry Barton!

Massive Hunger Strike was organised in all centres by BSNL Executives and non-executives as per the call of the unions/associations on 13th July 2017 demanding early wage revision, pension revision, 30% supernumerary benefits to BSNL recruitees, pension contribution on basis of actual salary and also opposing the anti-unions directions issued by the BSNL management. The unions/associations called upon the workers to organise the 27th July Strike on these demands a complete success.

Hearty Congratulations and Greetings to all the unions/associations and also the workers who made the programme a big success!

Ranchi [Jharkhand], July 10 : Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM) leader Brinda Karaton Monday severely criticised Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das for letting a woman wash his feet saying that such acts are unbecoming of a chief minister.
“It is absolutely wrong on the part of the Chief Minister to let a woman wash his feet and call it a tradition. If one has to look at traditions then the Chief Minister should be the one washing the feet of the people. He should respect them. These things must not be repeated. It is unbecoming of a chief minister,” Karat told.
A video went viral on Sunday in which a woman was seen washing the feet of Raghubar Das on the occasion of Guru Mahotsav.
At the event, held at the Brahma Lok Dham, the woman washed Das’ feet on a plate full of flower petals.
Das was the chief guest at the event. (Courtesy: Ganashakti)

An All India Women’s Convention called by BSNL Employees Union is being held at Hyderabad on 8th July 2017. This is being held as per the decision of the BSNLEU All India Conference held at Chennai in January 2017.

Large number of women delegates are expected to participate from all over India. They will discuss about their issues and formulate a Charter of demands. They will also discuss about how to bring more women to the organisation as also taking more responsibility in the organisation.

Greetings to all the office bearers and delegates participating in the All India Women’s Convention!

Solidarity Messages to the Workers of Brazil on their General Strike of June 30
30 Jun 2017FISE
FISE expresses Solidarity to the Workers of Brazil on their General Strike of June 30

FISE expresses its support to the workers of Brazil, for the 30 June, General Strike.

The workers of Brazil, on June 30 go on strike all over the country against the antiworkers’ reforms, planned by the Government of Brazil.

The struggle for full time, steady jobs, decent wages, Public and Free Social Security, Healthcare and Educations, is a struggle of the working class all over the world against business groups and the Governments, who serve them.

FISE expresses its solidarity and support to the workers’ mobilizations in Brazil.

Comrade S.P.Kalairajan, Circle Secretary of BSNLEU, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, retired on 30th June 2017 on superannuation.

Com.Kalairajan is an extra-ordinary, vibrant and dedicated leader of the working class. His entire service was dedicated to the DOT/BSNL employees as well as the central/state government employees of the A&N Islands. I remember the various times I have visited the islands on organisational tours. Every time, he organised several meetings of the central / state government employees as also teachers organisations. In the islands, he almost personally know each and every one. He accompanied me to the various islands and held meetings.  Though E.III and BSNLEU was a minority in the initial stage, the team led by Com. Kalairajan ensured that majority came to him.

Despite difficulties he used to attend all the All India Conferences and CEC meetings of the union. Every time we met, sometime will be utilised for discussion on organisational matters and progressive ideas. Even at latest CEC Thiruvananthapuram this was the case.

Kalairajan is an author. His book on the Tamil language is of high standard. As is usual with many of the people in Andamans, Kalairajan also knows various Indian languages. He has built up a strong organisation in the Islands including Com. Ratnambal, who herself is a senior leader.

On his retirement from service, my hearty congratulations and greetings to him. Now he had got a wide field for activities. I mentioned to him last time about Com.P.K.S.Prasad, who was a tall leader of the Andamans as an example for his future work.

Revolution Greetings to Com. Kalairajan!

It is reported that the employees in the more than 600 Branches of Kerala Gramin Bank will go on strike on 30th June protesting against the move for privatisation. Other demands are pension, revision of pension etc. The call is given by the All India Regional Bank Employees Association and supported by BEFI.

We extend our full solidarity and  support to the struggle!

Massive Dharnas were organised in front of BSNL Offices, including at the Corporate Office, New Delhi demanding immediate wage revision w.e.f.01-01-2017, Pension revision, 30% supernumerary benefits to BSNL recruitees, reduction of pension contribution limited to the actual pay and also against the anti-trade union measures taken by the BSNL Management. The reports and photoes received show that the workers and pensioners have taken the call in its right spirit and have participated in hundreds in most of the places.

In Kozhikode Telephone Exchange where the dharna was organised, the workers and pensioners gathered in large  numbers despite the heavy rain. I was given the honour to inaugurate the dharna, after the welcome speech by the Convener of All Unions/Associations Com. Jayarajan (DS BSNLEU) and the presidential speech by Com. Sasidharan (SNEA). Both of the explained the reasons for the dharna and the anti-worker attitude of the management. In my inaugural address, I also mentioned about the demands and the anti-working class character of the government. It is only through sustained struggles that the workers will be able to achieve  the demands.

The preparation for the One Day Strike on the same demands on 27th July 2017 has to start immediately and made a grand success. This wage revision is most important a large number of workers who will be retiring before next wage revision.

It seems that the BSNL management and the police did not allow the workers to organise the dharna inside the corporate office premises and it was held outside of the compound. The action of the management is strongly condemned. Such dharnas and progammes were conducted always inside the compound despite objection of the management / police and there is no justification to deny this right to the workers.