The Kejriwal Government has issued orders increasing the minimum wage of the workers in Delhi from the present Rs. 9,568 to Rs. 14,055 an increase of over 50%. The wages for the semi-skilled is increased from Rs. 10,582 to Rs. 15,471 and skilled from Rs. 11,622 to Rs. 17,033.

We congratulate the Delhi AAP Government for the fully justified increase. The Central Trade Unions have demanded the Central Government to increase the minimum wages to Rs.18,000. Though government agreed to increase to Rs.10,000, even for that no orders have been issued. This is one of the demand in the 2nd September Nationwide Strike.

Today the entire world, including India has best Postal Services. But what about centuries back?

It is written that in 6th Century BC Cyrus, the King of Persia had established a Postal system through horsemen. It helped him in the Scythian war. He built stages on the route so that the horse and man can refresh and start again or change the horse and man. In China, very early postal system existed.

Many kings used many methods for conveying news.

Privatisation/ Disivestment is an attack on the job security of workers, especially that of SC/ST. After privatisation, mass scale retrenchment takes places  to reduce staff. The first to be retrenched are women and SC/ST employees. The plea of management is that there is no reservation in private.

Govt.is defeating its own reservation policy by privatisation. Fight and defeat anti- worker policy!

It seems that there will be no separate Railway Budget in future. Railways Minister Suresh Prabhu has written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitely requesting that the General Budget should include Railways also and there is no need for a separate budget.

Is it an indication of the corporatisation/privatisation of the Railways? Let us wait and see.

As per call of Central TUs, a massive day long Dharna participard by thousands of workers was held at Calicut on 09-08-2016 in front of Income Tax Office. All the CTUs except BMS participated. In addition, CG, State Government, PSU employees also participated.Com.VAN Namboodiri, Patron BSNL who was at Calicut participated and addressed the dharna. CTU leaders and leaders of mass organisations also addressed. The dharna was organised to campaign for the demands and strike on 2 September 2016.

While having interaction with comrades at Palakkad study class, Com.V.A.N
Namboodiri remembered the martyrs of 1960 strike. Along with the 6 Railway workers who were killed, there were two comrades from Kerala who commuted suicide unable to face termination from service and the bleak future. One was Com.Ekamaram, a telephone Operator from Palakkad. Other is a Postman  from Trichur whose name he could not remember.
If any comrade is able to remember his name, kindly inform com. Namboodiri    

It was a pleasant evening. After participating in the two classes organised in the study class organised at Malampuzha, Palakkad by BSNLEU Circle Union, Kerala on 8th August and visiting the dam nearby, all the participants met together to hear Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri about the great struggle of the P and T movement and its march ahead. In simple words he narrated his personal  experiences of about six decades in the movement.The participants asked questions and were replied. Com.Muralidharan Nair, former AGS BSNLEU was the Moderator, circle President Com.A.V.Kuriakose presided and Com.K.Mohanan Cidcle Secretary Kerala made the introduction speech. Com..Namboodiri narrated many interesting incidents of the march of the movement.

Com.Namboodiri honoured Com.Mohanan on behalf of BSNLCCWF CHQ for leading the glorious struggle of Kerala CCLU, despite victimisation, transfer, suspension etc. It was a tribute to Kerala workers who organised the struggle.

Many comrades suggested that these experiences should be written and published for the future generation.

A well attended meeting at short notice  was arranged at Telecom Factory Alipore, Kolkata on 28 July 2016, presided by Com. Shekhar Bhattacharjee, Circle President. Com. Om Prakash Singh welcomed all. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, Animesh Mitra, All India Vice President, BSNLEU and Adhir Kumar Sen, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA addressed.