Category Archives: Uncategorized

The young Rani who fought the British

17 Monday Jun 2013

Posted by in History, Uncategorized

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Rani of jhansi.jpgThe courageous leadership and ultimate sacrifice of Rani Lakshmibai  of Jhansi against the British and for the freedom of the country is well-known to all. There are many ballads and stories about her bravery, war strategy etc. But what is not much known is that at the time of her death in the battlefield on 17th June 1858  she was young and only 30  years of age.

Today is the 113th anniversary of her sacrifice for the country. She was killed in action, in the battlefield and was buried in Gwalior.

Rani Lakshmibai of Jhansi will ever be remembered by the people.

Horrible exploitation of contract workers in BSNL

16 Sunday Jun 2013

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Uncategorized

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A meeting of the Circle Executive Committe of the Maharashtra Labour and Contract Labour Union of BSNL was held today at CITU office. The union is both affiliated to CITU and BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF). About 50 comrades were present representing the SSAs Maharashtra.

The reporting by the District Secretaries about the condition of the contract workers was shocking. Most of the orders issued by the BSNL Corporate office or the Instructions of the Govt.f India are not implemented. In some SSAs, only Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 3,000 is paid as minimum wage. In some other SSAs it is Rs. 3,000 to 4,000. These are much below the minimum wages fixed by the Central Govt. and orders issued by the BSNL Corporate office. EPF and ESI are not implemented. These are not checked by the concerned officers and action taken against the culprits.

However, due to the continuous struggle of the union, in SSAs like Latur and Nasik, the situation is somewhat better,though not completely.

The meeting has taken decisions to strengthen the union by bringing all the contract workers in to the organisation and also persue the issues with the management for settlement with the help of BSNLEU, CITU etc.

 

Greece Govt.close TV and Radio – strong protest by people

13 Thursday Jun 2013

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A report from Greece is reproduced below regarding strike of the people against closure of TV and Radio as part of austerity measures.

Athens, Jun 12 : Greece’s conservative-led government was facing a political crisis today after its decision to shut down state-run TV and radio as part of spending cuts triggered a wave of strikes and fierce opposition from within the coalition government.                 The country’s two largest labour unions called a 24-hour general strike for tomorrow with flights from Greece’s airports set to halt for two hours that day.                 TV and radio signals from the Hellenic Broadcasting Corp., or ERT, went dead early today, hours after the government closed the broadcaster down and fired its 2,500 workers, citing the need to cut “incredible waste.”                 Protesters gathered outside the company’s headquarters north of Athens for a second day, sheltering from torrential rainfall in the building’s giant lobby, as ERT’s journalists defied the order and continued a live Internet broadcast.                 Journalist unions also launched rolling 24-hour strikes, halting news programs on Greece’s privately owned broadcasters, while the government’s center-left coalition partners demanded that ERT’s closure be reversed.                 The government defended its decision, insisting a new more efficient and less costly public broadcaster would be launched before the end of the summer.                 “When you restructure something from the foundations, you have to close it, temporarily,” government spokesman Simos Kedikoglou said.

Closure of Telegram Services opposed

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Uncategorized

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I express my strong protest against the decision of BSNL to close the telegram services. BSNL has issued orders stating that the telegram services will be closed with effect from 15th July 2013.

This decision has been taken by the management without discussing with the recognised unions. Telegraph Services were started in India by the British in 1850. On 5th November, the first message went between Diamond harbour and Calcutta.First  it was only for use of the government and later extended to the people. Telegraph was the fastest mode of communications till the telephones services started in the 1930s. Still telegraphs continued as a major method of communication.

The Central Telegraph Offices in Calcutta, Bombay, Delhi, Madras etc. employed hundreds of Telegraphists, Telegraph Clerks and Telgraphmen on duty round  the clock. It was not  much different in other cities. The cut-cut-cud-cut of the telegraph machines filled the Instrument Rooms. The traffic was so busy that sometimes the staff have to forego even tea-break.

Of course, everything has changed during the last two decades. 90% of the telegrams have been reduced. Now it is being used in the rural areas, by the military and military personnel, some banks, medical rpresentatives and by some others for legal and record purposes etc.

BSNL management might have issued the order  to reduce its losses being incurred for running the services. Nobody will deny that justification. BUt as in the case of loss making telephone services in the rural areas, the telegram service also has to be maintained. Further, before taking such a drastic action as closing the service completely, the recognised unions of the employees have not even been consulted. The Management also should have considered the people who are still using the telegram services. Telegraph is to be treated as a Heritage service and maintained at least in the District HQrs as at present.

I express my strong protest against this closure of one of the earliest service in the country. The BSNL Management should urgently discuss the matter with the unions/associations so that the issue is solved in an amicable way.

Nelson Mandela still in critical condition

12 Wednesday Jun 2013

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Nelsn Mandela, the icon against apartheid and former President of South Africa is still in hospital and in serious condition. Not only people of South Africa, but the entire world is wishing for restoration of his health.

It was on 12th June 1964 that Nelson Mandela was put in  prison  for leading the Freedom struggle for the independence of South Africa from the British. He was put in solitary confinement in Robben Island for long  24 years.

After getting freedom he was unanimously elected as the first President of the free South Africa.

US intelligence agencies tap all internets – India also?

08 Saturday Jun 2013

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It has come to light that the U.S. intelligence agencies have a direct tap into the servers of the U.S.’s largest Internet companies where agents can go through for any suspicious activity.

“The highly classified program, designed to look at international communications and run by the National Security Agency and the FBI, can peek at video, audio, photos, emails and other documents, including connection logs that let the government track people, according to the sources, who spoke with NBC News on condition of anonymity.”

“The program, code-named PRISM, was first publicly exposed Thursday evening by The Washington Post and The Guardian.”

“According to the Post, which reported that it had obtained an internal NSA presentation on the PRISM operation, the tool was so successful that it was the top contributor to President Barack Obama’s daily intelligence brief — with 1,477 articles last year.”

“The participating technology companies were a virtual “Who’s Who” of Silicon Valley, including Microsoft, Yahoo, Google, Facebook, PalTalk, AOL, Skype, YouTube and Apple,  the Post said.”

As seen from the above reports, the US Intelligence Agencies are even peeping in to the secret lives of each and everybody whom they want. This is a gross criminal act and can not be condoned any way. Privacy of people can not be violated. The world opinion has to be mounted up against this violation of the fundamental rights of each and every citizen.

Another report has come in the press that Indian government also is employing similar method to spy the citizens. It is completely wrong and had to be opposed and stopped.

Birds of the same feather – Reliance Vs.Reliance

08 Saturday Jun 2013

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In business every move is based on  profitability. The media has been continuously giving news about the bitter rivalry between the two Ambani brothers, Mukesh and Anil, who head two of the richest corporates in the country. Now both are in the telecom sector, since it is one of the most profitable sector. Anil Ambani is the owner of the Reliance Communications Limited which is one of the leading private telecom company. Mukesh Ambani has started Reliance Jio Infocomm Limited and is in the move.

Both R-Com and jio Infocomm have now signed an Rs. 12,000 agreement by which the former will lease out its 45,000 towers to the latter.

It once again proves that maximisation of profit is the basic motto of the corporates.

 

 

 

 

 

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Revolutionary Greetings to NFPE Federal Council!

07 Friday Jun 2013

Posted by in TU News - India, Uncategorized

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The 9th Federal Council of the National Federation of Postal Employees is scheduled to be held from 9th to 12th June at Hyderabad. NFPTE which was formed in 1954 got bifurcated in 1985 in to NFPE and NFTE consequent to the bifurcation of the P&T in to Postal and Telecommunication Departments. While the service section of the Department of Telecom was converted in to a PSU, BSNL, the Department of Posts continued as such and NFPE also continued. The present Federal Council of NFPE is the 9th after its formation.

NFPTE  has a glorious past organising many historic struggles for the interest of the Central Government employees and specially for the P&T employees. NFPE as also BSNLEU is continuing with this great tradition.

On behalf of BSNLEU and on my own behalf, I convey Best Wishes for the success of the Federal Council and Revolutionary Greetings to all the comrades !

Three Election Results of the Unions – A report in Working Class

03 Monday Jun 2013

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I am giving below a report published in the June 2013 issue of Working Class, Organ of CITU,  with regard to three elections in PSU/Govt.:Three election results in April – May, 2013 of CITU affiliated and associated unions in public sector and government departments are significant. Elections were held through secret ballots for recognition of the unions.

Massive Victory of CITU Union in Bhilai Steel Plant

CITU affiliated Hindustan Steel Employees Union (HSEL) in Bhilai achieved a massive victory in secret ballot of the workers, held on 12 May, and became the number one recognized union of the Bhilai Steel Plant of SAIL.

Out of total 22,000 workers of the plant, 19,584 workers cast their votes. Eight unions contested. HSEU (CITU) secured 8,692 (44.38%) votes defeating the nearest contestant Ispat Shramik Manch (ISM) who secured 5,599 votes, INTUC union got 3,773, SWU 534, AITUC union 315, AICCTU 315, BMS 232 and HMS 75, invalid 49 votes.

CITU congratulated HSEU and also conveyed gratitude to the workers of Bhilai Steel Plant for extending such massive support to CITU union.  Steel Workers’ Federation of India (SWFI) also congratulated the HSEU for such resounding victory.

BSNL Employees Union’s 5th Successive Victory

Out of total about 2.05 lakh BSNL employees, more than 1.93 lakh employees in 35 circles across the country cast their votes on 16 April. 48.68% employees voted for BSNL Employees Union and 30.28% for NFTE (BSNL). Both got recognition out of total 18 unions in the fray. It is the 5th time victory of BSNL Employees Union in a row. (Working Class, May, 2013). CITU greeted BSNL Employees Union for this massive victory.

Victory of Railway Unions

Election in Railways was held during 25 – 27 April and the result was declared on 3 May. As per rules, minimum 30% votes are required for getting recognition status in Railways.

Left supported MTP Employees Union in Kolkata Metro Railway secured 46.02% votes and became the only recognized union defeating Congress supported Metro Railway Workers Union (27.33%) and Trinamool Congress supported Metro Rail TMC Sramik Karmachari Union (23.05%).

In Eastern Railway, Left-supported Eastern Railwaymrn’s Union secured 46.44% votes and became the number one recognized union for railwaymen. Congress-supported Eastern Railwaymen’s Congress secured 36.10% votes and became 2nd recognized union. Trinamool Congress supported Eastern Railway Employees and Workers Congress got only 10.11% votes. Of this, in Jamalpur Railway Workshop in Bihar, Left-supported union got 4540 votes out of total 9214 workers and became number one recognized union in the workshop.

In South Eastern Railway, Congress supported SE Railwaymen’s Congress secured 45.32% and number one position followed by Left supported SE Railwaymen’s Union with 41.70 % votes and 2nd recognized union status. TMC supported union got only 5.21% votes.

 
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Thousands protest in Tokyo against Nuclear reactors

02 Sunday Jun 2013

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A report from AFP

Tokyo, Jun 2 Thousands of anti-nuclear demonstrators rallied in the Japanese capital Tokyo today as conservative Prime Minister Shinzo Abe considers restarting reactors. Organisers said 7,500 people gathered at a park in the city centre, including disaster victims and celebrities such as Nobel literature laureate Kenzaburo Oe. Protesters later marched through the capital, holding anti-nuclear banners including one which read: “No Nukes! Unevolved Apes Want Nukes!” They also demonstrated outside the headquarters of Tokyo Electric Power Co, operator of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant which was crippled by meltdowns after the March 2011 tsunami. Abe, whose Liberal Democratic Party has close ties with the nation’s powerful business circles, has repeatedly said he would allow reactor restarts if their safety could be ensured. Japan turned off its 50 reactors for safety checks in the wake of the disaster but has restarted two of them, citing possible summertime power shortages. Radiation from the plant, 220 kilometres northeast of Tokyo, spread over a wide area after the worst nuclear accident since the 1986 Chernobyl disaster.