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Huge Support for BSNLEU – only 1 month for verification

17 Sunday Mar 2013

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Only one month is left for the conduct of the membership Verification in BSNL to find out the recognised union/s. The voting by secret ballot all over India will take place on 16th April 2013.

The All India and Circle Unions of BSNLEU are fully ready for the verification. They are confident of getting the support of more than 50 % of the workers. All India leaders of BSNLEU along with the leaders of UF are moving all over the country. The feed back that these leaders are giving is that the workers are fully supporting BSNLEU.

The total voters are about 2,05,000. BSNLEU has got 1,14,000 paid members as on Decembeer 2012. In addition the members of the alliance unions are also there. In such a situation, there is no doubt that BSNLEU/UF will get much more than 50% in the coming membership veriication.

Again hard campaign is necessary. it is being done. Let us prepare for a big victory to BSNLEU.

Working Men of All Countries Unite! – Communist Manifesto

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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On this 130th death Anniversary of Karl Marx, I am quoting below the last few paragraphs of the “Manifesto of the Communist Party!”

” In short, the Communists everywhere support every revolutionary movement against the existing social and political order of things.

In all these movements they bring to the front, as the leading question in each, the property question, no matter what its degree of development at the time.

Finally, they labour everywhere for the union and agreement of the democratic parties of all countries.

The Communists disdain to conceal their views and aims. They openly declare that their ends can be attained only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions. Let the ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution. The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win.

Working Men of All Countries, Unite!”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Karl Marx – Birth 5th May 1818 – Death 14th March 1883

13 Wednesday Mar 2013

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Today is the 130th Death Anniversary  of Karl Marx, one of the greatest philosophers the world has ever seen. He is the author of Communist Manifesto and Capital (4 Volumes) (along with Friedrich Engels) who expired on 24th March 1883. He analysed capitalism and explained that it is a stage in the development of the human society, but not the last and the ultimate. It is an interim  stage in the forward march to socialism and then Communism. Marx was born  on 5th May 1818 in a rich Prussian (Germany) family and was well-studied. He had to run from country to country since the authorities were afraid of his revolutionary theories. In his last phase of life he was staying in London continuing his research and writings using the vast collection of books at British Library. After the present global recession, his writings have become a matter of serious study.

When I went to London, I had the opportunity to visit the High Gate cemetery where he is laid at rest and paid homage to him. What is written on the tomb is relevant for all times: “Workers of the World Unite!”

I pay my respect and Revolutionary Greetings to one of the greatest revolutionaries of all times – Karl Marx !

Recognition of BSNLEU should continue till verification

11 Monday Mar 2013

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BSNL Management has withdrawn the recognition of BSNL Employees Union with effect from 13-02-2009 on the basis that the recognition was given for two years till that date. When the verification process was being delayed for finalising the BSNL Recognition Rules, it was demanded by BSNLEU that the recognition to BSNLEU should be extended till that date since such a long period with out a recognised union will not be correct. Other unions like NFTE, FNTO etc. in addition to our alliance partners also stated that they do not have any objection for extending the recognition of BSNLEU till verification. We also pointed out to the management that in the PSUs, the recognition is being extended till the next verification.
As such, BSNLEU should have been extended recognition till April 18th. Instead, BSNL Management has referred the matter to CLC. We have taken up the matter with CLC as well as Labour Ministry. In fact, we were told by the Labour Ministry that there need be no permission from them and the usual practice is to extend the recognition. Anyhow, we expect that approval from the CLC/Labour Ministry will be issued and recognition restored shortly.

Com. K.C.S.Nair passed away.

09 Saturday Mar 2013

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Com.K.Chandrasekharan Nair, popularly called KCS Nair, passed away on 7th of this month. He was ailing for some time and was in hospital for the last few days. The sad news was informed to me by our comrades in Calicut, where Com. KCS has settled after retirement a few years back.
Com.KCS was a man of action. As soon as he entered the P and T, he had been in the union and very active. For a long period he was the Branch Secretary of the DET Office, Calicut. After the 19th September 1968 strike, he was under suspension for a long time, faced court case and punished for participating in the strike. During the post-strike period he worked continuously without any strain. We were closely associated for a long period in union activities.
After coming to Delhi after the 1991 All India Conference, I had little chance of meeting him. However, twice, I went to his house and met him. He also used to attend the meetings when I came to Calicut. His health was deteriorating gradually. And now death has overtaken him.
I share the deep grief with the family and friends. I convey my heartfelt condolences to his wife, children and other family members.

“My Own Daughter Feels Unsafe in the City” – Sheila Dixit, CM.

08 Friday Mar 2013

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“My own daughter feels unsafe in the city.” – Chief Minister Smt. Sheila Dikshit about the situation in Delhi.

““our heads hang in shame” due to recurring incidents of rapes and other violence against women – Smt. Sonia Gandhi, Congress President.

These statements by two senior leaders of the ruling party at centre and in Delhi made today on “international Women’s Day’ gives the shameful and dangerous situation in the country for the women, who forms almost 50% of the population.

This shame on India has to be removed. Not only the Government, but the entire people, male and female have to unitedly ensure that gender equality is ensured, attacks and assaults on women are put an end to and the girls and women in the country can walk and live freely and without fear and danger.

Best Wishes and Greetings on International Women’s Day!

08 Friday Mar 2013

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My Best Wishes and Greetings to all comrades and well wishers on this International Women’s Day!
It should be our combined efforts to ensure that the gender discrimination should be put an end to and equal status and opportunity for men and women should be there. The discrimination and injustice being meted out to the women should be put an end to. The sexual assaults, attacks etc on women should be dealt with maximum punishments.The women should be able to live a free and happy life.

“A Promise is a Promise: Time for Action to End Violence Against Women.” – UN theme for International Women’s Day 2013.

BSNLEU on the path to great victory in Membership Verification.

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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There is no doubt that BSNL Employees Union will continue to be the first in the VI Membership verification of the non-executive unions in BSNL. This fact is conceded by all the unions, though reluctantly and the past results concur with the same.
Why BSNLEU / United Forum has won in all the last 4 verifications? The answer lies in the past excellent performance of the UF/BSNLEU during the last many years.
1. The first and foremost is its uncompromising fight against the anti-PSU, anti-worker policy of the government. The unions which later united and formed the BSNL Employees Union in 2001, have been in continuous struggle against the corporatisation process initiated by the government. While the recognised Federations in DOT viz.NFTE and FNTO openly declared that they will not fight against the policies of the government, the National Action Council formed by the former E.III(N), T.III, Administrative Unions etc continued a serious battle against the proposal for corporatisation touring the entire country and propagating. Two strikesw were also successfully organised by the NAC. Unfortunately the recognised Federations agreed for the corporatisation, though they went on strike against the same. This compromise with the management not only resulted in corporatisation, but the same could be implented by the government even six months earlier than it was proposed. Just as they have agreed for ban on recruitment and reduction of staff earlier, they agreed for corporatisation also putting the entire future of the employees at stake.
After the formation of BSNL, and later of BSNLEU, the latter continued its efforts to ensure for the viability of the BSNL and for better service. While neither the recognised Federations in DOT did not take any initiative to bring all the unions together nor NFTE, the recognised union after the first membership verification in BSNL, also did not take anyinitiative. It was only after the recognition of BSNLEU and at the initiative of the latter that the Joint Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations was formed and efforts made by all the unions/associations to save BSNL.The slogan of unity and struggle was implemented at the initiative of BSNLEU.
Despite decision of the government/Minister three times for disinvestment of BSNL not evn a single share could be disinvested so far. All the unions categorically rejected the offer of shares for the employees which was a clever ploy by the government. While almost all the PSUs have been disinvested, less or more, even after 12 years, BSNL still continues to be afully government owned company.
The programme of “Customer Delight Month/Year” was initiated by the Joint Forum /Joint Action Committee with the participation of all the unions. This could be done at the initiative of BSNLEU. Though the service is still not up to the mark, efforts are on throughout the country by the workers to better the same.
Without going in to further details, it can truly be stated that BSNLEU was in the forefront to defend and save BSNL and its workers. All the employees are fully aware of the same. That is why the BSNL employees, irrespective of the affiliation, looks to the BSNLEU and Joint Forum/Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations to continue the struggle to strengthen and save BSNL and its workers.Even the workers in other PSUs and Central trade Unions are fully appreciate the role of the BSNLEU in this respect.( to be continued).

Red Salute to Com. N.P.Padmanabhan!

05 Tuesday Mar 2013

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Today, 5th March 2013 is the 19th death anniversary of Com. N.P.Padmanabhan, former Secretary, NFPTE and the Convener of the powerful Co-ordinating Committee of P and Unions, Kerala, for a tumultous period of more than 10 years. Meetings will be held in all centres in Kerala to pay homage to this great leader.
Conm. Padmanabhan was a charismatic and revolutionary leader. Appointed as Postal Clerk in 1945 in Calicut, within no time he became active in the union. He participated in the successful Postal Strike of 1946. After the formation of UPTW, he became an active worker of the same. When NFPTE was formed in 1954, Comrade Padmanabhan along with Coms. T.M.Janardhanan Master, Ananadan Master, K.Bhaskaran Nair and others organised it in the Malabar area. When the Kerala P and T Circle unions were formed at the Trivandrum Conference in 1961, Com.N.P. was elected as the Asst. Circle Secretary of Postal Class III Union and in 1966 Kollam Conference as the Circle Secretary. Next year at the Palakkad Conference, he was elected as the Convener of the P and T Co-ordinating Committee.
THe Historical One Day Strike of 1968 became a battle ground between the Central Government and Communist Government in Kerala.Central Government wanted all state governments to crush the 19th September 1968 strike of the Central Government employees with an iron fist using the drastic Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA). But the Kerala Government led by Com. E.M.S.Namboodiripad bluntly refused to implement the ESMA against the striking employees. Enraged, the Central Government was proposing to dismiss the state government. Anyhow,this did not happen. But the Indira Gandhi Government at Centre saw to that maximum victimisation was imposed on the employees of Kerala. Hundreds of criminal cases were filed, thousands of Rule-14 Charge Sheets issued, 300 workers terminated and hundreds of employees suspended.Even in 1960 strike, such victimisation did not take place.
The situation was tense. All the Circle and district leaders were either under suspension or termination. To face this brutal attack was not easy. The P and T Co-Ordinating Committee under the leadership of Com. N.P.Padmanabhan organised sustained and continuous struggles against the victimisation. It took about three years to take back all the terminated employees and to reinstate the suspended. But Com. Padmanabhan was not re-instated. He was dismissed from service.
The P and T House, the office of P and T Unions at Trivandrum was the centre point of many unions to get advice and support for their struggles. He was elected as the Secretary of the NFPTE in 1978 and shifted to New Delhi. He continued in that position till 1981.
His health started deteriorating due to the hard work and strain and went back home to Kannur in the late 1980s. He continued his activities from there. On 5th March 1994, he left us forever.
Since 1958, when I joined the P and T and got transfer to Kannur from Kottayam, he had been my leader and guide. It was under his indomitable leaderrship that we all went on in the 1960 five days strike. I had the opportunity to work with him at Trivandrum during my tenure as Circle Secretary and till his death.
Com. Padmanabhan was a real leader in all respects. The entire P and T movement and especially Kerala comrades lost a revolutionary leader in his death. His body was cremated in the Payyambalam Beach, Kannur, where a memorial is constructed for him among the memorials of leaders of the working class like Coms. A.K.Gopalan, E.K.Nayanar and others. When I went to Kannur to attend the AIBDPA All India Conference in February this year, I went there and paid my homage along with Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron of AIBDPA, A.K.Bhattacharjee, Prsident AIBDPA, K.G.Jayaraj, General secretary AIBDPA and Com. Bhaskaran AIBDPA leader at Kannur.
Red Salute to Com. N.P.Padmanabhan, the Revolutionary leader! His memory will always be with us.

60 years after Stalin

03 Sunday Mar 2013

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Joseph Stalin, the General Secretary of the Russian Communist Party and the Premier of USSR expired on 5th March 1953. He made USSR a military and economic force and had a prominent role in the defeat of Hitler and end to Fascism in the II World War ( 1941-45).
He was depicted as dictator and after his death, the next Secretary of the Party, Nikita Krushchew, attacked him on his policies and attacks on his detractors.
Whatever be his dictactorial actions, nobody can decimate his leadership in making the USSR a great force in military, science and also developmenmt.
USSR stands collapsed more than 20 years back and the bulwark against imperialism weakened. But the same people who has thrown out communism in Russia, seems to be defending the achievements that communism has brought to the country.