The Central Trade Unions including INTUC, AITUC, CITU, BMS, HMS, UTUC etc. has called for one day strike on 28th February 2012 on 10 point demands on which rail / rasta roko was organised on 8th November 2011, which was a great success. Despite sustained agitations, the government has not taken any action to stop the high price rise, anti-worker decisions, settle issues of the unorganised workers etc., the major demands of the workers.

The details of the decisions will be posted later. Let us be prepared for s successful strike on 28th February 2012.

There was some delay in forming AIBDPA in Chennai Circle. The Association has been formed in Chennai on 17th November 2011. When I came to Chennai to attend the CEC meeting of T.Nadu Circle BSNLEU, the Chennai AIBDPA leaders came and met me today, 2nd December under the leadership of Coms. C.K.Narasimhan, Circle Secretary, T.Nadu and  K. Arumugham, Convener, Chennai. Com. K.Govindarajan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Chennai was also present.

The comrades who came were very interested in strengthening the Association. I spoke about the latest developments and the struggles undertaken to settle the issues of the pensioners and they were very much enthused. All of them paid subscription to the ‘Tele Pensioner’ for three years. Certain doubts raised were explained. Comrades assured that AIBDPA will gain strength in the next few months and will become a strong force.

It was a pleasure to interact with these comrades.

While I was returning from Agartala to Kolkata on Thursday, 1st December, the flight was a bit delayed. We were in the lounge after security check and was awaiting boarding announcement. The flight landed, the passengers came out and started their way to go out. Within a few minutes, two sets of the seat rows in the flight was taken outside. I was surprised why the seats are taken out. An ambulance reached near the plane, a wounded army personnel was taken out on a stretcher and was taken inside the plane. All became clear. The army personnel was being taken to Kolkata for better treatment.  On the flight he was crying and shouting with severe pain.

My friend told me this is a usual sight. Due to the lack of sufficient better hospitals in the North Eastern States, patients have to be taken to Kolkata for treatment. The road route is very long curving through the hills and may take one or two days or more. There can be landslides all of a sudden. So, even poor people somehow manage to go by flight to save their dear ones.

This speaks much about the unequal development in the country. The Government is always announcing special packages for North East, but still the area is completely neglected. And the health concerns are completely neglected. The central and state governments have to act. There can not be any delay.

As expected, the Congress Party is trying to evade any strong anti-corruption mechanism in the Lok Pal Bill. Even after the Parliamentary Standing Committee has unanimously recommended inclusion of Group C officials in the Lok Pal Bill and also included the appointment of CBI, the Congress members called for an urgent meeting of the Committee and changed its stance, resulting in changing the already agreed recommendations. This is clear that the change has been made as per the directions of the Congress leadership.

Once again it is made clear to the people that Congress will fight till the last to avoid a strong Lok Pal Bill. And the reason is also well understood.

During my visit to Agartala (Tripura) the leaders of the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation met me and discussed about the issues of the Casual and Contract workers.

There are  119 casual workers in Agartala who have been working since the last 15 to 20 years While they are being paid the CDA wages, the IDA wages are not paid. Their regularisation has not been done so far on the plea of the Supreme Court verdict in the Umadevi case. EPF is being deducted but no account number has been given. ESI is not being deducted.

There are specific rules for all these. Then why it is not being implemented. Complete injustice being done to the issues of these workers. The BSNL management has to see that justice is meted out to these workers.

The strike by the traders organisations against FDI has been a good success. The Bandh was organised in almost every town. But the media which support the FDI may not give wide publicity. It is the same media which completely boycotted the news of the massive Parliament March of the employees against PFRDA Bill on 25th November 2011.

But yet, the struggle against FDI in retail trade will continue and strengthen.

British workers went on an unprecedented mighty strike  yesterday (30 th November) against the decision of the government on pension cut and severe austerity measures drastically reducing the social security of the workers and pensioners. It is reported that more than 20 lakh workers participated in the strike, the biggest since 1979.  The strike took place on a joint call by 30 unions.

The austerity measures have been completely opposed by the British workers. The government is contemplating to increase the retirement age to 67 which will adversely affect the job seekers and increase the period for full pension. Schools, government offices, transport etc. were badly affected by the strike.

The capitalist governments want to put the burden of the recession on the workers and bail out the big business, banks etc. who are the real villains of the recession. World wide struggles are arising against  this discrimination and injustice. What is happening in UK is part of the world-wide struggle of the workers. Our solidarity and support to the struggle of the British workers.

Even after 64 years of Independence, the workers in this country are not allowed to have the unions of their choice. The heroic struggle that the Maruti Suzuki Workers of Manesar Plant organised for recognition of their own union is known to all. The Haryana government refused to register the union and the management refused to recognise it though almost all the workers of the plant are members of the union.

The same issue is now in the Hyundai Motors at Chennai (T.Nadu). The Hyundai Motor India Employees Union wanted recognition by the management. When the union was formed, most of the office-bearers of the union,  23, were terminated. When the workers  protested through demonstrations, they have been arrested and kept in custody.

The right to organise and right to collective bargaining is accepted  all over the world. The labour laws in the country allows to form union with a minimum of 7 workers.  But even when thousands of workers have formed the union, the private companies are not recognising them. No discussion takes place. The government does not intervene on behalf of the workers. But it is intervening and supporting the private companies. The right of the workers to form union itself is being questioned. The neo-liberalisation policy of the government is in open support to the MNCs and private companies and is acting against the interest of the workers.

That is why all the Central Trade Unions are jointly organising struggles to ensure the right of the workers. It is the duty of each and every worker to support and participate in the struggles.

It was most unusual. Almost all the heads /owners of the private companies which are fighting against each other on many contending issues met the Prime Minister yesterday (30th November ) together. Sunil  Mittal (Airtel), Anil Ambani (Reliance), VittorioColao (Vodafone), Kumaramangalam Birla (Idea), Ishhat Hussain (Tata)- all were there. They met the Communications Minister as well as the Finance Minister before meeting the Prime Minister.

The 2G scam, the roaming controversy, the economic slow down, the cut throat competition – all these have resulted in less profit and the private companies are worried about the future. Now they want some more concessions and help from the government. They want that the New Telecom Policy  2011 should in their favour, in fact more favour. These may be the issues discussed.

These talks  and the consequent developments will be against the interests of the PSUs, BSNL and MTNL. But whether they are meeting the PM and other ministers and seeking more help for the PSUs? Are they going to meet the Prime Minister ?

The unions have to move urgently to ensure that decisions are not taken against the BSNL & MTNL. All kinds of favours have been given to private companies and there is no necessity to further spend public funds for the private profit.

For me yesterday  was a very pleasant day.  I was at Agartala, the capital of Tripura to attend the marriage of Ms. Somali,  daughter of Com. Swapan Chakraborty,  the Asst. General Secretary of BSNLEU.

I reached Agartala by about 1000 hours by flight from Delhi. Comrade Abhimanyu, GS, was also to come with me, but due to some urgent matters at home he could not. I was received at the Airport by Com. P.C.Dey, senior leader of Agartala. I was accommodated in the same place where the marriage was to take place. Since it was by about 0700 PM, I had sufficient time at my disposal to read some journals which I had brought from home.

Tripura is the only state in the country at present which is ruled y the left, the CPI(M). There were three till last year, Kerala and W.Bengal included. But in the last assembly elections Left lost both. Now only Tripura is left under Left. Though a small state, one of the seven sisters of the North East States, Tripura is not embroiled in the turmoil that is there in the NE area. It is also the state that has moved forward under the Left government. The roads are better, governance is better as also the safety of the people. That is why in each and every Parliament and Assembly poll, the Left is getting more and more support.

BSNLEU is also very strong in the NE including Tripura. In all the membership verifications, NE I & II are getting majority above 90% of the total votes. There is no other organisations there worth mentioning.  The JAC is also functioning well.

The JAC at Agartala had arranged a meeting in connection with my visit. It was well attended with about 250 workers. I was the main speaker and I spoke for about 90 minutes explaining most of the important issues faced by the workers. I also called upon the workers the necessity of participating in the 15th December strike called by the JAC on BSNL and workers issues. The workers heard the speech with rapt attention.

Again to the marriage. The barat was scheduled at 0700 PM and the marriage at 0800 PM. Coms. Swapan Chakraborty and wife Ms. Indrani received me and were happy at my presence. with Many comrades from all parts of NE I & II came. Many comrades spoke about certain issues including the regularisation of casual workers. From W.Bengal Com. Pappan (Gautam Bose) son of Moni Bose had come with his wife and son.  It was a pleasure to meet them after so much time.

The marriage ceremony continued up to 2300 hours or so. Every thing was well-arranged. I met Miss Somali and gave my best wishes and blessings for a very happy marriage. I enjoyed the feast though I did not taste every dish, including non-vegetarian. Coms. Narayan Rai and Sikha at whose marriage hall, the function was arranged have done it very well. They also ensured that every thing including my stay was comfortable. I returned on the morning of 1st December after a very tasty breakfast.