Trade Unions oppose privatisation of Kozhikode Railway Station

13 Saturday May 2017

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The trade unions and the people of Kozhikode are strongly opposing the government decision to hand over the Kozhikode Railway Station to private business. It is being done in the name of modernising the station, but in fact is a real estate business offered to private companies. 4.39  acres of railway land will be allotted on lease for 45 years or more to the company at the rate of Re.1 for one square metre.  The company can built malls, hotels and other such facilities. But the charges will be sky high as already seen when the airports were privatised. There will be no space to develop the infrastructure of the station. This is nothing but a sell out of this important 129 years old station to the private.

In the massive meeting held at the railway station premises on 11th May 2017, all the trade unions and service organisations, except BMS, participated and opposed the privatization move. CITU, INTUC, HMS, AITUC and other Central trade union leaders were present as also the service organisations. I also spoke on the occasion and mentioned about the struggles organised in BSNL against disinvestment and privatization.

The Action Committee formed against the privatisation of the Kozhikode Railway Station has planned many agitational programmes. The ill-move of the government has to be opposed and defeated.

Coal Unions towards strike

11 Thursday May 2017

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The Central trade Unions BMS, INTUC, HMS, AITUC and CITU has called upon the Coal workers to go on a three days strike from 19th June demanding withdrawal of the government proposal to merge Coal Mines Provident Fund with the EPF and on other demands. It is expected that more than five lakh coal workers will participate.

The withdrawal/ restriction  of trade union rights, social security measures etc. are compelling the workers to go on struggle in each and every sector. United struggles are taking in a large number of sectors.

HMT workforce reduced from 3500 to 235 within two decades.

11 Thursday May 2017

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HMT is in loss and some of its units are closed. It is well known that this has happened only due to the anti-PSU policy of the government.

However, Kalamassery Unit (Kerala) of the HMT is in profit even now. Orders are there, but the work force has been reduced from 3500 to 235 during the last two decades. Some of the retired workers are brought on contract basis to manage the work, but that is not sufficient. New recruitment has to take place, which the government will not allow.

When the adopted policy of the Modi Government is to close/ privatise about 75 PSUs, is it going to take care of HMT? Of course not.  The workers and people have to unitedly organise struggle to expose the government policy and save the valuable PSUs.

Steps towards privatization of railways

11 Thursday May 2017

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The government of India moving fast towards privatisation of Indian Railways. Already it has decided to hand many Railway Stations to the private and tenders are being called for. Chennai and Kozhikode are two of these important stations. Tenders are being called for this PPP (Public Private Participation), which is nothing but handing aver the railway stations to private companies at very low rates for looting the public and garnering profit.

A Rail Development Authority (RDA) is also being appointed to streamline this operation.It is to be remembered that the same method was used in the telecom sector to allow entry for the private operators and and to favour them.

History is being repeated. The only way to stop these anti-people policies are militant struggles jointly  by the workers and the people.

SBI increases Service Charges

11 Thursday May 2017

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The real face of the digitization is being exposed day after day. The latest is the increase in the charges for using ATMs, price for cheque books etc.  It is reported that each ATM charges may be around Rs. 20 or above after the free ones. Cheque book may cost similarly. The official orders are expected any time.

Fleecing the people has become a routine matter for the government. A few days ago the government has decided to increase the oil prices every week, despite the price of crude oil going down in the international market. Of course, this  is a government of the corporates for the corporates and by the corporates. You can not expect nothing else from it.

CGPA Conference calls for stengthening the organisation.

11 Thursday May 2017

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, TUI of Pensioners and Retirees

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Kerala State CGPA Conference held at Tirur discussed the annual report presented by the General Secretary and accounts presented by the treasurer and approved the same. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron NCCPA and Member Technical Committee, Trade Union International (Pensioners and Retirees), affiliated to WFTU and M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of CG Employees and Workers addressed the session and guided the debate. Office-bearers with Justice(Retd).Smt. D.Sreedevi as President and Com.T.I. Sudhakaran as General Secretary was unanimously elected. The Conference thanked the reception Committee for all the arrangements made for the conference.

CGPA State Conference started

09 Tuesday May 2017

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13th State Conference of Kerala CGPA started today, 9th May 2017 at Tirur. The open session was inaugurated by Com. M.B.Rajesh, M.P.  Com. P.C.Baburaj presided. Coms. K.K.N.Kutty(NCCPA), Nadakumar (CITU) and other leaders addressed. Almost 800 delegates are expected to participate.

The Delegate Session will be held tomorrow, 10th May.

EMMANUEL MACRON IS THE NEW FRENCH PRESIDENT.

09 Tuesday May 2017

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Emmanuel Macron (39) , a centrist and pro-European Union, has won the French Presidency. He defeated the far right Le Pen with a comfortable margin of 66% to 34%. He is the youngest French President.

Macron, who has never held any elected office and was unknown until three years ago. He however faces an uphill task to solve the serious and complex issues,his country is confronted with, especially, terrorism, mass unemployment, workers struggle and a stagnant economy.

Historic Strike of the Railway Workers 1974

09 Tuesday May 2017

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There is no parallel for the historical and glorious strike of the Railway workers in May 1974, which continued for more than three weeks. The strike was to start from 8th May 1974, but the arrest of the leaders including Com. George Fernandez, Secretary General of AIRF, resulted in the strike a few days earlier. The entire railways system collapsed due to the strike. Thousands of trains were stranded due to the strike.

The government used all its repressive machinery against the workers. 5 comrades became martyrs. Lakhs of workers were arrested, jailed, dismissed and terminated. Railway colonies were closed, family members evacuated, electricity cut and even women and children attacked. It was a saga of struggle and sacrifice.

P&T Employees and other central government employees in Kerala, Bengal etc. participated for three days, but could not continue due to repression.

8th May 2017 is the 43rd anniversary of this great struggle. On this day we remember those martyrs and other comrades who challenged the government and fought for their rights including Bonus!

 

 

Save PSU Seminar at Kannur, Kerala

09 Tuesday May 2017

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A well attended ‘Save PSU Seminar’ was held at Kannur on 8th May 2017 presided by Com.P.Manoharan, Chairman of the ‘Save PSU Committee.’ Com. K.K.Ragesh, M.P. inaugurated the Seminar and spoke about raising these issues in the Parliament as also the anti-people policies of the government. Coms.K.T.Kunhikkannan, V.A.N.Namboodiri, R.G.Pillai, K.P.Sahadevan, K.Manoharan, K.Asokan, P.K.Baiju and other leaders addressed. The veterans of the 1974 Railway Strike were honoured before the seminar. 8th May 2017 is the 43rd anniversary of the start of the historical strike of the Railway workers in 1974.