AIBDPA formed in Uttarakhand

The meeting of BSNL – DOT Pensioners held at Dehradun on 25 April 2016 in the presence of Comrade V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, AIBDPA decided to form AIBDPA and elected Com. J.P.Kothari, veteran leader, as Circle Convener of AIBDPA, Uttarakhand Circle. It was decided to enrol maximum members. A circle convention will be held within 3-4 months. Senior leaders Coms. P.C.Kandpal, P. B. Dobhal and other leaders were present.

Meeting at Haridwar

A large number of workers from Haridwar and nearby districts attended the BSNLEU Verification campaign meeting held at Haridwar in the morning of 26 April 2016. Com. Dubey Dist. President presided. Com. Kala, Dist. Secretary welcomed the participants.
Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder General Secretary snd Patron, Swapan Chakraborty, Dy . General Secretary, P.C.Kandpal, P.B.Dobhal, senior leaders and Patrons, K.S.Soun, Circle Secretary, Kala, Circle President and other leaders addressed and spoke about the achievements of BSNLEU and future agenda. The need to resist the attacks on PSUs was focussed. The local leaders and workers assured of more than 70% support to BSNLEU in this verification.

Meeting at Haridwar

Though the meeting was held at Haridwar in open space with extreme heat, a large number of workers attended the meeting held on 26 April 2016 as part of verification campaign. Com. V.S. Dubey, District President presided. S.C.Kala, District Secretary welcomed.
Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder General Secretary & Patron BSNLEU, Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. General Secretary, Patrons P.B.Dobhal, P.C.Kandpal, Circle Secretary K.S.Soun and other leaders addressed. The issues of employees, pensioners ans contract workers were explained. Achievements of the past and future programmes were presented.
The workers assured that BSNLEI will be fully supported and % will be more than 70%.

Why not Pilot, instead of Driver?

Driver is a good name. But I feel that Pilot is a better name.
Air Pilot, Rail Pilot, Motor Pilot, Car Pilot and so on.
Just like the designation Principal is now gradually being used for Headmasters.
There is no loss for anybody by providing good names. Further it motivates the concerned persons.

Dehradun always in the lead

Dehradun, the capital city of Uttarakhand and headquarters of BSNL Circle has always supported BSNLEU in the membership vetification and got majority in all verifications from the second. The circle has taken BSNLEU to heart under the capable leadership of Comrades P.C.Kandpal and P.B.Dhobal. Now Coms. K.S.Soun  and G.P.Kala have taken over charge as Circle.Secretary and  President  but  the old and new teams are jointly functioning effectively.
The verification campaign meeting was held at Dehradun on 25 April presided over by Com. J.P.Kothari, senior leader and District President BSNLEU. Dist. Secretary Com. Kishorilal Chamoli welcomed. The specially erected pandal was full with more than 200 comrades.
Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, K.S
Soun CS,  P.B.Dhobal, P.C.Kandpal, Patrons, Bahuguna BSNLCCWF, Samir Dabral, SNATTA, Unnial and other leaders addressed. They explained the achievements brought by BSNLEU and present demands. The workers in one voice guaranteed that Dehrdun will not only give majority, but will increase by 5%.

Nepal – One Year after earth quake –

It was exactly one year back on 25th August 2015 that tragedy struck Nepal in the form of severe earthquake, which devasted our friendly neibhour. Hundreds perished. Buildings and installations collapsed, including heritage structures.
Nepal is slowly coming to normal from the disaster.
We wish them early restoration and normalcy.

MAY DAY GREETINGS FROM WFTU

WFTU May Day Poster Published

18 Apr 2016

1 MAY , MAY  DAY

The World Federation of Trade Unions on the occasion of the International Workers’ Day on 1 st May 2016 conveys a militant salute to all men and women of the working class and to the 92 million members of WFTU in 126 countries.

Men and women, younger or older, employed or unemployed, migrants and refugees, the World Federation of Trade Unions wishes you strength, determination and courage in your small-scale or large-scale struggles.

The multinationals, the reactionary governments, neo -fascist and racist forces, the imperialist mechanisms dread this day. Because it is a symbol of internationalism, a symbol of struggle, a symbol of class unity. These are our most powerful tools with which we need to arm ourselves in our struggles for better lives, in our struggles against poverty and wars generated by the capitalist barbarity.

Building strong class-oriented base trade unions that are massive, democratic, militant we strengthen the WFTU.

And by strengthening the WFTU as a rooted class-oriented Organization of the base, internationalist and uniting, we strengthen our trade unions.

In all countries of the world, with all forms of action we demand our contemporary needs, our labor, social and trade union rights.

Our reality of misery, unemployment, poverty and wars in contrast to the technological and scientific progress and the wealth we produce, prove how unrealistic and rotten the capitalist mode of production is.

We rally our forces and build our social alliance with the popular strata against exploitation and capitalist barbarity.

On the occasion of May Day we once more want to send our internationalist solidarity to the peoples of Palestine, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq Afghanistan, Yemen and all peoples who are suffering imperialist attacks and fight for their right to decide for themselves over their present and future.

This year 2016, the 17 th World Trade Union Congress will summon the representatives of the class-oriented trade union movement in the heroic land of South Africa. On 5-8 October 2016, thousands of delegates, real militant unionists , from all continents will gather in Durban, analyze the global and regional developments, exchange experience and proposals and resolute on the strategy and action plan of the WFTU for the next five years .

With this Congress we make a vital step forward for the international class-oriented trade union movement. “Forward! For the contemporary needs of the working classagainst poverty and wars generated by the capitalist barbarism “.

THE SECRETARIAT

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Greece Workers Demonstration against cut in pension, social security

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PAME, the mighty organisation of workers in Greece has called for demonstrations on 24th April protesting against the cut in pension and other security measures. Massive demonstrations will be held in Athens and other cities on 24th April. It is also decided for an 48 hours strike.

We support the struggle of the Greek workers!

Government compelled to cancel orders denying EPF withdrawal – Great victory for workers

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Before the strong protest of the trade unions and workers as also the huge protest rallies in Karnataka, the central government is compelled to retract from its decision not to allow full withdrawal from EPF before retirement. The Press Statement issued by the government on 21st April 2016 is given below:

This is a great victory for the working class!

 

Press Information Bureau
Government of India
Ministry of Labour & Employment
21-April-2016 17:51 IST

            Government had issued a notification dated 10th February 2016 regarding rules for withdrawal from EPF Funds by the members. Under the revised rules, the employee was permitted to withdraw the employees’ share from the fund (which is 12% of the wages). However, it was prescribed that the employers’ share of contribution towards the Provident Fund (which is 3.67% of wage) would be allowed to be withdrawn only at the age of retirement (58 years). The objective was to provide a minimum social security to the workers at the time of retirement. It was noticed that over 80% of the claims settled by EPFO belonged to pre-mature withdrawal of funds, treating the EPF accounts as savings accounts, and not a Social Security instrument. 


In order to address the issues the amendment stated above was carried out with the consent of Trade Unions and with the intention of promoting a decent accumulation of provident fund for the members at the end of their working lifetimes. 

However, considering the representations received from various quarters and after consultations with the various stakeholders, Minister of State (IC) Labour and Employment, Sh Bandaru Dattatreya announced that the government has decided to withdraw the said 10th February 2016 Notification with immediate effect. 

Accordingly, the workers are now allowed to withdraw the entire amount from the provident fund as per existing provisions of the EPF Scheme 1952 including the employers’ share of 3.67%