Verification Campaign – Thiruvananthapuram

The meeting at Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of Kerala, in connection with the Membership Verification in BSNL, on 21st March 2016 was attended by a large number of employees, more than 300. Com. A.Unnikrishnan Nair, District President, BSNLEU presided. Com.R.S.Binny, Dist. Secretary welcomed all the participants.

The verification convention was addressed by Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, BSNLEU, P.Asokababu, Vice-President, CHQ, M.Krishnan, Secretary General, Confederation of CG Employees, P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patronn AIBDPA, Vijayakumar, Org. Secretary, CHQ, S.Pratap Kumar, AGS, CHQ, R.Muralidharan Nair, former AGS, CHQ, A.V.Kuriakose, Circle president, K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, Gopa Kumar, Circle Vice-President, BSNLEU, N.Vikraman Nair, DS, AIBDPA, C.Vamadevan, DS, CCLU, Biju Raghavan, DS, GM(O)  and other leaders.

Com. P.Asokababu spoke in detail on the demands achieved, issues being taken up and the importance of the present verification etc. The house assured the leaders that Thiruvananthapuram SSA will make considerable increase in votes from the last verification and ensure about 75% support base.

Revolutionary Greetings on BSNLEU Day!

Revolutionary Greetings on BSNLEU Day!

22nd March 2016 is the 15th Birth Day Anniversary of BSNL Employees Union. It was formed in the National Convention of Telecom workers held at Visakhapatnam in A.P. on 21-22 March 2001. Seven all India unions in telecom sector merged themselves to form BSNLEU. Senior leaders, Coms. Sisir Bhattacharjee and Moni Bose were elected as Patrons, J.N.Mishra as President and V.A.N.Namboodiri as General Secretary.

The BSNL workers achieved many gains under the leadership of BSNLEU in these 15 years. Many struggles were organized on the demands of the workers, against attack on workers, against the anti-worker policies of the government and for the revival of BSNL.

BSNLEU has won in all the last 5 membership verifications and continues to be the main recognized union. It represents more than 50% of the total non-executive workers in BSNL. It is expected that it will get more than 50% vote in the present verification and will be the sole bargaining agency in BSNL.

It organized the BSNL-DOT Pensioners through AIBDPA. BSNLCCWF was formed for the casual contract workers. These three unions/associations are jointly working for the benefit of the regular workers, contract workers and pensioners. BSNLEU is part of the main stream of the workers’ organizations in the country.

BSNLEU CEC meeting at Ahmed Nagar has called upon the circle/Branches to celebrate and observe 22 March by holding meetings, rallies etc. and explain the role of BSNLEU in the working class movement.

BSNLEU is the inspiration of the BSNL Workers.

Our motto is “Unity for Struggle; Struggle for Unity; Unity and Struggle for Progress.”

BSNLEU Zindabad! Working Class Unity Zindabad!

 

We Remember Com. AKG, the Commander of the Toiling Masses.

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22nd March 2016 is the 39th death anniversary of the great working class leader Com. A.K.Gopalan, affectionately known in the three letters AKG. He was a freedom fighter, organiser of umpteen struggles for the kisan, workers and other toiling masses. He was a member of the Politburo since the formation of CPI(M). He was jailed several times and in was in jail even on 15th August 1947, on the day India got Independence. He hoisted the National Flag in the jail on that day. Com.AKG was the leader of the opposition since the first parliament and fought for the workers and people inside and outside the Parliament. He was closely connected with the P and T trade union movement. Whether it is the 1960 strike or the 1968 strike or many local struggles, his intervention ensured results for the working class. I cherish those many occasions when he guided and advised us and supported us in the struggles.

On his death anniversary we pay our respectful homage to Com.AKG.

Red Salute to Com. AKG!

6-7 Trillions of Black Money in tax havens all over the world.

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It is reported in the press that according to a analysis by an Italian agency, there may be about 6-7 trillion dollars of black money world wide. The India share will be a good portion of it.

The greedy capitalists are behind such anti-national and illegal activities. Why the government is not taking drastic action?

US President Obama’s visit to Cuba a welcome step

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A thing which can not be dreamed of 5 years back has happened. US President Barack Obama has been invited to and visited Cuba yesterday. Since the 1959 Cuban revolution under the leadership of Fidel Castro which threw away the US supported dictator, US has taken all steps to isolate and destroy Cuban government.

After 88 years, the embargo has been removed, diplomatic relations have restored and now US President has visited Cuba. We welcome this development. The positive role taken by Cuban President Raul Castro, US President Barack Obama and the persuation by Pope have resulted in to this loosening of the tension.

 

‘Save Public Sector’ Convention at Kanhangad

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A District level convention on ‘Save Public Sector – Save Nation’ was held at Town Hall Kanhangad on 20th March 2016 under the auspices of the ‘Save Public Sector Committee’. A large number of employees of the various state and central public sector along with their families were present. ” Veteran leader Com. A.K.Narayanan, Vice-President, CITU, presided. Com.Ravindran Kodakkad, Convener welcomed all.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron BSNLEU, inaugurated the Convention. He spoke about the formation of the PSUs, their growth and great contribution to the economy and security of the country and also the excellent services given to the people. He strongly criticised anti-people, anti-worker policies of the government and its support to the corporates. The trade unions should continue the struggles for saving and strengthening the PSUs.

Coms. K.P.Satheesh Chndran, Dist. Secretary CPI(M), Chandrasekharan, MLA, T.K.Rajan (CITU), K.Mohanan (BSNLEU), K.Harikrishnan (KSRTEA), V.Lakshmanan (KSEBWA),M.Rajagopalan, T.Narendran (BEFI), K.Bahuleyan (AIIEA), V.Ratnakaran (BHELEMLEU), K.Jayakumar and other comrades addressed.

The speakers spoke about both the anti-worker policies of the NPA and UDF government an called upon the workers to fight against these policies.

CPI(M) protests against reduction of interest rate on Savings – Demands roll-back

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Attack on People’s Savings

 The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) registers its strong protest at the steep cuts in interest rates on small savings schemes like the Public Provident Fund (PPF), National Savings Certificate (NSC), Post Office savings the Kisan Vikas Patras etc. According to the new rates announced by the government, while the interest rate on PPF and savings of senior citizens has been reduced by 0.6 per cent, in the case of Post office deposits interests have been lowered in the range of 0.6 to 1.3 per cent.

This reduction in interest rates in small savings will hit the poor and the middle class badly as bulk of their savings are in small deposits. Coming after the increase announced in the prices of petroleum products, this reduction of interest rates is going to affect the savings of the poor and the middle class, whose livelihoods are constantly under attack.

While the government is not taking any concrete measures to bring in black money stashed abroad and is not making efforts to collect non-performing assets, it is launching an attack on the small savings of the common people, which will not be tolerated.

The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) demands that the announced reduction of interest rates be rolled back.

 

 

Membership Verification Meeting at Malappuram

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A well attended Convention of  BSNLEU was held at Malappuram, Kerala on 19th March 2016, in connection with the VII Membership Verification in BSNL. AIBDPA and CCLU workers also participated. Com. A.Balakrishnan, SSA President, presided and Com. Prabhakaran, SSA Secretary welcomed all the comrades present. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, BSNLEU, inaugurated the Convention. In his speech, he pointed out the achievements of BSNLEU for the workers during the past 12 years, since it got recognition in 2014, like wage revision,Promotion Policy, examination, issues of the BSNL recruited employees etc. He also mentioned about pivotal role of BSNLEU for strengthening BSNL and improve its services. Com. Namboodiri congratulated the Kerala workers for their heroic struggle on the demands of Contract workers. Coms. K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, K.Vijayakumar, CHQ Org. Secretary, Madhavan, DS AIBDPA, Kesava Das, DS CCLU and other leaders addressed.

Malappuram workers assured the leaders that they will increase the support for BSNLEU in this verification.

Workers want Five Days Week

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During the organisational tours in connection with the VII Membership Verification of unions in BSNL, one of the important demands raised by the workers if ‘Five Days Week.’ I also feel that this is a genuine demand considering all aspects. This needs to be taken up with priority.

Remembering Com. EMS Namboodiripad

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It is 18 years since Com. E.M.S., the first Chief Minister of Kerala, architect of Kerala development, world renown Communist left us forever. He passed away on 19th March 1998.  There is no area of intellectual and organisational activity in day-to-day-life, which he has not touched and marked his presence. He was a ‘ human computer’ in a sense, as stated by a political leader.

My respectful homage to the great communist and philosopher, Com. EMS Namboodiripad! Red Salute Com. EMS!