4th of April 2016, International Action Day Against Privatization

STOP PRIVATIZATION

April 4 2016

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF FIGHT

The economic and financial crisis not only does not appear to be over, but it assumes worrying aspects of an open and general warfare. The manipulation of the data on GDP, creation of jobs, collides with the daily reality of the labour world, both of the employed and unemployed workers.

The centralization and concentration of capital and wealth; the financialization of the economy; the systematic attack on the social functions of the State, the mercantilization of all spheres of social life, in a logic of privatizing anything that can generate greater income to capital; the attacks on international law and on the sovereignty of States; the centralization of political power and its submission to the economic power and to the militarization strategies of international relations, are components of capitalist policies that dominate most countries all over the world.

The exploitation of male and female workers worsens and intensifies throughout the world and is clearly marked by denial of rights and the abusive use of their workforce in return for increasingly lower wages.

The main points of this offensive are:

A cut in real wages; The deregulation and increase in work time; The deregulation of labour relations; The spreading of precarious labour; The appropriation of public funds and investments by private economic groups; The increase of the retirement age; The cut in retirement and pension benefits; The destruction of public sector jobs; The regression of social and labour rights; The denial of the right to negotiation and collective bargaining and other collective rights of the workers.

An offensive that is expressed in the attack on class-oriented trade unionism and on collective bargaining, which seeks to create divisions between public and private workers, which deepens discrimination and division of professions and fosters individual labour relations, to break the solidarity among the working class, and to weaken the trade unions.

The claiming action of trade unions affiliated to the TUI – Public Services, should be guided, respecting the specificities of each country:

  • To demand modern, efficient, , quality, universal and free public services, to answer the real needs of the workers and people, against their outsourcing or privatization, refusing its use for the accumulation of profits by the oligarchy;
  • To demand the repeal of all rules affecting the rights of Public Administration workers in the countries where they were imposed;
  • To demand improvements in the working and living conditions of the Public Administration workers, namely better wages and work times compatible with their personal and family life;
  • To end precariousness of employment contracts and have guarantees of stability in public employment to ensure the independence from capitalist governments, either in the central, regional and local administration, and in the State-owned business sectors;
  • To exercise the right to trade union freedom (association, meetings, demonstration, participation, etc.) in all workplaces and the right to negotiation and collective bargaining;
  • To implement social policies that answer the interests of the people and workers for a fairer distribution of wealth, with the rejection of charitable social policies;
  • For the rejection of all neoliberal policies and austerity that in various parts of the world seek to destroy the labour and social rights of workers and peoples;
  • To struggle for Peace and internationalist solidarity against war, militarism, aggression, interference and blockades that undermine the interests of the workers and peoples – in defence of national sovereignty, for the people to freely decide their destiny.

ACTION

  • The massive participation and mobilization of Trade Unions in the International Action Day of TUI PS Against Privatizations on April 4, each organization in their own countries
  • Each Trade Union spread this document to be discussed and signed into every union, so that they also adopt this decision and work with it by developing actions and initiatives. Specially to try to open discussion with unions who have different perspective from us.
  • To decide dates of action in 3-4 branches (such as public administration, Education, transport, Healthcare etc.) against the privatizations, where they will be part of the preparation and steps of escalating towards the International Action Day
  • To put all our efforts for the success of the 17th Congress of WFTU and massive participation to it

 

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Ahmednagar fully ready to host the BSNLEU CEC

The Ahmednagar Comrades led by Com. Appa Saheb Garge and other leaders are making all arrangements for the successful conduct of the CEC Meeting of BSNLEU on 19-21 February 2016.Coms.Nallawade, Circle Secretary and John Verghese, Asst. General Secretary are supervising and guiding the Reception Committee. The CEC meeting will be inaugurated by Com. Karad, General Secretary, CITU, Maharashtra in the morning of 19-02-2016.

The CEC Meeting will finalise the strategey and tactics for facing the VII Membership Verification with the target of getting more than 50% support and recognition.

End this witch-hunting against freedom of speech and Progressives

The Hindutwa Brigade with the full support of the central government continues witch hunting of the progressive elements, especially in the universities and educational campuses. The latest is the JNU incident. Freedom of speech has become a casualty.

As has been pointed out in the media, attack on the  freedom of speech now is surpassing that of during the period of Emergency in the 1975-76.

 

 

Com.S.K.Vyas Memorial Day observed in Calicut, Palakkad

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, NCCPA and Advisor AIBDPA attended and inaugurated Com.S.K.Vyas Memorial Day meeting on 12th February at Calicut on 12th February 2016 held at Head Post Office Recreation Club presided by Comrade A.V.Viswanathan, Dist. Secretary, CGPA and AIPRPA. The meeting was jointly organised by Confederation, CGPA, AIBDPA and AIPRPA. Com. VAN spoke in detail about the life and work of Com. Vyas and the great contributions made by him to the Central Government employees’ and Pensioners’ movement for more than six decades. Comrades Sivadasan, Convener, Confederation, K.Balan, AIBDPA and other leaders addressed.

On 13th February 2016, a meeting was held at Palakkad Post Office premises to observe Com.S.K.Vyas Memorial Day, presided over by Com. T.S.Parameswaran, senior leader CGPA. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Patron, NCCPA, inaugurated. He spoke about the great contributions made by Com. Vyas to the CG employees movement. Other comrades also addressed.

Leaders are like the Flowers ……

Working class organisations are like trees. The leaders are like the flowers and fruits for everybody to see and get appreciated. But the real strength is the deep roots under the earth which supplies water and food to the tree. They are the ordinary workers. Never ignore them or their issues. Nurture them and the organisation becomes healthy and stronger to defend the working class and their interests.

Condemn the RSS attack on CPI(M) Head Quarters

We  strongly condemn the attack on CPI(M) headquarters at New Delhi, AKG Bhawan and defacing the sign board by the RSS-Hindutwa forces. The intolerance towards secularism is increasing day by day. Government should take immediate action against the culprits.

Convention of Casual Contract Workers at Palakkad on 13th February 2016

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A Convention of BSNL Casual and Contract workers was held at Palakkad on 13-02-2016 at the Union Office participated by more than 300 workers. It was presided over by Com. Chandrasekharan, Dist. President, BSNLEU. Com. Sunil Kumar, District Secretary, CCLU welcomed all. Leaders of BSNLEU and CCLU were present.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLCCWF and Patron BSNLEU, while inaugurating the Convention reported about the decisions of the Nagercoil AIC and the Charter of Demands submitted to the BSNL Management and the discussions taken so far. He congratulated the Kerala workers for the magnificent and militant struggle jointly organised by BSNLEU, SNEA and CCLU against the corruption and anti-worker action of the former CGM Kerala and on the demands of the casual and contract workers. Com. K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary BSNLEU and Circle President CCLU briefed the house about the latest developments after the struggle and the negotiations being conducted for increasing the wages etc. Coms. P.R.Parameswaran, DS BSNLEU, senior leaders V.Kesavan, T.S.Parameswaran, Ajit Kumar, Circle Vice-President CCLU and other leaders  also addressed.

The Convention took decisions to strengthen the organisation by increasing the membership and focusing the issue of the workers. It also decided to actively participate in the Membership Verification to ensure maximum support to BSNLEU.

Telecom TU Movement (21) – Magnificent Strike from 19-05-1995

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The Magnificent Five days Strike of telecom workers from 19-051995.

The 4.5 lakh of telecom workers throughout the country by their magnificent response to the strike call given by the Federations, demonstrated their strong opposition the ill-motivated privatization of this vital telecom sector and their firm determination to defeat the same.

The National Telecom Policy (NTP- 1994) announced by the Government in the Parliament on 13th May 1994 envisaged that companies registered in India will be allowed to operate basic telecom services. Till now, only government was operating thee services being its monopoly. The condition that these companies should have experience of operating 5 lakh telephones made it compulsory for them to have collaboration with the MNCs, since no company in India had the experience, since telecom was the monopoly of the Department of Telecom.

The DOT violated all norms by giving Letter of Intent to a MNC, US WEST, to start pilot projects in four districts of T.Nadu, even before the tenders were opened.  By another order, the CGMs of Telecom Circles were asked to allot spaces in  offices/exchanges for private companies on request. The assurance given to the staff by former Communications Minister, Rajesh Pilot, that they will be consulted before any decision taken on privatization was violated.

The withdrawal of the strike to start from 17th April 1994 against privatization, by the three Federations was a set-back  in the fight against privatization and it helped the management to move ahead. However, the formation of the Door Sanchar Sangharsh Samiti at the initiative of the E.III Union with other like-minded unions, the All India Convention against telecom privatisation held in New Delhi on 20th April 1995  and the State level conventions and other campaign programmes organized by the DSS were able to educate the workers about the looming danger and  mobilize them for struggle. It compelled the 3 Federations to come to the struggle programme and decided for the Indefinite Sit-in-Strike from 19th May 1995.

The government as part of threatening the employees directed the State Governments to invoke the drastic Essential Service Maintenance Act (ESMA) to tackle and punish the striking works. But it did not have much result. The Central Government declared the strike as illegal on 17-05-1995. It also asked the state government to declare telecom services as Essential Services. The many state governments implemented the above directions. But the Left governments of Tripura and W.Bengal refused to implement the central directions and instead asked the centre to withdraw the NTP- 1994.

The strike was total from J&K to Kerala and from North East States to Gujarat. According to government it was 70%, but the fact is that it was almost 100%. The strike took place both in MTNL also effectively. The services were badly hit in all the places.

In Himachal Pradesh, army was called to maintain telecom services as per directions of the Communications Minister Sukh Ram. In Assam, the Punjab Police who were posted to tackle terrorist forces were diverted to deal with the telecom strike. 144 was declared in many places. Employees were not allowed to enter offices and they were kept out. Army was called in many places in North East states like Nagaland, Manipur. 144 was declared in Chandigarh. In the telecom factories strike was complete with industrial workers are also fully participating in the strike.

In short, the strike was unprecedented and complete all over the country.

Support and Solidarity

In Kerala, the Left Democratic Front fully supported the strike and organized demonstrations and rallies. All the organizations of the state/central government employees extended support. In Calcutta trade unions and service associations held massive demonstrations.

Central Trade unions, CITU and AITUC issued press statements extending support. CITU, AITUC, INTUC, BMS and HMS jointly addressed a letter to Prime Minister  seeking an interview to discuss the matter.

10 prominent Members of parliament belonging to different parties viz. Indrajit Gupta, E.Balanandan, G.G.Swell, Susanta Chakraborty, Ramdeo Bhandary, Neelotpal Basu, Amal data, Asin Bala, Shivaji Patnaik, Laljan Pahra, Dipanker Mukherjee and Anil Basu addressed a letter to the Prime Minister supporting the strike and demanding a review of the national Telecom Policy- 1994.

Com. Desararth Deb, Chief Minister of Tripura and CPI(M) leader demanded Communications Minister Sukh Ram to reconsider the New Telecom Policy and also stated that the Tripura Government will not use ESMA against the telecom strike.

The National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) gave strong support and called upon its members to strike work for 2 hours on 26th June in solidarity with the striking telecom workers.

The All India State Government Employees Federation, ITI Employees Union, ITI Officers Association and many other organizations throughout the country supported the strike against privatization and organized solidarity actions like demonstrations, jathas etc.

The workers morale was very high and they showed enthusiasm and energy to fight =against the menace of privatization(To be continued)

Com.S.K.Vyas Memorial Day, 13th February 2016

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SK Vyas

13th February 2016 is the first death anniversary of Com. S.K.Vyas, the legendary leader of the Central Government Employees and also CG Pensioners. He left us last year at Metro Hospital Jaipur due to severe heart attack. National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners’ Association (NCCPA) has called upon all its units to observe “Com.S.K.Vyas Memorial Day” by holding meetings, rallies etc. and explaining the ideals for which Vyasji lived and worked and our future tasks. AIBDPA has endorsed the call to observe the day in a very effective way.

All units of AIBDPA have been called to organise the day jointly with other pensioners’ organisation and the reports be  sent to CHQ with photoes.