Remembering Eternal Revolutionary – Che Guevara

14 Sunday Jun 2015

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14th June 1928 is the birthday of Comrade Che Guevara, the eternal revolutionary and comrade-in-arms of Com. Fidel Castro in the Cuban Revolution. His entire life was a continuous struggle for the emancipation of the toiling masses and for the freedom of the Latin American Countries.

Che Guevara was brutally murdered in the forests of Bolivia on 9th October 1967 at the comparable young age of 39 , while he was waging a revolutionary  guerrilla war against the then  Bolivian dictator.

Red Salute to Comrade Che Guevara!

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 – ( 10 )

14 Sunday Jun 2015

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Negotiation fails

The meeting of the union leaders with BSNL Management and the Secretary DOT could not result in any fruitful decision. The Minister, Shri A.Raja, held meetings 9th and 10th July 2007 with representatives of the Joint Forum. The Secretary DOT and BSNL Management were present in the meeting on 10th July. The Minister gave certain assurances, and it was assured that it will be conveyed to the Convener, JF. But the letter given to the Joint Forum was very vague as can be seen below:

Govt. of India, Ministry of Communications & IT, Department of Telecommunications 20, Ashoka Road, Sanchar Bhawan New Delhi dated 10th July 2007.

To Shri V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener of joint Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations of Non-Executives & Executives and General Secretary BSNL Employees Union, New Delhi.

Sub: Notice for dharna on 9th and 10th July 2007 before offices/exchangesat all levels and one day strike on 11th July 2007

  1. This has reference to the meeting taken by Hon’ble MOC&IT on 10th July 2007 with representatives of joint Forum of BSNL on the above mentioned subject.
  2. During the meeting, various concerns of BSNL employees were deliberated in detail. After the discussions, the following decisions emerged:
  • BSNL will give its response to all the queries raised within a week’s time(This has already been communicated to you vide BSNL Letter No. BSNL/39/7/SR/2007 dated 10th July 2007).
  • MOC&IT expressed his concern about BSNL and assured that while taking a decision on response of BSNL, interest of BSNL will be protected.
  • During the intervening period till receipt of supplies under the tender, appropriate steps will be taken to ensure that BSNL does not suffer due to lack of net work capacity.
  • Serious efforts will be made so that BSNL remains in full readiness to utilize the benefits of technological evolution in 2G/3G/Wi-Max etc.
  • In view of the above, you are requested to withdraw the strike notice and proposed strike on 11th July 2007.

(Sd) D.S.Mathur, Secretary, DOT

The Forum was not satisfied with the letter, since no concrete decision was given to purchase the equipment on the basis of the tender and conveyed the same to the Minister.

The Minister had another meeting with the Joint Forum in the night of 10th July 2007 only hours before the proposed strike in an effort to resolve the issue. While the Minister stood by what was stated in the earlier meeting, he was not prepared to put it in writing.

Joint Forum meets and decides for strike.

The Joint Forum met immediately in the late night and discussed the developments in detail. The Joint Forum decided to go ahead with the strike decision, since the demands have not been accepted. A number of circulars and press releases were issued by the JF, which gave wide publicity to the strike.

The Historic Strike of 11th July 2007.

As per the call of the Joint Forum, the strike started at 00.00 hours on 11th July 2007. The strike scored an unprecedented success with close to 100 % success participation by workers and officers. The entire work force rose as one man to ensure that BSNL survives. It was a wakeup call to the BSNL Management and government. The 11th July Strike by nearly 3,40,000 executives and non-executive employees of BSNL was virtually total, with most of the telephone exchanges and offices remaining closed with  employees on strike. It was for the first time since the formation of BSNL in October 2000 that such a total strike has taken place. It was also a complete strike in the Corporate Office in Delhi, which was housed in the Statesman Building at that time.  It was also the first time that all the executives, except the Group A / ITS officers ( most of whom continued as Govt. officers on deputation to BSNL) plunged in to direct action. The fact that the strike was called at short notice did not have any adverse impact on the strike. It was as if the workers were mentally prepared for a serious action on the issue, which is widely perceived as a life and death question for the existence of BSNL and its workers.

The Joint Forum met on the evening of July 11th 2007 and decided to defer the strike for 15 days and watch the developments and implementation of the assurances already given. In case of non-settlement, the unions decided to meet again and decide the future course of action.

After the  Strike

All the news papers and TV channels prominently focused the BSNL strike. The cancellation of the 4.5 million mobile lines tender was criticized severely. The government was in the dock. News of the strike was published prominently in Political & Business Daily, Hindu, National Herald, Indian Express, Times of India, Business Line, Economic Times and many other papers. The Economic Times wrote an editorial supporting the cause. The Times of India in its report dated 18-07-2007 appreciated the BSNL Unions for their constructive activism as follows:

“BSNL Unions, working to pull BSNL out of the grip of political pressures are attracting growing respect for their constructive activism”.

A letter from Shri S.Rajagopalan, former CMD MTNL published in the Business Line dated 12-07-2007 stated: “ Heartening is the principled stand taken by the BSNL Employees Union which has realized the danger to the future if the tender gets delayed”.

The strike had its own impact. Matters moved fast. While it was to take much time to furnish the report to the Communications Minister and decision by him, the entire process was done within one week and the Advance Purchase Order (APO) issued. However, the APO was only for 22.75 million (50% of the tender) and the higher technology 3G portion not included. The Joint Forum protested strongly.

The Communications Minister, Shri A.Raja, once again met the Joint Forum and assured that action will be taken immediately to purchase GSM lines as also additional orders will be issued as soon as spectrum policy is announced and bandwidth allotted to BSNL.

Struggle to continue

The strike was not only for getting more GSM lines and higher technology. It was a fight for the survival of BSNL as a PSU. There are vested interests and MNCs who want BSNL to be made a loss making concern and then disinvest/privatise it. Not only the government has gone back on the assurances given to BSNL like payment of ADC, reimbursement of licence fee, liberal grant of funds from USOF etc. , it was supporting the private sector against the interest of BSNL. Navaratna status was not given despite full justification.  The new liberalization policy wants the much profitable telecom sector to be handed over to the private for which the telecom PSU, BSNL, is a hindrance. They want BSNL to be finished. It is against this anti-PSU, anti-BSNL policy that the workers fought. (To be continued)

Brutal Exploitation of contract Workers in UP Circle, BSNL – PMO intervenes.

13 Saturday Jun 2015

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BSNLCCWF CHQ letter dated 21st May 2015 to Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, about the brutal exploitation of contract workers in UP Circle, BSNL, had immediate effect. The PMO has asked the CLC ‘to take appropriate action  to redress the grievance of the complainant’. Now the Dy.CLC, Kanpur has directed the ALC(C), Allahabad through order dated 05-06-2015, to take appropriate action, with copy to Shri V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF, New Delhi.

CHQ has directed Circle Secretary BSNLCCWF UP(E) to meet the ALC(C) Allahabad and submit all the details of the case. We thank the PMO for the quick response.

 

We Remember Com. EMS Namboodiripad on this 116th Birth Anniversary

13 Saturday Jun 2015

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download13th June 2015  is the 116th Birth Anniversary of Com. EMS. A life sketch by CPI(M) about EMS is given below:

“Comrade E.M.S. Namboodiripad was one of the foremost leaders of the Communist movement in India and one of the founding leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

In his nearly seven decades of public life and revolutionary activities, E.M.S. Namboodiripad left an indelible imprint on the progressive and working class movement of the country. As a young man, he became active in the social reform movement against caste. He left college in 1931 to join the freedom struggle and was jailed in the satyagraha movement. From then on wards, he played an important role in the Congress movement and was one of the founders of the Congress Socialist Party in Kerala. In 1934 he became the all India joint secretary of the Congress Socialist Party. It is in this period that E.M.S. while leading the Congress Party as General Secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Party became acquainted with Marxism. He was one of the five members who formed the founding group of the Communist Party in Kerala in 1936. E.M.S. Namboodiripad represented the coming together of the two streams, the anti-imperialist and the anti-feudal struggles, which laid the foundations for the development of a powerful communist movement in Kerala. He was one of the key proponents of Aikya Kerala which led to the formation of Kerala as a unified linguistic state.

E.M.S. Namboodiripad was first elected to the Madras Provincial Legislative Assembly in 1939. As an important leader of the fledgling Communist Party he donated the proceeds of his landed property to the Party. He went underground building the Party in crucial periods between 1939-42 and 1948-50. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India in 1941. He became a member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI in December 1950 and later its Secretariat. He became General Secretary of the united CPI in 1962.
In 1957, after the state of Kerala was formed in the first elections in 1957, the Communist Party won a majority and E.M.S. Namboodiripad became Chief Minister of the first elected Communist ministry in India. It was the EMS ministry which initiated the path breaking land reform legislation and other democratic measures, till the ministry was dismissed undemocratically in 1959. E.M.S. Namboodiripad became Chief Minister of Kerala again in 1967 heading a United Front ministry till 1969.
E.M.S. joined the leading group from the united Party who formed the CPI(M) and was elected to the Central Committee and the Polit Bureau of the Party at the Seventh Congress of the Party in 1964 and he continued to serve in these positions till his death.
E.M.S. Namboodiripad was elected the General Secretary of Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1977 and he led the Party in this capacity till the 14th Congress in 1992 when he stepped down due to ill-health. His leadership in rallying all the Left, democratic and secular forces was invaluable.
E.M.S. was a brilliant Marxist theoretician. He made outstanding contributions to the application of Marxism-Leninism to Indian society and in working out the strategy and tactics of the Indian revolution. His vast body of writings bear the mark of an original and creative mind which mastered the dialectics of Marxist theory. His writings on land relations, Kerala, society and politics and his writings on Marxist philosophy, literature and history — mark him out to be one of the most influential communist thinkers of the country and the world.
E.M.S. Namboodiripad was a rare example of a Communist leader who hailing from a traditional landlord family graduated to become the foremost leader of the proletarian revolutionary movement. He spent three years in jail and six years underground. His was a life of sacrifice and simplicity. He set an example which has inspired tens of thousands of communists all over the country. In Kerala he was a legend in his lifetime who was adored and respected by all sections of the people. Till the last day of his life, despite failing health, E.M.S kept to his daily routine of writing articles and providing guidance to the Party.
He died on March 19, 1998 at the age of 89.”
Red Salute to Com. EMS Namboodiripad!

 

BSNLCCWF Dharna In Kerala

13 Saturday Jun 2015

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BSNL Casual and Contract Workers in Kerala has decided to organise two days dharna on 13th and 14th June 2015 in front of  CGM and GM offices. The demands are given below:

1. Regularize all Casual Labors/TSMs. 2. Regularize all contract labors. 3. Enhance the wages. 4. Higher wages to the external plant maintenance workers carrying out cable jointing work. 5. Payment of wages to all laborers latest by 7th of every month as agreed. 6. Equal wages for equal work. 7. Sweeping workers should be paid minimum 4 hour wages. 8. Engage sweeping/cleaning workers for eight hours and the working hours should not be reduced. 9. Implement EPF/ESI to left out laborers. 10. Supply of Identity Card by the management and a uniform procedure be adopted in our Circle. 11. Payment of charges for material transportation. 12. Payment of Bonus to contract laborers. 13. Payment of conveyance charges in lieu of weekly off. 14. Stop petty contract system. 15. Engage laborers in the sanctioned vacancies caused due to retirement of regular staff based on the justification sent by SSA heads and pay equal wages for equal work. 16. Supply adequate store materials for improving service. 17. Engage the laborers for marketing jobs. 18. Payment of EPF by the management w.e.f. 2000.

BSNLCCWF CHQ fully supports the demands and struggle and demands the Kerala Circle Management to discuss with the union and settle the issues.

“BLACK DAY” on 30th June 2015 against privatisation of Railways – AIRF

13 Saturday Jun 2015

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New Delhi-12th June 2015
Dr. Bibek Debroy Committee Report is a clear roadmap for privatization of Indian Railways. This was stated here by Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, General Secretary of All India Railwaymen’s Federation (AIRF).
Shri Mishra further stated that the suggestions given by the Committee will endanger the Railway Safety and It will also increase financial burden on Indian Railways. The Report is quite unworkable and will be against 95 percent of Rail users of this country, who travels in general & sleeper classes.
Shri Mishra further hoped that keeping in mind its wider ramifications particularly on the comman man , government may not implement it.
Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra further mentioned that AIRF has decided to organize 23rd June to 30th June , 2015 as campaign week. AIRF has also given Clarion call to organize Black Day on 30th June 2015 throughout Indian Railway by wearing black badge and organizing Mass Meetings in the Ist phase of its agitation. In 2nd phase Rail users will also be involved and the movement will be made “ Jan Andolan”. (Courtesy: AIRF)

Speech of Com. Mavrikos, Secretary General WFTU at ILO 104 Session

13 Saturday Jun 2015

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A week ago, the World Federation of  Trade Unions held in Brussels, inside the European Parliament, an important International Trade Union Conference about the consequences on the workers and trade union movement of the policies of embargoes,blockades and discrimination imposed by the EU, the NATO, the USA and their allies.The participants of the Conference proved with evidence that  these policies of the imperialists against peoples and countries have always the workers, the youth, the women and the pensioners as their final victims, depriving from millions of workers the hope that they can build their future with dignified work.

It was also proved that the embargoes, blockades and discrimination have nothing to do with democracy and freedom. These words are used as an excuse. They use them hypocritically. In reality, we are talking about competition within the capitalist system, for rivalries and contradiction within the imperialist system, which happen for the control of the markets, the definition of new borders between countries, for new energy pipelines, for the  profits of transnational corporations and of the monopolies.

  • So, as a result of the imperialist interventions in Iraq, Libya and Syria, thousands of  women and children die in the Mediterranean Sea. For all those people, dignified work remains a mere declaration.
  • As a result of the ongoing and long lasting blockade against Cuba, the peoples of the whole world are deprived of the great achievements of the  Cuban Revolution in Medicine.
  • As a result of the blockades and the policy of Israel against the Palestinians, the Palestinians still don’t have their own homeland, with East Jerusalem as its capital.
  • As a result of the sanctions against Russia, poor farmers from Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, Romania and elsewhere cannot sell their products, while Russian workers are losing their jobs.
  • As a result of the discrimination against Iran, Venezuela, the peoples in other countries are deprived of cheap oil.

Another thing that proves the hypocrisy of the imperialists is that from the ILO list of countries whose governments are accused, Colombia, Israel and the USA are missing. In these countries, governments violate basic human rights, since trade unionists are assassinated, there is discrimination even concerning who will enter a public transport bus, policemen who kill African Americans, firing without any reason, are acquitted.

The World Federation of Trade Unions, that celebrates this year its 70th anniversary, will steadily continue in all international forums intervening based on its principles, its internationalism, the values of international solidarity. It will continue standing by the  side of the People of Venezuela and the efforts of the government of President Nicolas Maduro Moros until the final defeat of  the imperialist efforts.

It will support the right of the Syrian people to decide democratically for themselves on their present and future, without external intervention of thousands of foreign mercenaries from the five continents.

We will continue to demand the punishment of those responsible for the death of 48 innocent people in Odessa, Ukraine, when neofascists set the building of the Trade Unions on fire.

We will continue to express our solidarity in practice with the imprisoned trade unionists in the prisons of Asuncion in Paraguay. We demand the immediate release of Colombian trade union leader Huber Ballesteros, who is still imprisoned in the Colombian prisons.

We are ready to cooperate, coordinate and support Peoples and unions who are victims of blockades. We must fight together to stop the blockades, embargoes that aim to plunder the natural and economic resources.

We must uncover the geostrategic games that generate unjust wars and millions of refugees.

We must steadily promote the position of the class oriented trade union movement that the natural resources must belong to the peoples, be social property and function for the improvement of the live of the simple peoples.

Only through the struggles of all of  us, we will be able to build a future with dignified work for all.

The WFTU stays loyal to these principles for 70 years now, and based on those principles that today have a more timely and rich content, we call upon all militant trade unions to fight together.

 

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VII CPC to submit Recommendations by August 2015

13 Saturday Jun 2015

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During the last installment of discussions with the Staff Side of JCM National Council, the VII CPC has informed that its Report will be submitted to the Government by the first week of August 2015. It was stated that it is recommending that the pay revision should be implemented with effect from 01-01-2016. However, there has been no assurance either on the Merger of DA with Pay or the Interim Relief, which the Staff Side has sought for earlier.

 

Unbelievable! There are 5 lakh pensioners who are above 100 years!

13 Saturday Jun 2015

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It is reported in Economic Times dated 13th June 2015, that there are about 6.05 lakh centenarians in the country and out of them about 5 lakhs are pensioners!

The information has been collected on the basis of the payment made to the pensioners through the banks. However, now the government has asked the banks to verify the list of pensioners to find out whether the same is the correct figure.

If there are 5 lakh pensioners in the country above 100 years, it is a good sign. But it is almost unbelievable since there are only a total of about 6 lakh centenarians in the country.

India Posts may get Banking licence

12 Friday Jun 2015

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After a long period of suspense, at last the India Posts may get licence for starting Payment Bank. While the government was prepared to grant bank licence to corporates, it was delaying grant of the same to the India Posts, although it was fully justified.

India Posts is having 1,54,149 Post Offices with 31 crore account holders in the Postal SB. It also delivers 1,575 crore mails every year. It is fully justified for the Bank Licence.

Let us hope the licence will be issued with out any delay.