Revolutionary Greetings on NFPTE Day, 24th November

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in P&T TU History

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It was 59 years back on 24th November 1954 that the united organisation of National Federation of Posts and Telegraphs Employees (NFPTE) was born. All the existing unions/associations in the Posts and Telegraphs including Union of P and T Workers (UPTW) merged for bringing the new organisation. It was as per an agreement with the Government that this unification was brought. The then Communications Minster, Shri Jagjivan Ram, also took a pivotal role in this realignment scheme.
NFPTE was one of the foremost unions not only in Central Services, but in the entire government employees for having taken a correct trade union line, thus building a mighty organisation. Under the able leadership of Comrade Bhupendra Nath Ghosh (B.N.Ghosh), the first Secretary General, NFPTE became the leading light of Posts and Telegraph Employees.

NFPTE took initiative in the formation of the Confederation of Central Government Employees and Workers, which was formed in 1956. Along with the AIRF and AIDEF, the Confederation led the historic five days strike in July 1960, despite promulgation of Essential Service Maintenance Ordinance and the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru terming the strike as a Civil Rebellion. The strike was smashed by the brutal force of the police, judiciary and the administration, but that strike still stands as one of the greatest struggle, Independence India has ever seen.
It was not much different in the One Day Token Strike on 19th September 1968 on the demands of Need Minimum Wage etc. P and T employees were in the forefront under the leadership of NFPTE and naturally the maximum victimisation fell on them. The victimisation including suspension, jail term, termination etc. continued for a long time. I was under suspension for about three years and on reinstatement was transferred out of Division. Such was the case of many leaders and even ordinary workers.
NFPTE took the lead in organising many struggles for settlement of the demands of the workers. Coms. B.N.Ghosh, O.P.Gupta, K.G.Bose, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and many other leaders led the movement.
Of course, there was serious inside struggle for the correct policy to be adopted. Under the leadership of Coms.K.G.Bose, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and others the revisionist and compromising policy of OP Gupta was resisted and the struggle for inner democracy continued for a long period. I am happy that I was also part of this struggle for the correct line.

NFPTE was bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE after the Department of Posts and Telegraphs was bifurcated in to Department of Posts and Department of Telecommunications, in 1985.
The leadership of NFTE continued the revisionist line and was defeated in 1991 at Bhopal All India Conference of E.III Union to the progressive leadership headed by Comrades Moni Bose and V.A.N.Nambodiri
When BSNL was formed, BSNL Employees Union was formed by the progressive leadership and J.N.Mishra became the President and V.A.N.Namboodiri the General Secretary. BSNLEU fought many struggles and ensured two very good wage revisions and Promotion Policy for the non-executives. The government’s proposal for disinvestment and VRS are defeated till now.
In the five consecutive membership verifications, BSNLEU became first and is the recognised and representative union in BSNL.
BSNLEU will make all efforts to advance the interests of the workers and also will be part of the mainstream of the workers.
The NFPE continued under the progressive leadership and still is led by capable leadership following the correct line shown by Com.KG Bose and others.
The NFPE under the present leadership of Com. Giriraj Singh, President, Com. M.Krishnan, Secretary General and other leaders are continuing in the same progressive path. NFPE has decided to observe One Year from 24th November 2013 as Diamond Jubilee of the formation of NFPTE, 59-60 years back. Though we have been separated and converted in to a PSU,We continue that great tradition and join with them in the celebrations.
On this 24th November 2013, the 60th Birthday of NFPTE, I convey my Revolutionary Greetings to all the P and Comrades, including BSNL Comrades and pledge to continue on the foot-steps tread by the Pioneers of the movement and also the revolutionary leadership of Coms. KG Bose, NJ Iyer, K.Adinarayana and others.

Storm “Helen” lashes A.P. Coastal Districts

23 Saturday Nov 2013

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The states in the eastern coast of A.P., Odisha and W.Bengal have become the regular targets of the many storms and typhoons that lash out from the Bay of Bengal and beyond. This time it is the coastal districts of A.P. that are being targeted by the storm “Helen”. The deep depression has caused heavy rains and winds in E.Godavari, W.Godavari and Krishna. 20,000 people have been evacuated. it is estimated that crops in about one lakh hectares have been destroyed.
The only consolation in the face of these natural catastrophe is that unlike earlier, prior information is being received about the storms / typhoon etc.so that the people are being evacuated which reduces the death toll. In the recent Storm “Phailin” lakhs of people were evacuated in Odisha and A.P.which reduced the death toll. Lakhs of houses were smashed down and if the people were there, what would have happened?

Joint Movement against Privatisation in Pakistan

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in TU News - International

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A strong Joint movement against privatisation has come in Pakistan. The government is proposing privatisation in a big way. Against this 31 trade unions have come together and formed an Anti-Privatisation Co-Ordination Committee which has requested the support of the opposition parties as also trade union movement against the privatisation move.
The Committee has decided to organise conferences and rallies to get more and more support for the Anti-Privatisation struggle.

The neo-liberal policies being adopted by the developing countries at the insistence and pressure of the capitalist and developed countries have put the workers on the defensive. Their labour rights are taken away, their wages are stalled and retrenchment is every where. There is no other way but to continue the struggle. Pakistan is no exception. The struggle has started there also.

Minimum Wage for Contract Labour revised in A.P.

23 Saturday Nov 2013

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The A.P.Government has issued notification increasing the minimum wage for contract labour with effect from 01-10-2013. Now the minimum wage for the unskilled worker will be Rs. 6,775 monthly (earlier it was Rs. 6,417.40). The wages for the semiskilled and skilled and highly skilled workers will be Rs. 7,997.25, Rs. 9,817.00 and Rs. 12,247.55 respectively. It has also been decided to revise the Minimum Wage every six months which is linked with Variable DA.

EGoM accepts Telecom Commission decision on the increased base price for Spectrum auction

22 Friday Nov 2013

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At last decision is taken by the Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM) headed by Finance Minister P.Chidambaram, on the auction price for the spectrum. The Telecom Commission decision, increasing from the TRAI recommendation has been approved by the EGoM. It was alleged that the TRAI was unduly supporting the telecom companies by reducing the spectrum charges, far below than justified.

Magnus Carlsen is the new Chess Champion

22 Friday Nov 2013

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The era of Viswanathan Anand as Chess World Champion seems to be over. The World Champion since 2007 for a long period of 6 years , Anand has at last met his rival. Magnes Carlsen, No.1 rank in world chess has dethroned Viswanath Anand in the 10th Game of the World Chess Tournament held at Chennai. We congratulate the new world champion, who is only 23. Viswanath Anand is in the field since 1991 with great achievements. We hope that Anand will utilise the next chance to recover his lost position.

NB: Whether the sharpness in Chess reduce when age increases?

Bank Workers will strike on 19th December 2013

22 Friday Nov 2013

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The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called for one day strike on 19th December 2013 demanding immediate wage revision and opposing the neo-liberal policies being implemented in the Banking sector. The new reforms being implemented in the banking sector will ruin the PSU Banks and their business.
Our full support and solidarity to the struggle of the Bank workers.

AIDWA holds its 10th National Conference at Bodh Gaya

22 Friday Nov 2013

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The All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) is holding its 10th National Conference at Bodh Gaya (Bihar) from 22nd to 25th November 2013.
AIDWA is one of the militant organisation of the women in India, which was formed in 1981 under the leadership of Comrades Susheela Gopalan, Brinda Karat and other senior women leaders. Com. Sudha Sunderaraman is the present General Secretary.
During the last 31 years of its existence, AIDWA has propagated the issues of women and had continuously fought for the same. It has got lakhs of members through out the country. It has published many books on the issues of women.
My Best Wishes for the successful conduct of the National Conference of AIDWA and Greetings to the hundreds of Delegates to the NC!

CPI(M) calls all non-Congress secular parties to come together

21 Thursday Nov 2013

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New Delhi, Nov 21 : CPI(M) today asked all non-
Congress parties to get together to thwart RSS-BJP from their
“frantic bid” to gain power through communal polarisation and
exploiting the “popular discontent” against the UPA-II
government.

“The growing popular discontent amongst our people must
be so mobilised that it finds an expression in a non-Congress, anti-BJP political alternative that shall pursue an
alternative policy direction for the country which will
provide the much-needed relief to the people and steer the
country on a sustainable path of economic development and
progress,” senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury has said.

In an editorial in the forthcoming issue of party organ
‘People’s Democracy’, he said BJP was attempting to “re-
polarise and further divide the people on communal lines
hoping that this would help it electorally. A crass effort of
practicing vote bank politics for consolidating the majority
vote bank.”

Noting that RSS-BJP were making “desperate efforts…in
their frantic bid to form a government in the post-2014
general elections,” Yechury said in order to achieve this, the combine “seems to be using all the weapons in their arsenal.”

“Their success will only herald the beginning of efforts
to completely negate and undermine the secular democratic
Indian Republic as we know of it today. This cannot be
permitted.”
He said the “RSS-BJP combine of communal forces cannot be
allowed to exploit the growing popular discontent arising out
of the anti-people policies of the current UPA-II government
to achieve their objective.”

The CPI(M) leader warned that the “mainstay” of the RSS-
BJP combine’s “arsenal” was “sharpening of communal
polarisation by creating antagonistic divisions between the
religious majority and the minorities particularly against the Muslims with all its gory consequences of communal riots,
bloodshed and mayhem.” (PTI)

National Council Meeting further delayed ?

21 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in BSNL News

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It is now understood that that tentative date fixed for the National Council meeting is again postponed. The meeting was fixed for 9th December after continued demand from the Staff Side. Now the Management has postponed the date to 23rd December 2013. It is disturbing to note that the last meeting of the National council was held on 30th January 2013, almost 10 months back.
After the VI Membership Verification in April 2013 and grant of recognition to 2 unions, on this or that reason, the National Council had not met even once during the last 10 months. No Standing Committee meeting has also not been held for long time, even before the verification.This is intolerable delay.
The BSNL Management should understand that the negotiating machinery can not be kept non-working like this.