40 lac working age people have no work in UK

10 Sunday Feb 2013

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Nearly four million people of working age in Britain have never had a proper job and a million of them in the age group of 25 and 64 have never taken home a single pay packet, according to a media report.
The number who have never even had part-time work is more than four times the population of UK’s second city Birmingham, the Sun reported.
More than a third of those who have never earned a living are aged between 18 and 24 — with a new generation struggling in an age of economic gloom.
But there are a million aged between 25 and 64 who have not taken home a single pay packet.
And 205,000 pensioners aged 65-plus never did a day’s paid work before “retiring”, the report said.
Another 1.1 million are 16 or 17 and have quit school but not found work — or are students who have never had a holiday job.
Outside the whole of London, where 737,000 have never worked, Birmingham has the most with 144,000 — double any other British city, the report said.
Leeds is next with 72,000, then Manchester on 71,000, Glasgow 55,000 and Liverpool 52,000.
The 3.9 million total includes disabled people who cannot work. But the scale of the problem has sparked calls for further benefit reforms to make working much more worthwhile. (Courtsey: Ganashakti)

BSNLEU Convention at Calicut

09 Saturday Feb 2013

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The Convention of BSNLEU leaders in the northern districts of Kerala viz. Kasargod, Kannur, Malappuram, Palght and Trichur, held on 8th February 2013 was a great success. About 400 comrades participateed. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, President, BSNLEU presided. Com. A.V.Kuriakose, Circle President BSNLEU welcomed. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, Com. Mohanan, Circle Secretary, Jothilakshmi, Mahila Commitee Convener, Jayarajan, DS, Calicut and other comrades addressed. Questions raised by the comrades were fully answered by GS.
The Convention was organised for mobilisation of the 20-21 February strike and also for the membership Verification.

AIBDPA – Right decisions, Right Path.

08 Friday Feb 2013

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While addressing the AIBDPA AIC Inugural Session at Kannur on 6th February 2013, Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor, pointed out that the AIBDPA has always been on the Right Path and Right Direction. He gave a few illustrations:
1. The decision to form a progressive Organisation for the BSNL and DOT pensioners was appropriate and timely. This helped the BSNL-DOT Pensioners to have a plat-form of their own to voice and agitate for their demands..
2. The formation of a united organisation for both BSNL and DOT pensioners together was ridiculed and criticised by some leaders of another pension organisation. Now they have understood their mistake and corrected it by changing their organisation to include both DOT and BSNL Pensioners. By their present action, they have confessed that their earlier criticism was wrong and senseless.
3. AIBDPA always have taken a position that the co-ordination and support of the organisation/s of regular employees is necessay for settlement of the issues of pensioners.But certain other orgnisations critisised this stand and was always accusing BSNLEU, Joint Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations etc. for non-settlement of issues. This accusation has also been proved baseless. In fact, it was with the full support of the BSNL Employees Union and Joint Forum and agitations including strike organised by them that the many issues like Pension Revision etc. got settled. Once again, the correct line taken by AIBDPA has been proved correct.
4. Unity for Struggle and Struggle for Unity is the slogan on which AIBDPA functions. Accordingly many programmes were orgnised by AIBDPA. It is also part of the National Co-ordination Committee of Pensioners Association (NCCPA) and BCPC.The affiliation of AIBDPA both with NCCPA and BCPC has strengthened the unity of these Pensioners organisations.
5. AIBDPA has been participating in the programmes called for by the Central Trade Unions in the past and present. Of course, the pensioners can not strike work, but all other programmes have been participated by AIBDPA.
6. AIBDPA is an organisation which functions with a progressive outlook.
It is because that AIBDPA is on the correct path, that more and more pensioners are joining it every month. The Penioners have got full confidence in their own organisation.

The AIC delegates fully supported the points and clapped theri hands in appreciation of the points stated.

All India Conference of AIBDPA (contd.)

08 Friday Feb 2013

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The inaugural speech by Com. Basudeb Acharya, MP and CITU leader at the All India Conference of AIBDPA inspired the entire house and gave guidance to the theme of the same. Com. A.K.Bhattacharjee, All India President, gave his presidential speech. He wanted the delegates to seriously participate in the discussions and take appropriate decisions.Com. P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU, V.A.N.Namboodiri, President BSNLEU and Advisor AIBDPA, Com. C.P.Sobhana, leader NFPE and other leaders addressed and greeted the delegates. Com. Prakashan Master, Chairman Reception Committee welcomed and Com. K.Kunhiraman, Convener proposed vote of thanks.
The delegates session continued on 6th and 7th February. A Sovenir of the Conference was released by Shri T.Padmanabhan,well-known literary figure by giving the same to Com. P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron.
The AIC adopted a Resolution on Policy and Programme including the Charter of Demands and the programme of actions. The AIC also declared its decision to give all support and solidarity to the 20-21 February strike and to participate in all the propaganda and other programmes. Other resolutions were also adopted.
The AIC unnimously elected office-bearers with the following for the next term:
Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri (Advisor), P.V.Chandrasekharan (patron) A.K.Bhattacharjee (President), K.G.Jayaraj (General Secretary) and G.B.Salakki (Treasurer).
The Reception Committee with Coms. Prakasan Master as Chairman, P.V.Unnikrishnan as Vice-Chairman and K.Kunhiraman as General Convener and othe comrades made excellent arrangements for the successful conduct of the conference.
The AIC, its eliberations and the decisions have given full confidence to the pensioners that this is an organisation which will continue its fight for the cuase of the BSNL-DOT pensioners.Congratulations!

WFTU strengthens in African Continent

08 Friday Feb 2013

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World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU), the militant international trade union organisation of workers is strengthening year after year. During the last 7-8 years, especially after the WFTU Conference in Cuba in 2005 and Brazil in 2009, it has regained its strong position all over the world. Now WFTU has become strong in African continent also. Below is given a report of the 2nd Pan-African WFTU Affilliates and Friends Meeting held in Khartoum on 4-6 February 2013.WFTU

WORLD FEDERATION OF TRADE UNIONS
Class oriented – uniting – democratic – modern – independent!
40, ZAN MOREAS STREET, ATHENS 11745 GREECE
Tel. +302109214417, +302109236700, Fax +30210 9214517
http://www.wftucentral.org E-mails: contact@wftucentral.org, international@wftucentral.org
ΗΜ07.02.2013 1
Athens, February 7, 2013
Great Success
With the participation of 60 trade union leaders from 37 countries, the 2nd PAN-AFRICAN WFTU Affiliates and Friends Meeting was held on February 4-6 2013, in Khartoum, capital of Sudan.
The large attendance, the open, democratic dialogue, the criticism and self-criticism, the quality of the debates and the resolutions confirm the rising course of the WFTU and its dynamic presence in Africa.
The prestige of the WFTU, the proper arrangements made by SWTUF and the militancy of the class oriented trade unions from the African continent provides with a new optimism our coming struggles.
The family of the WFTU is constantly growing and constantly getting stronger; constantly, new affiliates are joining us.
The documents, the resolutions and the Action Plan for Africa 2013-2014 that were voted are rich and will defend the rights of the ordinary people of Africa against the exploitation and the plundering of the wealth-producing resources by the capitalists and the capital.
The WFTU thanks all those who took part in this important meeting and pledges that it will continue the joint efforts and will stay firm on the side of the Working Class of Africa until the final victory.
THE SECRETARIAT
2nd Pan – African Meeting of the WFTU affiliates and friends
February 4-6, 2013 – Khartoum Sudan

AIBDPA Conference started

07 Thursday Feb 2013

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The First Triennial All India Conferene of AIBDPA has started at Kannur on 6th February in a big way. The Navaneetham Auditorium where about 750 persons can be accommodated was full and overflowing with delegates who have come from all parts of India.
The Union Flag was hoisted by Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan,Patron of AIBDPA, amidst shouting of slogans. Homage to the Martyrs were paid by all the comrades one after another, the first one paid by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor AIBDPA and President BSNLEU.
Com. Prakashan Master, Chairman of the Reception Committee welcomed the invitees, the delegates and all the comrades who are present. He also informed the delegates about the cultural and political background of Kannur District and city.
The Inaugural Session was presided over by Com. A.K.Bhattacharjee, President of the Association. Com. Basudeb Acharya, Member of Parliament, CITU Leader and the leader of the CPI(M) group in Lok Sabha inaugurated the AIC.In his speech in detail he spoke about the issue of the pensioners, the fight against PFRDA, the two days strike on 20-21 February called for by the 11 Central Trade Unions, to strengthen the working class unity etc.

CEC of AIBDPA

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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The meeting of the Central Executive Committee of AIBDPA was held today, 5th February 2013 to finalise the programmes of the All India Conference being held 0n 6th and 7th February at Kannur. Com. A.K.Bhattacharjee, President, presided. The draft report to be presented to the AIC was read and approved. Accounts also. The procedure was also finalised.
A large number of delegates have already arrived.
The Reception Committee under the leadership of Com.Prakasan Master, Chairman, P.V.Unnikrishnan, Working Chairman, P.Kunhiraman, Convener and others are making all arrangements for the successful conduct of the Conference. The Conference will start by 0930 hourstomorrow with hoisting the Union flag.

Meeting with a senior comrade

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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After reaching Kannur to attend the AIBDPA meeting today, I thought that I will visit a senior comrade of Postal Union, who in fact advised me to enter P and T Department.
Along with Coms. Ananta Kumar Bhattacharjee, President, AIBDPA, P.V.Chandrasekharan and my wife, I went to the house of Com. Narayanan, retired Postmaster, which is in the centre of the Kannur town itself. He was very happy to meet all of us. He is 91 now and still keeps good health for that age. His wife, daughter and son-in-law, all of them welcomed us warmly.We had good coffee and tasty biscuits also. We talked about the old days.
Com.Narayanan Master was the Post Master of Mattanur at that time when I was working as a teacher in a nearby school. One day he told me that applications have been called for jobs in P and T by the Postmaster General and advised me to apply. I applied for all the four arms, viz. Postal, RMS, Telephones and also Telegraph. I got intimation having been selected for all, since marks alone was the criteria for selection. When I asked Narayanan Master to advise me which post to select, he said that the best selection will be telephones since it is the fast growing sector. Accordingly I selected the same. Within a few days I got the telegram to join the training class and joined duty after training. And the advice given to me was the best, as I experienced later.
When we were returning Master came till the road. He waved his hands in farewell when the car started moving.
Thank YOU Comrade! We will meet next time again when I visit Kannur.

Cannanore (Kannur) – City of my initiative in TU

05 Tuesday Feb 2013

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I have reached Kannur to attend the All India Conference of AIBDPA to be held on 6-7 February 2013. To-day, the working committee will held by evening.
It is after some time that I am visiting Kannur. Kannur ( the British called it Cannanore and the name continued till a few years back) is the northern most district of Kerala except Kasargod, bordering Karnataka.
I was initiated in to the P and T Trade Union movement from Kannur. I joined in the P and T Department in 1958 at Kottayam in the southern part of Kerala, but got transferred to Kannur in 1959. The telephone exchange was accommodated in a small building on the side of the Fort Maidan, near he District Hospital at that time. The Telecommunications were developing only at that period. It was CB mutiple exchange with about 300 – 400 numbers. The NFPTE, the only union at that time, was strong in Kannur as in the nearby Calicut etc.
The NFPTE leaders at Cannanore at that time was Coms. T.M.Janardanan ( Janu Master),N.P.Padmanabhan (Tellicherry) N.O.Ananadan Master, P.Narayanan(at Payyanur) and others. While the first three were in Postal, Com.P.Narayanan was in Telephones, and was Branch Secretary. He was an ex-service official and was very stict disciplined both in the work and in the union.
The first time I met Com.O.P.Gupta, then General Secretry, E-III Union was at Kannur. Com. OPG came along with Com. Narayanan to Kannur, probably in 1959 itself. It was very contrasting to see the tall and hefty OPG with Narayanettan who was rather small in height. Both are not with us now. OPG passed away recently and PN much earlier.
The 1960 strike and the suppression of the same by the government and the hard experiences during the period made me devote my full time to the union activities. I was kept out of work for some period, disciplinary action taken and reduced to minimum of the scale for leading the strike in Cannanore.
I worked at cannanore and nearby places like Kanhangad, Payyanur, Baliapattam etc. on deputation also. I was elected as Branch Secretary of Cannanore and continued as such till I was transferred to Calicut in 1964 as part of victimisation for organising a local strike.
There are a lot of incidents and union agitations which comes to my mind when I recollect the period. About that later.
I will be at Kannur today, tomorrow and day after. I hope to see many comrades, who worked with me and local leaders. It will be a pleasure to meet them all.

Implement Verma Committee Recommendations

04 Monday Feb 2013

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The half-hearted decision of the government is very clear from the Ordinance that is issued by it after Justice Verma Commission submitted its report. Verma Commission has clearly pointed out certain decisions that has to be taken by the government with regard to the crimes of sexual assault and connected matters. But many important recommendations have been shelved by the government. All the womens organisations as also Left parties have objected to the present ordinance.
The issue will certainly be raised in the Parliament. The government should come forward to hear the opinions of vaious political parties, womens’ organisations etc. and then pass a strong bill to curb the gender discrimination and sexual assaults.