Today, 24th October 2011, the United Nations Organisation (UNO) is completing 66 years.
UNO was formed after the end of the II World War, at the initiative of USA, Britain, USSR, France and China which defeated the fascist forces led by Adolph Hitler. It can be said as a continuation of the League of Nations which was formed after I World War but could not stop the II World War. UNO was formed to ensure world peace and for international co-operation in various fields. At present there are 193 countries represented in the UNO.
Although it was formed for ensuring world peace, later developments have shown that due to the adamant, aggressive and unilateral actions of the United States, especially after the collapse of the USSR, the UNO has become a victim of pressure tactics. It could not stop the US aggression in Afghanistan, Iraq etc.
However, UNO has survived and had made great efforts in the realms of education, health, co-operation etc. India is now a non-permanent member of the Security Council, which is the governing body of the UNO.

The recent protest demonstrations and actions including the ‘Occupy Wall Street’, ‘Occupy London’ movements against the inequality, job loss, austerity measures etc. in US and European countries and the fact that these protesters are using the photos of the revolutionary Che Guevera and Lenin and quoting from Karl Marx etc. have angered some of the media barons. How the youth and jobless can chant slogans against capitalism and imperialism? Communism is already in the grave, why bring that spectre again? They are naturally angry and have started attacks more aggressively than before.
One Editorial, “Let us Occupy Walled Street” in a prominent daily abuses and ridicules the left in bad language. Another daily has a full page article, “Left in the Lurch”, again ridiculing the Communist leaders including Sitaram Yechury, Bardhan and others and also giving valuable advises as to how to organise the party in the present situation!
The symptoms are very clear. These pundits are worried about the left ideas and ideology being spread by the protesters, that too in the capitalist countries. They know that if it spreads, just like in the Carrebian and South American countries, it will be a big debacle for capitalism. And they have donned upon themselves the mantle for defending the crisis ridden capitalism.

The historic St.Paul’s Cathedral in Central London was closed on 22nd October due to the squatting of the ‘Occupy London’ protesters. This is the first time the cathedral has been closed in the last seventy years. Last time it was closed was at the time of Second World War 1940-45.
Hundreds of protesters are squatting in front of the Cathedral with banners like ‘Put an end to corporate greed and inequality”, “Capitalism is crisis” etc. The Cathedral is situated near the London Stock Exchange which control the trading.
Not only in London, in addition to United States, turbulent protests are going in almost all the European cities against inequality, job-loss and unemployment. The crisis of the capitalist system is aggravating and the struggles are strengthening.

The Department of Posts is proposing to reduce the number of Railway Mail Sorting (RMS) offices from the present more than 400 to less than 80. This is being done as per the recommendations of the Mckensey Consultancy which was appointed as part of implementation of the neo-liberal policy of the government. This will completely derail the RMS services and delay in transition of mails. Workers will be shifted to far away places.
The RMS unions have decided to oppose this anti-worker, anti-people proposals through agitations.
Earlier the Department of Posts had decided to close about 1,000 post offices in the name of reforms, but had to retreat after NFPE and Postal Unions went on agitation.Such proposals are mooted by the government to support the private couriers and to exit from the postal services gradually.

BSNL workers are on the cross roads. A crucial point has reached to select whether we support the anti-worker, anti-BSNL policies of the government or fight against it to save both BSNL and the workers. The JAC has decided for the second choice. JAC is fully convinced that it is only through sustained struggles that the anti-PSU policy of the government can be defeated and BSNL and workers saved.
United struggle of all the workers is required for the same. It is with this conviction that JAC has been contacting and trying to bring all those unions which are not in the JAC now. JAC decided to organise the strike on 10th October against the VRS, settlement of ITS absorption, restoration of the cancelled benefits to the workers, Bonus as also on the issues related to the development and expansion of BSNL. In order to bring the NFTE, the date was changed after consultation with them. Now after consultation with NFTE, the date of strike has been decided for 15th November 2011. I have personally met General Secretary, FNTO and requested him to join the united movement. I hope that all will join in the united movement and organise the struggles with massive participation to make the management and the government to understand their wrong approach and correct it.
Start preparations immediately to make the strike completely successful.

After a very long period of inquiry, the CBI Court, Delhi has issued charge sheets today, 22nd October, to 17 accused in the 2G scam including former minister A.Raja, Kanimozhi, former DOT Secretary Sidhartha Behura, former PA to Minister R.K.Chandolia and others. The charges include conspiracy, cheating etc. for which punishment can be from seven years to life imprisonment.
But what about others who are also stated to be directly or indirectly involved? What about the former Finance Minister Chidambaram who approved the policy? What about the Prime Minister who is fully aware of the issue? What about the other private companies like Tata who are stated to be involved as the other private companies against whom charge sheets are issued?
All these issues create doubts about the role of the CBI, whether it is being pressurised to take a certain route by the Government.
People of the country want to see that the culprits, who ever high they may be, should be caught and punished, of course after the natural course of law.

Greece is going to face intensified struggle in the coming days as a consequence of passing the anti-people, anti-worker Austerity Bill by the Parliament on 21st October aiming at wage-cuts, job lay-offs etc.The workers and the people have been organising protest demonstrations for the last few weeks against this. One person is already dead in the turmoil.
The new package passed by the Parliament yesterday includes new tax increases, cut to pension and wages and also to dismiss 30,000 state employees.It also curtails the rights of the workers for collective bargaining.
Greece and for that matter the European nations are going to face the wrath of the workers’ movements and agitations.
Out complete support and solidarity to the fully justified struggles of the European workers!

At last the government has started thinking about women representation in the Board of Directors of companies. In the Company Bill, being prepared by the Government and which is in the final stage, it is proposed at least to have one woman Director compulsorily. This is resisted by the private companies stating that the Directors are appointed on the basis of talent and not on gender basis. But the government seems to be firm on the inclusion of woman Director. We welcome this move in the right direction.
The government should also direct the PSUs to have the same criteria. BSNL also should have one woman Director.

After hard-bargaining and in the intervention of the Haryana Government, the strike of the Maruti workers has been called off after 14 days. The Maruti Managemnt has been compelled to take back all the 1200 casual workers. It will reinstate 64 of the regular workers. About the balance 34 workers including the leaders, enquiry will be conducted. There will be no pay for the strike period plus one day penalty.
The Maruti Workers have to be congratulated for their heroic struggle against all odds against the MNC Suzuki-Maruti and compelling them to a settlement. The management has been adamant and with the support of the Haryana government has been victimising the workers for having formed a union of their own choice at the Manesar plant. The workers were moved out of the plant by the police but they stood their ground and sat outside the factory all these days 24 hours of the day. It was a grim fight and the management was compelled to come for talks and agreement. A lot of anti-worker acts of the management came in to light like only 7 minutes time for tea-break, unjustified pay cuts etc. The agreement also provides for forming of a Grievance Redressal Committee and a Labour Welfare Committee. It is also understood that the chance of recognising the Maruti Suzuki Employees Union, formed by the workers of the Manesar plant.
The support given by the workers of other plants of the Suzuki nearby is an inspiring examples of the solidarity of workers which helped in bringing a settlement.
Full details are yet to be known, but the strike is historic in more than one ways and stands as a warning to the employers who have started to exploit the workers waiving all labour laws.
Many issues are yet to be settled, but that is part of any such agreement.
My Hearty congratulations to the Maruti Workers!