Author Archives: admin

GREECE- WFTU DEMANDS THE ATTAINMENT OF THE DEMANDA OF 11 SEAFARERS IN “OCEAN GLORY”.

 

24 May 2016

The WFTU issued on May 24th, 2016,  the following statement in solidarity with the struggle of the seafarers of the ship “Ocean Glory” which is located in Drapetsona, Greece.

To:

  • Department of Maritime Labour of Ministry of Maritime of Greece
  • Ministry of Labour of Greece
  • Nicolakis Shipping S.A
  • Mass Media
  • Maritime Unions

 

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) representing 92 million workers in 120 countries, according to the information received by the Greek Maritime Unions PEMEN, STEFENSON, PEEMAGEN and based on the information received by the total crew of the M/V “Ocean Glory” of the shipping company NICOLAKIS SHIPPING S.A we declare our official protestation and we ask from the direct intervention of the immediate of the authorities for the solution of the issues mentioned below:

The WFTU denounces that in the ship, which is located in the repair pier of Drapetsona, Greece due to engine damage, the seafarers are facing serious problems.

Particularly:

  1. The Company has repeatedly with promises delayed to pay the salaries of the 11 crew members (3 Ukranians, 2 Russians, 6 from Ghana). Now they must receive their salaries of 5 months of work.
  2. 2 members of the crew of the engine are working 12 hours every day for 5 months in violation of international regulations for the “hours of rest” while the company is paying no overtime.
  3. Four members of the crew have asked for months their repatriation and their request has not been attained until today.

We demand the immediate intervention of the relevant authorities of the Ministry of Maritime for the solution of the problems faced by the seafarers of M/V “Ocean Glory”.

THE SECRETARIAT

CABINET NOTE ON 7TH PAY COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS BEING PREPARED.

Shri. Shiv Gopal Mishra, Secretary, Staff side of JCM has stated in a circular that according to reliable sources, the cabinet note on the recommendations of 7th Pay Commission is being prepared and may be submitted to the cabinet shortly. It is not known as to what extent the demands of NJCA is incorporated in the cabinet note. In these circumstances a meeting of the NJCA is decided to be held on 4th June, 2016 to review the preparations for the indefinite strike of central government employees from 11th July, 2016. 

Ghassan Ghosn, CGT-Lebanon elected General Secretary of ICATU

20 May 2016
The 13th Congress of the International Confederation of Arab Trade Unions took place on 17-19 May 2016, in Sharm-El-Sheikh of Egypt.
Alexandra Liberi, WFTU Head of Mass Media and Communications Department represented WFTU in this Congress and addressed a greeting message expressing the WFTU solidarity with the Arab people.
Following a succesful Congress, with democratic process and wide participation from the Arab Trade Unions a new Executive Council was elected as well as a new General Secretary of ICATU.
Brother Ghassan Ghosn, from CGT-Lebanon was elected in the post of General Secretary of this historic and important regional Organization for the next 5 years.
The Secretariat of the WFTU in its congratulatory letter to the new General Secretary said: “We wish you all strength, courage and determination in the difficult task you have taken upon your shoulders in the leadership of this historic and important regional Organization. From our side we will continue to build the fraternal relations between WFTU and ICATU, to support and defend ICATU and the Arab trade union movement for the benefit of all Arab people. We hope that our cooperation and brotherhood can continue to mature day after day.”
A letter was send to Rajab Maatouk, the outgoing General Secretary of ICATU appreciating his hard work for the benefit of the Arab people all the previous years as well as his role to maintain and strengthen the fraternal cooperation of ICATU and WFTU.

WFTU TUI of Pensioners and Retirees (P&R) Europe Regional Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, July 20th 2016

 

21 May 2016

Dear fellows, The TUI (Trade Union International) of P&R (Pensioners and Retirees) of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) and the Pensioners and Retirees from Denmark, this last one in its condition of host, invite all the P&R in their trade unions and/or the class organizations to participate in the Europe´s Regional Conference of the TUI of Pensioners and Retirees, that will take place in Ranzausminde, Denmark, in July 20th, 2016 (arrival at Copenhagen´s airport on the 19th of July, and departure on the July 21th), in order to create and establish the Regional Structure of Europe of the TUI of Pensioners and Retirees (P&R) of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU). The creation of this regional structure of the TUI of P&R of the WFTU is included in the Statutes of this TUI that were approved in the foundational Congress celebrated in Barcelona (February 2014), and it shows the ascendancy of the class oriented trade unions’ movement, and it emphasizes the positive direction of the WFTU and of Europe´s Pensioners and Retirees. Today we live in a period of profound crisis of the capitalist system. The capital and the capitalist governments try to put the load of this crisis on the backs of the workers and on the back of the peoples, a fact with a disastrous impact for all the workers of every sector, but also for the P&R. The Pensioners and Retirees see their pensions and their rights diminish, see how their lives and the lives of their children are continually deteriorating. The P&R of all Europe have to act with the proletarian internationalism that characterizes the WFTU, and have to fight so the right to a public pension that allows us to live with dignity becomes a reality anywhere in our continent. We are going to fight for the reinforcement of free health and free medicines, for a public and free social security, for public and worthy pensions. Every organization that confirms its participation will receive a schedule with the details of its participation in the Conference. As in every international event organized by the WFTU (the only world trade union organization that doesn´t receives any funds or subsidies from any government), every participant will pay for its own trip. The lodging of one (1) delegate and the meals of this delegate for two (2) days will be provided by the hosts and by the TUI of Pensioners and Retirees. Supplementary delegates will be accepted if they pay for the cost of their lodging and meals while in Denmark. Due to the financial difficulties, we ask, from those participants who can afford it, to pay for their stay in Copenhagen, as a token of internationalist solidarity. Those delegates who need a visa to enter in Denmark must inform, during the month of May 2016 as the latest, of their names and their post of responsibility in their Trade Union, so the organizers can send them the personal invitation letter from Denmark with time enough.

 

78.2% IDA MERGER- SOME MODIFICATIONS ARE REQUIRED TO BE MADE IN THE CABINET NOTE.

The draft cabinet note on 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners sent to the cabinet secretariat by DoT is returned back to DoT. According to Shri.S.K.Jain, DDG (Estt), DoT some modifications are to be made and the same is being done. This is revealed to Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary when contacted over telephone on 23-05-2016. General Secretary requested early action in the matter as the issue is already delayed about three years and the DDG assured quick action and hoped to send the cabinet note this week itself to the cabinet secretariat.

Railway workers’ Strike in France

 

Paris, May 18 : Strikes by French railway and port workers halved train services and prompted cancellation of ferry links to Britain on Wednesday as labor unions sought to force President Francois Hollande’s government into retreat on labor law reforms.

The strike is a full success crippling the entire train services. The labour law reforms which are anti-workers are strongly opposed by the unions. They have been protesting and demanding the withdrawal of the same.

 

workers of Associated Banks of SBI on strike against unjustified merger

 

The Bank workers of the Associated Banks of SBI ie. State Bank of Travancore, State Bank of Mysore, State Bank of Hyderabad, State Bank of Bikaner and Jaipur, State Bank of Patiala and Bharatiya Mahila Bank have struck work on 20th May 2016, against the decision of the government to merge these banks with the SBI. The merger will reduce the number of branches of these banks, reduce the number of staff and will result in loss of business. The merger is being done for the benefit of the private banks as part of the neo-liberal policy.

Support the bankmen strike against unjustified merger of associated banks with SBI!

SATYAGRAHA CONDUCTED BY QA BRANCH , KOLKATA

QA Branch , Kolkata successfully conducted Satyagrha as part of ” Call Attention Day” on 16-05-2016 against the apathetic attitude of QA authorities towards the legitimate claims of the pensioners. West Bengal Circle Branch had sent a detailed letter to the CGM, QA, Bangalore intimating the sufferings of the pensioners. CHQ also took up the issue and promptly wrote a letter to CMD, BSNL with copy of the letter of Circle Branch seeking intervention and settlement. As there was no improvement, the programme was conducted with good participation of pensioners.

After the Satyagraha a meeting also was held with Com.P.K.Nadi, Vice President in the chair. Coms. P.K.Ghosh, Branch Secretary, Uttam Gope, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Ajit Nandan, District Secretary, Kolkata and Pijush Chakraborty, Assistant Circle Secretary addressed the meeting.