The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) expresses its solidarity and support to the mobilizations of the poor and medium sized farmers in Greece, who for days now have been blocking the national highways, demanding what’s rightfully theirs.

More than 10.000 tractors are on the streets and the Greek farmers are protesting against the policy of EU and the government of SYRIZA and the racist ultra right wing party of ANEL. The policy of the Common Agricultural Policy of the EU implemented by the Greek government drives the poor farmers away from their land, imposes new bigger taxes, raises the price of fuel for farmers, reduces farmer pensions, raises the cost of production for the poor farmers, while supporting the monopolies, the cartels and multinational corporations. This policy promotes the even bigger concentration of land in the hands of the few and rich businesspersons and multinationals of the agro-alimentary sector, according to the directions of the European Union, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund.

The WFTU and the World Class Oriented Trade Union Movement are on the side of the poor farmers of Greece and express their solidarity with their just struggle.

Until today, the farmers have demonstrated combativeness and every day more farmers with their tractors and agricultural machinery join the struggle and get to the central highways and the squares of their villages in the rural areas.

We, the workers and unemployed, the 92 million members of the WFTU from all over the world, we join our voice with the voices of the poor and medium sized farmers of Greece, fighting so that their land will not been taken from their hands, against the new anti-farmer measures decided by the IMF, EU, the SYRIZA – ANEL government and the multinational cartel of the agroalimentary sector.

The 2nd triennial All India Conference of AIBDPA being held at Tirupati on 2-3, February, 2016 will start with an open session at 10 AM on 02-02-2016.  The programme is arranged as follows;

Welcome address        : Shri.Y. Srinivasulu Reddy MLC, Chairman, Reception Committee

Presidential Address   : Com.A.K.Bhattacharjee, President, AIBDPA

Inaugural address       : Com.T.K.Rangarajan MP, Vice President, CITU

Chief Guests                : Ms. Annie Moreas, Member (Finance), DoT

Shri. Anupam Shrivsatava, CMD, BSNL

Ms. Sujata Ray, Director (HR), BSNL

Special Guests           : Shri. P. V. Muralidhar, ITS, CGMT, BSNL, Andhra Pradesh

: Shri. P.K.Sinha, Controller of Communication Accounts

: Shri. M.S.A. Nutan,ITS, GMTD, BSNL, Tirupati

Speakers  : Com.K.K.N.Kutty, Secretary General, NCCPA

Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Trade Union International (Pensioners &Retirees)

Com. Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNL CCWF

Com. K.Raghavendran, General Secretary, AIPRPA

Com. K.G. Jayaraj, General Secretary, AIBDPA

Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, Patron, AIBDPA

Com. J. Sampath Rao, AGS, & Circle Secretary, BSNLEU.

Vote of thanks      : Com. Y.S.Raju, General Secretary, Reception Committee.

2 PM to 8 PM— Delegates session

03-02-2016—    9 AM to 1 PM   and  2 PM to 5 PM –Delegates Session

BMS, which withdrew from the September 2,2015 General strike at the last moment has again joined the mainstream of the working class in the country, as the government presses for labour reforms. The NDA government’s pursuit of contentious labour law reforms such as easier norms for hiring and firing workers has compelled all the central trade unions, including the RSS- affiliated Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) to join hands again to discuss a collective course of action.

Shri. B. N. Rai, President, BMS said that all Central Trade Union leaders would meet on 27th January, 2016 to take on the legislative changes proposed by the government and review the progress on their larger charter of demands presented to the government.

(courtesy: The Hindu)

Preparations are in full swing at Tirupati to host the 2nd triennial All India Conference on 2-3, February, 2016. The reception committee is working over time to see that the conference become a grand success. They are trying their level best to arrange suitable accommodation to the delegates/ observers and also to receive them at the railway stations.

However the reception committee has intimated that a few circles are yet to give proper informations about the number of delegates/ observers. arrival/departure details and number of lady comrades etc. It will be difficult for the reception committee to arrange accommodation for those delegates coming without giving prior intimation. So it is once again requested that all the circles should ensure that the above details are given to the reception committee without fail. KINDLY TREAT IT AS IMPORTANT AND URGENT.

Alappuzha area committee organised a well attended convention at BSNLEU hall, Alappuzha on 23-01-2016. A good number of lady comrades also participated.  Com.K.Bhargavan, Area President presided. Com.T.Sobhanan, Area Secretary welcomed the gathering. Addressing the convention Com.K.G.Jayaraj, General Secretary explained the retrograde recommendations of the 7th Pay Commission, pending issues of the pensioners, particularly,present position of 78.2% IDA merger and the ensuing 2nd triennial All India Conference at Tirupati. Com.N.Guruprasad, Circle Secretary and Com. P. Surendran, District Secretary also addressed.

Ravi Shankar Prasad, Communications Minister, has stated that the fast growing telecom sector will require 4.16 million workers by 2022. If the 15% growth continues, this may be true.
But as Minister of Communications, he has to ensure that additional jobs are created in BSNL & MTNL also. Young blood should be inducted.