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‘HIROSHIMA DAY’ OBSERVED IN JAPAN.

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Peace Memorial Park, Hiroshima – Doves being released on 6th August 2015

Tens of thousands of people observed  a minute  silence at 8-30 a.m. on 6th August 2015 at the ceremony in Hiroshima’s peace park near the epicentre of the 1945 dropping of the atom bomb by USA, marking the moment of the atomic blast. Then dozens of doves were released as a symbol of peace.

The U.S. bomb, “Little Boy,” the first one dropped in Hiroshima  killed 140,000 people, and a second bomb “Fat Man,” dropped over Nagasaki three days later, killed another 70,000, first of such attacks in any war.

WFTU SUPPORT TO THE NATIONAL GENERAL STRIKE IN INDIA ON 2ND SEPTEMBER,2015.

03 Aug 2015

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) that represents more than 92 million workers all over the world expresses its strong solidarity with our class brothers and sisters of India, who prepare a National General Strike for September 2nd.

During the last years India has met great financial rise. It is member of BRICS, has nuclear arsenal and space program. But this financial boom is not a benefit for most of the one billion people of India. Skyscrapers are built next to the slums. Extreme wealth is gathered next to starving people. While the rich become richer, the wretched are once more the victims. The growth of the capitalist economy is always based on the escalation of the exploitation of the working class. Today that India and its bourgeois political forces take pride on the economic and military strength of the Indian Nation; the vast majority of the people live the contradiction of pauperization.

In these conditions the struggle and the demands of the Trade Union movement of India is just. The WFTU affiliates in India have been preparing this strike for months, showing the determination and the will of the class forces to mobilize the great force of the working people. The success of the National General Strike in India, on September 2nd will be a success for the working class of the world.

Especially this year, when the WFTU celebrates its 70th Year Anniversary, we would like to highlight the historic contribution of the class trade union movement of India to the World Federation since its foundation. It is a fact that without the struggles and the contribution of the trade union movement of India, the international class trade union movement would not be the same.

The WFTU expresses its internationalist support and solidarity to the struggle of its Indian brothers and calls all trade union organizations of WFTU to stand in solidarity with the National Strike of the Indian working class.

Long Live International Solidarity! Long Live the class trade union movement of India! All success to the National General Strike of September 2nd!

LAND ACQUISITION (AMENDMENT) BILL- NDA GOVERNMENT COMPELLED TO BACK TRACK.

In a major development, the NDA Government has stepped down from its arrogant position of passing the Land(Amendment) Bill moved by it in the Parliament  which was strongly opposed by Congress, Left and other opposition parties.. The government issued ordinance three times unable to get it passed in the parliament.

Now in the Joint Parliament Committee examining the bill, the ruling members have agreed to remove many of the clauses in the bill, which are anti-people and anti-farmer therefore opposed by the opposition parties.

It is reported that in this scenario, the Land (Amendment) Bill may get passed. This development is a big embarrassment for the government and a victory for the united opposition.

78.2%- DELAY TACTICS OF THE BUROCRACY CONTINUES.

TODAY COM.K,G,JAYARAJ,GENERAL SECRETARY CONTACTED THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER THE CABINET NOTE ON 78.2% HAS BEEN RETURNED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM WITH THEIR COMMENTS. SURPRISINGLY, THE UNDER SECRETARY IN THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE HAS STATED THAT SOME CLARIFICATIONS ARE BEING SOUGHT FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM FOR WHICH THE FILE MAY BE SENT WITHIN TWO DAYS.

EARLIER, THE INTERNAL FINANCE IN THE DEPARTMENT OF TELECOM HAD DELAYED THE MAXIMUM FOR REVISING THE DRAFT CABINET NOTE PREPARED BY THE ESTABLISHMENT SECTION,STATING THAT SOME MORE DETAILS REGARDING THE ACTUAL EXPENDITURE  AND ALSO THE 60:40 ISSUE ARE NECESSARY TO SATISFY THE DOE TO AVOID RETURN OF FILE. AND IT WAS TOLD BY THE DIRECTOR, ESTABLISHMENT, DOT THAT 90% OF THE CABINET NOTE CONTAINS SUCH DETAILS. STILL, IT IS REALLY AN IRONY THAT THE DEPARTMENT OF EXPENDITURE IS NOT SATISFIED.

SO THE NET RESULT IS FURTHER DELAY OF ANOTHER FEW MONTHS

INDEFINITE STRIKE BY BSNL CCLU AND FAST BY BSNLEU & SNEA IN KERALA.

Com.K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, BSNLU addressing before the start of the fast.

The  high handed anti-worker and the most provocative buerocratic attitude of the CGMT, Kerala is spoiling the industrial reletions in Kerala Circle. No doubt, this will certainly affect the services adversely. Kerala is the only Circle which has achieved a profit of Rs.400 crore and CGMT shamelessly is not prepared to give credit to anybody else for the same . It is a well known fact that the profit could be earned due to the collective hard work of the entire staff including the casual/contract workers.

The casual/contract workers were compelled to resort to agitational programmes as the Circle Administration did not care to discuss their  genuine demands including wage hike and implementation of the agreement by the circle administration consequent on a glorious strike of 16 days in August,2013. BSNL CCLU leaders had started an indefinite fast from 9th July,2015 as the CGMT continued his negative attitude. Meanwhile a number of BSNLEU leaders including the Circle Secretary have been victimized with dies-non, show cause notice etc alleging that they have helped the CCLU agitation. Of late, one of the SNEA leader is transferred when most of the earlier cases of victimization during the SNEA agitation have not been settled despite specific directive from the BSNL corporate office.

All these compelling circumstances have contributed to launch an indefinite strike by the BSNL CCLU in Kerala Circle and BSNLEU and SNEA an indefinite fast before the CGMT office Thiruvananthapuram from 3rd August, 2015. The Strike of the casual contract workers is full in all over the Circle.

Com.K.Mohanan, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU and Com.K.Sudher, Circle President, SNEA have started the indefinite fast at 10AM on 3rd August. Com.M.Chandran M L A inaugurated the fast. Com.P.V.Chandrasekharan, All India Patron,AIBDPA presided. Com.K.Mohanan spoke initially detailing the developments which made the agitation imperative.Com.G.Premkumar, Circle Treasurer, Com.T.Santhosh Kumar, District Secretary, SNEA, Com.R.Muraleedharan Nair, Former AGS,BSNLEU, Com.N.R.Somasekharan Nair, State Secretary, BSNLCCLU and Com.S.Ashok Kumar, District Secretary, Confederation addressed.There was an unprecedented gathering of workers with large number of lady comrades reflecting the anguish and anger against the negative approach of the CGMT.

WFTU REPRESENTED IN UNESCO FORUM IN PR CHINA.

The WFTU took part in the 5th International Forum of NGO’s in official partnership with UNESCO on the suhject of “Rapprochement of cultures – one humanity beyond diversities”, that was held in the People Republic of China during 28-29 July 2015. The WFTU was represented by comrade Anda Anastassakis, coordinator of the WFTU Headquarters.

CALL DROPS- COMMUNICATIONS MINISTER ORDERS AUDIT OF TELECOM COMPANIES.

The Department of Telecom will undertake special audit to assess the coverage and quality of service of all mobile operators in the metro cities to assess the gravity of problem to call drops. This was stated in a written reply given in the Parliament by the Minister of Communications Ravi Shankar Prasad.

“The TERM cells (field unit of DoT) have been asked to take up the special audit to assess the coverage/quality of service in metro/capital cities of all mobile operators network in order to assess the gravity of problem of call drops,”  the Communications  Minister stated.

There has been several complaints of call drops, especially in the metro cities. Many MPs had also raised the issue in the Parliament.

Though the call drops of BSNL is stated to be less than others, it also will have to seriously look in to the matter and ensure for a better service, which will attract more customers.

ALL INDIA CONFERENCE OF NCCPA TO BE HELD AT KOLKATA ON 6,7 NOVEMBER,2015.

Com.Pabitra Chakraborty, Secretary General, NCCPA has declared in the National Convention of Central Government Pensioners held at Hyderabad on 31st July, 2015 that the next All India Conference of National Co-Ordinating Committee of Pensioners Associations (NCCPA) will be held at Kolkata on 6th&7th July, 2015.

The details will be furnished later.