26 Apr 2024

The World Federation of Trade Unions, the militant, class-oriented voice, representing over 105 million workers who live, work, and struggle in 134 countries of the 5 continents, honors the 138th anniversary of the struggle of workers in Chicago in 1886. A struggle that constituted a lasting milestone of the working class and a bright beacon for the struggles of today and tomorrow, a beacon of the uninterrupted class struggle for stable work with rights, social security, free public, and universal health and education, dignified life.

This year’s May Day anniversary will go down in history as a bloody anniversary. Because while millions of workers around the world organize themselves, demand against the anti-people’s policies of the capital, its governments and the EU, our colleagues in Palestine will be burying the dozens of bodies murdered every day in the genocide that is carried out by Israel. Workers in every corner of the globe will not remain silent in the crime being committed. They will turn every May Day activity into a demonstration of solidarity with the struggling Palestinian people, and of condemnation of the murderous state of Israel and its imperialist allies who in one way or another support the massacre.

Similarly, the workers do not remain silent on every other crime committed against the peoples, for the profits of the imperialists and the monopolies. At a time when the planet is dripping blood in various places from military interventions, the international class-oriented trade union movement, organized and decisively, is fighting for peace. We say no to imperialist plans and military conflicts. The struggle for peace has a specific content. It means first and foremost a struggle for the dismantling of NATO and all military coalitions, a struggle to defend the right of every people to choose the path of their economic and social development without interventions, sanctions, blockades, and economic wars. Against the double-standards policy where international law ends up being in practice the law of the powerful ones.

The messages and demands of the Chicago pioneers of 1886 remain relevant today. The crisis of capitalism is generalized and deepens. Social inequalities are widening dramatically. Democratic freedoms and trade union rights, are under attack all over the world.

The high cost of living and inflation are brutally undermining workers’ and pensioners living standards. Τhe right to organize and collective bargaining and the sacred right to strike are under attack.

Individual contracts, privatizations, outsourcing, teleworking and “service leasing” are just some of the forms taken by this harsh neoliberal attack.

Major social achievements such as social security and public health care are being privatized while the authoritarian and arbitrary increase of the retirement age methodically continues.

It is obvious that the burden of the capitalist crisis, is being attempted once again to be put on the shoulders of the working people and the weak popular strata in general.

The workers all over the world do not passively accept the capitalist anti-grassroots, and anti-worker attacks. They refuse to pay the bill of the capitalist crisis. With militant struggles and mobilizations in all corners of the globe, they demand the satisfaction of their contemporary needs. The WFTU and its affiliates are, and will continue firmly being in the vanguard of this struggles!

In this year’s May Day celebrations and demonstrations, the Palestinian flag will wave proudly next to the WFTU’s and its affiliates’ flags. In a spirit of solidarity and internationalism, we firmly stand beside the people of the heroic Cuba, and the peoples who struggle against the murderous sanctions, interventions, imperialist aggression, blockades and economic wars.

On the occasion of May Day 2024, the WFTU calls the class and militant trade unions around the world to organize this year’s campaign and activities under the slogan:

AGAINST THEIR PROFITS, WE RISE UP FOR OUR LIVES!

More Massive and Militant

For the workers’ contemporary needs, against the exploitation!
For democratic and trade union freedoms!
In solidarity with Palestine, against imperialist wars and interventions!
For the class-oriented Trade Union movement, for the workers who resist, who do not compromise with oppression, discrimination and exploitation, there is only one path of dignity: the path of the struggles!

The struggles that have taken place signal hope, show the enormous power of the organized working class, illuminate the path of perspective against capitalist exploitation.

Com.R Rajasekar Circle Secretary inaugurated the 7th Virudhunagar District Conference at Com.M V R memorial hall, Virudhunagar on 27-04-2024. Com. G Selvaraj controlled the proceedings. Com.K Murugandi, District Secretary welcomed one and all. Com.S Mohandoss, CHQ Vice President delivered the ketnote address. Coms.Theni Vasanthan, P Ramar (DS,Tuticorin) Muthuswamy (DS,Thirunelveli) etc addressed the inaugual session. In the suject session held in the afternoon, Coms. K Murugandi, District Secretary and M Perumalsamy, Treasurer presented the report and audited accounts, respectively and were adopted after discussion. In the unanimous election of office bearers, Coms. G Selvaraj (President) K Murugandi (District Secretary) M Perumalsamy (Treasurer) were relected. It is worthmentioning that out of 114 delegates, 34 were women comrades.

THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WFTU TUIS*
22-04-2024
*George Mavrikos’ Speech at the 3rd TUI Pensioners Congress

Athens, Greece – 15 of April 2024

Dear comrades, brothers and sisters,

It is an honor and a pleasure for me to be with you today, together with comrades with many of whom we have fought side by side for 50 years; with comrades from all over the world who have fought in the bodies of the WFTU for almost three decades.

All of us who co-decided in 2011 to found, under the wings of the World Federation of Trade Unions, the TUI of Pensioners and Retirees feel a special satisfaction because it has been strengthened very quickly and today is one of the most active and militant sectoral organizations of the WFTU.

The sectoral organizations of the WFTU have always been and must be the essential link of the WFTU with the factory and sectoral proletariat. They are the eyes, ears and feet of the WFTU in the workplaces. That is where the heart of the world working class beats.

Anyone who goes back to the archives of the WFTU will see countless discussions, agreements, disagreements, searches, questionings and continuous meetings, around the character of these international sectoral organizations affiliated to the WFTU, precisely because their role and character is particularly crucial. So much so that they have a significant impact on the very character and orientation of the WFTU.

When we took over the WFTU in December 2005 there were four TUIs. In 2022 we delivered 11 TUIs. The debates in the WFTU bodies were persistent.

Should we create others, new TUIs, or unify the sectors in the existing structures?

All this, of course, is ultimately answered by life itself, on the ground and over time; bearing in mind that any organizational structure, any apparatus in itself can neither make a work “flourish” nor destroy it. The structure may help more or less but the structure will not be the determining factor. The final judge is life itself, in time and place. And of course the logistical possibilities at any given time. I remember in 1976, on a visit to the headquarters of TUI Forestry and Agricultural Products in Sofia (socialist Bulgaria), the TUI employed 80 people in Sofia alone. A few years later, in 1983, in Budapest, at the headquarters of the TUI Transport, we saw a staff of more than 150 personnel and staff. Because at that time such were the possibilities. Much better than the conditions that formed after the 1989-1991 overthrows.

And in the two years from 2007 to 2009, when it was decided to create this TUI, there was no shortage of persistent discussions. We were in a phase of rebuilding the WFTU and its structures. Many were in agreement, others suggested we wait, etc.

We dared and life justified that choice. The whole WFTU class-oriented family is proud of the vanguard action of this organization.

And let me point out that in this successful path, two comrades have played the leading role. The Spanish Quim Boix as well as Dimos Koubouris. Together with the entire leadership of the TUI each time.

We all know comrade Dimos. But let me tell you something about Quim. He is very respected in the ranks of the WFTU. He has a straightforwardness, whether you agree with him or not. He belongs to that generation of Spanish militants who stood tall and firm in “the camps of undesirables” in the desert of the then Spanish Sahara during Franco’s dictatorship.

Of course we agree that above all and in the first place the collective effort is the engine, but the militants who have the responsibility of planning, organizing and executing a plan of struggle have their share. These two and together with them, by their side, dozens of leaders and dozens of unions of retirees from all corners of the planet have ensured that this TUI is today an example to be followed by all within the WFTU.

I have been fortunate to work with them over the years, in which they have supported and spearheaded the strengthening of the WFTU organizationally and ideologically. We express to them a sincere thank you in comradeship.

In conclusion, let me inform all delegates and all unions that together with important veterans of the WFTU as Valentin Pacho, H. Mahadevan and others from 17 countries (who we are in the rear but always with the rifle at our side) we have founded the International Workers’ Institute (IWI) as a contemporary auxiliary tool, next to the WFTU and together with all the class-oriented unions of the world with the aim of giving theoretical and ideological support especially to the militants and younger cadres of the class struggle. We have already organized 11 international seminars and conferences and we continue to move forward.

The next one will take place on May 9, on the subject of the achievements of the working class in the USSR. Participation is free.

Finally, I consider it necessary to underline the primary task of the moment for the entire international militant trade union movement. The task of actively supporting the heroic struggle of the Palestinian resistance, the heroic struggle of the Palestinians in Gaza and throughout Palestine. To support and express in practice our internationalism towards the Palestinian people and, at the same time, to condemn in practice and without ambiguity the crimes of the Israeli governments that, with the support of the European Union, NATO, the USA and its allies, have murdered 33 thousand Palestinians, among them thousands of children, since October 2023. This is genocide. And the UN pretends to be asleep. In fact, it is not asleep. Today it is an instrument of the imperialists.

Dear comrades, brothers and sisters,

Here, in this international trade union apparatus, there is a rich experience of struggle. There is faith and knowledge and the will to transmit all this to the younger ones.

With militants like this, battle-hardened in the class conflicts in all corners of the planet, we have the right to be optimistic.

We wish you success in your Congress.

Health and strength. Until the final victory.

Thank you.

GEORGE_MAVRIKOS, IWI, PENSIONERS, PENSIONISTAS.

The biennial District Conference of Mahesana has been held at the venue of the circle Conference, Umiyaji Mataji Sansthan, Unjha on 16-04-2024. Com. G B Darji, District Secretary welcomed one and all. Com.N N Patel, Circle President and District President controlled the proceedings. Shri.B N Patel, Trustee, Umiyaji Mataji Sansthan inaugurated the conference. Shri. Hargovindbhai, Patel, Chairman, Rasoda Commitee was the Chief Guest. The keynote address was delivered by Com.M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and CHQ Vice President explaining the issues in detail.

Com.G B Darji, District Secretary presented the report and Com. P J Prajapati, Treasurer submitted the audited accounts and were adopted after discussion. The following are the important functionaries elected unanimously; Com. J B Chauhan (Patron), Com.N N Patel (President) Com.G B Darji (District Secretary) Com.P J Prajapati (Treasurer).

The 4th biennial Circle Conference was held with good participation of delegates in an enthusiastic atmosphere on 16-17th April, 2024 at Umiyaji Mataji Sansthan , Unjha. Com.N N Patel, Circle President presided over the conference. The first part of the delegates session was held on 16th April. Com.M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and CHQ Vice President inaugurated the conference explaining the present status of pension revision, medical payments, medical card revalidation, submission of DLC, option to family pensioners etc. Thereafter discussion started and all the district Secretaries and most of the circle office bearers participated.

Circle Executive Committee meeting was held at 1800hrs on 16-04-2024. Biennial report on activities and audited accounts were presented by Com.M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and Treasurer and were approved after discussion by the CEC.

The open session was held on 17th April, 2024. Shri. Sandeep Sawarkar, Chief General Manager was the chief guest and inaugurated the open session by lighting the lamp and delivering the inaugural address. Com.N N Patel, Circle President was in chair. Shri.G L John Seldow, GM (Finanace), Circle Office, Shri.Pankaj Bhandari, GM, Mahesana, Shri.R G Gohel, DGM,Mahesana, Coms. M K Dave, Circle President and D A Patel,ACS of BSNLEU, Com.S J Thakar, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF and a host of leaders including Coms. A N Singh, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Vadodara, J K Solanki, P J Patel and R B Patel, District President, Secretary and Treasurer of BSNLEU, Mahesana addressed the open session. The guests were honoured with mementos. The open session was concluded with vote of thanks by Com. G B Darji.

The second part of the delegates session was held at 1400hrs on 17th inst under the presidentship of Com.N N Patel, Circle President. The report on activities and the audited accounts duly adopted by the CEC was presented by Coms. M B Chaniyara, Circle Secretary and R U Anjariya, Circle Treasurer. Both the report and accounts were adopted by the conference after discussion of the delegates and reply by the Circle Secretary.

The conference then elected the office bearers for the next biennial term unanimously with Com. J G Nayak (Patron) Com.N N Patel (Circle President) Com.M B Chaniyara (Circle Secretary) and Com.R U Anjariya (Treasurer). With vote of thanks by Com.G B Darji, Secretary, Reception Commitee the Circle Conference, held most successfully came to an end.

The 3rd Congress of TUI(P&R) held at Athens on 14-18 April,2024 has concluded with unanimous election of office bearers.

Coms. Dimos Koumpouris ( Greece ) and Quim Boix ( Spain ) have been reelected as President and General Secretary.

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

Com. K. Ragavendran, Secretary General, NCCPA elected Asia Coordinator.

The propsals for
Com. Swastika Dasgupta, CHQ Vice President to the Executive Board

Com. A K. Ghosh, Coordination Committee of CGPA, West Bengal to Member, Finacial Committee.

Com. D . K.Debnath, General Secretary, AIPRPA to Member Technical Committee

are expected to be approved shortly.