OBSERVE OCTOBER 1,2017 AS “STRUGGLE DAY FOR PROTECTION OF PENSION”

Dear Comrades,

As already been intimated through this website and also CHQ circular, October 1 has to be observed as the “Struggle Day for protection of pension”. The call given by TUI (P&R) has been endorsed by NCCPA,AIBDPA, AIPRPA etc. So the day may be observed by holding demonstration, meeting etc, preferably jointly with other pensioners organisations, where ever possible.

THE STATEMENT OF TUI (P&R) IN THIS REGARD IS AGAIN REPRODUCED BELOW.

Capitalism is pushing new anti-worker measures against pensioners, the working class and the people. The solutions that governments-administrators use are temporary and weak, without perspective or positive exit for those who with their work produce wealth in society and only give benefit to a handful of capitalists who collect, to an immense extent, the fruits of the exploitation.
The measures taken by the leaders of capitalist development, with the competitiveness of capitalists as its motor, require new sacrifices on the part of the working class, pensioners and the people, greater exploitation, and the elimination of all remaining rights. Greater limitation and abolition of public social care for the benefit of the private, annulment of collective agreements and extra payments to pensioners; in addition, to a further reduction of costs for health, medicines, and social benefits.

All this is complemented by new concessions to the big capital, through privatizations, of important sectors of the economy, in energy, transport, water, natural resources, and new tax exemptions.
In the name of capitalist competitiveness, pensioners and retirees throughout the world are experiencing the worsening of their lives and the lives of their children. Their pensions are cut, health benefits are reduced and privatized, social structures dissolve, their rights are generally restricted.

To achieve these objectives, capital does not hesitate to resort to bloody conflicts and wars throughout the world, in which it violently appropriates the wealth of many people of the planet.
We call for the action of all our organizations and friendly organizations, for the next October 1st, international Day of Pensioners, with demands that correspond to our true needs, having as perspective of our struggle a society without exploitation, poverty, wars, nor calamities. We will fight with unity and common action with the working class, the people, and all those who suffer capitalist exploitation.

We strive in this direction: For free and public social security, medical care and pharmaceutical assistance for all, without conditions or requirements. We will claim the right to public and enough pensions, reducing the age limit for men, and setting them earlier for women. Pensions must meet our current needs, so we may live a life with dignity. For social benefits, housing, clean water and leisure, public, free and quality.

WE ARE NOT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CRUMBS THAT THE CAPITALIST BARBARITY GIVES.

WE FIGHT TO CONQUER LIFE AND FUTURE IN A SOCIETY WITHOUT EXPLOITATION, BASED ON THE RICHES WE PRODUCE.

LONG LIVE TO INTERNATIONAL WORKER SOLIDARITY

LONG LIVE TO THE OCTOBER 1st FIGHTING DAY

The protests have some effect-SBI revises service charges on maintaining monthly average Balance

State Bank of India (SBI) has reviewed the requirement of maintaining Monthly Average Balance (MAB) and the charges for non-maintenance of MAB. In this context SBI would like to state that financial inclusion including JAN DHAN Accounts have never been subject to any charges. In respect of the rest, it has now been decided to exempt the pensioners, beneficiaries of social benefits from the Government and accounts of Minors. Therefore, this is in addition to the already exempted categories under PMJDY accounts and Basic Savings Bank Deposits Accounts (BSBD).

 

The Bank has also decided to treat the metro and urban centres in the same category and the requirement of MAB in metro centres stands reduced to Rs.3000/- . For non-maintenance of MAB, the charges have also been revised downward ranging from 20% to 50% across all population groups and categories. The charges at semi-urban and rural centres range from Rs.20/- to Rs 40/- and at urban and metro centres from Rs 30/- to Rs 50/-. The revised MAB requirement and charges will become applicable from the month of October 2017.

SBI Minimum Balance

The following categories of Savings Bank Accounts are excluded from MAB requirement:
i) Financial Inclusion Accounts
ii) Basic Savings Bank Deposit Accounts
iii) Small Accounts
iv) Pehla Kadam and Pehli Udaan accounts.
v) Minors up to the age group of 18 (Primary Account Holder)
vi) Pensioners, all categories, including recipients of social welfare benefits

SBI Minimum Balance penalty

 

Authority: www.sbi.co.in

WFTU Solidarity Letter on the Occasion of the COSATU General Strike on September 27th

26 Sep 2017
, , 
 

On the occasion of the General Strike in South Africa on September 27th, the World Federation of Trade Unions expresses its class solidarity to COSATU and the South African working class in their struggle for the emancipation of the workers.

We stand firmly by the side of COSATU and all our affiliated organizations in the country, namely NEHAWU, POPCRU, NUM, CEPPWAWU for their decision to go on strike on September 27th.

We trust that the common initiatives of SACP and COSATU will bring a better future to the workers and people of South Africa.

We call all the militant, class-oriented trade union organizations in South Africa to mobilize the workers to intensify their struggles for the benefits of the South African people.

We support COSATU in its role in the frontline of the struggles for a better future, for a world without exploitation of man by man.

THE SECRETARIAT

PRIVATISATION OF INDIAN RAILWAYS.

The Central government is moving to hand over some Railway lines and running of some trains to private players. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal stated that it will increase competition and improve customer satisfaction.

This move is dangerous and against the interest of the people. The British Government in India has taken over the Railways from East India Company and has been running it as a government department. It is the biggest organisation in the country covering the entire nation and serving crores of people every day. Railways have its weakness and inefficiency, which necessarily has to be attended to. The poor people use it for their travel at low cost. It connects the entire country, which is used for travel by people as also for transporting goods.

Already the government has started process of privatisation of Railway Station in the name of modernization, through  which the private companies will be able to monetise the land near stations for malls and business purposes and garner huge profits. Just like the private airports like Delhi, Mumbai etc. the cost for every thing inside the Stations will increase.

Any privatisation of Railways is going to increase the travel and transportation charges which will be beyond the ability of the ordinary people to bear. May be better conveniences will be arranged for those who can pay, but trains will be out of reach of the poor people. Prices of all commodities will increase because of the increase in transportation charges. Competition by private companies are sure to increase accidents and derangement as in the case of road traffic.  The move of privatisation of Railways is most dangerous and anti-national.

When the British Government privatised their Railways, the service became inefficient and costly resulting in agitation demanding take over by the government. If that is the state in a small country like England, what will be the situation in a large country like India?

Mighty strong protest actions are required against this anti-people move of the government.

ANOMALY IN PENSION ON POINIT TO POINT FIXATION- GENERAL SECREATRY DEMANDS EARLY ACTION BY DOT.

Com.K.G.jayaraj, General Secretary met Ms.Vandana Sethi, Director (Estt), DoT on 26-09-2017 and demanded that  the proposal sent by BSNL to settle the long pending issue of anomaly in pension be approved without further delay. A letter in this regard was handed over to her. This anomaly was occured when CDA pay scales of absorbed BSNL employees were converted to IDA pay scales with point to point fixation. Thus some of the seniors got their pay fixed with lesser pay than their juniors in the lower grade.

General Secretary pointed out that some of the affected have already passed away and the issue be settled  to enable some others remain alive to get the benefit due to them. The Director stated that the proposal furnished by the BSNL is with prospective financial benefit and is being processed by the pension section.

BSNL UNIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS MOVE CLOSER FOR UNITED STRUGGLE.

An all union / association meeting was held on 26-09-2017 at NFTE office, New Delhi. Leaders of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, BTEU, SEWA BSNL, BSNL MS, BSNL OA and TOA (BSNL)participated. The issues of wage revision and Subsidiary Tower Company were discussed in detail..The importance of the united struggle was highlighted by all the unions and most of them felt that the struggles should be conducted on the auspices of a single united platform. How ever the discussions were inconclusive and it is decided to have another meeting on 04-10-2017 to take a final decision.