WFTU Statement on the Situation in Tunisia

20 Jan 2016

The World Federation of Trade Union declares its solidarity with the people of Tunisia who have been protesting against the high unemployment rate and are struggling for their right in employment. We strongly believe that the right of employment is non-negotiable; we call the workers of Tunisia to strengthen their struggle for full-time employment and higher salaries. We call them to strengthen the class-oriented trade union movement.

We denounce the state violence used as a response to the slogan “work is a right” expressed by the Tunisian people, which resulted to many protesters injured. The majority of the Tunisian people, especially the youth are pushed to unemployment and poverty, as their lives are gambled according to the interests of the foreign monopolies.

On behalf of the 92 million members of WFTU, in 126 countries of the world, we demand full satisfaction of the demands of the people in struggle. We express our solidarity with our affiliates in the country, the Tunisian trade union movement and the Tunisian people fighting for their rights and we support their just demands.

KOLKATA TF & STORES CIRCLE CONFERENCE HELD SUCCESSFULLY.

The Circle Conference of Kolkata Telecom Factory & Stores has been held successfully on 20-01-2016 at Alipore Telecom Factory premises. Veteran Leader Com.Sisir Bhattacharjee inaugurated the conference. Com.A.K.Bhattacharjee, CHQ President, Com.Susanta Ghosh, Circle Secretary, West Bengal, Com.Sanjib Banerjee, Circle Secretary, Kolkata, Com.Biplab Das, General Secretary, Co-Ordination Committee of BSNL Unions, Com.Om Prakash Singh, Vice President, BSNLEU addressed the conference. The report presented was adopted after discussion.

Office bearers were elected unanimously with Com. Sujit Kr Mukherjee (President), Com.Adhir Kr Sen (Circle Secretary) and Com.Biswajit Halder (Treasurer )

The conference elected 5 delegates and 3 observers to the Tirupati All India Conference.

COM.P.ABHIMANYU, GENERAL SECRETARY, BSNLEU RELEASES TIRUPATI AIC POSTER.

In a brief but spirited function held at GM office, Tirupati on 20th January, 2016,Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU released the poster of 2nd triennial All India Conference of AIBDPA being held at Tirupati on 2-3, February, 2016. Addressing the gathering Com.P.Abhimanyu  explained the current position on 78.2% IDA merger to BSNL pensioners, revival of BSNL and the SWAS programme initiated by Forum.  Com.Venktathri, District President, BSNLEU presided and Com.V.Subramonia Raja, District Secretary welcomed.

Rich become Richer, the Poor, Poorer – 62 Rich persons own as much as half of the world population

What the working class and their leaders have been telling all along, is being proved again and again. According to Oxfam, an anti-poverty charity organization, 62 rich persons have accumulated wealth equal to that of the half poorest population of the world.

Earlier it was 388 rich persons who had equal wealth of half of the population in 2010. Next year it was reduced to 177 persons. After the next four years, in 2015, it has reduced to the present position. There is no limit to the unbelievable growth of the rich persons.

Oxfam suggests the following to change the scenario:

  1. Pay Living Wage to the workers and close the gap with executive rewards
  2. Promote women’s economic equality and women’s rights
  3. Keep the influence of powerful elite in check
  4. Change the global system for R&D and the pricing of medicines so that everyone has access to appropriate and affordable medicines
  5. Share the tax burden fairly to level the playing field.
  6. Use progressive public spending to tackle inequality
  7. World leaders should agree a global approach to end the era of tax heavens

Suggestions are welcome. But the capitalist and imperialist leadership of the world will induct policies which will further sharpen the economic divide. Sustained struggle by the working class unitedly all over the world will only make some change. Socialism is the Future. ( With inputs from EconomicTimes)

78.2% IDA MERGER- FILE NOT RETURNED FROM DEPARTMENT OF LAW.

Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Advisor had a meeting with Shri. Prachish Khanna, Director (Estt), DoT on 19th January, 2016 regarding 78.2% IDA Merger to BSNL pensioners. The Director has stated that the file sent to the Department of Law is yet to be received back. However, he expected the return of the file within a week after which it will be submitted to the cabinet for approval.

ATTENTION CIRCLE / DISTRICT SECRETARIES- CHANGE IN CHQ ADDRESS.

Dear Comrades,

The building allotted to BSNLEU, D-7, Telegraph Place , Gole Market, New Delhi where our CHQ was functioning is vacated as this place is sold to Jharkhand government by the DoT. Therefore all further communications may please be made in the following new address;

ALL INDIA BSNL DOT PENSIONERS ASSOCIATION

CHQ, T/18/C, ATUL GROVE ROAD,NEW DELHI-110001

PHONE: 011-23352848

KIndly bring it to the notice of all the comrades and well wishers.

With regards

K.G.Jayaraj

General Secretary

KARNATAKA- RANE-BENNUR DISTRICT GENERALBODY MEETING HELD.

Com.G.G.Patil, CHQ organising Secretary inaugurated the Rane-Bennur District Branch Generalbody meeting held on 16-01-2016 at Telephone Exchange premises. He gave a good account of developments in the recent past with reference to the issues of the pensioners, most importantly the 78.2% IDA merger and the enormous efforts put in by the CHQ for the settlement. Com.Hunsihally presided over the meeting. Com.Nayak District Secretary welcomed and presented the report.

BELGAUM DISTRICT CONFERENCE HELD WITH MASSIVE PARTICIPATION.

More than 150 members participated in the District Conference of Belgaum held at Mahatma Gandhiji Bhawan, Belgaum on 11-01-2016. The conference was inaugurated by the Chief Guest Shri. Deepak Tayalji, General Manager, BSNL. Coms.G.G.Patil, CHQ Organising Secretary and Com.S.A.Bilagi, Circle Secretary addressed the conference and explained in detail the issues of the pensioners, including 78.2% IDA merger, the retrograde 7th Pay Commission recommendations and the ensuing Tirupati AIC . Shri. Nadaf, DGM, BSNL also greeted the conference. Coms.R.B.Tatapati, S.S.Sarapure and P.P.Bokadekar were elected President, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

BANGALORE DISTRICT CONFERENCE HELD SUCCESSFULLY.

The Bengaluru District Branch Conference has been held successfully at BSNLEU office on 09-01-2016.  Com.C.K.Gundanna, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Com,G.G.Patil, CHQ Organising Secretary, Com.S.A.Bilagi, Circle Secretary and Com. Sudarshan, District Secretary, BSNLEU addressed the conference and explained almost all the issues of the pensioners as well as the revival of BSNL. Office bearers were elected with Com.Giri (President), Com.H.C.Prakash (District Secretary ) and Com. V.Girish Chandra (Treasurer)

GUJARAT- KUTCH-BHUJ DISTRICT BRANCH CONFERENCE HELD BEFITTINGLY.

The Kutch-Bhuj District Conference was held at Gandhidham on 10-01-2016 in a befitting manner with good participation of pensioners. Com.J.H.Bhaktani, District President presided. The conference paid Shredhanjali to the departed beloved leader Com.A.C.Shah. Com.M.B.Chaniyara, Circle Secretary inaugurated the conference with an elaborate speech,explaining the pensioners issues,particularly the current position of 78.2% IDA merger, 7th Pay Commission recommendations and the ensuing AIC at Tirupati. Com.V.Devadasan, District Secretary presented the report and was approved after discussion. Com.Suleman Sumra was the Chief Guest.Com.Sunil J Thakar, District Secretary, BSNLEU also addressed the conference.

Office bearers were elected with the following important functionaries.

President : : Com.F.H.Pariyani, District Secretary :  Com.J.H.Bhaktani and Treasurer : Com.Nandalal Pal.