OCCUPY  WALL  STREET

AN  ESSENTIAL  ANTI-NEOLIBERAL ECONOMY  MOVEMENT : SURVIVING BRUTAL  ATTACKS

          The Occupy movement is an international protest movement which is primarily directed against economic and social inequality. The first Occupy protest to receive wide coverage was Occupy Wall Street in New York City's Zuccotti Park, which began on September 17, 2011. By October 9, Occupy protests had taken place or were ongoing in over 95 cities across 82 countries, and over 600 communities in the United States. As of December 20 "Occupy Together" listed 2,751 Occupy communities worldwide. 

         ^{The so-called democratic governments by that time has become terrified by the support and intensity the movement has received world wide. The slogan of the protesters are 'We Are 99%', i.e., the protesters represent the majority of the world who are being deprived for the cream people who comprise the remaining 1%. Brutal attacks, Lathicharge, forceful eviction from gathering places by Police are now daily routines.} 

         ^{You can see in the above video clip (in slow motion) that police (claimed to be Anthony Bologna, Deputy Inspector of New York Police Dapertment) are spraying pepper (Golmorich powder) from a canister in the eyes of the young protesters. They are our brothers and sisters, struggling for their rights, employment and social security.} 

     ^{EXTEND YOUR SUPPORT! TALK ABOUT THEM! COME AT CENTENARY HALL, KOLKATA UNIVERSITY ON 4th JANUARY 2012 AT 5-30 P.M. TO LISTEN TO COM. TAPAN SEN SPEAKING ON 'OCCUPY WALL STREET MOVEMENT & THE GLORIOUS FIGHT OF THE MARUTI-SUZUKI WORKERS'.}  

JOINT  WORKING  COMMITTEE  MEETINGS  IN  BIRBHUM  &  MALDA DIVISIONS 

              As per the call of the extended CWC on 17.12.2011, divisions are holding meetings for strike campaigning and other local issues. 

              

            On the first day of the new year, Birbhum and Malda divisions called their joint working committee meetings. The meeting of Birbhum division took place at Suri H.O. Strike campaigning and some other local issues, including corruption of the local administration, were the focal issues. Com. Janardan Majumdar, Circle Secretary, Gr-C and Com. Asim Deb, Vice-President, Gr-C were present on behalf of the Circle Unions.

            The meeting of Malda division took place at Malda H.O. Com. Nirmal Dey, Circle Secretary, Postmen & MSE/Gr-D, spoke in the meeting from Circle Unions.

            These meetings prove that our comrades are not taking rest at home in festive mood when the rest of world celebrates. Strike is an ultimate fight for a trade union, and we congratulate our comrades for the spirit they are showing towards its preparation. 

              KUDOS COMRADES. 

    WE  WISH  A  VERY  HAPPY  AND  PROSPEROUS  NEW  YEAR  FOR  OUR  BELOVED  COUNTRY  AND  HER  PEOPLE.  LET  US  TOIL  TOGETHER  AND  FIGHT  TOGETHER  TO  UPHOLD  THE  HONOUR  OF  INDIA  AND  THE  WORKING  CLASS.

STRIKE  NEGOTIATION  FAILED

STRENGTHEN CAMPAIGN MORE 

       The Indefinite strike called from 17th January 2012 appears inevitable as the agenda of department regarding MNOP and other issues seemed undeterred during the negotiation with JCA on 27.12.11. Comrades are requested to strengthen strike campaign programs of their divisions more in decentralised manner. Please note that JCA has declared a program on 10th January 2012 to observe Dharna at Circle/Regional/Divisional levels.

         The poster for the strike and badges are under print. Circle Unions will despatch these by Monday/Tuesday next. Leaflet will also be supplied. Meanwhile, divisions may publish their own bulletins/leaflets on the content of the circular distributed by Circle Unions in last extended CWC meeting at Yogayog Bhawan on 17.12.11. 

THE  MEETING  ON  STRIKE  ISSUES  TOMORROW  AT  TARAPADA  MEMORIAL  HALL  STAYS  POSTPONED  AS  COM. M.KRISHNAN,  SECRETARY  GENERAL,  NFPE,  WILL  NOT  BE  ABLE  TO  COME.  HE  IS  REQUIRED  TO  BE  PRESENT  IN  THE  MEETING  CALLED  BY  THE  DEPARTMENT  ON  STRIKE  CHARTER  OF  DEMANDS.

RESOLUTION  TO  BE  ADOPTED  FROM  THE  DEMONSTRATION  TOMORROW  ON  ATTACK  ON  SMALL  SAVINGS 

         
Preparation of South Presidency Division (main gate, Baruipur H.O.) for tomorrow's program.

            As all divisional and Branch unions, together with the SAS agents and their organisation, are holding demonstration tomorrow at recess hours protesting the fresh attack on small savings schemes and SAS agents, the text of the resolution to be adopted from the program is given below.  

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All India Postal Employees Union Group-C

All India Postal Employees Union Postmen & MSE/Gr-D

All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union

........................................... Division

Resolution Dated 23.12.2011.

  This joint demonstration of NFPE group of unions, ........................Divisional Branch, in presence and participation of  the Small Savings Agents and their organisation , expresses its deep concern and anguish over yet another severe attack on the small savings schemes and also on almost six lakhs SAS agents and their families by means of discontinuation of Kishan Vikas Patra, abolition of bonus in MIS and slashing down the commission of agents to half.

         Years together, small savings schemes are attracting the middle and lower-middle class people of India to save and increment a portion of their hard-earned income to get a guaranteed return. But the new orders are devised to purposefully frustrate them from further investment in this sector, and drive them to invest in various offers of uncertainty. The senior citizens will loose the benefit of bonus which matters to them highly in their days of need. As the post offices are the sole outlets of small savings, less investment in this sector will also result in reduction in work and shrinkage of job opportunity to the unemployed youth of the country in this department. The state governments will also suffer as they use the lion's share of this investment for infrastructural development of the states.

        In the environment of increasing unemployment in our country, SAS agency had been a decent self-employment. Making their income half suddenly by an order in the present condition of inflation and price-rise has left their families in tremendous distress. Apart from decrease in commission, the order has also restricted their scope by closing the doors of PPF and SCSS before them.

      This demonstration condemns the maligned order and demands its immediate scrapping for the interest of the Department of Posts, the unemployed and self-employed sections of citizens as well as for the social security of a large population of our country. The demonstration further demands immediate restoration of KVP, bonus in MIS and the commission of the SAS agents as it was, otherwise countrywide movement will be launched to put a halt to such effort to dismantle the small savings schemes.

                                                          ----------------------------------------

                                               (Signature of the President of the meeting)

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         Copies of the resolution should be sent to the Prime Minister of India, The Finance Minister, Minister of Communication & IT and the Secretary (Posts), Dak Bhawan, New Delhi-1.

       Please send a report of the program to the Circle union positively.

  

CIRCLE  UNIONS  REQUEST  NFPE  TO INCLUDE  PROTEST  DEMAND  AGAINST  ATTACKS  ON  SMALL  SAVINGS 

        Circle Unions have issued a letter to Com. M.Krishnan, Secretary General, NFPE, requesting to consider inclusion of the demand for restoration of KVP, Bonus of MIS and agents' commission at the earlier rate. The Circle Unions have also apprised the Federation of the facts of the organisation of the SAS agents, All India Small Savings Agents Association, and its development. Our Divisional Secretaries are also requested to extend organisational support to their Association. Please note that the demonstration on 23.12.2011 should be organised with their participation. The text of resolution will be given shortly in this blog.

                The letter of the Circle Unions is reproduced below.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

All India Postal Employees Union Group-C
All India Postal Employees Union Postmen & MSE/Group-D
All India Postal Extra Departmental Employees Union
West Bengal Circle
37, G.C.Avenue, Kolkata-13

No: PC-25/Joint Movement                                                         Dated 20.12.2011.

To,
   Com. M.Krishnan,
   Secy. General,
   NFPE.
            

            Sub: Request for inclusion of demand of restoration of KVP, MIS Bonus & Agents' Commssion.

Dear Comrade,
                        This is to inform you that after consistent efforts for the last few years, the SAS agents of West Bengal has shaped a union of their own. The initiative is now receiving tremendous support from all agents after the recent attack on them, slashing down their commission by half, and on KVP & MIS. As West Bengal attracts the highest investment in small savings, agents here are worst sufferers.
                        Recently, they have organised a State level convention at Moulali Yuva Kendra in Kolkata, where apart from agents from all divisions of West Bengal, representatives attended from other circles also. They have formed a Preparatory Committee for holding State Conference and within January 2012, all district (divisional level) conferences are going to be held. A decision has also been taken to write to all MPs with the request to place their issue in the Parliament. Com. Basudeb Acharya has already assured to put up the issue in Parliament during this session. Gradually, their organisation (All India Small Savings Agents Association) are getting stronger momentum. In the State Convention, Com. Tapan Dasgupta, President, CGCC, and Com. Pijush Roy, General Secretary, CGCC, West Bengal were present by their invitation.
                        We are having close liaison with them and trying to contribute in their initiative. We have also announced a date (23.12.2011) to hold demonstration at all divisional headquarters with their presence and participation. A resolution demanding restoration of KVP, Bonus of MIS and agent commission at the earlier rate will be sent to the Prime Minister, Finance Minister, Minister of Communication & IT and DG(Posts) from the demonstration.
                        Under this situation, the Postal Circle Unions of West Bengal Circle request that considering the graveness of the attack on Small Savings and the agents who actually use to bring the business to post offices, this issue may be included in the strike charter of demands for the indefinite strike to be commenced from 17th January 2012. We also request you to take suitable organisational steps so that SAS agents in all circles get united in this way and form their organisations.
                                    Comradely yours,

                                          Sd/-
                   Janardan Majumdar, Circle Secretary Gr-C
                   Nirmal Ch. Dey, Circle Secretary, Postmen & MSE/Gr-D
                   Bijoy Gopal Sur, Circle Secretarey, EDEU  

Copy to:

  All Divl Secretaries in West Bengal Circle ---- for information and providing organizational support to the branch of SAS Agents’ organization in their divisions.

 

NORTH  HOOGHLY  DIVISION  OPENS  NEW UNION  OFFICE  AT ARAMBAGH 

              North Hooghly Division has opened a zonal union office at Arambagh in a flat newly owned by the divisional unions. The Divisional Unions already have a double-storied union office at the divisional headquareters, Chuchura. The union office at Arambagh has been formally inaugurated yesterday by veteran leader and former Dy. Secretary General, NFPE, Com. Rabindralal Bhattacharya. About 225/230 comrades of North Hooghly Division assembled in the program to witness the event. Circle Unions wish the Divisional Leadership and members all the best to form an even stronger organisation.    

JOINT  EXTENDED  CIRCLE  WORKING  COMMITTEE  HELD : PROGRAMS  FOR STRIKE  CAMPAIGNING  ANNOUNCED 

   
        The Joint Extended Circle Working Committee held today at 13th floor auditorium of Yogayog Bhavan has discussed the backdrop of the call of revived indefinite strike from 17th January 2012.  All Divisional Secretaries were present and presented their views and plans. Dates of joint working committees of all divisions have also been finalised.

                   The meeting has laid down following preparatory programs to be observed, in addition to those already announced :

1. On 26.12.2011 : hunger fast from 10 AM to 5 PM at Circle Office and Siliguri R.O.
2. On 04.01.2012 :  seminar at at 5-30 P.M. at Centenary Hall, Kolkata University. Subject: 'Occupy Wall Street & Fight of Workers of Maruti-Suzuki' by Com. Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU.
3. On 05.01.2012 : sit-in demonstration at all divisions from 12 noon to 4 P.M.
4. On 12.01.2012 : wearing badges demanding settlement of strike demands. The content of the badge will be notified by Circle Unions.
5. From 14.01.2012 to 16.01.2012 : gate meetings at all offices for publicity of strike demands in national interests.

ORGANISATIONAL  PROGRAMS  HELD  ON  11.12.2011  AT  DIFFERENT DIVISIONS 

1. A joint working committee meeting of four divisional unions of Tamluk division have been held at Dak Karmi Bhavan, Tamluk. Around 60 comrades were present in the meeting, including one lady comrade. Delegates of Circle Conference, P-IV AIC and AIC of Part-time & Contingent-paid workers reported respective programs in front of the house. The meeting has also started serious preparation for the proposed indefinite strike fron 17.01.2012. From Circle Union, Com. Annwesha Biswas spoke on the situation and the ensuing programs.
2. The divisionsl unions of Burdwan division arranged their joint working committee today at Burdwan H.O. Around 50 comrades were present including one lady comrade. The meeting had detailed discussion on the issues of administrative attacks in the division, instances of political interference by reactioninst forces, Kalyani Circle Conference and P-IV AIC at Indore. The dates from meetings at different zones had been finalised. The attacks on the workers, on small savings and the significance of the ensuing indefinite strike had been elaborated by Com. Bijan Chakraborty and Com. Bikash Ghosh, from Gr-C & P-IV Circle Unions respectively.   
3. The Group-C divisional union of Howrah division arranged a special drive for awareness in technology and overview of the departmental software, including an interactive session today at the Computer Training Center of Howrah H.O. Selected 19 comrades were present for the day long program. System Assistant comrades of Howrah division shared their expertise and experience with others in the seminar. Other divisions may also consider holding such classes as it would be a very useful one for the comrades. From Circle Union, Com. Samir Chakraborty was present.
4. A team of Circle Union is visiting Sikkim division now, comprising of Com. Janardan Majumder, Com. Asit Das, Com. Mukkul Das et. al. for organisational purposes. A remarkable meeting has been finished few hours before at Gangtok. The report and the detail will appear in the blog shortly.