Category: Latest posts

Nurses, ward boys and other paramedical staff have announced that they will go on indefinite strike from July 14 if they are not paid revised salaries as per the Sixth Pay Commission.

Anganwadi workers in different states have been carrying out protests against their conditions. They carried out a one day country wide strike on July 9, 2010.

Lakhs of Postal workers have declared their intent to go on an indefinite strike from July 14, 2010. The strike call has been given by two unions representing over 3 lakh postal workers  — NFPE and FNPO.

Rubber plantation workers in Kanyakumari District of Tamilnadu, went on an indefinite strike from July 1, 2010, in support of their demand for wage increase. Workers working on private rubber plantations are presently being paid Rs.155/day. The last agreement between workers and the owners was made three years ago and ended on June 30, 2010.

Workers in Kochi Port have imposed a boycott on Israeli ships and cargo, in protest against the siege of Gaza. The boycott began on June 17, 2010.

Teachers of Municipal Schools in Andhra Pradesh have been agitating for improvement in the facilities and running of these schools.

Sir, I am writing to thank you for the timely and educative article entitled `UPA Government and the Working Class: Attacking workers in the name of "aam aadmi"' published in theJune 16-30, 2010 issue of People's Voice.

Sir, The demands of the Central and Western Railway motormen are totally just. It is the worst kind of exploitation to keep workers on contract when they have been working continuously for over 20 years. It is indeed a strange principle that is applied in our country. Those in the highest positions are not at all accountable, they are paid the highest salaries and are afforded all kinds of perquisites, and they are permanent employees! On the other hand, workers at the lowest rung who are paid an apology of a wage have the sword of contractual employment forever hanging over their heads – this is the worst kind of exploitation.

The storm raised in India and abroad over the trial court verdict on the Bhopal gas tragedy of 1984 has deepened the crisis of credibility of the Manmohan Singh regime. From the painstaking evidence gathered by those fighting for justice for the lakhs of victims of this tragedy, it is clear as daylight that the then Rajiv Gandhi regime was more concerned about rescuing Warren Anderson and the management of Union Carbide from the wrath of the people, than about ensuring justice for the victims of the gas tragedy.

We had reported in the May 15-31 issue of MEL on the strike action of the Central Railway and Western Railway Motormen on May 3-4, 2010. They resumed work only when it was announced on May 4 by the Railway Ministry in the floor of the Parliament that the Railways would look into the grievances of the motormen and resolve the same by June 15. However as on June 15 the Railways Management has not announced any measures to address the grievances of the motormen.