BEST WISHES 

TO 

ALL MEMBERS AND DAIRY WORKERS 

At the eve of 

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011

Report of the meeting held between Sri Narayan Biswas, Minister-In-Charge,ARD Dept Govt. of West Bengal AND the representatives of the "West Bengal State Dairy Employees'Federation" on 24th November'2010 at 3 PM at meeting room of Milk Federation office, Salt Lake Kolkata.

Notice

All members are hereby informed that the meeting between Sri Narayan Biswas, Minister-In-Charge, Animal Resource & Dairy Development Department, Govt of West Bengal AND representatives of the "West Bengal State Dairy Employees' Federation" (WBSDEF) is going to be held on 24th November'2010 at 3 PM at the chamber of the chairman of West Bengal Milk Federation (BENMILK), LB-2, Sector-III, Salt Lake City, Kolkata. 

Abhijit Roy (General Secretary)

NOTICE 

The 21th State Working Committee Meeting is scheduled to be held on 18th November'2010 at 2 PM at the Mother Dairy City Office, Salt Lake City, Kolkata - 700098.

All SWC members are requested to attend the meeting as per the schedule. 

                                                                         

C i r c u l a r

This is to inform all State Working Committee Members of the "West Bengal State Dairy Employees' Federation" that Minister-In-Charge, Animal Resources & Dairy Development Dept, Govt of West Bengal & Managing Director West Bengal Milk Federation will meet with the representatives of "WBSDEF" at 1 PM at the Milk Federation office, Salt Lake City,Kolkata. 

This is to further inform that the State Working Committee Meeting of WBSDEF   & PBDSSKU will be held on the same day at the Mother Dairy Office premises at Salt Lake at 11 AM.

Therefore all concern are hereby requested to attend both the above stated meeting as per schedule. 

Inauguration of Organization's Blog-site

On 18th August'2010, Wednesday at 11 am at Mother Dairy City office Com Subodh Ganguly, President "WBSDEF" formally inaugurated the organization's blog-site in presence of State Working Committee Members with great applaud,  joy & enthusiasm.

Com Subodh Ganguly inaugurating organization's blog-site 

After the opening ceremony the SWC Members participated in the 19th SWC Meeting of the organization.

Picture of the members present in the 19th SWC Meeting held on 18/8/10 at Mother Dairy City Office, Salt Lake, Kolkata.

News  Date:  7 August 2010

Extended CC Begins

The Extended Meeting of the Central Committee of CPI(Marxist) began in Vijayawada on August 7, morning with the flag being hoisted by veteran comrade Mallu Swarajyam. After paying homage to martyrs, General Secretary, Prakash Karat inaugurated the session.

Courtesy: Website of CPI(M) http://www.cpim.org/

Mass dismissal of contract workers and political repression at Schreiber-Dynamix Dairies India

News 28-05-2010

When the US-based Schreiber Foods Inc acquired a 51 per cent stake in Dynamix Dairy Industries in 2004, one of India’s most advanced milk processing plants was transformed into a global company.

In addition to Schreiber cheese products, the factory produces branded dairy drinks and other beverages for major global companies such as Nestle, GSK, PepsiCo and Unilever. The factory also supplies cheese to McDonald’s and Pizza Hut throughout India.

Despite cutting edge technology and new investment to produce global brands, each with a separate plant within the Schreiber Dynamix Dairies complex, more than half the workforce was based on contract labour, with 393 contract workers and 384 permanent workers.Of the 128 women workers at the factory 125 were contract workers and only 3 have permanent jobs.

All of the contract workers were hired as "gardening" and "cleaning service" staff, but in fact worked in skilled jobs in production alongside permanent workers, many for 5 to 10 years. They were paid the legal minimum wage of just Rs.110 per day [USD 2.30, EUR 1.90] and were denied any of the benefits that permanent workers enjoyed under the collective agreement negotiated by the union.

The IUF-affiliated Schreiber Dynamix Dairies Employees Union, which represents 350 members, launched a campaign earlier this year to rectify the systematic inequality and discrimination faced by contract workers in what is clearly a very profitable and rapidly expanding business. Prior to this campaign, 100 contract workers, including 49 women workers, joined the union, but because of their precarious employment status are excluded from coverage by the collective agreement.

Shortly after the union posted a notice calling for a general membership meeting on 14 April to discuss the demand to make contract workers permanent and allow them to become members of the bargaining unit, police entered the factory to find the union president, Pandurang Kachare, and warn him against holding the meeting. Despite these warnings the union proceeded with the meeting on 14 April and union members declared their support for contract workers’ right to permanent employment. The following day a mass rally was held to support these demands and management responded on 17 April by ordering that contract workers be prevented from entering the factory, effectively terminating 341 contract workers, including the 100 contract workers who are union members. The company immediately replaced them with 300 new contract workers.

With the support of powerful local politicians, management then launched a series of attacks on the union, including fabricated criminal charges against the union president, accusing him of disturbing law and order.

New charges recently filed also seek to have him permanently banned from the district where the factory is located which means he could be expelled from his home as well as preventing him from fulfilling his role as union president.

In response IUF affiliates in India have mobilized in support of the Schreiber Dynamix Dairies Employees Union and its fight against abusive precarious employment practices. Solidarity rallies will be held across India, including actions by unions in Nestle, Unilever, PepsiCo and GSK Horlicks whose branded products are made at the Schreiber Dynamix factory.

Courtesy: IUF - Uniting Food, Farm and Hotel Workers World-Wide
Website: http://cms.iuf.org/

১৯ তম রাজ্য ওয়ার্কিং কমিটি সভা

Notice

The 19th SWC Meeting is going to be held on 18th August'2010 at 10.30 am at Mother Dairy City Office. All SWC members are hereby by requested  to attend the said meeting as per schedule. In this regard necessary SMS has already been sent to all SWC members. Therefore no personalized letters will not be send to SWC members in lieu of it.

Annual Conference of Kishan CMPU Empl Union

As per the available report the annual conference of the "Kishan Co-operative Milk Producers' Union Ltd Employees' Union" was held on 14th July'2010 at Krishnagore, Nadia. In the conference the most of the members of the earlier executive committee,  including widely respected senior leader Comrade Subodh Ganguly (President of the union) and Comrade Aloke Roy (Secretary of the union), has been replaced by the newly elected executive committee members. This news came as a sudden shock to the vast section of the dairy workers of our state.  

However, the state working committee of WBSDEF congratulates all members including the newly elected body of the concerned trade union for conducting the conference successfully.

Ichhamati Unit conference was a grand success

The 8th tri-yearly conference of the  "Paschim Bango Dugdha Silpa Sramik Karmachari Union" (Ichhamati Unit) was observed  with vigor and due enthusiasm, today i.e. on 10th July'2010 at the Bangaon Lodge, Chakdah Road, Bangaon. About 75 delegates of the unit were present in the conference. Distinguished leaders from different fraternal organization graced the occasion. General Secretary of the "West Bengal State Dairy Employees' Federation" (WBSDEF) was present in the conference as the Chief Guest. Com Gadadhar Kundu from Kishan Employees' Union and Com Tapas Pal, Treasurer of WBSDEF were also present in the conference.

The conference started at 12 noon by hoisting the Flag of the organization and paying homage to the mater. Chief Guest of the conference hoisted the Red Flag and garlanded the Sahid Bedi in commemoration of the marter. All the delegates, guests, invitees and representatives took part in the program by saluting the Red Flag and paying homage to the mater. The most striking feature of the conference was two respected women board members of the Ichhamati Milk Union attended the conference as guests.  Presence of the board members in the dairy workers trade union conference as  was indeed very significant  and a matter cooperation.  Which of course brought new fervor and colour to the occasion. A deep sense of underlying solidarity amongst the workers and the peasants was another striking thing which deserves much appreciation. After the hoisting of flag and paying homage, a three member presidium was formed to conduct the proceedings of the conference.

Com Krishanu Mallick, chairperson presidium requested Com Abhijit Roy, Chief Guest to light up the candles as a mark of inauguration of the conference and deliver his inaugural speech. Com Roy delivered his inaugural welcome speech and requested all delegates & representatives to discuss all issues at length without accusing each other for any fault of any individual. He  invited newer proposals from the participants in view to consolidate our unity and future strength. Com Dipak Roy, Genl. Secy Ichhamati Unit placed the secretarial report before the conference and invited tread beer discussion on the report. Com Jayanta Acharya, Treasurer placed the Asset & liability account of the unit before the conference and  approval of the same after necessary discussion.  

About 10 delegates spoke on the report and almost every participant of the conference was very much involved in the intense discussion which took place. Some of the delegates criticized the way the trade union functioned for the last three years. Some of the delegates was very much critical about the motives of the permanent employees and questioned why the participation of the permanent employees are so low in the conference. Some delegates reported that they have been transfer to far long places as punishment by the management due to their trade union activism. Most of the delegates informed that they are very poorly paid, as low as Rs 2500/- per month, and have to work over 8 hrs a day and does not get leave even in case of emergency. Almost everyone those who took part in the discussion emphasized the

issue of increase in pay & allowances including permanency of job. A large section of the participants referred that despite the best efforts of the leadership of the "WBSDEF" no much headway or progress has been made. Some of the representatives questioned the seriousness of the state leadership on this issue. Non payment of monthly subscriptions of trade union on regular basis was also discussed. It has been discussed that at present Ichhamati Unit has 95 registered members and the present rate of monthly subscription is Rs 10/- only. This attitude of non payment of union subscription on part of the members were highly criticized. Representatives of different dairy trade unions also spook in the conference and  informed that the present political 

 situation of our state is very much volatile. The working class is the greatest sufferer. They cautioned and requested everyone to be vigil that the dairy workers unity can't be compromised  at any cost. Senior leaders of the unit like Com Mukunda Mondal  took active part in the discussion and informed about the magnitude and nature of struggle Ichhamati unit did in the past and the scarifies made by the members of the yesteryears. Com Mondal emphasized that the division of permanent and non permanent employees are drifting the trade union from it's main objectives yet to be achieved and hindering the unity of the members as a whole. Com Ajij Mondal described the objectives of the "Paschim Bongo Dugdha Silpa Sramik Karmachari Union" and compulsions behind forming such a organization at this juncture of time. 

He requested members not to mingle with the management just to save the their job. He expressed that it is the united struggle of the dairy workers still remains the only guarantee against job loss. And nothing else. Com Dipak Roy in his review speech congratulated the delegates and guests for participating in the discussion. Thereafter Com Dipak Roy readout the proposed names of the 21 member Ichhamati Unit committee for the coming year. After a sort discussion with few changes the list of the 21 member Unit committee including the secretarial report with accounts was unanimously passed and accepted  by the conference. 

 Com Jayanta Acharjee was elected as the convener of the unit committee. Com Chief Guest in his concluding speech described the present scenario of the dairy industry particularly after the post liberalization era  in the international, national and regional level and informed about the present policies of the multinational companies and government as well. In conclusion he urged the members that we have no other alternative but to struggle unitedly. 

Com Chairman in concluding the conference once again welcomed everyone for participating in the discussion generously. The Conference concluded with the vote of thanks to the chair. 

8th Ichhamati Unit Conference of PBDSSK Union.

The 8th Ichhamati unit conference of the "Paschim Bongo Dugdha Silpa Sramik Karmachari Union" is going to be held on 10th July'2010 at 11 am at Bongaon Lodge (near town hall), Bongaon, 24 parganas north. Com Krishanu Mallick (President) and Com Dipak Kumar Roy (General Secretary) has cordially invited all members of Ichhamati unit, representatives of other dairy workers trade unions and the leadership of West Bengal State Dairy to attend the conference and grace the occasion. 

The State Working Committee of the WBSDEF has accepted the invitation and wished every success of the 8th Ichhamati unit conference of PBDSSK Union. 

People Wanted It To Happen. It Happened.................

It is the people of India responded overwhelmingly to the call of "ALL INDIA BANDH" by the left parties. In almost every state of India people came out on the streets to protest the price hike of petrol, cooking gas and essential commodities. 

Now, it is the Congress Party and it's Government to act accordingly. It is commonly said in democracy, people's voice is always heard. The people of India will observe that whether Congress Party actually respects the voice of the people and believes in democracy.

The state working committee of WBSDEF congratulates the dairy workers and the people of India for their support and making the strike a grand success.

Observe All India Strike on 5th July'2010

GoogleThe left parties along with other non Congress & non BJP secular parties called "ALL INDIA BANDH" in protest of price hike of petroleum products and essential commodities on 5th July'2010 (Monday). The Dairy workers of West Bengal will also observe the strike keeping in view of the extent of the Essential Services Act applicable. The WBSDEF calls to support and observe the strike wholeheartedly.

Registration process of "PBDSSKU" completed

It's is indeed a step forward towards official recognition of the "Paschim Bango Dugdha Silpa Sramik Karmachari Union" (PBDSSKU). Com Molay Nandy, General Secretary of the organization has done the tier-less job of registering the organization under the Registrar of Trade Unions, Govt. of West Bengal, within a very short period of time.

The formation of this organization inspires thousands of dairy workers working under the precarious condition in West Bengal. Mostly the daily rated, contractual & contract workers mostly unorganized are engaged to carryout the bulk portion of the jobs in different categories in the dairy sector . These kind of workers are also engaged in the village, district and state level milk co-operatives beside the private sector. Despite their hard & tireless job, they don't get the statutory yearly leave, specific working hour, medical benefits and most importantly don't earned their wages as per the applicable minimum wages act.

It is the leadership of the "West Bengal State Dairy Employees' Federation" visualized the need of the hour is to unite these unorganized workers, scattered all over West Bengal, under the fold of a separate state level trade union namely the P.B.D.S.S.K.Union. This newly formed trade union after taking the affiliation of the "WBSDEF" shall act simultaneously with the other organized trade unions functional in the dairy sector.

The fundamental objective behind forming such a separate trade union are,

1) to combat the new business Technics of engaging daily rated workers in every stages and sphere of production to reduce the cost of production by means of ruthless exploitation of labor.

2) to generate united struggle to safeguard the interest of the unorganized workers jointly with the organized workers against the ruthless attack and onslaught of the new business Technic of the management.

3) to practice and make understand, the organized and as well as the unorganized workers that without united struggle even the organized workers of the dairy industry are unable to protect it's financial privileges and therefore vulnerable to attack of new Technics of the management.

4) to arm the dairy workers with the working class political philosophy with the aim to dislodge the hegemony of global capitalist system replaced by socialist mode of production system in general.

Shakira - Waka Waka (This Time for Africa) (The Official 2010 FIFA ...

2nd Working Committee Meeting of "PBDSSKU"

The "Paschim Bango Dugdha Silpa Sramik Karmachari Union" is going to held their 2nd Working Committee Meeting on 12th June'2010 at 3 PM at Mother Dairy City Office, Salt Lake City, Kolkata. For detail click our recommended link http://pbdssku.blogspot.com

We are grateful to the people of West Bengal

We are grateful to the people of West Bengal for taking part in the Municipal Elections 2010 with an overwhelming percentage turnout. Despite some untoward incident by and large the election was peaceful in 81 municipalities according to the press release by Mrs Mira Pande Chairman, State Election Commission.

CALL OF WBSDEF

The members of the "West Bengal State Dairy Employees' Federation" calls to vote for the Left-front candidates in the West Bengal Municipal Elections'2010 to defeat the rightist, pseudo democratic and counter productive forces.

Letter to MIC,ARD

Comrade Subodh Ganguly, President-WBSDEF wrote a letter to Sri Narayan Biswas, MIC-ARD Govt of W.B on 12th April'2010 and was posted on a latter date. The content of the letter can be viewed in the link http://letter2mic.blogspot.com , which appears in the right hand side corner of this page.

Tagore Song Sung by Rabindranath Tagore Himself

On 150th Birth Anniversary of Kobigury Rabindranath Tagore (Robi Thakur), WBSDEF salutes the greatest son of Bengal.

Rabindra Sangeet

Net Result is ZERO

This was already been said in our blog that the symptoms of shifting of demands indicates withdrawal of the movement was very much inevitable. Now, the final death nail has been plugged last weak as the leaders of the WBCMPF Empl Union in joint consultation with the members of the Officers Association of Milk Federation compelled their members of both the organisations to sign in a letter (without letterhead) addressed to Sri Narayan Biswas, MIC-ARD, demanding immediate acceptance of resignation of Mr Tapas Kar, Manager (Q/C) prior to completion of ongoing departmental inquiry proceedings conducted by the departmental secretary and withholding of all the statutory benefits of Mr Kar, till the completion of the inquiry. It was very much well known to the leaders as well as to the officers that without completion of the domestic inquiry, as per the service conduct rule and until and unless Mr Tapas Kar was proved to be guilty, none can punish him or accept his resignation or withhold his statutory benefits if management once accept his resignation. Then the eventual question automatically arise, why such a apparently fullish demand was put forward? Was there a effort to provide an escape root to Mr Kar? The actual answer lies in the said letter itself. One should go through it to understand, what was the aspiration, who are the aspirants and why the others were dancing to the tunes of those aspirants. Try to read the letter.

Ultimately, as predicted the main demands have been side tracked and the whole movement is in the blind lane. The most striking feature of this movement is that for the very first time in the history of Milk Federation, that perhaps the management and the department clearly identified the faces of the vested officers those who were playing their cards behind the curtain and the leaders having the common vested interest. Therefore it is apprehended that the vested movement will be cut to size in due course of time by the department. And if that happens, that will be quite expected and legitimate as well. We repeatedly said this movement neither serves the interest of the working class nor the interest of the management.

The most unfortunate part of the whole issue is that WBCMPF Employees' Union never approached to WBSDEF being an affiliated trade union of ours, at-least for the sake of early and proper settlement.

Let the good sense prevail.


Article written by Abhijit Roy

4th Tri-Yearly Conference of WBSDEF

The 4th Tri-yearly Conference is tentatively fixed to be held on 13th June'2010 at SRAMIK BHAVAN, Kolkata. The finalization of the date of the said conference will be intimated in due course of time. All Member Trade Unions are hereby intimated to clear their dues of affiliation fees up-to year 2009-10, at the earliest and send the same to Com Tapas Pal, Treasure (WBSDEF).

Circular Dated 5th April'2010

Circular

Dt.5th April'2010

The members of the State Working Committee of WBSDEF in it's 18th meeting held on 5th April'2010 at the Mother Dairy City Office at 10 AM unanimously resolved as follows,

1) Considering the outcome of the discussion with the Minister-In-charge, ARD Dept. Govt. of West Bengal, it is resolved that Comrade Subodh Ganguly, President WBSDEF, shall write a letter to Sri Biman Bose, Chairman- Left Front, describing the present situation in the dairy sector in our state, with an emphasis on the breakdown of the milk co-operative structure particularly due to non co-operation of the department and the Milk Federation authority.

2) Comrade Abhijit Roy, Genl. Secy, shall write a letter to Sri Narayan Biswas, MIS-ARD, once again describing the present situation in the dairy sector in our state, with an emphasis on the breakdown of the milk co-operative structure particularly due to non co-operation of the department and the Milk Federation authority. In this letter Minister should be requested to fix a date of a bi-lateral meeting with our organisation, preferably at the end of this month. Copy of the same will be sent to MD, Milk Federation.

3) On the basis of the reporting of the Goa meeting of "Dairy Employees' Federation Of India" (DEFOI) held on 24th & 25th March'2010 by Com Molay Nandy, the members present unanimously resolved to disassociate our organisation with DEFOI with immediate effect. Com Abhijit Roy, Genl. Secy shall write a letter to the Secretary-DEFOI clearly describing the reasons behind such disassociation. Copy of the same shall be sent to I.U.F for intimation.

4) Considering the crisis of organizing the unorganized workers in the dairy industry and the employees of the few Milk Unions, particularly Bankura, Purulia, Sundarbon, West Dinajpore, Howrah and 24 parganas (north), the members unanimously resolved to form a central trade union organisation namely " Paschim Banga Dugdha Shilpa Sramik Karmachari Union" and process of registration of the same shall be completed within May'2010. This organisation shall take the affiliation of WBSDEF in due course. The names of the Executive Committee of this new organisation are, Com Subodh Ganguly (President), Com Abhijit Roy & Com Aloke Roy (Vice Presidents), Com Molay Nandy (General Secretary), Com Jayanta Acharjee (Treasurer), Com Sujit Nandy, Com Barun Chatterjee, Com Subhas Banerjee, Com Ajij Mondal, Com Firoj Khan and a member will be taken from Purulia District.

5) The members resolved that the conference of the "Ichhamati Unit" of the " Paschim Banga Dugdha Shilpa Sramik Karmachari Union" will be held on 24th April'2010 at 12 noon at Bongaon. The members of the "Ichhamati Co-op Milk Prod. Union Ltd Employees' Union" will be verbally requested to join the new organisation.

6) The 1st meeting of the " Paschim Banga Dugdha Shilpa Sramik Karmachari Union " is fixed on 12th April'2010 at Milk Federation Office, Salt Lake, Kolkata at 1.30 PM. The members of this organisation shall attend the meeting as per schedule.

7) The members unanimously resolved that the "4th conference of WBSDEF" has been tentatively fixed on last weak of June'2010 i.e. after the ensuing Municipal elections.

8) The members decided to discuss the remaining pending issues in the next SWC meeting, which will be communicated to the members in due course of time.

Issued by the Office of the President,

West Bengal State Dairy Employees' Federation

Ongoing Agitation Program at Milk Federation Office

The "West Bengal Co-op Milk Prod Federation Employees' Union" has lunched it's agitation program at the Milk Federation Office, Salt Lake, kolkata, since last 10 days. The Milk Federation management in it's board meeting decided to built a laboratory for testing milk and milk products mainly sold in the metropolis of Kolkata. The project is funded by the RSVY of Govt of India. According to the project, Milk Federation have to purchase testing equipments, construct proper office fitted with all required furnitures & fixtures etc. And above all Milk Federation have to recruit personnel for the Lab. Recently to man the Lab, Milk Federation advertised for fresh recruitment for different suitable posts in the leading news papers and in it's website. Managing Director, Milk Federation entrusted the entire job to Mr Tapas Kar, Manager (Quality) for monitoring and proper execution. Milk Federation in it's advertisement said that they will recruit personnel through a franchisee i.e. through the contractor. But Milk Federation authority actually send the interview letters in it's letter head pad. And here begins the story. The executive committee of the trade union immediately apprehended that.....................

A) If recruitment is done directly under the MILK FEDERATION, the salary burden will affect the organisation's balance sheet.

B) In future, if the project fails, Milk Federation will not be able to bear the liability of the newly recruited personnel. Thus in turn will affect the future of the existing employees.

C) Mr Tapas Kar has the scope of manipulation in recruitment of personnel.

On these apprehension the trade union started demanding stoppage of recruitment and started agitation program by way of poster, slogan and blocking personnel who came for the interview on the first day of the interview. However, the interview had taken place on that day.The executive members meet with the ARD, Minister, Govt of West Bengal, who happens to be the Chairman of the organisation. As per the discussion the second interview scheduled on 6th March'2010 was postponed until further orders.

In the mean time, Mr Tapas Kar, Manager(Quality Control) resigned and sent his resignation letter to MD, Milk Federation. Who then send the same to Chairman & Minister-In-Charge, ARD Dept. Immediately the direction of the whole movement has dramatically changed. Now the prime demand of the trade union before the MD, Fedn became "Acceptance of the resignation of Mr Tapas Kar".

The management has adopted the style of delay dealing Technic with the trade union. Already the trade union has shifted from it's prime demand there by showing the signs of withdrawal of agitation program.

We can not support this program of the WBCMPF Employees' union. As because the trade union is not against the contractual employment at all. Rather, they are demanding for recruitment under the franchise i.e. directly under private contractor. Which is more vulnerable, oppressive and more insecure job the new recruits . Thus the demand of the trade union is completely against the interest of the working class as a whole. Therefore this can not be the demand of any left oriented organisation. Then for who's interest such kind of demands are being raised? The opportunism and ill directed movement ultimately will not stand because it neither serves the interest of the working class nor the employer.

Circular Dt.05.03.10

Circular

The members of the State Working Committee of "West Bengal State Dairy Employees' Federation" are hereby intimated that the 14th SWC Meeting of our organisation is scheduled to be held on 5th April'2010 at the premises of Mother Dairy City Office (Salt Lake City, Kolkata) from 10 AM to 5 PM.

Therefore, the members are requested to attend the meeting as per schedule.

Issued on: 5th March'2010

S/d

General Secretary

WBSDEF