GUWAHATI, April 10 � The 58th annual conference of the Assam Tribune Employees Union (ATEU) today appealed to the government to take appropriate measures to stop the communal and fundamentalist forces, disrupting peace and order, from proliferating across the country.
The conference, held in The Assam Tribune premises, also appealed to the government to ensure social security of the newspaper employees of the State through provision of retirement benefits like pension to the tune of Rs 10,000 per month.
The meet, presided over by former ATEU president, Saifuddin Ahmed, was attended by social activist Subodh Sarma and trade union leader Deben Bhattacharya, among others.
Speaking on the occasion, Subodh Sarma dwelt at length on the socio-political and economic scenario in the country with particular reference to Assam. He said that globalisation has paved the way to exploitation of the working classes in various forms and called for an alternative political force that will be pro-people.
Sarma, observing the prevailing situation in Assam, said that the State has failed to reach a consensus on the burning issues and stressed the need for opinion-building to resolve the problems.
On the other hand, Deben Bhattacharya who is the general secretary of CITU, Assam State committee, spoke at length on the trade union movement and made an assessment of the strength and weaknesses of the trade unions. He pointed out that under the prevailing situation it was pertinent for all trade unions to come together to get their demands fulfilled. �In the backdrop of globalization wherein the working class has been subjected to more exploitation it has become important for all workers to unite and exercise pressure on the government,� said Bhattacharya, adding that, to give more strength to the trade unions, democratic ideals should be integral to its functioning apart from educating the workers on the policies and current politics.
Earlier, president of the new executive committee of ATEU Siba Prasad Deka placed the resolutions calling for implementation of the Majithia Wage Board recommendations by all media houses.
The new executive committee of ATEU, for the year 2015-16 include Manoranjan Sarker as vice president, Dugdha Ram Kalita as general secretary, Sudipta Sarkar and Tankeswar Kakati as asstt general secretaries, Anima Das as organising secretary, Utpal Karmakar as treasurer, and Shyam Singh, Apu Mazumdar, Ramen Phukan, Gautam Kakati, Ram Chandra Medhi, Bhrigu Kumar Bora as executive members.
The secretarial report was placed before the meet by Dugdha Ram Kalita.
