Yesterday, 26th May,  I had the chance to attend a meeting of the VSNL /TCL Employees Union in the Constitution Hall near Mavlankar Hall in New Delhi. The organisers had invited me to attend the meeting which was being held to protest the retrenchment and compulsory retirement in VSNL/TCL. The hall was full and the meeting was going to start.

After the welcome speech, one after another, mainly the dismissed workers, narrated their experiences, how they were compelled to resign or retrenched and the threatening situation in the company. Out of about 2800 workers absorbed from DOT/VSNL, there are only about 600 left. More than 2000 new workers have been recruited by Tata. But there is huge discrimination between the two sets of employees. the absorbed employees are completely neglected in career advancement, new opportunities etc. Lat year 19 workers were retrenched and this year 18. They are all having 20 to 30 years of service or more and have worked efficiently. One lady comrade from Bengaluru who was also sacked explained the situation.If this kind of retrenchment /dismissal continues. there will be no absorbee left out in the company.

In my brief speech I stated the need to fight out unitedly against such attacks and anti-Labour policies of the government. I also spoke about the experiences of fighting the govt. policies in BSNL and the present position. On behalf of BSNLEU and the BSNL Employees, I assured full solidarity and support to their struggles for survival.