I  express   my strong protest  against the retrenchment of the 300 and odd contract labour in Bangalore Telephone District in the past few days and demand the BSNL management to reinstate them without any delay.

The more than 600 contract labour employed in the Bengaluru Telephone District were only  getting almost half of the minimum wage that is to be paid according to the rules and government notifications. After sustained struggles the management was compelled to pay them minimum wages as per the conciliation before the RLC. But as a retaliation, within months of its implementation, 300 and workers are retrenched and they are without any work. These labours have been working in the BSNL for the last many years. The discontinuation of the engagement has resulted in adverse effect on hundreds of families who were fully dependent on the retrenched workers.

While I was in Bengaluru on 21st June for the attending the District  Conference of the BSNLEU, I went to the place in centre of the town where the retrenched workers were sitting on dharna demanding reengagement.  Along with me Coms. K.N.Umesh, Secretary, CITU and GB Salakki, AGS BSNLEU were present.  While addressing and supporting the agitation, I assured that BSNLCCWF will take up the matter with the Corporate  for reinstatement.

In many places such disengagement is resorted to by the Management and the Contractors when they are compelled to pay minimum wages to the workers. This is violation of the rules and regulations and has got to be opposed. BSNLEU leaders and workers at the field level are requested to help and support the struggles of this exploited section of workers.