BSNL has got about 2,70,000 workers out of which about 33,000 are those recruited / appointed by BSNL since its formation in 2000. Among them about 12,000 are JTOs, 10,000 TTAs and 11,000 RM, Sr.TOAs and others. Almost all those who were absorbed from DOT are likely to be retired by 2020-25. Naturally, the 32,000 BSNL recruited/appointed employees will be the back bone of the BSNL for a long time. What are the prospects of these young appointees who will be in serrvice for about 25-30 years more? Have they been given a good deal?
These new recruits are highly qualified and have got much aspiration for better pay scales, promotions and high quality work. Almost every official has got more academic qualifications than required for recruitment. They have joined the PSU with high hope.
But the treatment meted out to them is far below their expectation. For all the TTAs and Sr.TOAs recruited after 2000, no promotional examination for JTO has been conducted. It is more than 10 years.Despite the service eligibility has been got reduced from 10 to 7 years (the demand was for 5 Years), nobody has been able to appear since no examination was conducted on one reason or other.While the DOT recruited officials are eligible for Statutory Pension, BSNL recruited officials are only eligible for Contributory Pension Scheme, as usual for PSUs. GPF is changed to EPF. In the Wage Agreement w.e.f. 01-01-2007, the BSNL Management adamantly refused them 2.34 multiplication factor / 30% fitment to them resulting in loss of wage. Although the recognised union ensured protection of wages, but it was only limited to the time of agreement and not to subsequent changes,since the same was refused by the management. It is well understood that the Mnagement wanted to separate the newly recruited workers from the mainstream of unions to safe-guard the vested interests of the management.
These issues are most important to the new recruitees. The unions have a great responsibility in taking up these issues with utmost seriousness. BSNL Employees Union has taken upon these issues wih the management but is facing a stubborn rejection wall.
As I have pointed out in the Parliament March organised by the Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations as also in the meetings of Joint Forum, it is high time that these issues are focussed by the Joint Forum. Such problems may be in MTNL also.
I hope that there will be unanimity on these issues also so that strong pressure can be put on the management for settlement of these and other just demands of the New Recruitees/Appointees.