INN
New Delhi, August 4: V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations has issued the following statement:
The Forum of BSNL Unions & Associations, representing the two and half lakh employees in BSNL, strongly oppose the anti-worker and anti-BSNL report presented by the M/s Deloitte Consultants on the financial viability and revival of BSNL.
The report has been finalized without even consulting the Unions / Associations which represent the workers and are important stake holders. The Unions / Associations are on the crusade for the improvement, expansion of the services, financial viability etc. and have been presurising the Govt. and Management for urgent procurement of required mobile and other equipments. The BSNL Management and the Consultants have been dealing the issue in an arbitrary manner.
The portion of the report which is available with us, gives a shocking picture. It is proposed to reduce the present 330 + SSAs in to 167 Area offices and reduce the non-executive staff like RM, TM, Sr.TOA etc who are interacting with the subscribers and attending field level work to less than half of the present number of about 2 lakhs. This will result in deterioration of the services. Public will be put to much difficulties.
There has not been any mentionable recruitment to the above cadres and after formation of BSNL in 2000, more than one lakh thirty thousand workers have retired without any new replacement. Further, reduction will have drastic repercussion on the service.
It is understood that the Consultant had recommended to close or privatize the telecom factories under BSNL, which are manufacturing telecom equipments and infrastructure for many decades even during the British days. There has been much pressure from the private companies on the govt. for closure of these telecom factories so as to increase their business and profits.
The consultant recommends more and more outsourcing, instead of utilizing the available manpower, which will result in unnecessary expenditure. This is also meant for cheap labour of contract workers instead of regular employees.
The Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations strongly oppose the M/s. Deloitte recommendation and demand the BSNL Management and Govt. to immediately discuss with the Unions / Associations, before any decision is taken in the matter. (Ganashakti)