After reaching Dhanbad,along with Coms.Naresh Lal, Circle Secretary, B.Narayan, Vice President BSNLEU and Sudama Pal, Circle Secretary BSNLCCWF I met the large number of casual contract workers who have come from the SSAs in Jharkhand and discussed with them about the problems they are facing. While improvements have taken place, many issues are still to be settled. Minimum wage, EPF / ESI are yet to be implemented in some SSAs.
But the major issue is retrenchment. Where struggles have taken place and demands achieved, workers have been retrenched and victimised. Jamshedpur and Hazaribad are examples. All the casual/ contract workers have been retrenched at Hazaribad. Many have been retrenched and transferred in Jamshedpur. BSNLEU Dist. Secretary also has been victimised for supporting the BSNLCCWF.
We heard the reports and assured that all these cases will be taken by both BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF. The workers are ready to continue their struggle and strengthen the organisation.
A meeting is also fixed in the evening today.