Tags

Meeting with the Communications Minister on 25-11-2005

In the meanwhile, Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum and other leaders met the Secretary, DOT Shri J.S.Sharma and also Communications Minister Shri Dayanidhi Maran on 25th November 2005. The seriousness of the present situation was brought to the notice of the Minister, but no relief was granted.

The Joint Forum met for 5 continuous days from 21st November 2005 and discussed the whole issue. It was felt that industrial action is the only way to stop the attack against BSNL. Hence the Joint Forum decided to go on agitational programmes.

Decision for One Day Strike

As mentioned above the marathon meetings of the Joint Forum for five days from 20th November 2005, decided to organize the following agitational programmes, including strike:

  1. Lunch hour Demonstration and meetings on 8th December 2005.
  2. Dharna on 21st December 2005
  3. One day strike on 5th January 2006.

The demands included:

  1. No Disinvestment of BSNL
  2. No increase in FDI
  3. No opening up of last mile copper
  4. No reduction in Revenue Sharing and ADC
  5. Grant of Navaratna Status to BSNL
  6. Expand Mobile and Broad Band services
  7. Grant Autonomy to BSNL
  8. Absorb Group A/ ITS Officers

Strike Notice was issued by the Unions/Associations separately. BSNLEU, NFTE, FNTO, AIBSNLEA, SNEA, BSNLMS, TEPU, BSNLWRU, and BSNLOA served the strike notices. Massive propaganda was unleashed. This was the first time that all the unions of non-executives and executives have jointly decided for a strike, that too, only on the issues of the company and not on their own financial benefits.

Press Statement was issued by the Forum informing the decision of 3.5 lakh workers going on strike on the BSNL issues, which was widely carried in the papers.

Joint Dharna on 21st December 2005

The Joint dharna called for by the Joint Forum was organized in a very big way all over the country. Workers enthusiastically participated, because they understood that BSNL will be weakened and privatized if  the attack is not countered at the initial stage itself.  The programme was well covered in the press also.

The management did not hold any discussion with the Joint Forum on the plea that all the demands were related to the policies of the Government. However, on the direction of the Regional Labour Commissioner, who conducted  conciliation proceedings, a meeting of the senior officers of the DOT and BSNL with the Joint Forum was held , but without any agreement. The Forum decided to go on with the strike, since there was no favourable response from the management or the government.