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Move to impose Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)

Shri A.K.Sinha, then outgoing CMD BSNL, told to the media on 31-07-2007 that the management is proposing to bring in VRS to send out 20,000 employees. This was strongly opposed by the Joint Forum and a protest letter was sent to the CMD against the proposal.

Protest Demonstration on 9th August 2007 against VRS

The BSNL employees organized massive demonstrations on 09-08-2007 protesting against the proposed VRS and demanding that the proposal be scrapped.

Meeting with CMD on 10-08-2007

The newly appointed CMD, Shri Kuldeep Goyal met the leaders of the Joint Forum on 10-08-2007. The main issue was the proposal for VRS for 20,000 employees, which the Unions strongly opposed. The CMD assured that no VRS will be implemented without discussing with the unions.

Issues taken with DOT

The following issues were  taken up by the Joint Forum with DOT/ Government during the period:

  1. Grant of Navaratna status to BSNL.
  2. Cancellation of orders on pension directing BSNL to pay 40% to government, if the total amount paid by BSNL to DOT is less than 60% of the total pension amount.
  3. National Telecom Policy
  4. Increase in Minimum Bonus to Rs. 10,000.

National Seminar  of BSNL Employees on 7th September 2007

As per the decision of the Joint Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, a successful National Convention of BSNL employees was organized on 7th September 2007 at a large pandal erected at the Eastern Court premises, New Delhi. More than 600 delegates from all parts of the country participated.

A presidium consisting of Coms. K.Vallinayagam (FNTO), J.N.Mishra(BSNLEU), R.N.Pande (NFTE), A.A.Khan (SNEA), K.Satyanarayana (AIBSNLEA), S.S.Tomar (BSNLMS), S.P.Shrivastava (TEPU), M.C.Sharma(BSNLWRU), Hari Singh (BTU BSNL), D.P.Patwa(AIBCTES), R.S.Yadav(BSNLATM) and Dhiraj Choudhary (SNATTA) conducted the proceedings.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, GS BSNLEU and Convener, Joint Forum, welcomed all, especially the delegation of Confederation of South Korean Trade Unions, which was visiting India and attended the Convention. The leader of the delegation Com. Lee Sukhaeng greeted and congratulated the unions for the sustained fight against privatization. Convener spoke about the present situation of BSNL and the tasks ahead.

Coms. M.K.Pandhe, President, CITU, Sitaram Yechury, M.P., Gurudas Dasgupta, M.P & General Secretary AITUC, Harish Rawat, M.P., C.Kuppusamy, M.P. and other trade union leaders addressed the convention and congratulated the BSNL workers for their struggle to save BSNL and conveyed their support and solidarity for the struggle.

Comrades M.B.Vichare (NFTE), M.R.Vasisht (FNTO), Swapan Chakraborty (BSNLEU), S.L.Reddy(SNEA), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), V.Subburaman (TEPU), Raj Kishore (BSNLWRU), Hari Singh (BTU BSNL) and A.D.Patil (AIBCTES) also addressed the Convention.

The Declaration of the   National Convention on the demands and agitational programmes to strengthen the BSNL and provide a better service to the people was presented by Convener Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri and unanimously adopted by the house. The Convention called upon the workers to continue the struggle and to organize effective campaign and also to organize one day long dharna at circle level on 11th October 2007.

Declaration of National Convention (to be typed/pasted)

The Reception Committee headed by Coms. A.A.Khan and R.S.Chouhan etc. made all the arrangements in a very effective manner.

Dharna by BSNL Workers on 11-10-2007

As per the call of the Joint Forum, massive dharnas were organized on 11th October 2007 in all SSAs protesting against the undue delay in procuring GSM lines, Non-grant of Navaratna status to BSNL, Absorption of Group A/ITS officers and pension issues.

In Delhi, the dharna  was organized in front of Corporate Office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, participated by hundreds of workers.  Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum & GS BSNLEU, K.Vallinayagam (FNTO), M.B.Vichare (NFTE), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), Thomas John(FNTO), A.A.Khan(SNEA), V.Subburaman (TEPU) and other leaders addressed. Thousands of workers participated in the dharnas at Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna etc.

Joint Forum protests proposal of 20% IPO/ Disinvestment  in BSNL

Reacting to the proposal of 20% IPO /Disinvestment in BSNL by the Government, the Joint Forum immediately issued a Press Statement on 25-11-2007, opposing the same and cautioning the government that the workers will go on agitation, if any such move is initiated.

Joint Forum meets Secretary DOT on 26th November 2007

Leaders of the Joint Forum met Shri D.S.Mathur, Secretary, DOT on 26-11-2007 and discussed important issues like ITS Absorption, Allotment of additional 2G spectrum as well as 3G spectrum, grant of Navaratna status to BSNL, opposition to 20% IPO in BSNL and bonus for DOT employees. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JF and representatives of BSNLEU, SNEA, FNTO, AIBSNLEA, NFTE, BSNLMS and TEPU participated.

Since the government was moving with the disinvestment ( IPO)proposal  of BSNL , the Joint Forum urgently met on 15th January 2008 and decided to organize agitational programmes against the same. It was decided to observe an All India Protest Day on 21st January 2008 by wearing black badges and conducting demonstrations at Circle/District /Branch levels. (To be continued)