BSNL Employees Union is completing 20 years of its fruitful existence on 22nd March 2021. It is BSNLEU’s 21st Foundation day.
BSNL Employees Union, the majority recognised union of the BSNL workers, was formed on 22nd March 2001, in the National Convention of eight telecom unions held at Visakhapatnam, in the presence of Com. E.Balanandan, President of CITU and one of the greatest working class leaders India has ever seen.Though started with about 50,000 – 60,000 workers, it grew to be the biggest union in BSNL with more than one lakh workers, despite the fact that there was no recruitment and thousands were retiring every year. This was a herculean task, but the united team of the BSNLEU leadership made the ‘impossible in to possible.
’BSNLEU, as the recognised union separately, and also jointly with other unions, both Executives and Non-executives, defeated the nefarious designs of the central government, both NDA and UPA, to disinvest BSNL, unbundle the precious copper cables and so on. BSNLEU took the initiative to form the Joint Forum of Unions and Associations, under which organisation, many battles were fought and anti-worker decisions of the government defeated.
BSNL and its workers are facing serious challenges to their existence. The neo-liberal policy initiated by the Congress government in 1991 and aggressively being implemented by the present BJP government is making it difficult for the PSUs to sustain and grow. In the name of Revival Plan, 78569 employees have been compelled to take VRS in BSNL. Their many problems are there. Though 4 G Spectrum is allotted, hurdles are created by government in launching it. Wage revision and Pension Revision are delayed, without any justification. DA /DR is frozen unauthorizedly. Workers salary is delayed.
The two associations, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF formed at the initiative of BSNLEU has grown and strengthened. But the wages for the contract workers have not been paid for about one year. The demands of the workers, the pensioners and the casual contract labours are interconnected and inseparable. That is why united struggle is required. The proposal for formation of a Co-ordinating Committee of all the three sister unions is a welcome step for future struggles.
It is in this situation that the 21st Foundation Day of BSNLEU is arriving. This time, BSNLEU has called upon the workers to approach the people, the real masters and expose the anti-BSNL policy and decisions of the Modi Government. Revival of BSNL is most important.
Let us remember our past struggles and sacrifices so that we can advance with sustained struggles with more vigour, determination and strength. BSNL has to be saved and strengthened to provide better service to the Nation!
BSNLEU, AIBDPA AND BSNLCCWF ZINDABAD!
WORKERS UNITY ZINDABAD!
V.A.N.NAMBOODIRI
FOUNDER GENERAL SECRETARY, BSNLEU
ADVISOR AIBDPA
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