Category Archives: BSNLCCWF – Casual and Contract workers

Dharna organised on 26th June 2020 by BSNLEU on the major demands of the telecom workers.

26 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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The day long dharna programme, called on by BSNLEU, as per the decision of the Central Secretariat meeting, is being successfully organised throughout the country. Comrades are participating enthusiastically in this dharna, by maintaining social distancing and wearing masks, as per the directive of the CHQ. The dharna programme is being organised, demanding the government to immediately allow BSNL to procure 4G equipments from the tender that has been floated, speedy implementation of BSNL’s revival package, payment of salary on time, stopping retrenchment and payment of wage arrears to contract workers, funds for payment of medical bills, cashless treatment under BSNL MRS, immediate remittance of society dues and LIC premium, immediate holding of LICEs, relaxation for the JTO LICE held on 26.05.2019, etc.

[Date : 26 – Jun – 2020](BSNLEU website)

Sustained Struggles to Save BSNL – 5 Issues settled; Strike on 5th January 2005 deferred.

23 Thursday Apr 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Issues settled; Strike on 5th January 2005 deferred.

Full preparations went on for the One Day Strike on 5th January 2005. Protest demonstrations, rallies etc were held and workers energized for the strike.
The Joint Forum leaders were meeting at FNTO Office at about 19.30 to finalise last minute preparations for strike. While proceedings were going on, call came from Secretary DOT intimating a meeting at his office to discuss the strike issues immediately. JF was skeptic about meeting with DOT in the last minute and especially when neither Communications Minister nor State Minister was in Delhi. Hence, JF decided that only Convener need to go.
Though it was about 21.00 hours when I reached Sanchar Bhawan, the security directly took me to the Secretary’s room. Shri J.S.Sharma, Secretary, DOT was alone. He asked me what are the important demands for the strike and I explained briefly and gave him a copy of the strike notice. He gave certain assurances, but I wanted it in writing. He called the Additional Secretary, Shri Yashwant Bhave and dictated the following letter and gave me a copy:
The letter was addressed to Shri A.K.Sinha, CMD BSNL. The full letter is given below:
Dear Shri Sinha,
Mr. V.A.N.Namboodiri, General Secretary of the BSNL Employees Union met Secretary (Telecom) today on behalf of the Joint Forum and expressed the following concern to him in connection with the notice of the strike given by the union.
1. Disinvestment in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.
2. Unbundling of the local loop.
3. Grant of Navaratna status to BSNL.
4. Views of the union in connection with the proposed Telecom Policy.
The Secretary assured Mr. Namboodiri as under:
a) That there is no proposal regarding disinvestment in Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd.
b) That unbundling of the local loop is not under consideration
c) That all efforts will be made towards obtaining the Navaratna status to BSNL
d) That the views of the union will be duly considered as and when the draft Telecom Policy is formulated.
Yours (sd) Yeshwant Bhave.
Copy to: Shri V.A.N.Namboodiri, General Secretary, BSNL Employees Union.
The JF considered the letter and the strike was deferred as per unanimous decision. It was a great success since the disinvestment and unbundling was stopped. (to be continued)

Funds for One month wages to Contract labours released.

22 Wednesday Apr 2020

Posted by in AIBDPA - BSNL DOT Pensioners, BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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It has been intimated that funds for  one month wages for contract workers have been released by the corporate office. While speaking to Shri P.K.Puwar, CMD he had assured me that releasing of funds will be considered when funds are available. To day the same has been released. Thanks to CMD for immediate response.

The non-payment of wages was also  taken by the Kerala Chief Minister as well as BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF CHQs.

The balance of wages also may be paid early.

Covid 19 – Kerala Government announces relief to BSNL contract workers.

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

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Kerala Government has announced relief to the BSNL contract workers in Kerala during the period of corona virus. The sad plight of the contract workers without getting wages for about one year and the difficulty to manage the family during the Covid period was brought to the notice of the Chief Minister Com. Pinarayi Vijayan and the Labour Minister Com. T.P.Ramakrishnan, who himself is a leader of the CITU by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President BSNLCCWF and Com. Santhosh Kumar, Circle Secretary BSNLEU.
The Chief Minister has assured that the matter of payment of wages and arrears to the contract workers will be brought to the notice of the government of India for favour of necessary action.
We thank the honorable Chief Minister for his support to the BSNL Contract workers! (Courtsey: AIBDPA website)

Payment of wages to BSNL Contract Workers – CMD BSNL contacted.

21 Tuesday Apr 2020

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Today, I spoke to Sri P.K.Purwar, CMD BSNL, in continuation of the email sent to him a few days back requesting for early payment of the wages and arrears of wages to the contract workers engaged in BSNL. He stated that the BSNL is still in much shortage of funds. He also mentioned that there are about 70,000 contract workers, which is far in number in relation to the existing landline telephones etc. However, he stated that it will be considered when funds are available.

Sustained Struggles to Save BSNL – 2 Formation of Joint Forum of BSNL – MTNL Associations

20 Monday Apr 2020

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Sustained Struggles to Save BSNL – 2

Formation of Joint Forum of BSNL – MTNL Associations

BSNL Employees Union got recognition in December 2004. The immediate danger hanging upon the workers was the acceptance of the earlier recognized union to the Voluntary Retirement Scheme proposed by the management in the National Council meeting of JCM held on 17th June 2004. BSNLEU in the first meeting of NC after second verification on 25th January 2005 demanded that the decision for VRS should be dropped which was agreed.
In order to safeguard the interests of the workers of both the telecom PSU and their workforce as also for a better service to the people, it was necessary that a united forum is unavoidable. As General Secretary of the recognized union, I took the initiative to form a coordinating committee representing all the unions of non-executives as well as associations of executives. Discussions were held and the ‘Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations was formed. ITS Association was also approached, but they were not interested since they were not absorbed in BSNL/MTNL. Initially all the unions/associations were not part of JF. Probably because I took the initiative, the mantle of Convener of Joint Forum fell upon me.
The first issue to be tackled was the recommendation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) to reduce the Access Deficit Charge (ADC) to be collected from the private operators and to be paid to BSNL and MTNL. The move was clearly to favour the private telcos and against the telecom PSUs.
March to Communications Minister’s office on 21st December 2004.
A massive March to the office of the Communications Minister was organized participated by more than 2,500 workers. From the Corporate office alone about 250 participated. As usual, the March was blocked near the Parliament Police Station, where a huge rally was held which was addressed by the Joint Forum leaders, Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU), G.L.Jogi (SNEA), V.K.Tomar (MTNLEA), K.M.Pillai (MTNLSWU) and others. A Memorandum was presented to the Prime Minister demanding not to reduce the ADC and transfer of TRAI Chairman Shri Pradeep Bajpai, who was openly supporting the private telecom companies. The Joint Forum also met CMD BSNL Sri A.K.Sinha and other Directors and urged to take up the matter with the government, which they agreed.
Agitation against increase of FDI in telecom
Government in the meanwhile decided to increase the FDI in telecom from 49% to 74%. This was against the interest of the nation, telecom PSUs as well as the workers. Hence the Joint Forum organized strong protest demonstrations at the divisional level all over the country. (to be continued)
– V.A.N.Namboodiri –

Congratulations Tamil Nadu AIBDPA Comrades ! Rs.10,53,900 collected for Contract Workers Relief Fund !

18 Saturday Apr 2020

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Congratulations Tamil Nadu Comrades ! Rs.10,53,900 collected for Contract Workers Relief Fund !

As per the call of AIBDPA CHQ to collect donations to Contract Workers Relief Fund, AIBDPA districts of Tamil Nadu had dedicatedly collected funds and the total amount received up to 17.04.2020 is Rs.10,53,900 (Rs. Ten Lakh fifty three thousand and nine hundred only). The amount is being disbursed to the contract workers at district levels, mostly in kinds jointly with BSNLEU. The collections district wise is given below:-
(1) Vellore – Rs.2,00,250 (2) Coimbatore – Rs.1,40,000 (3) Erode – Rs.1,44,150 (4) Thoothukudi – Rs.1,22,000 (5) Tirunelveli – Rs.77,000 (6) Cuddalore – Rs.71,000 (7) Pondicherry – Rs.60,800 (8) Chennai – Rs.48,900 (9) Coonoor – Rs.45,000 (10) Nagercoil – Rs.38,000 (11) Tiruchy – Rs.24,300 (12) Kumbakonam – Rs.12,000 (13) Salem – Rs.5,000 (14) Madurai – Rs.65,500. This is as per report from Com.N.Kuppusamy, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, T.Nadu.(from AIBDPA website)

Deputy CLC, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, directs CMD BSNL to pay wages to the contract workers.

11 Saturday Apr 2020

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Deputy CLC, Tamil Nadu & Puducherry, directs CMD BSNL to pay wages to the contract workers.
The Deputy Chief Labour Commissioner of Tamil Nadu & Puducherry has written to the CMD BSNL, yesterday the April 10, 2020. In it’s letter, the Deputy CLC has referred to the complaint received from TNTCWU (Tamil Nadu Telecom Contract Workers Union), over the non-payment of wages. The Deputy CLC has stated that non-payment of wages during the curfew period violates the provisions of the “Disaster Management Act” and has directed to sort out the issue immediately. (BSNLEU Website)

Letter from BSNLCCWF to Communications Minister on wages of contract labour

11 Saturday Apr 2020

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Uncategorized

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BSNL CASUAL AND CONTRACT WORKERS’ FEDERATION
K.G. Bose Bhawan,
28 / 64 Block, West Patel Nagar, New Delhi – 110 008
Web: http://www.bsnlccwf.com / E-mail:bsnlccwfchq@gmail.com
President:-V.A.N. Namboodiri 9868231431
Secretary General:-Animesh Mitra 09433009450

No. BSNLCCWF/Wages/2020 Dated: 03.04.2020

To,
Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad,
Hon’ble Minister for Communications,
Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Asoka Road,
New Delhi -110 001.
Sir,
Sub. : – Non-payment of 10 months’ wage arrears of BSNL contract workers – reg.
We wish to bring the following burning issue to your kind notice, for favour of necessary intervention please.
The nation is passing through an unprecedented crisis due to the COVID-19. The crisis has brought a more serious
situation to the casual and contract workers. The Labour Ministry, as well as the Finance Ministry, have issued
serious instructions a week ago, advising that the contract workers should not suffer from non-payment of wages,
on account of lock-out, lay-off and also due their absence from work, in view of the lock-down. All these instructions
only show that the government is very particular that the workers belonging to the downtrodden section should not
suffer in a situation when the nation is facing a crisis from COVID-19.
However, we are constrained, as well as extremely saddened, to bring to your kind notice that, the contract workers
in BSNL have not been paid wages for the past 10 months. Despite non-payment of wages for such an unusually
prolonged period, the contract workers continue to work, contributing to the uninterrupted and efficient maintenance
of BSNL’s networks.
It is true that these contract workers have to be paid only by the contractors who have engaged them. However, the
contractors could not pay the wages, in view of the fact that the BSNL Corporate Office has not allotted funds to the
circles for the payment of the bills of the contractors. The net result is that, the contractors have not paid wages to
the contract workers for the past 10 months.
In the present scenario, when the government is issuing various instructions to ensure that the vulnerable sections
of the people do not suffer, we deem it appropriate to bring to your kind notice that, all the instructions of the
government are thrown to the winds, so far as the contract workers of BSNL are concerned.
Under these circumstances, we earnestly implore upon you to kindly ensure that, necessary funds are immediately
released by the BSNL Corporate Office, so that the contract workers are paid their wage arrears, which remains
pending for the past 10 months.

Thanking you,
Yours sincerely,
(Animesh Mitra)
Secretary General.

Copy to:(1) Shri Anshu Prakash, Secretary, Telecom, DoT, Sanchar Bhawan, 20, Asoka Road, New Delhi -110 001.
(2) Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110001
(3) Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), BSNL, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, Janpath, New Delhi – 110001

The delay in payment of wages and arrears of wages to BSNL contract workers is a crime to humanity.

10 Friday Apr 2020

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Despite all out efforts on the part of BSNLCCWF, BSNLEU and AIBDPA and agitations, it is disheartening that the BSNL management has not cleared funds for the payment of wages to about 40,000 – 50,000 contract workers through out India for the last more than one year. Contract workers belong to the lowest paid employees and they manage to live literally from hand to mouth. Whatever savings, if any, has all been gone. They are unable to return the money taken on loan to manage their lives. No money to purchase dress for their children. They are living in real hell.
The issue was several times raised in the Parliament by many Honorable Members of Parliament belonging to different parties, including that of the ruling party. But still no action.

BSNL is not allotting funds on the plea of lack of funds. At one time it was a fact. But now the salary of the employees are paid upto date, including the highly paid officers, the bank loans are being paid, the payment to societies are made etc. etc. But still no payment to contract workers.

The BSNL expenditure has been got reduced for the last two months due to the VRS and retirement of about 80,000 workers. There might be savings of about Rs. 1,200 crore at the lowest.
The DOT and BSNL management should not become inhuman towards its workers. This is Covid 19 period and the suffering has increased.

DOT and BSNL Management should ensure that the wages along with arrears are paid at the earliest.