Category Archives: BSNLCCWF – Casual and Contract workers

One more BSNL contract worker commits suicide – No wage for 10 months – BSNL, Centre responsible.

07 Thursday Nov 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, General, Uncategorized

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Again very very sad news.

CCom. Ramakrishnan, a BSNL contract labour in Kerala, put an end to his life by committing suicide in the Telephone Exchange,Nilambur, where he was working. Wages were not paid to him for the last 10 months as in the case of other contract workers. He is a differently abled worker and was somehow managing his family with the low wage being paid. Now even that wage is not paid for 10 months. His wife has no job and they are having two children. The mental agony being unable to look after the family might have made him to commit suicide.

This is the 7th suicide by BSNL contract workers in the country after the BSNL stopped paying wages on the plea of no funds. Even after these suicides, neither the government, nor the BSNL has taken any steps to pay the wages. Further, more and more contract workers are being retrenched. The Chief Labour Commissioner has directed the CMD BSNL to pay the wages but BSNL has not implemented so far. It was reported that the DOT has asked BSNL to pay the delayed salaries of the ITS officers immediately. The govt is worried about only the ITS and not others.

The government, which write off lakhs of crores rupees of NPAs of the corporates, reduce the income tax % of the corporates has no money to pay the wages of the poor contract workers who have worked for years together to give better service to the people. The govt can allot funds to retrench employees through VRS, but no funds to pay wages! It shows that the govt is not at all worried about the condition of the poor contract workers.

We strongly protest and demand the govt and the BSNL Management to urgently pay the wages with arrears to all the contract workers. Suitable compensation should be given to the family of the deceased.

The contract workers in Kerala and elsewhere are on strike and on various forms of struggles for the last many months. The govt and BSNL management is looking the other way. This is nothing but inhuman.

We express our deep sorrow in the tragedy. We convey our condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades.

Pay wages to BSNL contract workers, reinstate the retrenched workers.

26 Thursday Sep 2019

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

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About one lakh of contract workers engaged by BSNL and earlier by DOT, for the various important works in running the telecommunication network, have not been paid wages for the last seven months. Seven workers have committed suicide unable to face the most difficult situation, unable to look after their families. BSNL nor the government was not even human to console the grieving families, who lost their bread earner.

In the name of financial difficulties, BSNL is issuing directions to reduce the number of contract workers. Who will do the work, they have been doing so far? Can a worker be thrown out, with out giving him any benefit, not even gratuity, refund of EPF etc. ?

After continuous dharna for about 90 days, the BSNL contract workers in Kerala has started indefinite strike w.e.f. 19th September, the 51st anniversary of the historic one day strike by the Central Government employees, demanding payment of wages with arrears, reinstatement of retrenched workers etc. In Kozhikode, the Samara Sahaya Samithi has decided to organise a ‘Human Chain’ on 5th October 2019 in the city. In other districts and various other circles also agitation is going on.

We demand the government to immediately ensure that the wages are paid with arrears, regular payment is ensured and that the retrenched workers are taken back.

BSNL contract workers on Strike in Kerala from 19th September.

25 Wednesday Sep 2019

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

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BSNL contract workers in Kerala are on complete strike from 19th September 2019 demanding payment of wages including arrears for the last 7 months, reinstatement of the retrenched workers etc. The striking workers are organising demonstrations and dharna every day. BSNLEU and AIBDPA are giving full support, including financial assistance. In Kerala CCLU is organised under CITU. Strike aid committees are formed at Circle level and district level and all help including financial assistance is given.

A well attended Convention with  leaders of service organisations etc. were held at Kozhikode on 25th Sept which was inaugurated by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President BSNLCCWF. The meeting was presided by Com. Sulaiman, CITU Secretary, also Convenor of the strike-aid committee. Com.K.Mohanan, Wkg. President, CCLU and leaders from many unions addressed and expressed solidarity and support to the striking workers.

BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF workers March to Labour Officers.

12 Monday Aug 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, BSNLEU

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Hundreds of BSNL employees and casual-contract workers will march to the Labour Officers in their respective places on 13th August demanding intervention for payment of wages to contract workers and their arbitrary retrenchment by the contractor/BSNL. Despite the issues taken with the CMD BSNL and other authorities, no favourable decision has been taken so far. The issue was brought to the notice of the CLC also, but no result. It is in this context that the March to Labour Office is being organised. Let us fully participate and make the programme a full success.

( Due to floods and landslides etc. the programme in Kerala Circle is postponed.)

CLC meeting on contract workers’ issues

27 Saturday Jul 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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BSNLEU and BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation organised massive dharnas throughout the country on 16.07.2019, demanding immediate payment of the wages arrears, which is not paid for the past 6 months. Notice was also issued to the RLC(C) for his intervention. Consequent to this, the RLC(C) conducted a conciliation yesterday the 26.07.2019. From BSNLEU, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com.Gakul Borah, Treasurer, attended.

Representatives of BSNLEU complained that almost 80,000 contract workers, working in BSNL throughout the country, are not paid wages for the past 6 months and as a result of which 5 contract workers have committed suicide. They also reported that, issue was already raised with the CMD BSNL, Director (Finance), BSNL and Director (HR), BSNL, on a number of occasions, but no result has arrived. The Management, representatives submitted that due to the acute financial crisis they were not in a position to make payment. From the meeting, the RLC(C), spoke to the CMD BSNL over phone. The CMD BSNL told the RLC(C) that, he is trying to overcome the problem. Thereafter, the RLC(C) adjourned the meeting with an intent to discuss the matter either by calling or by visiting the Apex level Management of BSNL within a short period and come to reach a settlement, so that at least a part payment is made at the earliest.(BSNLEU Website)

Very sad news – Suicide by BSNL Contract workers in W.Bengal, Kolkata

01 Monday Jul 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers, Obituary, Tributes

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BSNL contract workers are not being paid salary for the past 6 months and the families of these contract workers are in starvation. Despite BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF are continuously taking up this issue with the Management, no improvement has come. In the meanwhile, news has come that 5 contract workers have so far committed suicide in West Bengal and Kolkata circles, unable to face the crisis created due to non-payment of wages. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, communicating these tragedies and demanding immediate action for payment of wage arrears. (BSNLEU Website).

We express our deep condolence at the sad demise of the workers who have contributed much for the revival of BSNL. BSNL would immediately ensure that the wages are paid so that such sad occurrences do not take place. The government and BSNL management is fully responsible for the suicides. The families should be given compensation.

Karnataka Convention of PSU Contract Workers at Bengaluru

29 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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An inspiring and well attended convention of PSU Contract workers was held on 23rd June at Bengaluru. Com. Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, inaugurated the convention. Com. VAN Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF, Com. C.K.Gundanna, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Com. Meenakshi Sundaram, General Secretary, CITU, Com. K.M.Umesh, Secretary, CITU, Com. Sudarshan, District Secretary, BSNLEU, BGTD, Com. Irfan Pasha, Organisation Secretary, BSNLEU, Com. Mahantesh General Secretary Non-Permanent Workers BSNL Karnataka and other leaders addressed.
A resolution on the demands of the PSU Contract workers were unanimously adopted. A large number of workers participated.

On the same day a convention of the BSNL contract workers were also held which was addressed by Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, C.K.Gundanna, Mahantesh and other leaders.

BSNL should ensure payment of wages to contract workers

16 Thursday May 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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It is 4 months all over India and 10 months in some circles that the contract workers have been paid their wages. All of them continue to work, but the management is not allocating funds stating that there are no funds with them. How can the workers maintain their families, if the wages are not paid for months together.

The day to day functioning of BSNL largely depends upon the contract workers. They are working but no wages.

Agitations are going in many centres. BSNLCCWF is expected to meet its working committee shortly after the announcement of the elections to the Lok Sabha and plan the future course, including strong  agitational programmes.

Prime Minister has to answer to the people.

06 Monday May 2019

Posted by in AUAB, BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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BSNL is a 100% Government company and dictated by the policies of the government. Whether required or not, the government is interfering in all matters to ensure that BSNL does not expand and is finished so that the private telcos, especially Reliance Jio can capture the entire market. BSNL is a thorn for the Reliance Jio and hence it has to be finished. And it is towards this idea, that central government is acting against BSNL.

But it has gone too far. The one lakh or so contract workers who are working continuously to keep the service maintained in good condition, are not paid their meagre wages for the last 4 months. This is totally unacceptable.

Mr. Prime Minister,  while thousands of crores of rupees are being arranged through loans etc. to the big corporates like Ambani, Adani etc. by you and your government, you are not even allowing BSNL to take loan from the banks to pay the wages to the contract employees.

In your own constituency, Varanasi, the contract workers are only paid about Rs. 1,500 /2000 monthly ( whereas the wages to be paid are Rs.10,500), and that also is not paid for ten months. Cruelty and inhuman action has a limit!

In similar situation in the KSRTC (Kerala State Road Transport Corporation), when due to loss the company could not pay the wages and pension, the LDF government took up the responsibility and paid the wages and pension, despite the fact the government was in financial difficulty due to floods etc.

Mr. Prime minister, at least show human consideration to the starving families of the contract workers in BSNL. They dont require 50,000 or 60,000 crores of rupees like Adanis and Ambanis, not even 1% of that. You  spend thousands of crores of rupees for your costly dresses, but what about the hungry families, including children?

We request you to act immediately to ensure that the wages with arrears are paid to the BSNL contract workers.

 

 

The DOT, BSNL has no right to deny wages to the contract workers.

03 Friday May 2019

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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BSNL is a 100% owned government Company. About one lakh contract workers in BSNL have not been paid wages for these workers for four months or so. In some circles wages for 10 months or so have not been paid, This is horrible. How can the low paid workers feed their families? They manage their lives on day to day basis and denial of wages for months have destroyed their lives.

The government, at the time of corporatisation, assured the workers that BSNL will be assisted and their future will be  safe. What is happening to the government’s assurance?

Is it not discrimination and a cruel joke, that while those who gets lakhs of rupees and who are in better position are paid, while those at the lowest position and managing hand to mouth are denied their wages?

The immediate demand is that the government / DOT should assist the BSNL and grant sufficient funds to pay the wages of the contract workers.