Category Archives: BSNLCCWF – Casual and Contract workers

Allot 4G Spectrum to BSNL, Launch Services !

19 Thursday Mar 2020

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

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“BSNL’s 4G service.

In the budget for 2020-21, Government has made provision for allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and the same can be allotted to BSNL in May,2020. However, BSNL will not take the 4G spectrum immediately, since equipments will be ready for launching 4G service only after March, 2021. For 4G spectrum, BSNL has to pay Rs.5.5 crore, per day, as licence fee, even if BSNL does not use it. Hence, it is not wise to take the 4G spectrum, before the equipments are ready.

BSNL is already having 40,000 3G BTSs, which are 4G compatible. All these 40,000 BTSs can be upgraded to 4G BTSs, by which BSNL can immediately launch it’s 4G service. However, BSNL is experiencing certain difficulties in this regard. BSNL has to pay around Rs.2,000 crore as outstanding dues to the vendors of these BTSs, viz., Nokia, ZTE and Erricsson. Apart from that, Nokia is demanding a sum of Rs.3.5 lakh to Rs.7 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 13,000 BTSs supplied by them. Whereas, ZTE is demanding a sum of Rs.7 lakh to Rs.10 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 24,000 BTSs supplied by them. Since the rates are extremely high, BSNL is presently not in a position to upgrade these BTSs, for providing 4G service.” (BSNLEU Website)

The statement of the CMD BSNL as given in the brief of the discussions by the Unions/Associations with the CMD BSNL with regard to allotment of 4G Spectrum is given above. The CMD is stating that the 4G service will be ready for launching by March 2021 only ie. after one year.

This is unacceptable. One more year of delay for 4G services will further benefit the private telcos only and BSNL will suffer. Why can’t BSNL get the 4G Spectrum earlier and launch it? The excuses put by the management is untenable.

BSNL should pay wage and wage arrears to Contract workers.

19 Thursday Mar 2020

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

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Contract workers engaged in BSNL are not paid wages for about one year. They are lowest paid workers and manage their needs by the wages they receive. About 10 comrades have committed suicide unable to face the agony of their families without food. The education of their children are discontinued. The situation is very pathetic.

To a question in the Parliament, Minister for Communications, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad had stated that the contract workers are not employees of BSNL and are engaged by contractors. He added that contractors have been paid money. This is completely wrong. Contract workers are doing the work of BSNL and BSNL is paying the wages through contractors. Hence the responsibility of payment of wages is with BSNL. The contractors are contradicting the statement of the Minister that they have been paid by BSNL.

The central govt and BSNL who have already engaged the contract worker through contractor and had got the work done for the last one year have also got the responsibility to pay them.

BSNL has assured  the Unions/Associations that their salary arrears of one month will be paid by 31st March 2020. What about contract workers?

BSNL and Govt should ensure payment of the contract workers also by 31st March with out fail.

Suicide by BSNL employee due to non-payment of salary.

15 Saturday Feb 2020

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

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The entire BSNL fraternity is extremely sad to hear the tragic news of the suicide of Com. Ramesh Kumar Sondhiya, Asst. Telecom Technician, Jabalpur on 12th February. He was only 37 years old.  It is understood that he took the extreme step due to non-receipt of salary for the last two and half months and unable to cope up with the stress and financial difficulty. Already 8 BSNL contract workers have committed suicide due to non-receipt of wages for several months. Our heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

We demand the government and BSNL to immediately pay the salaries of the employees and the wages of the contract workers. The authorities are fully responsible for these tragic deaths.

 

 

78569 workers will leave BSNL on VRS – What about essential work in BSNL?

01 Wednesday Jan 2020

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

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78569 employees, more than half of the existing workforce in BSNL are leaving the company on 31-01-2020 on Voluntary Retirement Scheme. It will create a big vacuum in BSNL. The work being done by these employees will have to be managed by those remaining in service. It is not an easy task. While VRS is implemented with extra speed, connected other matters in the post VRS situation is not dealt by the BSNL Management or the Govt with the required urgency. Except VRS, the other actions with regards to Revival of BSNL are being delayed. Two months are over by 23rd December 2019, after the declaration of the Revival Plan. What happened to the allotment of 4G Spectrum to BSNL? Private Telcos have already been alloted 5G Spectrum for test purposes. Still no 4G to BSNL. What about Sovereign Guarantee, bank loans to BSNL?

The government should be compelled to honour its commitment. BSNL management should ensure that the Revival Plan is implemented. The contract workers should be paid their back wages. The services of the contract workers are very much required and any move to retrench them should be stopped.

We are sure that the unions and associations in BSNL under the leadership of AUAB will take necessary steps to compel the govt for implementing Revival plan.

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.