Category Archives: BSNLCCWF – Casual and Contract workers

Karnataka Convention of PSU Contract Workers at Bengaluru

29 Saturday Jun 2019

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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

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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

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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.

24 April, 2019:Meeting with GM BFCI – BBSNLCCWF is trying to pursue the issue of fund allotment at corporate office.

24 Wednesday Apr 2019

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On 16th April, discussion held with the BSNL Management on the issue of fund allotment. Com.Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, handed over a letter in this regard to Shri P.C. Bhatt, GM(BFCI). GM(BFCI) replied that already some amount has already been distributed to the circle heads at the end of last month or in the first week of April. He also assured to allot some more funds to the field units if situation permits. Circle and District secretaries are requested to discuss the matter with the CGMs. Please send a report to the CHQ that how much amount of requisition has been send to corporate office and what is the result thereof.(BSNLCCWF Website)

Revision of wages of casual labours on the basis of VII CPC

17 Wednesday Apr 2019

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Departmental Committee has agreed to revise the wages of casual labours – file will be put up to the CMD BSNL for early settlement.

BSNL employees union once again raised it’s strong voice in the meeting of departmental committee held on 08th April, 2019, in favour of casual labours. It was the formal meeting, between Director (HR), BSNL, and BSNLEU (CHQ) leadership. On the issue of revision of casual labours wage, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, raised strong argument before Management and requested for early settlement of the issue. On discussion, it has reported from the Management Side that the Committee already formed to settle the issue has recommended to revise the casual labour wages based on 7th CPC. While Com.Animesh Mitra, SG, BSNL CCWF pointed out that the number of beneficiaries of the casual labourers is very less, but the department is unnecessarily dragging the issue since 3 years. Then, Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR) ordered the officers in Management Side to put up the file before CMD BSNL with a favourable note to settle the issue without further delay. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU & Vice President, BSNL CCWF, Com.Animesh Mitra, SG, BSNL CCWF and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, were present in the meeting.(BSNLCCWF Website)

Leaders of BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF met with GM (BFCI) for payment of wages to the Contract Workers.

11 Thursday Apr 2019

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Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU and Com. Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNLCCWF and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Deputy General Secretary met with Shri P.C.Bhatt, GM(BFCI) on 08-04-2019. At the outset, leaders appreciated the GM (BFCI) for releasing some amount of fund for repair maintenance and security guard payment. At the same time, the leaders have shown their unhappiness because the fund as sanctioned is not sufficient for due payment to the Contract Workers and Security Guards. It is also mentioned by the leaders that the contract workers in UP (West), CTD, Tamil Nadu, UP (East), UP (West), Punjab, Haryana, Kerala, Karnataka, Assam, NE-I, West Bengal and NE-II have not received the fund since 4-6 months. GM (BFCI) informed that the fund has already been released. On discussion, it is learnt that Corporate Office has sanctioned 60 percent of the requisition fund in the head of repair maintenance and 50 percent in the head of police escort. Circle Secretaries are requested to pursue the matter with respective Chief General Manager based on the discussion with the GM (BFCI) and give us the latest position of the pending wages category wise (e.g. house-keeping, security guard, repair maintenance) to the CHQ immediately. On 15th April,2019, CHQ will pursue the matter again with GM (BFCI) for further allotment of fund.(BSNLCCWF Website)

Non-payment of wages to contract workers

23 Saturday Mar 2019

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Almost one lakh contract workers engaged in BSNL have not received wages for three months. Their families are starving. Fast Dharna was organised on 13th March at Delhi Corporate office. Although salary for February was paid to regular employees by 15th March, the wages of the workers are yet to be paid.
We demand the BSNL management to allot funds to the CGMs for making payment of wages to contract workers.

The departmental Committee finalized the report on gratuity issue for the Contract Workers.

11 Monday Mar 2019

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

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Corporate office has finalized the guideline for the modalities of tender procedure which can ensure the Social Security to Contract Workers including gratuity. Earlier, a committee was formed under the Chairmanship of GM (Restg.) to do the job. Today, Com. Animesh Mitra, SG, BSNLCCWF, and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS, BSNLEU, and Com. Prakash Sharma, AGS, BSNLEU, met Shri Manish Kumar, GM (Restg.) and discussed the subject. It is learnt that the Committee has already finalized the report and submitted it to the GM, (MM) under Director (CFA). He also stated that the committee has strongly recommended following up the Labour Lows and Social Security in the tender procedure including payment of wages to the workers through Bank Account of Cheque only. Hope, now the local administration will do the needful action in the tender documents so that the Contract Workers will get the facilities of Social Security including gratuity.

(courtesy: BSNLCCWF website)

High handedness of the DOT/Government – Salary not paid to BSNL Employees

01 Friday Mar 2019

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

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Strong protest demonstrations were held all over India before Telephone Exchanges/GM Offices demanding immediate payment of the monthly salary for February 2019.Salaries are being paid on the last date of the month. But the February salary has not been paid so far on the plea that the management has got no money to pay. This is atrocious.

It is well known that BSNL has become loss making, only due to the anti-BSNL, Anti-PSU policy of the government and the mismanagement of the top level management. When the company was in profit, large scale corruption also took place. Various suggestions have been given by the unions/associations for improvement of the services as also for development. In order to favour the private telcoms, all kinds of restrictions were put on BSNL to ensure that it does not grow and make profit. BSNL was not allowed even to buy mobile lines, when there was good demand. Still the employees worked hard and ensured that better service is provided.

By the predatory pricing started by Reliance Jio, all companies have become loss making, including Jio itself, though by manipulation of accounts, it shows a small profit. This has been exposed by telecom experts. BSNL is also in loss. All private companies are taking loans and managing the services. But though BSNL is having only the minimum loans, despite repeatedly requested by BSNL management, it is not allowed to take loans by DOT. The fact that NITI Ayog has proposed either to privatise or close BSNL, though denied later, shows that Government is determined to destablise BSNL to favour Reliance Jio, which is owned by Mukesh Ambani, the close friend of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

If BSNL has been allowed to take loan, the salaries could be paid. The contract workers in BSNL have not been paid wages for about three months or more. These are all part of the government proposal to privatise or close BSNL. The revival plans proposed by government are nothing but proposals to close the PSU.

As per the call of All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB), Circle and District Unions have been meeting M.P.s and presenting Memorandum on the survival of BSNL and requesting to pressurize the government to help BSNL to survive and improve. It has been pointed out that if BSNL is not in the field, the entire 100 crores and mobile subscribers of all companies will have to pay at least three or four times the charges, since the private telecom will raise it as was in the case of petrol prices. To stop this increase in charges, the presence of BSNL is unavoidable.

Along with the M.P.s, the leaders of all political parties may be approached so that it becomes an important issue in the election as also afterwards.