Category Archives: BSNLCCWF – Casual and Contract workers

NITI Ayog and DCC can not take authoritarian and anti-BSNL/MTNL decisions

25 Monday Feb 2019

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

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NITI Ayog and Digital Communication Commission, which replaced the earlier Planning Commission and Telecom Commission respectively, are submitting recommendations and taking decisions one after another against the interests of BSNL and MTNL and also against the interests of the people. What is the justification for them to raise the issue of privatisation or closure of the telecom PSUs? In a blind dash to favour the Reliance Jio, the company owned by Mukesh Ambani, the richest person in the country, they want to weaken BSNL and MTNL and either hand them over to the private or close.

Both BSNL and MTNL have been serving the people at low cost and still continues to do so. Curtailing the PSUs to do business in a competitive manner and efficient service, DOT and government had put all blocks and barriers for the regular functioning of the PSUs. Still they are increasing their connections and service. Lakhs of additional connections are being provided by BSNL every month. It is because of all these, that the NITI Ayog and DCC have started fresh attacks against BSNL and MTNL.

BSNL, MTNL and their workers have to approach the people at large, exposing the negative role of the government and win their support for the fight against disinvestment, VRS, privatisation etc. in this sector.
People are the ultimate masters. Employees are engaged to serve them.

To Kolkata AIC of AIBDPA

19 Tuesday Feb 2019

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

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Delegates from all parts of the country have started their journey to Kolkata to attend the All India Conference of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA). The biggest BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association, since its formation in 2009, has been continuously and vigorously fighting fr getting justice to the pensioners.

It is working in close contact with BSNLEU and AUAB and is giving full support and solidarity always and now for the three days strike also. In all centres in the country, AIBDPA is organising demonstrations, rally etc. in support of the strike.

They very well understand that the interests of both the pensioners and workers are connected.

TODAY’S PENSIONERS WERE YESTERDAY’S WORKERS AND TODAY’S WORKERS ARE TOMORROW’S PENSIONERS!

Three Days Strike to save BSNL – news reports

19 Tuesday Feb 2019

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

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More than a lakh employees and officers working with the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) have started the three-day nation-wide strike highlighting their long pending issues including the allocation of 4G spectrum to the public sector telecom entity and wage revision. The massive participation of workers in various circles of BSNL conveys a strong message to the centre which has been constantly trying to destabilise the Public Sector Undertaking (PSU).

The strike which had been called by All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) – a united platform of various organisations including BSNL Employees’ Union, National Federation of Telecom Employees, All India Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited Executive’s Association, Sanchar Nigam Executives’ Association, All India Graduate Engineer and Telecom Officer’s Association, Telecommunication Employees Progressive Union, BSNL Officers Association among others – started the protest at 12 am on Monday, and it will continue till January 20.

The striking workforce paid homage to the CRPF forces who had been killed in the Pulwama terror attack on Monday morning. Following the attacks, Jammu and Kashmir circle of BSNL has been excluded from the strike.

Along with the strike call, AUAB has put forward an eight-point charter of demands. Allocation of 4G spectrum to BSNL is the primary one in the demand charter. Though the private operators were allotted 4G spectrum in October 2016 itself, BSNL is still waiting for the 4G spectrum. The absence of 4G services reduces the competency, and it may eventually lead to the dismantling of BSNL.

“The effect of the closure or disinvestment of BSNL or MTNL will be that there would not be any competition and the corporates like Reliance Jio would raise the charges as much as they want since there is no public sector service to curtail the charges,” said VAN Namboodiri of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation.

“Secondly, if it is disinvestment, the corporate sharks are waiting for the land assets of the BSNL/MTNL, as had happened in the case of VSNL by Tata. Another aspect is that only BSNL is serving in certain border areas and in Naxal-affected regions. At the time of the floods, natural calamities etc., it is only BSNL which comes to the rescue,” he said.

The proposals regarding allocation of the 4G spectrum had been submitted by BSNL in December, 2017. In the meeting that was held on February 24, 2018, the minister had assured that 4G spectrum would be allotted to BSNL. But the promise is yet to be fulfilled even after so many protests and meetings.

“Abnormal delay in the allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL is adversely affecting the financial revival of the Company. NITI Aayog and Finance Ministry, which doled out huge concessions to bail out the private operators, are opposing 4G spectrum allotment to BSNL,” AUAB said in statement.

Other demands by the employees include payment of pension contribution by BSNL as per the government rule, approval for BSNL’s Land Management Policy without any delay, scrapping of BSNL’s outsourcing for the operation and maintenance of its mobile towers etc.

The final demand in the charter is the settlement of the left out issues of the 2nd Pay Revision Committee. (Courtesy: Newsclick)

BSNL Casual contract workers on strike on 18-20 February 2019

16 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The one lakh and more casual and contract workers engaged in BSNL will be going on three days strike from 18th February to 20th February 2019 on the above demands. BSNL has been completely negating these demands. These are issues on which several struggles have been conducted. Sustained struggles have become necessary to achieve the demands.

 

Article on BSNL Casual Contract workers in Frontline

16 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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A well documented article on the sad state of the BSNL Casual Contract workers is published in the ‘Front Line’ February 15th issue. It is written by Smt. T.K.Rajalakshmi, an expert on Telecom matters. An article to be read by all connected with BSNL casual and contract workers.

BSNLCCWF will go on strike for 3 days from 18th February, 2019, on its own demands.

09 Saturday Feb 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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It has been decided that the casual contract workers in BSNL will go on 3 days strike from 18th February, 2019, to achieve the genuine demands of casual contract workers. Strike notice is issued to CMD BSNL on 4th February, 2019 with a copy to CLC New Delhi. No retrenchment, allotment of fund release to pay the 3-6 months pending wages to contract workers, Rs. 18,000 wage and Gratuity for all are the main issues of the 9 points charter of demands. It is a great opportunity for us that the AUAB has given a call for strike on the same days to save BSNL and 3rd PRC issue. So let us organise a good campaign programme among the contact and casual staff to involve the workers in the strike. On 12th February, 2019, we will meet CLC on the same issue. We have issued posters and circular for the strike through speed post. (Courtesy: BSNLCCWF Website)

BSNL Contract workers on struggle path.

07 Thursday Feb 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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The BSNL contract workers in many circles are on agitation against non-payment of wages and retrenchment. In the name of lack of funds, these workers are denied wages. In some of the northern circles like UP(E), the wages have not been paid for about 10 months. This is atrocious.

BSNLCCWF has demanded CMD BSNL to ensure that the wages are paid immediately and that no retrenchment is made.

CCWF struggles for payment of wages.

30 Wednesday Jan 2019

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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As reported earlier, the wages of the contract workers are not paid for two months or more in all the circles. Despite taking up the matter with the CMD, the issue is not settled.

Hence struggles and strikes have started in many circles. While supporting the struggles, we demand that the BSNL Management take immediate action to make the payment to the contract workers with arrears.

BSNL should make payment of wages to contract workers

18 Friday Jan 2019

Posted by in BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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Almost all the contract workers engaged in BSNL, coming to about one lakh have not been paid wages for the last two months. In some circles like UP (East), wages have not been paid for about one year. Many contract workers are also being retrenched. Contract workers are unable to feed their families. Despite bringing the miserable situation to the notice of the CMD BSNL and other authorities, nothing is being done.The BSNLCCWF has taken up the matter with CLC also. I had written a letter to the Prime Minister requesting urgent action in the matter. Acknowledgement is received, but no other reply.

GOVERNMENT AND BSNL MANAGEMENT SHOULD ENSURE THAT THE PAYMENTS ARE MADE WITH OUT FURTHER DELAY!

Letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on non-payment of wages to contract labour for one year in U.P.

13 Sunday Jan 2019

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

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Respected Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modiji,

In your own constituency Varanasi and in most districts of U. P. where your party runs the Government, BSNL contract workers are being paid a monthly wage of Rs. 1500 to Rs. 2000 only, whereas the minimum wage prescribed by the central government is Rs. 10,500. But the most pitiful fact is that they have not been paid even that meagre amount for the last one year, though they continue to work. Their families are starving for months. Continuous representations, including by the unions, did not achieve any fruitful result.
I sent your kind self a letter months back and I got acknowledgment also, but the miserable condition continues.
I would request your kind self once again to urgently look in to the matter and ensure justice to them by getting full wages paid to them with arrears for the whole period.

Yours Sincerely,
V. A. N. Namboodiri
President, BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation, at Kozhikode -673011.

(Prime Minister Office Acknowledgement No. PMOPG/E/2019/0021697 dated 13th January 2019)