Category Archives: BSNLCCWF – Casual and Contract workers

Gratuity for Contract Workers in BSNL – BSNL formed Committee

16 Saturday Jun 2018

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BSNLCCWF leaders met Sr. Ashotosh Gupta GM (Restructuring) BSNL on 15th June and demanded to take appropriate action for payment of gratuity to the Contract Labours. It was reported by the BSNL Management that complaints has been received from Labour commissioner in this regard and accordingly a committee has been formed to give proper guideline to the circles for gratuity payment by the contractors. Sr. GM (Restructuring), assured that the BSNL Management will not avoid any responsibility to make the payment of gratuity for the working period in BSNL only if Labour Commissioner will give such direction. He also assured that service union will also be consulted before taking any final decision. Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS, BSNLEU, and com. Animesh Mitra, SG, BSNLCCWF, were in the delegation team for discussion. (Courtesy: website BSNLCCWF)

BSNLCCWF – Observe Anti-Retrenchment Day on 28th June 2018

15 Friday Jun 2018

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BSNLCCWF calls upon the Casual Contract Labours to observe 28th June, as Anti Retrenchment Day.

It is reported that the retrenchment of Contract Workers is going on in BSNL at high speed in some circles during last few months. It happens due to instruction of Corporate Office to reduce 30% expenditure of repair maintenance and security guard. Management has taken a decision to reduce the staff strength of the security guards, and that’s why the Corporate Office is not allotting sufficient fund for the repair maintenance and security guards regularly. As a result the Contract Workers are not getting the wages in due time. The total episode was discussed in our last secretariat meeting held in Delhi on 29th May, 2018 and it has decided to observe “Anti Retrenchment Day” on 28th June through out the country by holding powerful demonstrationss at all level. We should raise our voice with the slogan “No retrenchment – ensure the payment of wages and Social Securities”. District and Circle secretaries are requested to make a good campaign on the issue. As a follow up action Dharna Programme will also be organised at SSA level before GM or DGM office on 10th July. We will review the total situation and then we may approach the Dy. CLC or RLC on the same subject in the month of August, 2018. (BSNLCCWF website)

:Meeting with Assistant Labour Commissioner (C), New Delhi held on 29-5-2018.

02 Saturday Jun 2018

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As scheduled, a meeting with the ALC (C)( on behalf of CLC), was held on 29-05-2018 at New Delhi. On behalf of the BSNLCCWF, Com. VAN Namboodiri, President, Com Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, Com. K. R. Yadav, VP, Com. Tapas Kumar Ghosh, WP, Com. Tapos Banerjee, Treasurer and on behalf of BSNL Management, five officers were present in the meeting. BSNL management submitted a written reply on issues which was raised by the ALC (C) ND in the last meeting. After getting the copy of the reply, Com Animesh Mitra, SG, raised the objection that as per the questions of the CLC (C), the reply has not been given by the Management. We raised the questions and discussion held regarding the important issues like:-

i) Gratuity for the (Contract Labourer) – BSNL management assured before the CLC that necessary order will be issued for the Contract Workers before the next meeting with the ALC.

ii) Gratuity for the left out Casual labourers – In this connection, BSNL Management has stated that it will decide in the next BSNL Board meeting if details of the left out casual labourers will be available. They have also informed that on the issue of gratuity of a particular Casual Labore in Coochbehar SSA has been approved after obtaining the legal opinion from the legal cell. In this regard, ALC (C) has requested to the leaders to lodge the complaint before the ALCs through out the country.

iii) Wages of left out Casual labouers – as written reply submitted by the BSNL wherein it is mentioned that casual labourers are being paid the wages based on minimum CDA Pay scale plus dearness allowance. It also mentioned that the revision of wages to the casual labours will be paid after 3rd PRC is implemented. We objected to the reply and after argument, CLC has stated that after discussion with CLC, he will deliver his verdict. It is also stated that he will try to arrange a meeting with the Chief Labour Commissioner. (Website : BSNLCCWF)

BSNL should stop the retrenchment of the contract workers

07 Saturday Apr 2018

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLCCWF - Casual and Contract workers

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BSNL Corporate office has issued certain instructions to reduce the number of contract workers from the present strength, even to the extent of 10% / 20% on the plea of reducing expenditure of the company. On the basis of the same, many CGMs/GMs have started retrenchment.

BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF has strongly opposed this ill-motivated move. There is no doubt that BSNL is in difficult financial position. The revenue has to be increased and certain measures to reduce the expenditure is also necessary. The workers and their unions are fully with the management in improving the services and also revenue. It is due to the hard work of the employees and casual / contract workers that BSNL is able to provide more connections each month, despite lack of spectrum and latest technology. If the government is prepared to provide BSNL with 4G/5G spectrum to BSNL, the growth of BSNL will be phenomenal, despite predatory pricing by Reliance Jio. Government, the owner of the BSNL and MTNL is unfortunately favouring the private companies and strangulating the PSUs, BSNL and MTNL.

The casual and contract workers are continuing in DOT/BSNL for about 20 to 30 years. Many are going to reach 60 years. Their entire life has been spent by working for DOT/BSNL, even though they were being paid meagre wages and even which was usurped by the contractors and some of the corrupt officers. As long as the exploitation continued, the number of casual/contract workers increased. But due to formation of BSNLCCWF and sustained struggles, when the contractors are compelled to pay the wages as per Minimum Wage fixed by the Chief Labour Commissioner, the authorities and the contractors want to reduce the workers to teach them a lesson. This is condemnable.

Retrenchment is not a solution. By retrenchment, the present work is reduced adversely affecting the services. Many of the works of the 2 lakh employees retired, the contract workers are doing. Retrenching them is not only against the interests of the BSNL, but also is a crime against the workers who worked their entire life / many years for the company.

There are many areas where unnecessary expenditure can be reduced just like foreign trips, purchase of unwanted equipment, utilisng the vacant buildings and staff quarters, selling the scraps, strict control over the purchase of diesel and petrol, austerity in the use of electricity, restricting unofficial use of vehicles, reducing outsourcing, strict collection of dues from subscribers and government departments, pulling up the corrupt officials etc. These are only some measures, but after careful study by the management in discussion with the unions can find out much more. It is to be noted that these contract workers who are working 10 to 12 hours or more are not getting even 5% of the wages that the top officers in the company are being paid.

Thousands of families are going to be starved, if the retrenchment takes place. This is to be stopped. Management should drop the idea to retrench contract workers. Many are going to be 60 years of age and gradually the number will come down also. They should be provided with gratuity etc.as per rules.

BSNLCCWF and BSNLEU are making all efforts and united struggles to ensure that these long serving workers are not retrenched. We demand the management to stop the present move to retrench the workers immediately.

NEWS FROM BSNLCCWF

06 Friday Apr 2018

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05 April, 2018:VDA for the contract workers wage has already revised by the ministry of the labour.

Recently, the ministry of labour has revised the wages of the contract workers after announcement of VDA. Now, you are requested to pursue the matter with the local administration so that the workers can get right wages. We will pursue the matter for its endorsement from corporate office.

05 April, 2018:Meeting of casual contract workers in Tripura.

Today an important meeting of the casual contract workers held at Agartala. Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF, Com. Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNLCCWF and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, addressed the gathering. They have narrated the demands of casual contract labours and the role of BSNL Management. In connection of CEC meeting of the BSNLEU, the circle union of BSNLCCWF has arranged this meeting where a good number of casual contract workers were present in the meeting. Really it was a good meeting in a crucial situation of state. (Courtesy: BSNLCCWF WEBSITE)

BSNLCCWF meeting with Labour Commissioner on 22nd March 2018

24 Saturday Mar 2018

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As scheduled in the last meeting held on 22nd February 2018, a meeting was held between BSNLCCWF and Labour Commissioner in Delhi on 22.03.2018 and discussion held. It is stated by the leaders that after instructions from labour commissioner, the BSNL Management has not implemented the Gazette Notification for the contract workers throughout the country except few circles. Leaders of BSNLCCWF have lodged a complaint before the labour commission that though the BSNL Management has endorsed the Gazette Notification revised wages for the contract labourers but at the same time, the management has issued the order for 50% curtailment of the contract labourers to minimize the expenditure. It is also mentioned that social security measures like EPF, ESI, Gratuity has not been implemented. Further, they have also taken a negative stand to implement the 7th CPC for the casual labourers wages. He has ordered the management to give a specific reply on writing on the issues of the 7th CPC recommendation for the casual labourers. The Labour commissioner also slapped the BSNL Management on the issue of regularization and the gratuity for the casual and contract workers. Labour commissioner has remarked in the discussion that Uma Devi Judgement should not misuse to harass the casual and contract workers. In reply, on behalf of the BSNL Management, has submitted the written statement before the ALC(C) regarding the agenda of BSNL Casual and Contract workers where in it is stated that the revision of the wages of the Casual Labour will be determined at the time of 3rd PRC on which leaders of the BSNLCCWF has strong protest for this delay practice of the management. Com Animesh Mitra, Secretary General, BSNLCCWF and Tapas Kumar Ghosh, Working President was present in the meeting and 5 officers of BSNL were present in the meeting. After hearing, ALC(C) has advised to the Federation to give the reply of the statement of the BSNL Management earliest so that a decision can be taken by BSNL in the next meeting which will be fixed on 27.04.2018.(BSNLCCWF Website)

District Conference of BSNLCCWF, Salem

06 Tuesday Mar 2018

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The Salem District Conference of BSNLCCWF was held on 4th March 2018 at Tiruchengodu presided over by Com. K.Rajan District President. More than 200 comrades participated, including a large number of women workers. Some of them had brought their children also.
Before start of the Conference, the union flag was hoisted on the new flag-mast constructed in front of the Telephone Exchange by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, All India President, BSNLCCWF. The National Flag and Union flag at the Conference site were hoisted by Com. S.Sreenivasan and Com.K.Venkateswaran respectively. Com.M.Selvam led in paying homage to the Martyrs.
Dist. Secretary Com. C.Bhaskar and Com. Rajasingham welcomed all the participants. Coms. S.Tamil Mani, Branch President, E.Gopal, District Secretary BSNLEU and Com. N.Veluchamy, Secretary CITU greeted the conference.
Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, in his special address spoke in detail about the demands of the casual contract workers, the discussion with the CLC/RLC, the agitations conducted and the present position of the demands. He also spoke on the national struggles being organised by the central trade unions and need to be part of the same. He called upon the workers to strengthen the organisation.
The conference unanimously elected office-bearers with Com. K.Rajan as President, Com. M.Selvam as District Secretary and Com. C.Bhaskar as Treasurer.

BSNL Contract worker committed suicide due to non-receipt of wages for two months.

01 Thursday Mar 2018

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With deep grief we intimate that Com. Dileep Kumar, a contract worker engaged in BSNL Killivayal Excange, Pathanathitta committed suicide yesterday due to extreme mental strain for not getting wages for two months from the contractor / BSNL Management. He is survived by his wife Suja and a daughter. The concerned contractor is IIMS Kayamkulam. There are 325 contract workers in Pathanamthitta SSA and none has been paid wages.

BSNLCCWF, the union of the BSNL contract workers has been on agitation demanding payment of wages immediately and a circle level hunger strike  was held two days back before CGM office.

We demand that immediate action should be taken to pay the wages to the contract workers. We also demand that immediate relief should be given to the family and an enquiry to be conducted in the matter and the culprits punished.

We convey our heartfelt condolences to the bereave family, friends and comrades.

 

BSNLCCWF calls for Protest Day on 7th February 2018

31 Wednesday Jan 2018

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All India Protest Day on 7th February, 2018 to achieve the genuine demands of the Casual Contractual Workers.

It was decided in the last CEC meeting, that  BSNLCCWF will observe  All India Protest Day on 7th February, 2018 in all BSNL exchanges/offices throughout the country. We have finalised the Posters and Charter of Demands on which we can organise a week long campaign programme among the workers in the First week of February, 2018. You are therefore requested to print out the posters and charter of demands in local languages. Massive demonstration programme should be organised on that day in the office of the Local BSNL Administration. Hope you will do the needful to make the programmne a grand success. (Courtesy: BSNLCCWF website)

BSNLCCWF CEC at Raipur calls for struggle to achieve demands

21 Sunday Jan 2018

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Raipur CEC meeting announced trade union action to achieve genuine demands of Casual/Contractual Workers.

The CEC meeting of BSNLCCWF was held at Raipur, Chhattisgarh on 13th & 14th January’18, with great enthusiasm. The meeting was held at Vipra Bhavan, Samta Colony. The arena of the meeting was well decorated with union flags and festoons. Before commencement of the meeting the Red Flag of our union was hoisted by Com. V.A.N. Namboodiri, President, BSNLCCWF. Com. Dharmadas Mahapatra, State Secretary CITU, inaugurated the CEC meeting. Com.R.S. Bhatt, CS, BSNLEU, Com. S.C.Bhattacharjee, Veteran leader AIBDPA, Com. K. Mohanan, Asstt. General Secy., BSNLCCWF also spoke. Com. Animesh Mitra, Secy. Genera, placed report before the house for discussion.Com Tapas Banerjee, Treasurer, placed the accounts.

Apart from office bearers and CEC members, delegates from the following states attended the meeting- Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, CTD, West Bengal, Orissa, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra and Jharkhand.

The following items were focused and discussed in the meeting by the delegates – Retrenchment of casual/ contract workers, delay in payment of monthly wage, fund curtailment, Rs 18,000/- wage of the casual laborers, Gratuity etc. The meeting with CLC held at New Delhi was reported in the house by Secy. Genl., Com. Animesh Mitra.

After threadbare discussion on the above issues by the delegates and members, a 10 points Charter of Demands was prepared and 5 points Trade Union programmes were announced which were unanimously accepted by the house.

(1) Protest Day on 7th February, 2018, 2) March to CGMT Office on 8th March, 2018, 3) Signature Campaign, 4) Submission of Memorandum to the CMD and CLC, 5) Membership campaign programme, 6) Celebration of Ten Years completion of BSNLCCWF etc.

The CEC meeting has adopted three resolutions e.g. a) extension of full support to the programme of “March to Sanchar Bhawan” by the Unions and Associations of BSNL to be held on 23rd February, 2018 b) Massive campaign amongst the members against the dreadful “FRDI bill”, c) Protest against the decision of the Government to form a “Subsidiary Tower Company”.

The CEC meeting of BSNLCCWF at Raipur ended successfully.