Category Archives: SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

Why We Oppose Subsidiary Tower Company! Towards One Day Strike on 15th December 2016!

25 Friday Nov 2016

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

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Massive protest dharnas were organised throughout the country on 25th November 2016 as per the call of  all unions/associations of non-executives and executives in BSNL against the move of the government to form a Subsidiary Tower Company bifurcating  BSNL. In BSNL Corporate Office also, the dharna was participated by large numbers of comrades who have come from UP(W) and Haryana Circles as also from the corporate office and NTR. The workers were agitated and angry that the government and the BSNL Management is moving against the interest of BSNL and its workforce.

Why workers are opposing the Subsidiary Tower Company?

  1. There is no need for a separate tower company. BSNL has got more than 65,000 towers at present and they are working well and helping the improvement of  services.
  2. Although government says that it will be a fully subsidiary company of BSNL, this is only temporary. Within no time, it will be separated and will be put under strategic sale as in the case of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited(VSNL). It will cease to be a BSNL Tower Company and will be a Adani Tower Company/Reliance Tower Company/Tata Tower Company or some other private Tower Company according to who takes  it.
  3. Once it is a separate company, BSNL will have to pay charges of using the same to the Private company. This will be just like BSNL paying for undersea cable charges to private companies although BSNL  paid funds for installing the same.
  4. The Reliance Jio which has not much  towers so far badly need the same. A separate tower company will be the answer.
  5. Such a situation will be the decline of BSNL, which is on fast revival path.
  6. ‘Divide and Destroy’ is the strategy being adopted by the government.

But the government, private corporates and  BSNL management have forgotten certain aspects:

  1. This is not the first time that the government and management have tried to ‘Divide and Destroy’ BSNL. First they decided to ‘unbundle’ the priceless copper cables of BSNL, which lies underground connecting the entire country. This conspiracy was defeated by the united strike decision of the BSNL employees and the Secretary DOT was compelled to give written assurance to the Joint Action Committee that the cables will not be unbundled.
  2. Government decided to retrench, in the name of VRS, first 50,000 employees, then 1,00,000 employees and lastly 70,000 employees. United agitation by  BSNL workers ensured that these anti-worker actions are defeated.
  3. Government decided to disinvest BSNL thrice and offered 3% of shares to the employees. Through stiff resistance and strike, the workers ensured that government could not implement its decision.
  4. The government withdrew all assistance and financial support to BSNL, which were assured at the time of formation of BSNL, with the intention of making BSNL unviable to enable it to privatise the PSU. Due to consistent efforts by the unions/associations and workers, BSNL is brought in to operational profit, in which the management also had a great contribution. As such the ill-intention of the government was defeated.
  5. The government move to unbundle cables, Retrenchment/VRS, Disinvestment etc. could be defeated only because of the strong unity and firm determination of  BSNL workers, both executives, non-executives, contract workers and even the retired employees. It is to be remembered that the one lakh strong contract workers went on strike every time there was a strike by the employees, though many of them were retrenched from work and victimised. Under the leadership of BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation, they stood with the employees, since they understood that their future depended upon the existence of BSNL. In the same way, the pensioners under the leadership of All India BSNL DOT Pensioners Association stood with the workers by participating in all programmes (other than strike). Their future is also connected with the existence of BSNL.
  6. While the policy of the government is ‘Divide and Destroy’, the counter policy of the workers has been ‘United Struggle’, ‘Better Service’ and ‘Revival of BSNL.’ The workers have won so far, although through much sacrifice and suffering.
  7. The massive dharnas have once again shown that BSNL workers are united and firm against the formation of ‘Subsidiary Tower Company’ and will fight to the last to defeat the attack on the ‘survival of BSNL.’
  8. If the government and management do not go back from this attack on BSNL, the 2 lakh BSNL workers and  one lakh casual contract workers, with the support of almost 2 lakh DOT-BSNL pensioners  will fight to the last and defeat the sinister game of the government.
  9. All the workers should be individually contacted, explained and  made ready for the One Day Strike on 15th December 2016 for which notice has already been served by the unions/associations. It is not a strike ritual. It is a real strike in which each and every employee is convinced and ready to fight till the last.

“UNITY FOR STRUGGLE – STRUGGLE FOR UNITY – UNITY AND STRUGGLE FOR PROGRESS”

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BSNL Management should utilise the vacant staff quarters effectively

03 Saturday Sep 2016

Posted by in General, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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Except in Delhi and very few other cities, there are a lot of vacant BSNL staff quarters. The reason is well known. There has been very less recruitment while retirement rate is very high. After formation of BSNL in 2000, more than 1,60,000 employees have retired, while the new recruitment is around 40,000. Secondly, most of the employees have constructed their own homes, utilising the home loans available. Thirdly, employees, especially executives and senior employees can get houses on rent for lesser amount than to be paid for the quarters. In some places, these quarters are vacant for a long period and are decaying.

The BSNL quarters are mostly in the centre of the cities, where there is much demand for houses. All these quarters should be repaired to good condition and can be given on rent to Central/State government, PSUs for accommodating their employees. In fact, as per the suggestion of BSNLEU earlier, such arrangement has been made in some places. This will provide additional funds for the company and at the same time, keep the quarters in good condition.

Union leaders at the local level should take up the matter with the BSNL administration. BSNLEU has many times brought this to the notice of corporate management. BSNL Management should take immediate initiative in the matter, which will benefit the company.

DEFEAT GOVT. MOVE FOR STRATEGIC SALE OF BSNL AND MTNL !

20 Wednesday Jul 2016

Posted by in BSNL, Disinvestment, Forum, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom TU Movement 1991-2015

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BSNL has always been a target of both the UPA and NDA governments to be attacked and finished. BSNL was formed as a PSU with the intention of privatising after some time. As all know, telecom sector with its huge profit, has always been a paradise for the corporates, Indian and foreign. BSNL stands as a challenge to these corporates for minting unlimited profits. The government company had to be either killed or gradually privatised through disinvestment. In order to achieve this, BSNL has to be discredited, made loss making so that there will be on reaction from the public. The continuous growth of BSNL for the first five years was a shock to the government as well as the corporates. The move of the government to reduce the number of employees through VRS was defeated by the complete strike and sustained struggles of the workers who stood together like a rock. Move to disinvest was also defeated in the same way.

It is at this time that the government intervened and cut the entire equipment procure programme of BSNL, not once but thrice. It was just like sending an army in the forward area without arms and ammunition. Only through a magnificient strike, the damage could be lessened, which at least allowed the company to move slowly forward.

The posting of loss for the last four years encouraged the government to bring their long pending agenda of privatisation to the forefront. The proposal of NITI Ayog for strategic sale of BSNL and MTNL is nothing but handing over the companies to the corporates for garnering huge profits and grab the lakhs of acres of land in the centre of towns. People know how Maruti, the country’s prestigious company, was transferred to Japan’s Suzuki. People know how VSNL, another telecom company was handed over to Tata for a pittance.

The NITI Ayog’s present recommendation is a jerk action, seeing that BSNL is being revived after the joint efforts of the management and the workers under the leadership of Forum of BSNL Unions/ Associations. ‘Customer Delight Year’, ‘Service With A Smile’, ‘Free Night Call’ and such other programmes have improved both service and the financial position. There is an operational profit of about Rs. 2,000 crore this year and there may be real profit from next year. In such a situation, the government will not be able to implement its sinister schemes. Hence the government’s urgency to move with lightning speed for strategic sale.

The workers of BSNL will never allow a VSNL in BSNL. BSNL is their bread and butter. More than that, it is the pride and glory of the country, which served them dedicatedly and sincerely for the last one and half century with out fail. The telecom workers have a glorious past of fighting against wrong polices of the government. They will march ahead in this struggle path with maximum unity and determination.

We call upon all the Unions and Associations in BSNL to close their ranks immediately and come together under the Forum of BSNL Unions and Association to fight and defeat the sinister move of the government to kill BSNL and MTNL. The internal and other differences have to be kept aside at this crucial juncture. It is just like a national emergency for the BSNL and MTNL employees.

Remember how the private management of VSNL, ITDC Hotels, BALCO etc. after privatisation, retrenched the women workers, SC/ST employees and then more than half of the employees on one pretext or other, pushing them to the crowd of the crores of unemployed in the country. Some of them even committed suicide without finding themselves unable to maintain their families. All the assurances were broken and the workers were thrown to the steets.

Do we in BSNL want such a situation? NO! We will fight and defeat the  ugly monsters who wants us to be thrown to the streets. Let each and every worker come under the mighty Forum to save BSNL and save their own future!

UNITY FOR STRUGGLE !

STRUGGLE FOR UNITY !

UNITY AND STRUGGLE TO DEFEND BSNL AND OUR EXISTENCE !

 

 

Why we oppose VRS/CRS in BSNL?

26 Thursday May 2016

Posted by in BSNL, BSNLEU, Disinvestment, Forum, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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The press statement of Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL,  that Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) is required in BSNL to reduce the loss has brought the issue of VRS/CRS once again as a matter of intense discussion among the workers. A few comrades have asked why we could not accept VRS/CRS. The government and management had decided to impose VRS/CRS thrice in the past, but had to backtrack before the strong opposition from the unions/associations. But since many new entrants are there who were not part of the earlier struggle, it will be relevant to point out why the workers and their unions are against the imposition of VRS/CRS.

The following points are very relevant in this matter.

  1. Corporatisation is the first step towards privatisation. Since a government department can not be directly made in to a private entity, the telecom services, a government department, was converted in to a corporation, despite strong opposition from the workers and their unions. ‘Business is not the business of the government’ is the policy of both NDA and UPA governments. Telecom Services is one of the biggest business with lakhs of crores of rupees investment and much more profit. Private companies are there in the field, but they want either BSNL and MTNL should be privatised or closed down so that they can reap much more profit. To justify privatisation or closure, BSNL has to be made loss making and inefficient, so that the public will not oppose much. VRS is a tool for the same.
  2. All decisions taken by the government and management since corporatisation were in this direction. It is thus, that BSNL which was having a profit of Rs. 40,000 crore annually and a profit of Rs. 10,000 – 12,000 crore was made in to a loss making concern reducing its revenue to Rs. 26,000- 27,000 crore and a loss of about Rs.8,000 crore. Towards this down fall, the government took over the balance of about Rs. 40,000 crore with the BSNL citing various reasons, stopped procurement of equipment required for development, did not recruit to compensate the retiring employees etc.
  3. Disinvestment of shares of the company is one method through which it can be privatised, as was done in the case of Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited, which was handed over to Tata. More than 46% of shares of MTNL are already sold and 5% more will mean that the government will lose control of the PSU. That is why, BSNL Unions under the leadership of Joint Action Committee/Joint Forum/Forum orgnaised mighty struggles and defeated the decisions of the government for disinvestment. BSNL is one of the few PSUs, whose share has not been sold at all.
  4. In the same way, VRS/CRS is another way for facilitating privatisation. After privatisation of VSNL, BALCO, ITDC Hotels etc., the new management started retrenching employees in large numbers starting with women workers and SC/ST etc. There was strong opposition against this from the workers. Hence the private lobby is putting pressure on the government that before privatisation itself, the number of workers should be reduced to the minimum so that, the take over will be easy. Instead of permanent workers, these private companies are employing contract workers, daily wagers and apprentices / trainees, thus maximising exploitation. This is another reason why the government wants VRS/CRS in the PSUs.
  5. There were about 3,50,000 employees at the time of formation of BSNL in 2000. Now it has been reduced to about 2,00,000, a reduction of 1.5 lakh workers. About 10,000 – 15,000 workers are retiring every year with only minimum recruitment. Who will do the work? The plan is to employ contract workers, apprentices etc.
  6. The claim of the management that almost 50% of the revenue is spent on salary bill is nothing short of confusing the public. For the last 4-5 years, there has been no increase in the total salary bill, which is around Rs. 14,000 crore. The % has increased only due to the reduction in the revenue from Rs. 40,000 crore to Rs. 26,000 -27,000 crore. If the revenue has increased to Rs. 50,000 – 60,000 crore, the % of salary bill be much reduced. Management and the government are fully responsible for the loss.
  7. Reduction of work force, without new recruitment will adversely affect the services. Wherever VRS has been implemented, as in the case of MTNL, this is the case. The Banks found out that after VRS, their services can not be run and immediately recruited almost double the number of employees who were sent out on VRS.
  8. Another argument is that the workers who opt for VRS will be benefitted by the compensation given. Of course a few lakhs of rupees extra will be received as per the scheme. But if you compare the pension of the employee who took VRS and the person who retires after superannuation, there will be a big difference with the latter getting much more pension since his salary will be higher. This loss in pension will continue through out the life of the person who takes VRS.
  9. Women workers are pressurised by their husband, children etc. to take VRS, since a good amount of money will be immediately available. But the fact is that a working women gets more respect in the society, they have a support from their co-workers at any time and they are also self-sufficient. Work for some more years and  a better pension will be a great help in their old age.
  10. VRS in fact is CRS – Compulsory Retirement Scheme. The question of VRS always comes just before another wage revision. After wage revision, the salary will increase, arrears have to be given etc. This will increase the pension also. Hence both the government and the management wants that maximum number of employees are sent out on VRS/CRS so that they need not pay the increased wages and pension. They think that they can confuse, mislead and blackmail the workers to opt for VRS.
  11. According to the management for implementing VRS in BSNL, about Rs. 18,000 crore is required. From where it is going to come? If that amount is there, it can be utilised for procuring equipment, modernising and giving a better service to the people.
  12. Another aim of the Government and management is to see that the workforce is reduced to such an extent that the struggle of the workers can be weakened and privatisation can take place easily as in the case of VSNL. The government is irritated that it could not implement either VRS or disinvestment in BSNL due to the presence of mighty unions.

In such a situation, there is no compromise on VRS and it has to be strongly fought and defeated as earlier. The Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations have to immediately condemn the move for VRS and ensure that the nefarious game of the Govt.and management is utterly defeated.

 

DOT, Where are the funds assured to BSNL ?

05 Wednesday Aug 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNLEU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom

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In the meeting with the Forum on 1st May 2015 consequent to the 2 days strike on 21-22 April and discussion later, the DOT had assured that the payment of Rs.1,250 crores approved for the financial year 2012-13 as well as part of refund of spectrum surrendered by the BSNL will be made without further delay. But so far, it is yet to be paid. Why so much delay? BSNL is in a big move to expand and improve its services to the customers. This is the time when the funds are required for the company.

The DOT should act immediately and ensure that the due funds are paid to BSNL immediately.

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2015 – ( 7 )

10 Wednesday Jun 2015

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JF Protests Sharing of BSNL Towers with private operators 

Meanwhile, the Communications Minister announced that the BSNL towers would be shared with the private operators for the benefit of the latter. This was strongly opposed by the Joint Forum and a press statement was issued on 17-03-2006.

Press Statement against the proposal of the government for the unbundling of copper cables of BSNL was issued on 31-05-2006 by the Joint Forum.

Meeting with the Secretary DOT on 7th June 2006

A meeting was held with Dr.J.S.Sharma, Secretary DOT, on 7th June 2006. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JF, Com. Nafe Singh and Com. Swapan Chakraborty also participated. The following issues were discussed:

Navaratna Status to BSNL: The Secretary DOT assured that the Navaratna Status will be conferred to BSNL next year after the fulfillment of obligatory provisions.

Unbundling of local loop: The apprehension of the workers on the formation of a sub-committee headed by the Secretary DOT on the issue was discussed and the Joint Forum strongly opposed the same. Secretary DOT assured that the commitment given earlier continued and no unbundling will take place.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL: Secretary DOT assured that the talk of merger is only speculation of the media and there is no decision for the same.

The Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations on 24th June 2006 addressed a letter to the Communications Minister Shri Dayanidhi Maran strongly opposing the proposal of unbundling the last mile copper and seeking a meeting to discuss the same.

The Joint Forum gave a call for Lunch hour Demonstrations at Circles and SSA levels on 27th July 2006 and telegrams to be sent to Prime Minister demanding “ No Disinvestment, No unbundling of local loop of BSNL & MTNL”. It was also decided to have a massive March to Parliament on 3rd August 2006.

Meeting with the Minister of Communications on 12th July 2006.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener Joint Forum along with Com. Basudev Acharya, M.P. & Leader of the CPI(M) in Lok Sabha, met the Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran on 12-07-2006 and expressed strong protest of the workers on the proposals for unbundling. The Minister, while sharing the concerns of the unions expressed that there is no need to unbundle loops of BSNL & MTNL. He said that in USA also, there is no unbundling. He commented that both the PSUs will be finished if unbundled. Coms. Mihir Dasgupta AGS BSNLEU and Animesh Mitra, CS BSNLEU, W.B.Circle also participated in the discussions. Minister assured positively and later told the press that there was no need for unbundling.

Protest against increasing of FDI from 49% to 74 % in Telecom sector – Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions decides for agitational programmes.

Despite the discussions with the Communications Minister and assurances by DOT and CMD, the government was steadily moving to implement increased FDI in telecom, unbundling of last mile copper etc. as part of its neo-liberal policies. Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited (VSNL) was privatized and the shares of MTNL were being disinvested. The government and the TRAI were taking anti-BSNL/MTNL decisions one after another favouring the private telecom companies. Earlier, the USOF was only for the BSNL/MTNL but it was being extended to the private operators also. A committee was formed under the Chairmanship of Secretary, DOT, with 9 members out of which 4 members were from various private telecom companies and one each from PMO and Planning Commission. The main issue was to unbundle the last mile copper of the telecom PSUs to benefit the private companies.

As such, the meeting of the Joint Forum held on 5th and 10th July 2006 after detailed discussion decided to organize agitational programmes on the following demands:

  1. No Disinvestment of BSNL/MTNL
  2. No unbundling of local loop
  3. No sharing of BSNL/MTNL infrastructure with private operators
  4. No increase in FDI
  5. No reduction in revenue sharing and ADC
  6. Immediate grant of Navaratna status to BSNL
  7. Grant autonomy to BSNL & MTNL
  8. Expand mobile and broadband services
  9. Early and amicable settlement of ITS absorption issue.

The following programmes  were also finalized:

  1. Joint Demonstrations to be organized at Circle/SSA headquarters on 27th July 2006. On the day, telegrams to be sent to the Prime Minister, New Delhi as follows:

“No Disinvestment, Unbundling of Local Loop of BSNL and MTNL”

  1. March to Parliament on 3rd August 2006.
  2. Strike in September 2006, the date which will be decided later.

Accordingly notice was issued to the Secretary, DOT and CMDs of BSNL and MTNL. It was signed by V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU) & Convener JF, O.P.Gupta (NFTE), K.Vallinayagam (FNTO), V.Narayana (BSNLMS), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), G.L.Jogi (SNEA), V.Subburaman (TEPU), S.P.Sharma (BSNLWRU), T.Muthukrishnan (AISC/STTEWA), A.D.Patil (AIBCTES), V.K.Tomar (MTNLEA), Vrijesh Upadhyay  (MTNLMS) and A.K.Koushik (TEAM). A detailed letter was sent to the Sub Group on ‘Unbundling of local loop’ strongly opposing and demanding that no unbundling be decided.

BSNL adds 0.43 million connections in April 2015

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, BSNL News, Forum, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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It is good news. BSNL has added 0.43 million connections in April 2015. This is a trend change from losing connection to adding connections.

Now BSNL has got 16.18 million landline connections and 77.50 mobile connections, including wireless connection, thus a total of 93.67 million. In the landlines it is first and in the mobiles it is in the 5th position after Bharti Airtel, Vodafone Essar, Idea and Reliance Telecom.

The Teledensity by the end of April 2015 stands at 80% with about 1 Billion (100 crore) connections.

BSNL has to go miles and miles. BSNL was number two up-to 2006. Can’t it come up again? Make  all out efforts.

Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL : 2004 – 2014 – (1)

04 Thursday Jun 2015

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A small book on “The Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL” authored and published by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri,  founder Convener, Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations of Non-Executives and Non-Executives, was released by the President Forum Com.C.Singh, GS NFTE, by handing over the same to Com. P.Abhimanyu, present Convener, Forum and GS BSNLEU.  The functioning of the Joint Forum/Joint Action Committee/Forum during the period 2004 to 2015 and the struggles and programmes organised including the developments taken place  are all noted in detail in the book.

When the Forum and the BSNL Management is making  all out efforts to Save BSNL and restore it to its past glory by improving the services and making it financially viable,  the struggles and sacrifices made by the workers in the past to SAVE  and DEFEND BSNL will certainly inspire the workers. Hence it is proposed to post the contents of the book in a serial manner, every day in this blog, so that interested comrades and well wishers can read it.

As the first installment,  the preface of the book is posted today.

Preface

BSNL, the telecom PSU, completely owned by Government of India has been facing a difficult situation for the past few years. When BSNL was formed as a corporation from a government department, despite strong opposition from the employees, the government had assured that it will provide all support to the new entity and pension of the retired employees will be paid by Government. The real intention of the corporatisation was to privatise it later, as has been in the case of VSNL.

Very well knowing that BSNL will face attacks from the aggressive implementation of the neo-liberal policy and pressure from the MNCs and corporates, employees have from the start prepared themselves to save BSNL and strengthen it. The Joint Forum of BSNL/MTNL Unions/Associations was formed which was followed by Joint Forum of  BSNL Unions/Associations which was later renamed to Joint Action Committee and  Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives. Sustained struggles were organised to save BSNL and defend the rights of the workers. Being the Convener of all these organisations from the start till now, and when I have relinquished the post and handed over to the younger generation, I feel it my responsibility to present a brief history of the events that took place from 2004 till now, May 2015.

The Forum has been able to bring all the unions/associations under its umbrella and had organised historic strikes and struggles, which compelled the government to cancel its decisions to disinvest and privatise BSNL, Retrench lakhs of workers through VRS, unbundle the valuable cables of BSNL, deny the pension revision of retired employees and so on. It has been a unifying force of the workers.

At this juncture, I convey my thanks and appreciation to all the leaders and workers of the unions/associations of executives and non-executives in BSNL, who co-ordinated and contributed in making the Forum an invincible weapon to defend BSNL and its workers. I am sure that the Forum will continue to fulfill its great responsibilities in the future also.

V.A.N.Namboodiri, 25th May 2015.

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Book on “Struggles by Workers to Defend and Save BSNL” released

25 Monday May 2015

Posted by in BSNL News, Forum, PSU, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom

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The book ” Struggles by workers to defend and Save BSNL”, on the sustained struggle by the Joint Forum/Joint Action Committee/Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations of Non-Executives and Executives from 2004 to 2015, written by Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Founder Convener of JF/JAC/Forum was released today, 25th May 2015, by Com. C.Singh, President of Forum by handing over the same to Com.P.Abhimanyu, Convener Forum.

It details the continuous struggles waged under the Forum for the last 11 years, including 5 successful strikes, 5 parliament Marches, three All India Conventions, discussions with the Prime Minister, Communication Minister, Secretary DOT, CMD BSNL etc. The united strength of the BSNL Employees could stop disinvestment of BSNL. VRS in BSNL, unbundling etc. Its effort to improve the services is also mentioned. It is the fighting history of the BSNL workers for the last 11 years.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri was appreciated by the meeting of the Forum held today for preparing and publishing the book, which is part of history of the BSNL and its workers. The book is priced at Rs.50/- and will be dispatched on requisition.