Category Archives: SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN

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

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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.

National Council Meeting on 14th May 2015

11 Monday May 2015

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Next meeting of the National Council of BSNL is scheduled to be held on 15th May 2015. It is more than  7 months since the last meeting had been held on 25th September 2014. This is undue and unusual delay and is untenable.

BSNL Management has to understand that the negotiating machinery is put in to discuss and settle the justified and reasonable demands of the employees. Delay in holding the meeting gives a wrong signal, which is to be avoided.

In the same way, despite many reminders from Corporate Office of BSNL, the Works Committee Meetings at SSAs, between the Management and Unions on development and expansion of services etc., have not taken place in many places. These are to be held in all SSAs, in time, especially when the workers are on a campaign to improve the services to the customers.

The efficiency and discipline are not only for the workers, they are a must for the Management also.

 

BSNL reduces Roaming, SMS charges by 40% and 75% respectively

01 Friday May 2015

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After the announcement of free calls from BSNL land lines  in the night, BSNL  again has taken customer friendly decisions. It has reduced the roaming charges by 40% and the SMS charges by 75%. Well done. Despite loss, BSNL has done the correct thing.

Only One Day for the BSNL Strike to start – Make last minute preparations

19 Sunday Apr 2015

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The 2 Days Strike of the BSNL Employees will start on 21st April 2015 and will continue for 22nd. This is a strike to SAVE BSNL and SAVE NATION. If BSNL is not there, workers also will not be there. Hence this is a “DO OR DIE” situation for the employees. There is no other way but to strengthen BSNL and compel the Government to support BSNL and ensure that the assurances given by the Government at the time of corporatisation are honoured. The government should assist its own PSU company. The entire work force have to ensure a better customer service.

MAKE THE STRIKE COMPLETE, MAKE IT A BIG SUCCESS BY FULL PARTICIPATION.

SAVE BSNL, SAVE NATION (4) – No Subsidiary Tower Company. Merge BBNL with BSNL

28 Saturday Mar 2015

Posted by in BSNL - Better Service to the Nation, Neo-liberal policy, SAVE BSNL CAMPAIGN, Telecom

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The government is proposing to form a Tower Company, out of BSNL. It means that all the 97,000 and odd towers of BSNL will be kept separate, a few officers will be allotted to the new company, the towers will be shared and the profit will be with the new company. BSNL will loose even the funds that it is getting from the sharing. Another method to bleed BSNL. We can not accept this position. There is no need for a separate tower company.

BBNL was formed bifurcating BSNL in the same way for running the broadband service. Broadband is profitable and it has been formed as a separate company. Our demand is that it should be merged with BSNL  and formal position restored.

Whether merger of BSNL with MTNL or formation  of new companies out of BSNL are being done with only one single purpose; somehow to put BSNL out of service. The government could not put BSNL as a sick company so far. The merger as well the formation of new companies by bifurcating BSNL has the same target; to make BSNL sick and privatise it. We can not allow this.

Hence no merger with MTNL; No bifurcation to Tower Company; merge BBNL with BSNL.

Government gets over Rs. 1lakh crore from spectrum auction

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

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The spectrum action is over after a very long 19 days. The government will get Rs. 1,09,874 crores from the auction of 800 MHz, 900MHz, 1800MHz and 2100MHz spectrum. This is the biggest auction of spectrum so far. There has been stiff competition to get the spectrum by the private companies.

We demand that from the spectrum sale, at least Rs. 10,000 crore should be paid to BSNL as immediate assistance to purchase equipment for expansion and maintenance.

 

Appoint A Director from the Staff Side in the BSNL Board

25 Wednesday Mar 2015

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

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BSNL is passing through a difficult period. It is in loss, its market share has gone down to below 9% and its subscribers are surrendering land lines. A herculean effort is required to ring it back to normal. The Forum, which is the umbrella organisation of all the unions and associations is on a campaign trail to get the support of the people for its revival. The 2.5 lakh workers are fully committed to the revival of BSNL.

In this context, it is only appropriate that a member of the staff side /union / association should be included in the Director Board. Workers’ Participation should not only be a slogan, but is also to be practised.