2015

Notice  for two days  strike on 21-22 April 2015 served on 12-03-2015

The notice for strike from 21 to 22 April 2015 was served on the BSNL Management and Secretary, DOT, on 12-03-2015 after a mighty demonstration in front of the Corporate Office. Demonstrations were held in Circles/SSAs  also on the same day.

The Strike  notice was signed by Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum, P.Abhimanyu(BSNLEU), C.Singh (NFTE & President Forum), K.Sebastin (SNEA(I), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), K.Jayaprakash(NUBSNLW(FNTO), R.C.Pandey (BTEU), Suresh Kumar(BSNLMS), R.Venkatraman(TEPU), H.P.Singh(BSNLOA), Anoop Mukherjee(SNATTA), R.P.Sahu(AIGETOA), Rakesh Sethi(AIBSNLOA), R.K.Ram(BTUBSNL), Rana Pratap (BEA BSNL) and R.Raveendran (SEWA BSNL).

Parliament March on 25^th March 2015 on Revival of BSNL

The Parliament March which was decided to be held on 19^th December 2014 has been postponed to  25^th March 2015.  Almost all the state level conventions were held effectively and with massive participation of employees and addressed by Forum all India leaders. Lakhs of signatures from the people were collected demanding the government to take necessary action for Revival of BSNL.

The Parliament March on 25^th March 2015 started from the BSNL Corporate Office premises. The leaders of the Forum walked behind the big banner of FORUM  with Parliament March printed on it. Thousands of workers participated with banners and flags of all the unions/associations. Though the police had denied permission, the March went through Janpath, Tolstoy Marg and Jantar Mantar. When it reached near the Parliament Street, the march was stopped by the police with barricades, where a rally was held.

The rally was presided by Com. C.Singh GS NFTE & President Forum. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum welcomed all and congratulated the workers and leaders for the massive participation and presented the demands of the workers. The Meeting was addressed by Com. Tapan Sen, MP & General secretary CITU, Shri Vrijesh Upadhyay, General Secretary, BMS, Com. Shiv Gopal Mishra, General Secretary, AIRF, Com. Amarjit Kaur, Secretary, AITUC and Dr. Dharam Vir Gandhi, M.P. (AAP). The rally was also addressed by Coms.P.Abhimanyu(BSNLEU), Prahlad Rai(AIBSNLEA), K.Sebastin(SNEA(I), R.C.Pandey (BTEU), K.Jayaprakash(NUBSNLW(FNTO), Suresh Kumar(BSNLMS), R.Venkatraman(TEPU), Hari Singh(BTU) and others.

A Delegation consisting of Comrades C.Singh, President Forum and GS NFTE, V.A.N.Nambodiri Convener  Forum, P.Abhimanyu(BSNLEU), K.Sebastin(SNEA(I) and Prahlad Rai(AIBSNLEA) went and submitted the Memorandum  to the Prime Minister’s office.

The Parliament March was a big success in all respects. The workers and leaders of BSNL Unions/Associations deserved much appreciation for the same.

Meeting with CMD BSNL was held on 17^th April 2015. Since most of the items were to be decided to be settled by the DOT no agreement could be reached in the meeting.

 Mighty Two Days Strike on 21-22 April 2015

The discussion with CMD BSNL could not result in any settlement since most of the issues were to be settled with the DOT. The Secretary DOT did not call the Forum for a meeting to discuss the strike issues. Though a call was received in the late evening of 20^th April for a meeting immediately, it could not take place since the General Secretaries were not available since all  were in strike preparation.

The strike started from 00.00 hours on 20/21^st April and continued till 00.00 hours on 22/23 April 2015. The strike was a complete success with almost 100% in many places. In many circles the entire offices and exchanges stood closed and deserted without any employee attending. Huge demonstrations were organized in front of offices by the striking employees. The Casual and contract workers as per the call of the BSNLCCWF also struck work on both the days. As per call of AIBDPA, BSNL – DOT Pensioners participated in the demonstrations and gave solidarity and support. Central Trade Unions like CITU, AITUC, BMS, INTUC and others also supported.  AIRF, AIIEA, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, BEFI,  NFPE, AISGEF and other Federations of employees also gave full support and extended solidarity.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, met many Members of Parliament and briefed them about the demands raised in the strike and requested that these may be raised in the Parliament. The Forum is much thankful that the following Members of Parliament, Comrades Sankar Prasad Datta, Jitendra Choudhary ( both from Tripura), P.Karunakaran (leader of CPI(M) in Lok Sabha), P.K.Biju, A.Sampath, P.K.Sreemathi(all from Kerala) who raised in the zero hour in the Parliament on 22^st April the issues of strike by the BSNL workers and the demands and demanded intervention by the government. Some of these M.P.s addressed letters to the Communications Minister. (To be continued)

Contribution to J&K Relief Fund

There was heavy rain and unprecedented floods in Kashmir in September 2014 killing hundreds of people and destroying houses and every thing. For days, Srinagar was submerged including government offices and even hospitals. Such a disaster, Kashmir never saw. The Forum Meeting held on 12-09-2014 decided to contribute one day basic pay for the Kashmir Relief Fund and addressed the BSNL Management to deduct it from the salary and pay to the relief Fund. This was done.

Memorandum to the Members of Parliament

As per decision of the Forum, a Memorandum was prepared to be given to the Members of Parliament explaining the requirement of BSNL and to take up the issue with the government. This was circulated to the Circle/District Secretaries asking them to  meet  the MPs of their constituency requesting them to take up with the Central Government.

Programmes of Action demanding Revival of BSNL

The financial position was deteriorating. For continuous four years BSNL has posted loss. Equipments are not procured due to lack of funds. The issues of the  workers are not being settled in the name of loss. Despite continued efforts of the Forum and the unions/associations, neither the government nor the management was taking any action to improve the situation. Continuous meetings of the Forum were held in December 2014 and decision was taken to organize sustained struggle including indefinite strike for  making compulsions on the government and management to take necessary immediate actions for the revival of BSNL.

1. A Demands Day to be observed on 11^th December 2014.
2. Massive Campaign for 10 days from 11^th to 20 th December 2014 by meeting the public, MPs, MLAs, Trade Unions etc. seeking support for our demands
3. One crore signatures to be obtained from the Public in support of the demands addressed to the Prime Minister
4. Parliament March on 19^th December 2014 with massive participation on which date the Signatures will be presented to the Prime Minister.
5. 3 days dharna on 6-8 January 2015.
6. Indefinite Strike from 3^rd February 2015.

The meeting of the Forum held on 5^th December 2014 felt that more time is required for the Signature Campaign and other programmes to be organized successfully. It was also decided that state level conventions should be held in order to mobilize the workers for the indefinite strike. The General Secretaries should jointly participate in these conventions. The Forum should be formed in circles where it has not been formed so far. Such Conventions were held successfully with massive  participation. The Date of the Parliament March was also postponed for sufficient preparations, including reservation of tickets from far away places.

The Forum contacted all the unions of executives and non-executive unions in BSNL and called upon them to be party in this great struggle for the Revival of BSNL and SAVE BSNL-SAVE NATION Campaign.

19 meetings of the Forum were held in 2014 which took important decisions and implemented effectively.(To be continued)