2008

All India Protest Day observed on 21^st January 2008

BSNL workers as per the call of the Joint Forum observed the All India Protest Day by wearing black badges and demonstrating in front of BSNL offices and exchanges. Hundreds of workers participated in these demonstrations warning the management of the ensuing strike if the demands raised by the Joint Forum are not settled.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Joint Forum, addressed letters 0n 14-01-2008 to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, Shri Santosh Mohan Deb,  Minister of State, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises and Shri A.Raja Communications Minister on the urgency of settling the issues and seeking for a meeting.

Meeting with CMD on 23-01-2008

On the basis of the letter dated 23-01-2008 from the Forum, a meeting was held with Shri Kuldip Goyal, CMD BSNL and discussed the following issues:

Immediate purchase of equipments, restoration of ADC to BSNL which was discontinued from 2008-2009, early payment of USOF, Modernisation and increasing productivity of Telecom Factories, regular functioning of the Works Committee at SSAs, providing broadband connections without delay, increasing of marketing, eliminating wastage and corruption etc.

Joint Forum calls for Indefinite Strike from 26-02-2008 against Disinvestment

As per the decision of the Joint Forum the strike notice was served on 24^th January 2008.The demands of the strike included (1) Drop IPO/Disinvestment proposal in BSNL (2) Wihdraw proposal for VRS in BSNL (3) Withdraw DOT’s arbitrary order dated 15-06-2006 on BSNL’s pension Contribution (4) Ensure uninterrupted supply of 2G and 3G equipments, additional 2G spectrum as well as 3G spectrum as agreed earlier (5) Ensure BSNL’s financial viability by continuing ADC, Reimbursement of Licence Fee and USO Fund (6) Grant  Navaratna status to BSNL and (8) Immediate absorption of ITS. The strike notice  issued on 24-01-2008 was signed by V.A.N.Namboodiri (BSNLEU), M.B.Vichare(NFTE BSNL), K.Vallinayagam(FNTO), G.L.Jogi (SNEA(I), K.Sathyanarayan (AIBSNLEA), V.Subburaman(TEPU), V.Narayana (BSNLMS), S.P.Sharma(BSNLWRU), V.R.Venugopal(BTEU), A.D.Patil(AIBCTES), R.S.Yadav(ATM), Hari Singh (BTU) and Subhash Gaur(BSNLOA). Wide publicity was given to the strike through issue of pamphlets, press statements and wall posters etc.

Discussion with Secretary, DOT on the Strike issues

On the basis of the strike notice issued by the Joint Forum, a meeting was called by Secretary, DOT Shri Sidharth Behura on 19-02-2008, in which CMD BSNL Shri Kuldeep Goyal was also present. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JF and other leaders explained the demands of the strike. The outcome of the deliberation in brief was the following:

1. Disinvestment of BSNL: There is no immediate proposal for IPO. Minister has also issued a press release on this.
2. VRS proposal: If the BSNL employees do not want VRS, no such scheme will be introduced.
3. Withdrawal of DOT’s Arbitrary orders on Pension (60% – 40%): The matter will be taken up with Cabinet.
4. Uninterrupted supply of 2G, 3G spectrum: This will be given preference. BSNL will be allotted 3G spectrum.
5. Ensure BSNL’s Financial viability: DOT Secretary stated that Cabinet Note is under circulation and assured discussion with Minister and appropriate action will be taken for the same.
6. Navaratna Status to BSNL: DPE shall forward the case for grant of Navaratna status to BSNL for consideration by apex body.
7. Immediate absorption of group A Officers: Matter is under active consideration of DOT. Draft Cabinet Note is under preparation and the final note will be prepared within 15-20 days.

To a question in the Parliament, the Minister of State for Communications & IT Shri Shakeel Ahmed stated on 28-02-2008 that the government is not considering disinvestment of BSNL.

Move to impose Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS)

Shri A.K.Sinha, then outgoing CMD BSNL, told to the media on 31-07-2007 that the management is proposing to bring in VRS to send out 20,000 employees. This was strongly opposed by the Joint Forum and a protest letter was sent to the CMD against the proposal.

Protest Demonstration on 9^th August 2007 against VRS

The BSNL employees organized massive demonstrations on 09-08-2007 protesting against the proposed VRS and demanding that the proposal be scrapped.

Meeting with CMD on 10-08-2007

The newly appointed CMD, Shri Kuldeep Goyal met the leaders of the Joint Forum on 10-08-2007. The main issue was the proposal for VRS for 20,000 employees, which the Unions strongly opposed. The CMD assured that no VRS will be implemented without discussing with the unions.

Issues taken with DOT

The following issues were  taken up by the Joint Forum with DOT/ Government during the period:

1. Grant of Navaratna status to BSNL.
2. Cancellation of orders on pension directing BSNL to pay 40% to government, if the total amount paid by BSNL to DOT is less than 60% of the total pension amount.
3. National Telecom Policy
4. Increase in Minimum Bonus to Rs. 10,000.

National Seminar  of BSNL Employees on 7^th September 2007

As per the decision of the Joint Forum of BSNL Unions/Associations, a successful National Convention of BSNL employees was organized on 7^th September 2007 at a large pandal erected at the Eastern Court premises, New Delhi. More than 600 delegates from all parts of the country participated.

A presidium consisting of Coms. K.Vallinayagam (FNTO), J.N.Mishra(BSNLEU), R.N.Pande (NFTE), A.A.Khan (SNEA), K.Satyanarayana (AIBSNLEA), S.S.Tomar (BSNLMS), S.P.Shrivastava (TEPU), M.C.Sharma(BSNLWRU), Hari Singh (BTU BSNL), D.P.Patwa(AIBCTES), R.S.Yadav(BSNLATM) and Dhiraj Choudhary (SNATTA) conducted the proceedings.

Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, GS BSNLEU and Convener, Joint Forum, welcomed all, especially the delegation of Confederation of South Korean Trade Unions, which was visiting India and attended the Convention. The leader of the delegation Com. Lee Sukhaeng greeted and congratulated the unions for the sustained fight against privatization. Convener spoke about the present situation of BSNL and the tasks ahead.

Coms. M.K.Pandhe, President, CITU, Sitaram Yechury, M.P., Gurudas Dasgupta, M.P & General Secretary AITUC, Harish Rawat, M.P., C.Kuppusamy, M.P. and other trade union leaders addressed the convention and congratulated the BSNL workers for their struggle to save BSNL and conveyed their support and solidarity for the struggle.

Comrades M.B.Vichare (NFTE), M.R.Vasisht (FNTO), Swapan Chakraborty (BSNLEU), S.L.Reddy(SNEA), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), Suresh Kumar (BSNLMS), V.Subburaman (TEPU), Raj Kishore (BSNLWRU), Hari Singh (BTU BSNL) and A.D.Patil (AIBCTES) also addressed the Convention.

The Declaration of the   National Convention on the demands and agitational programmes to strengthen the BSNL and provide a better service to the people was presented by Convener Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri and unanimously adopted by the house. The Convention called upon the workers to continue the struggle and to organize effective campaign and also to organize one day long dharna at circle level on 11^th October 2007.

Declaration of National Convention (to be typed/pasted)

The Reception Committee headed by Coms. A.A.Khan and R.S.Chouhan etc. made all the arrangements in a very effective manner.

Dharna by BSNL Workers on 11-10-2007

As per the call of the Joint Forum, massive dharnas were organized on 11^th October 2007 in all SSAs protesting against the undue delay in procuring GSM lines, Non-grant of Navaratna status to BSNL, Absorption of Group A/ITS officers and pension issues.

In Delhi, the dharna  was organized in front of Corporate Office, Bharat Sanchar Bhawan, participated by hundreds of workers.  Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, Forum & GS BSNLEU, K.Vallinayagam (FNTO), M.B.Vichare (NFTE), Prahlad Rai (AIBSNLEA), Thomas John(FNTO), A.A.Khan(SNEA), V.Subburaman (TEPU) and other leaders addressed. Thousands of workers participated in the dharnas at Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Thiruvananthapuram, Chandigarh, Ahmedabad, Lucknow, Patna etc.

Joint Forum protests proposal of 20% IPO/ Disinvestment  in BSNL

Reacting to the proposal of 20% IPO /Disinvestment in BSNL by the Government, the Joint Forum immediately issued a Press Statement on 25-11-2007, opposing the same and cautioning the government that the workers will go on agitation, if any such move is initiated.

Joint Forum meets Secretary DOT on 26^th November 2007

Leaders of the Joint Forum met Shri D.S.Mathur, Secretary, DOT on 26-11-2007 and discussed important issues like ITS Absorption, Allotment of additional 2G spectrum as well as 3G spectrum, grant of Navaratna status to BSNL, opposition to 20% IPO in BSNL and bonus for DOT employees. Coms. V.A.N.Namboodiri, Convener, JF and representatives of BSNLEU, SNEA, FNTO, AIBSNLEA, NFTE, BSNLMS and TEPU participated.

Since the government was moving with the disinvestment ( IPO)proposal  of BSNL , the Joint Forum urgently met on 15^th January 2008 and decided to organize agitational programmes against the same. It was decided to observe an All India Protest Day on 21^st January 2008 by wearing black badges and conducting demonstrations at Circle/District /Branch levels. (To be continued)