The General Secretaries of BSNL Executive and Non-Executive Unions will be serving Indefinite Strike Notice to the CMD BSNL today on the major and long pending demands of the BSNL workers. The Indefinite Strike will start from 13th June 2012.

Watch the websites of the unions for the latest developments. I also will put the latest news in this blog.

The Joint Committee on ‘Change of designations’ was held today, 29th May. A general consensus has been reached on the major four cadres of RM,TM,Sr.TOA and TTA. But still there are some fine-tunings to be done. The next meeting is scheduled to be held on 18th June.

The joint committee of Official and Staff  sides formed as per decision of the National Council for recommending change of designations is meeting tomorrow, 29th May. The Staff Side has already given their suggestions for the four main cadres viz. RM, TM, Sr.TOA and TTA. Almost a general consensus has been reached in the committee and we hope to finalise the same in the meeting tomorrow. But the official side has been wavering now and then and hence it was not finalised earlier. Our approach is get new designations which are suitable considering all aspects. The official side should understand the feeling of the unions and workers and avoid the unnecessary delay in finalising the issue.

The JAC was informed several times that Advance Purchase Orders have been issued for telephone instruments, cables, broadband modems, GSM lines etc. and they are on the supply pipeline. But wherever we go on tour, it is the same complaint from our comrades that nothing of these have reached the SSAs. Promises and assurances are for being kept and not for records only. The management should explain what is the delay in supplying the same. This is a crucial time for the BSNL and even a delay of one day in supply of these equipments and instruments will be very costly for the future of the company.

It seems that most of the managements at All India, Circle and SSA levels are not seriously interested in procuring the same. Whenever our field level workers and unions approach the officers demanding for the above, the casual reply is that nothing has been received. When we approach the top-level corporate management, the reply is that every thing has already been done for procurement.

Is it can be called a management which can not even procure the equipments and instruments that is vitally required for the company ? Is it a management which can not ensure implementation of its own decisions? Or is it that the BSNL management is going the disastrous route taken by the Air India management?

But the workers and their unions can not sit idle. Continuous pressure and struggles are required to make the management to work in the interest of the company. Of Course, the major struggle is to change the anti-worker policy of the government which is crippling BSNL.

The insensitive BSNL Management has made another attack on the Executive and Non-Executive employees. BSNL Employees have been demanding for payment of bonus which has been denied for the last three years, restoration of the Medical Allowance without Voucher which was taken away, LTC etc. which was imposed on the workers on the plea that funds are not available. The employees Unions even told the management that order on 78.2% IDA merger be issued and if necessary, the arrears can be paid later. The management was not prepared even to accept this.

Now all of a sudden on 25th May, last Friday, the Management has issued orders granting 15 allowances/benefits etc. to the ITS officers who are on deputation causing expenses of crores of rupees to the company. The plea is that this is as per VI CPC recommendations. Then why the 78-2% IDA merger was not implemented for other employees which is also as per orders of the government.

The Management is having two policies – one for ITS deputationists and another for the optees. There is no money to implement government orders for absorbed employees, but when it comes to ITS deputationists there is no question of money and each and every benefit is sanctioned and for them. The workers will not tolerate this injustice and discrimination.

The Unions met Director (Finance ) in the absence of the CMD BSNL, who is on tour and conveyed the strong sentiments of the workers.The Forum of BSNL Unions /Associations met immediately today and has strongly protested this  discrimination meted  out to the executives and Non-Executives.

The Forum decided to give notice for indefinite strike from 13th  June and the notice will be served on the management on 29th May (tomorrow) demanding restoration of the withdrawn facilities, grant of 78.2% IDA Merger, Bonus etc. It can not be that there is money to grant all benefits to the ITS non-optees, but there is no money for the absorbed employees and officers. Massive demonstrations will be organised on 31st May in all SSAs. On the same day, dharna will be organised at Corporate Office with  maximum participants. On 6th June dharnas will be organised at SSA/Circle levels in preparation for the indefinite strike.

The workers are serious. They can not be taken for granted when they are discriminated and insulted. There is no question of tolerating such injustice. I have no doubt that the workers will rise to the occasion and give a befitting reply to the management.