BSNL Employees
to organize Protest Demonstrations
on 12th August,
2014
The Forum of
BSNL Unions/Associations has called upon the Employees to organize massive
demonstrations on 12th August against the M/s Deloittee Committee report
recommending retrenchment of more than 70,000 employees, engagement of
executives on contract basis, reduction of SSAs from 334 to 167 and
concentration of power at Circle (State) level, resulting in deterioration of
services. The social obligation of the government to provide
universal service is given a go-bye and restructure is suggested on the basis
of revenue only, that too erroneously.
The retrenchment of thousands of workers and induction of executives
on contract basis is recommended based on the wrong propaganda that the
increased wages of employees are the main reason for the loss of BSNL. But the
fact is that for the last four years, there has not been any increase in the
total wage bill. On the other hand, it has been reduced due to the retirement
of 10,000 – 15,000 employees every year. Even with one lakh more workers, BSNL was reaping huge
profits up to 2009 – 2010.
The loss to BSNL has been due to the reduction in revenue from the
earlier Rs.40,000 crore to Rs.26,000 crores within these years, which happened
mainly due to non-procurement
of equipment like mobile lines, cables, Broadband modem, drop wire, telephone
instruments etc. It is also to be noted that BSNL Management is canceling
requests for landline telephones stating that there is no feasibility to
provide them.
The Forum of
BSNL Unions / Associations have been crusading for the last many years to
provide a better service to the customers, but which has been stone walled by
the Govt. and Management by not procuring necessary equipment. The top level
Management, mostly ITS officers on deputation from govt., and not absorbed in
BSNL, are casual and least interested on the growth of the company.
The report of
the Deloittee consultant is prepared in tune with the neo-liberal policy being
implemented by the govt. to weaken and privatise the telecom PSUs. One of these, Videsh Sanchar
NIgam Ltd. (VSNL), has been handed over to Tata years back. It is in this
context that the Forum of BSNL Unions / Associations have given call to
organize massive demonstrations against the anti-BSNL, anti-worker report on
12th August, at Corporate Office, Circle & SSA levels.
Forum demands
the Govt. and BSNL Management to outrightly reject the report and start
discussion with the Unions / Associations to improve BSNL and it’s services.