ORGANISE MASSIVE DEMONSTRATIONS ON 25 -10-2024 AS PER THE CALL OF THE CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF BSNLEU-AIBDPA-BSNLCCWF
The Co-ordination Committee of BSNL Employees Union - All India BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association and BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation in its meeting held on 7th October 2024 has called upon the Employees, Pensioners and Casual and Contract Workers to organise massive demonstations all over the country on 25th October 2024 as part of its II agitational programme on the following demands :
1.Immediate settlement of Wage Revision and Pension Revision
The Wage Revision of BSNL employees and Pension Revision of BSNL Pensioners are due from 01.01.2017. The last wage revision and pension revision was implemented with effect from 01.01.2007. 17 years have passed since. The III PRC have recommended wage revision with 15%, but BSNL is refusing to implement the same on the plea that BSNL is in loss. If BSNL is in loss , the entire responsibility lies with the the government since it is due to its anti-PSU and anti-BSNL policies and decisions. Workers can not be held responsible for the same. BSNL is a 100% government owned PSU, converted from a government department in to a PSU with solemn assurances that the workers issues will be safeguarded. Hence the government has the duty to ensure that wage revision is implemented by utilising government funds, if necessary. In Kerala, eventhough it was a PSU from the initial stage, wages and pension of KSRTC employees and pensioners are paid by the Kerala Government when the PSU is unable to pay the same. Similar other examples are also there. As such, the Govt and BSNL should implement wage revision, in case of which the payscales have already been discussed and agreed between the BSNL Management and recognised unions years back. In the case of Pensioners, 15% pension revision be implemented as the funds are already with the government collected from BSNL towards pension contribution.
1.Expeditious launching of BSNL’s 4G and 5G Services.
Central government has always been discriminating and ignoring BSNL in providing latest technologies, compared to the private telecom companies. It was only years after the private companies were allowed to start mobile services that DOT/BSNL was allowed to provide the same. Same with 2 G services. Years back, private companies were allowed to provide 4 G services, but BSNL is not allowed to provide the same on flimsy grounds. 4G and 5G services are very much important for the growth of BSNL and for the benefit of its subscribers and should be provided without any further delay.
2. No 2nd VRS in BSNL
It is understood that BSNL is preparing for implementing a II Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS) to reduce the workforce in the name of reducing the wage expenditure. Since formation of BSNL, it has been the continuous plan of the management and government to reduce the work force through VRS. In the early two times they were compelled to withdraw VRS proposals, in view of he strong opposition from the unions. By creating a situation of uncertainty and fear among the employees about their future prospects, third time they succeeded in sending about 80,000 employees on VRS in 2020. Now there are only about 56,000 employees in total including executives (29,000) and non-executives ( 27,000). Government / BSNL should drop the II VRS proposals.
3.Implementation of Minimum Wage, ESI, EPF to Contract Workers
The contract workers were inhumanly exploited earlier and it was only after BSNLCCWF was formed in 2006 that ESI, EPF, Minimum Wage etc. were got implemented after several agitations as also after the issue was brought before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Labour which held many meetings and compelled the management to implement the labour laws.
There were almost one lakh contract workers engaged in BSNL for effective maintenance at the time of formation of BSNL. During the Covid period, the management arbitrarily brought in the SLP system and retrenched about 70,000 workers arbitrarily. Not only that, whatever achievements have been got through struggles etc. were all taken away . Now in many places minimum wage, ESI, EPF are not being implemented causing huge loss and lack of social security to the workers. It is of utmost important that Minimum wage is paid as per rules and the social security measures like ESI, EPF, Gratuity are implemented.
4.Payment of 7th CPC Pay Scale and DA installments to Casual Labour.
While in DOT, Casual Labour were being regularised after fulfilling certain conditions like work for one year work without break etc. When BSNL was formed an assurance was given that all the existing casual labour will be regularized , if they fulfil certain conditions. Accordingly more than 4000 casual labours were regularized till 2006 , but the regularisation was stopped on the plea of a Supreme Court judgment with regard to a electricity casual workers case in Karnataka. Those who were not regularised are still working as casual labours. They are eligible for Minimum wage as per VII CPC, but the same is denied on the plea that wage revision is not given for BSNL employees. It was the BSNL management which stated arbitrarily that Casual Labour can not be given minimum salary as per wage agreement in BSNL, which is higher than the minimum wage of the CPC , and can be given only the minimum salary recommended by the CPC. The minimum wage to Casual labour should be paid without delay as also the due DA installments as per CDA.
It is for achievements of the above demands that the agitational programmes are decided by the co-ordinating committee in it meeting held on 07.10.2024. Implementation of the programmes with massive participation is necessary.
MAKE THE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMME SUCCESSFUL BY MAXIMUM PATICIPATION OF BSNL EMPLOYEES, BSNL-DOT PENSIONERS, CONTRACT WORKERS AND CASUAL LABOUR !
CO-ORDINATION COMMITTEE OF BSNLEU-AIBDPA AND BSNLCCWF ZINDABAD !
V A N NAMBOODIRI 24.10.2024
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