Comments on the demands for indefinite strike
announced by the BSNL unions and associations – D.Chandrasekaran, Joint General
Secretary, FNTO
1) Filling up of
CMD / BSNL and Director (Finance) and Director (HR) of BSNL Board which are
vacant for months.
This demand has no direct bearing on the welfare of
the BSNL employees. However selection of the CMD and Director (Finance) and one
more Director (EB) has been done by the PSEB. In fact the sufferings of the
BSNL and the BSNL employees are due to the negative attitude of the Recognised
union i.e. BSNLEU and not due to the above factors. Is indefinite strike
necessary for this?
2) Stop
formation of subsidiary companies of BSNL.
The Govt. has proposed formation of subsidiary
companies because of the negative attitude of the Association and the unions
only. The BSNL was offered Rs.20,000/- crore project to carryout laying of
cable to connect every village panchayats
by Broad band services. This has been funded from USO fund. But the BSNL
executives or the employees are not prepared to undertake the work. The Govt.
is pressing the DOT to complete the job. Even the private operators are
demanding the job to be given to them to carryout. Then there is no alternate
to DOT but to form separate subsidiary to BSNL to undertake the work, by the
DOT itself.
Tower
Corporation: Unions opposed
sharing of even passive infrastructure with private operators. Ultimate result
is the private operators join together erected towers and sharing the
infrastructure themselves for their development. Now there is no operator to
share our towers even if you offer and thus we are losing revenue. If separate
Tower Corporation is formed, that company will lease towers to all operators
including BSNL to earn revenue. Thus this is also as a result of the negative
approach of the BSNL unions / Association.
3) Compensation
for land lines for rural / remote area service.
The SSAs should prepare the cost of each Rural
exchanges the loss for each such exchanges by working out the cost and put up
claims to the Govt. through BSNL CO. without doing this simply demanding
compensation for loss is incorrect.
4) Procurement
of equipment for development, expansion and better service, more focus on
laying of cable to strengthen the transmission net work.
Where is the necessity for expansion of land line
when there is no demand for the same? Even there is no demand for mobile
connections due to poor signal quality in many areas. The ultimate aim is to
get business for Chinese companies such as ZTE and Huwai etc. by the CITU
controlled union. Already the surplus cash of 40,000 crore of the BSNL was
spent for this purpose only. The equipments purchased from Chinese companies
have become outmoded due to frequent change of technology. Nowadays cities are
being expanded and the development is in the outskirt of towns. Our field
officers are not interested to asses the requirements of the residences of new
areas to prepare estimate to lay cables for giving connections. For this we
cannot blame the BSNL as a whole.
5) Transfer of
assets to BSNL it has no direct
bearing on the employees or the company.
6) Drop proposal
for merger of BSNL and MTNL.
Both are Govt. PSUs. There is no justification to
oppose it. It is said there is a loan of Rs.14,000/- crore to MTNL. BSNL is
also having a loan burden of 30,000 crore. If the disinvestment in MTNL is the
reason for opposition, we can demand buy-back of share disinvested. The merger
can be utilized for removing the stagnation etc of BSNL pay scales. We have to
convert this merger proposal to the benefit of BSNL employees instead of
opposing it. If opposed, it will result in the sale of MTNL also like VSNL.
7) Spectrum liberalization
and Trading. It needs elucidation.
Already the 3G spectrum trading by the idea cellular is being questioned by the
political parties and T/U leaders.
8) Pension
contribution for actual basic pay.
This should be discussed with the DOT and the HM(c)
first and then go for strike. It has no direct bearing on the welfare of the
BSNL employees. Our agreement is very clear to the effect that the pension
contribution is to be paid under FR 116. It now stands amended to pay
contribution to the actual pay.
9) Reject the
recommendation of TRAI to force BSNL to surrender 12MHz spectrum in premium 900
MHz band.
This is the job of DOT and BSNL management. These
spectrum are idle in BSNL for want of customers. Therefore, the TRAI is suggesting
surrender. Is this should be a demand for indefinite strike?
10) Deloittee
recommendation.
The unions and associations should be in a position
to give alternate suggestions to improve the performance of BSNL. When it is
not so, what is the use of opposing it by going on strike. Why the earlier proposal
of the revenue based restructuring of SSAs was not discussed and implemented by
the unions / Associations and BSNL.
11) Free
allotment of spectrum to BSNL.
This demand is against the level playing field
between Govt. and private companies. There is no reason or justification in
this demand. Instead, workers and executives should work sincerely to earn more
revenue by improving the performance. This demand is not a justified one for
strike that too indefinite strike.
12) Financial
assistances to BSNL to expand network.
Even for the existing network of landline and mobile
connection there is no customer or demand. In these circumstances, where is the
need for expansion. This demand is put up with ulterior motive of finding
market for Chinese companies and not in the interest of the Nation or BSNL
employees.
13) BBNL should
be merged with BSNL Remark as
against the demand at sl.2.
14) BSNL should
start 4G service
Our priority should be to stabilize the existing 2G
network and the landline network to attract Broadband customers. The 3G
services have no attraction. So introduction of 4G is not a priority job and
for this no indefinite strike is justified.
15) Refund of
BWA spectrum charge for the surrender of spectrum by BSNL.
The Govt. has already approved the refund and not
justifies for strike. The HM(c) has already announced this in the parliament.
16) 78.2% IDA
merger for pre-and post 2007 pensioners.
It is the creation of BSNLEU which has agreed for
merger of 68.8% IDA instead of 78.2%. BSNLEU has deliberately ignored the advice
of the then HM(c) Sri.A.Raja on 20.04.2010 and willfully and whole heartedly
signed the agreement on 07.05.2010 accepting the 68.8% IDA merger without any
written assurance to consider 78.2% IDA merger on a later date. Now, with what
face it is going on strike putting the above demand. The BSNL employees,
pensioners and executives have all lost crores of rupees because of the
attitude of BSNLEU only.
17) Pension
revision of BSNL Pensioners
There is no separate scheme as BSNL pension. BSNL
absorbed DOT employees are given Govt. Pension only that too from the
consolidated fund of India as per the agreement reached between Govt. and NFTE
and FNTO unions in Sep-2000. BSNLEU has taken a stand that no pension is
admissible in BSNL and not joined the strike in Sep 2000. Out of ignorance of
these facts this demand is notified. In fact revision of pension for Govt.
pensioners including BSNL absorbed DOT employees are under consideration by the
VII CPC. If the union wants to ensure revision, it should submit a memorandum
to 7th CPC and not to go on strike that too indefinite strike.
18) Fresh
Recruitment of Staff.
Union should say in which cadre it wants fresh
recruitment. Already recruitments are under way for TTAs, JTOs and JAOs in the open
market. With vague demands the staff should not be forced to go on strike
loosing their wages.
19) BSNL
services to be mandatory to central Govt., State Govt. and PSUs.
By offering better services only we can demand like
this. When our services are not to the satisfaction of the customers, our own
employees and their wards prefer the services of private operators in the field
of mobile and Broad band. It is for the Govt. to look into the matters. Our
Executives also should take interest to market BSNL products not only to the
Govt. agencies but also to the large companies and institutions.
20) Condition of
mandatory purchase of equipments from ITI to be scrapped.
ITI is a Govt. PSU. Why we should not purchase
equipment from ITI. Whether these unions and Associations want to purchase the
same from Chinese companies? Are we the marketing agents of Chinese companies
or for our own PSUs?
21) Implement
cabinet decision on 30% superannuation benefit to BSNL direct recruited
employees.
This issue is already under discussion with the
Management by the BSNL Executive Associations and Non-Executive employees
recognized unions. It is dragging on due to poor financial condition of BSNL.
Unions / Associations and BSNL Management should sit together and discuss ways and
means for improving the revenue of the company instead of creating industrial
unrest in BSNL and thereby losing salary / wages to the employees.
