Tirupur: The indefinite strike by BSNL employees here that began from 6 a.m. on Tuesday was called off in the evening following the Government's promise that their demands would be looked into in an appropriate manner.
BSNL employees' unions said the decision to withdraw indefinite strike was taken following the government's promise to refer the issue of disinvestment of BSNL, as recommended by the Sam Paitroda panel, to a Group of Ministers (GoM).
Any decision on disinvestment would also be consulted with unions before implementing it. The unions were opposing the move to retrench employees under Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). The entire BSNL employees at the 30 telephone exchanges in Tirupur division commenced their indefinite strike in order to protest against the disinvestment and downsizing of workforce proposals made by Sam Pitroda panel.
Earlier in the day, the striking employees, affiliated to Joint Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations staged a demonstration in front of the BSNL Deputy General Manager in the city.
BSNL employees' unions said the decision to withdraw indefinite strike was taken following the government's promise to refer the issue of disinvestment of BSNL, as recommended by the Sam Paitroda panel, to a Group of Ministers (GoM).
Any decision on disinvestment would also be consulted with unions before implementing it. The unions were opposing the move to retrench employees under Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS). The entire BSNL employees at the 30 telephone exchanges in Tirupur division commenced their indefinite strike in order to protest against the disinvestment and downsizing of workforce proposals made by Sam Pitroda panel.
Earlier in the day, the striking employees, affiliated to Joint Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations staged a demonstration in front of the BSNL Deputy General Manager in the city.
Pressing their demands:BSNL offices in Erode wore a deserted look on Tuesday as its employees
ERODE: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) offices in different parts of Erode district wore a deserted look on Tuesday as the employees began their nation-wide indefinite strike in protest against the Central Government's proposal to sell stake in the State-owned telecom firm and plans to offer voluntary retirement to employees.
Later, the strike was called off.
Disappointment
The employees were also disappointed over the delay in absorption of about 1,500 Indian Telecom Service employees in the telecom Public Sector Undertaking, even 10 years after BSNL's corporatisation.
The strike was called for by a joint forum of unions that has both executives and non-executives.
Voluntary retirement
The Central Government is planning to implement a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for 1,00,000 employees across the country, besides 30 per cent disinvestment to improve the financial health of the Public Sector Undertaking.
“We strongly oppose the proposal,” the employees said.
The employees also wanted the BSNL management not to outsource any work of the company.
They also staged a demonstration in support of their demands.
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ERODE: Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) offices in different parts of Erode district wore a deserted look on Tuesday as the employees began their nation-wide indefinite strike in protest against the Central Government's proposal to sell stake in the State-owned telecom firm and plans to offer voluntary retirement to employees.
Later, the strike was called off.
Disappointment
The employees were also disappointed over the delay in absorption of about 1,500 Indian Telecom Service employees in the telecom Public Sector Undertaking, even 10 years after BSNL's corporatisation.
The strike was called for by a joint forum of unions that has both executives and non-executives.
Voluntary retirement
The Central Government is planning to implement a voluntary retirement scheme (VRS) for 1,00,000 employees across the country, besides 30 per cent disinvestment to improve the financial health of the Public Sector Undertaking.
“We strongly oppose the proposal,” the employees said.
The employees also wanted the BSNL management not to outsource any work of the company.
They also staged a demonstration in support of their demands.
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STIR:BSNL employees staging a demonstration in Tuticorin on Tuesday.
TIRUNELVELI: Protesting the Ministry of Telecommunication's proposal to sell the stakes of public sector undertaking Bharath Sanchar Nigam Limited to the foreign companies and pressing other demands, officials and employees commenced their indefinite strike on Tuesday.
After the Union Government decided in favour of divesting the BSNL stakes and sell them to private firms, particularly from foreign countries, the BSNL officials and employees raised a banner of revolt against the move. When the Ministry of Telecom reportedly delayed the floating of tenders for the procurement of sophisticated equipment for augmenting the mobile phone capacity, the trade unions alleged that this “calculated move” would strangulate the BSNL, as it would only benefit private operators.
The warring trade unions also said the government's move to send out more than a lakh workers of the BSNL under the voluntary retirement scheme would badly affect the quality of service being rendered to the public.
During the demonstration held on the premises of BSNL General Manager's Office here on Tuesday, the protestors raised slogans against the Centre's attempt to privatise the public sector enterprise by selling its shares. They also demanded the Telecom Ministry to float tenders for the procurements of hi-tech gadgets for augmenting mobile phone connections.
Trade union office-bearers Soosai Maria Antony, Ramakrishnan, Nainar and others participated in the demonstration. Of the 653 BSNL workers and officials in the rural Tirunelveli, 602 participated in the strike while 590 of the 620 BSNL employees and officials in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai areas abstained from duty. Similar protest was organised in Tuticorin also.
In the evening, the trade union activists informed the media that the strike had been called off, as the Union Government accepted some of their “major demands.”
Nagercoil
The employees of BSNL abstained from their duties to urge the Government to find out an early solution to their multi-point charter of demands. More than 700 employees participated in the agitation. Chella Subramaniam, co-ordinator of the employees' association, led the agitation.
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After the Union Government decided in favour of divesting the BSNL stakes and sell them to private firms, particularly from foreign countries, the BSNL officials and employees raised a banner of revolt against the move. When the Ministry of Telecom reportedly delayed the floating of tenders for the procurement of sophisticated equipment for augmenting the mobile phone capacity, the trade unions alleged that this “calculated move” would strangulate the BSNL, as it would only benefit private operators.
The warring trade unions also said the government's move to send out more than a lakh workers of the BSNL under the voluntary retirement scheme would badly affect the quality of service being rendered to the public.
During the demonstration held on the premises of BSNL General Manager's Office here on Tuesday, the protestors raised slogans against the Centre's attempt to privatise the public sector enterprise by selling its shares. They also demanded the Telecom Ministry to float tenders for the procurements of hi-tech gadgets for augmenting mobile phone connections.
Trade union office-bearers Soosai Maria Antony, Ramakrishnan, Nainar and others participated in the demonstration. Of the 653 BSNL workers and officials in the rural Tirunelveli, 602 participated in the strike while 590 of the 620 BSNL employees and officials in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai areas abstained from duty. Similar protest was organised in Tuticorin also.
In the evening, the trade union activists informed the media that the strike had been called off, as the Union Government accepted some of their “major demands.”
Nagercoil
The employees of BSNL abstained from their duties to urge the Government to find out an early solution to their multi-point charter of demands. More than 700 employees participated in the agitation. Chella Subramaniam, co-ordinator of the employees' association, led the agitation.
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