People's Democracy

BSNL Workers, Pensioners to Join September 7 Strike

MORE than 50,000 casual and contract workers in the public sector telecom major, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), have decided to participate in the one day strike on September 7, called for by the central trade union organisations.

It is known that the central trade union organisations have called for this strike against the spiralling prices, the government’s anti-worker policies, disinvestment of the public sector undertakings (PSUs) etc. They have also demanded for settlement of the issues of the unorganised workers.

While eciding to take part in the September 7 strike, the BSNL Casual & Contract Workers Federation has, in addition to the demands the central trade union organisations have raised, also demanded regularisation of the casual workers, implementation of social security measures like EPF and insurance etc, as also improvement in wages.

The federation has called upon all the casual and contract workers of the BSNL to participate in the September 7 strike in full strength and contribute to making it eminently successful.

At the same time, the All India BSNL-DoT Pensioners’ Association (AIBDPA) has extended all-out support and cooperation for the successful conduct of national level strike on September 7, 2010. The nationwide strike has been called upon by the central trade union organisations (including the INTUC) against the negative approach of the central government to controlling the spiralling rises in the prices of essential commodities, against the disinvestment of the public sector units including those with ‘navaratna’ status, and for enforcement of the labour laws. It is needless to point out that the UPA government is resorting to such anti-people activities as part of the neo-liberal policies it is vigorously pursuing.

The AIBDPA is also of the view and feels seriously concerned that the BSNL too is facing the threat of privatisation which is certain to affect adversely even the pensioners. Therefore, it has urged upon all the pensioners of the BSNL and the department of telecommunications (DoT) throughout the country to actively associate themselves with the working class fraternity to make the national strike on September 7 a grand success.