BSNL workers hold dharna

Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, June 6: The workers of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd, J&K Circle today held a massive dharna on the call of Central Headquarters, New Delhi, at CGMT Office, Bahu Plaza, here as a part of their ongoing trade union action throughout the country.
Addressing the activists, convenor, Forum of All BSNL Unions and Associations, J&K Circle, Nisar Ahmed, informed that the second phase of this trade union action will be indefinite strike with effect from June 13 onwards to push for their long pending demands including payment of 78.2 percent Industrial Dearness Allowance (IDA) fitment, which has been cleared by the Cabinet but not implemented by BSNL management.
“The management has been denying many justified demands of the workers and have curtailed existing benefits like medical allowance, LTC, encashment of leave, etc without any justification. Moreover, the bonus has been denied for the last few years”, said convenor of the Forum.
Ahmed said that BSNL management has issued orders regarding grant of many allowances and benefits incurring expenditure of hundreds of crores of rupees to the Indian Telecom Service officers, who are not absorbed in BSNL but are continuing on deputation for the last 12 years since formation of BSNL against all rules and regulations.
He maintained that the management, which consists of ITS officers on deputation, is availing all benefits and allowances themselves and denying the same benefits to the workers.
Terming this complete discrimination as denial of natural justice, he said earlier on December 15, 2011 also, the workers had gone on one-day strike regarding their demands, but so far no favourable decision has been taken by the management and at the same time, all favours have been granted to the top level ITS officers.