BSNL Employees to go on indefinite strike from June 13

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) staffs including Executive and Non-Executive to go on Indefinite strike from 13th June 2012. The strike has been called to push for long-pending demands including payment 78.2 per cent 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 even curtailed existing benefits without any justification. Medical allowance, encashment of leave for the purpose LTC has been curtailed and LTC itself is frozen. Bonus has been denied for the last few years,” said by BSNL Unions/Associations. BSNL Unions said that BSNL management has issued orders “granting 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 is continuing on deputation for the last 12 years since formation of BSNL against all rules and regulations.” The management, which consists of the ITS officers on deputation, is availing all benefits and allowances to themselves, while denying similar benefits to the workers. The workers had gone on one day strike on December 15, 2011. “So far no favourable decision has been taken by the management. But at the same time, all favours are granted to the top level ITS officers. This is complete discrimination and denial of natural justice,” Mr Namboodiri said