|
NATIONAL UNION of BSNL WORKERS [FNTO]
A REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF MEMBERSHIP VERIFICATION AT BSNL.
WE
ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH AND
NOTHING BUT TRUTH
THE TRUTH THE FACT
F.N.T.O HAS NEITHER
RUN AWAY FROM THE WAR FIELD NOR MERGED WITH ANY OTHER ORGANISATION.
STENOGRAPHERS UNION, RASTRIYA TELECOM EMPLOYEES
UNION,
ALL INDIA DRIVERS UNITY AND
ALL INDIA MAZDOOR UNION EMBRACED AND MERGED WITH F.N.T.O
THE FARCE
PEOPLE ARE SURMISING THEMSELVES THAT THEY HAVE WON THE ELECTION EVEN BEFORE OTHERS HAVE GIVENUP BESIDES MISGUIDING THE
GRASS ROOT LEVEL THAT F.N.T.O HAS MERGED WITH THEM
Actually, twelve Unions have been listed by the BSNL to contest
the Election and they are as follows:
1. National Union of BSNL Workers. K.Vallinayagam
2. BSNL Employees Union
V.A.N.Namboodri
3. Telecom Employees Progressive Union. V.Subburaman.
4. Bharatiya Telecom Employees Federation.
Mallikarjun.
5. Bahujan Trade Union of BSNL. R.D.Gautham.
6. Amalgamated Union of BSNL. N.Kothandaraman.
7. BSNL workers Rashtriya Union S.N.Dattta.
8. BSNL Executive Union. M.Ramasundaram
9. National
Federation of Telecom Employees. O.P.Gupta.
10. BSNL Personal Staff Association.
11. BSNL Association of Telecom
Mechanic.
12. BSNL National Telecom Staff Union.
Out of twelve contesting Unions, one Union has surmised
that it has already WON the Election and is trumpeting over rooftop about its victory without entering into the war field.
Workers are being misled by this union that the other contesting unions have been merged with this union and with no rival
unions left in the fray, it is the 'only one union' in the field. But, ironically, it is still fighting to win the Election
without rivals!!! ' Don't they know that they should not consider themselves victorious unless the opposition have givenup
their fight against them?'
Another splinter group of this Union is questioning the very veracity and authenticity
of this 'ONLY ONE UNION'. It is likely to knock the door of Court of Law to substantiate its charges and to put halt to the
Election process, while others are highlighting that their Unions are best in the field. The quagmire of controversies between
these contesting unions may end with further postponement of union election to next year. However, the ultimate sufferers
are the general members of the BSNL who are neither Central Government employees nor full-fledged BSNL employees.
ABOUT NUBSNLW (FNTO.
NUBSNLW (FNTO) - is a rechristened name of Federated Unions of F.N.T.O., which came into
existence in the year 1970. The federation has all along nurtured great Trade Union ideals of fostering, building and establishing
a genuine and independent democracy of the employees, managed by the employees themselves in their best interest yet harbouring
a with the sense of National Solidarity, Integrity and upcome of the Indian economy. Our main objectives are:
- To raise
the living standard of the Members on par with the economic growth of the Industry
- To create the skilled stable and
secure work force geared up to operate a steadily expanding production of Industrial wealth.
- To create a community
of workers which is conscious of the dignity of labour and the importance of its role in the Industry, a community without
prejudice towards race, tribe, religion or political belief to a community in which all workers are loyal and in which
they can feel at home.
- To eliminate ignorance and illiteracy amongst workers enabling them to enjoy that human dignity
which free Trade Unions believe to be the right of all men and women.
-
We have implemented these objectives and
succeeded in building a strong, potent organisation, which today stand as an instrument of service to the employees and through
them to the public.
FNTO in its active involvement in the union activities and much persuasion with the Management
has achieved following certain major victories in favour of Telecom Employees.
1. Counting of past services in the
cadre of Cable Splicers.
2. Introduction of Gr.IV in respect of Phone Mechanic.
3. Conversion of Part Time Casual
Labourers working less than 4 hours into Temporary Status Mazdoors.
4. Absorption of LI/SI as Telecom Mechanic.
5.
One more Examination of the promotion of Sr.TOA/TTA.
6. One increment in place of FR.22C for BCR promotion after 30-11-98.[
FNTO has not accepted the offer but pursuing for FR.22C benefit.]
7. Incentive to the Qualified and Trained Phone Mechanic
enhanced to Rs.1000/- per year of waiting. Convertion of Ayas and Supervisory workers in Crches as Casual Labours .
8.
Regularisation of all Casual Labourers and Part Time Employees.
9. Revision of pay scale of LM/WM/TM-Entry 2750 to 3050-OTBP-3050
to 3200-BCR-4000
10. Rent free Phone to Telecom Employees.
11. EDP scale to Sr.TOAs
None other than the
Secretary Staff Side laughed at EDP, which is the brainchild of Brother Thomas John when it was included in the JCM agenda.
FNTO was vigorously pursuing the matter since there was a gross injustice done to the Sr.TOAs fraternity who has been appointed
purely on merit and on their skill ability and their avenue was blocked at the ten percent level in Group C cadre itself.
Whereas, promotional avenues were kept wide open for other cadres. However, the Group of Ministers realising the mistake,
approved it during the strike period. Still, the Secretary Staff side was all out to kill this demand because it was sponsored
by FNTO. Even he surprises the Management when he demanded an examination of graduation level for non-graduates. Many more
hurdles have been created and the order, which has been issued on EDP, is fraught with many flaws. The EDP stream recommended
by the 5th Pay Commission starts from the pay scale of Rs.4000-6000 and ends at a pay scale of Rs.18400-500-22400 OR a fixed
scale of Rs.26000/- to a EDP Director. The EDP stream is a channel to our Sr.TOAs to Junior Console Operator, Scientific
Assistant, Assistant Programmer, Console Superintendent, Scientific Officer, Programmer, and System Analyst etc.
OUR STRUGGLE
" PAY AND PERKS FIRST - RECOGNITION OF UNION NEXT" -WE ARE SET TO USHER THE NEW ERA.
Much against
the wishes of Telecom workers, an ordinance was promulgated and the Department of Telecom has been transformed into a Corporate
entity called BHARAT SANCHAR NIGAM LIMITED [BSNL] with effect from 1-10-2000, despite protests and strikes from various sections
of Officers and Staff.
Indian Telecom has witnessed a series of structural changes during the last decade. Telecom
workers have accepted the changes with an open mind. There is a growing expectation and belief within the rank and file that
the change of structure to a Corporate set up alone would fetch a number of benefits to them.
An agreement was reached
between Federations and the Government that the BSNL Unions will be Established through a Secret Ballot Election and with
the active assistance of the recognised Union, the IDA Pay and Perks of the Corporation/BSNL would be regulated, till
then,
an adhoc amount of Rs.1000/- will be given to Group 'C' and Group 'D' staff who opt for the Corporation, while adhering to
the same set of Government Rules which are in vogue
As agreed in our strike agreement, we opted for BSNL since no
other option was available other than retrenchment. BSNL has celebrated its first Birthday. Notification of the President
is still awaited on conferring of the status of the Corporate Employees. Recognition of a Bargaining Agent [UNION] through
Secret Ballot is on the anvil.
In the prevalent atmosphere where, the status of challenge and competition is on the tide,
necessity has arisen to effectively and efficiently combat the situation. The employees may be compelled to swallow the bitter
pill what is given through improper handling of their grievances and expectations. To echo the voice, to protect the interests
and rights of the workers and to save them from the expected dictatorship, an ideal Organisation, which is having selfless,
loyal to the workers expectations and has a disciplined leadership is required and it is the need of the hour. To fulfill
the above aspirations and to achieve the desired result, NUBSNLW [FNTO] has now come up in the field.
FNTO is aiming
to place and pursue the following demands:
1. A1-Grade Pay Scales to BSNL employees without waiting for the verification
of membership. This will facilitate the BSNL and the Staff to concentrate on the developmental activities in the competitive
environment.
2. Organise various refresher courses to the Telecom Employees to cope up the new environment in the corporate
setup in various aspects such as company accounting, commercial functioning, marketing etc.
3. Arrange delivery of Telephone
Bills to the subscribers through our own Out-Door staff by suitably awarding delivery charges as incentives instead of spending
heavy expenditure by way of postage.
4. Restructure the Telecom Accounts personnel such as LDC (TA), Junior Accountants,
Senior Accountants and DTO Accountants as per the recommendations of Butt Committee of the erstwhile DOT. These cadres are
to some extent conversant with the commercial system of accounts and by giving some refresher training they can be used as
Internal Auditors in the BSNL.
5. Settle all terminal benefits at SSA level [except issue of PPO] and then claim reimbursement
at DOT Cell on monthly basis to avoid hardship to the retiring employees and the families of the deceased employees.
6.
Modernise the Telegraph Offices by introducing value-added services such as E-mail, Internet, etc, by utilising the services
of the existing surplus staff.
7. Merge the cadres of Telegraphists and Telegraph Assistants by giving necessary Training
to TAs also and fixing the inter-se seniority according to their date of appointment.
8. Qualifying service of Phone Mechanics
to sit for TTA promotional exam be reduced to 3 years.
9. Six years condition for TTA to become JTO should be relaxed.
10. Grace marks facility to SC/ST candidates should be restored with retrospective effect.
11. Qualifying service
for pension should be reduced to 30 years and Last Pay Drawn should be reckoned for computing the pension.
12. Civil wing
qualified candidates (10+2& ITI certificate) should be allowed to sit for TTA exam.
13. Cadre review/restructuring
and better pay scale should be considered for Drivers, Stenos and LDC/TA/JA/SA etc.
And many more proposals are offing
in the forthcoming negotiations.
On our active persuasions, all the applicant unions have agreed to come together
to make joint efforts to request the BSNL management to accept the two representatives from each applicant unions and start
negotiations on Pay scales and other Regulations for the opted BSNL employees while deferring the verification of membership
and recognition of majority union. The Management is yet to take decision and it has communicated that on obtaining the legal
opinion, the decision will be made known to the representatives of the applicant unions after 10-12-2001.
It is now
high time for all employees to listen to their own conscience rather than hearing to spicy propaganda and to make a right
choice.
'Time and tide waits for none but the benefits of a right decision in time will be enjoined for ever by all'.
Hence, 'Believe in the Best' and lend a helping hand to NUBSNLW [FNTO] to show its might.
Put on Web by
Dinesh Mistry,Ahmedabad
|
