In the Telecom Department, there were about 33 unions, recognised
as well as not recognised, including that of officers. Three
Federations viz. NFTE, FNTO and BTEF stood recognised. 5 All India
Unions were affiliated to NFTE. There was only a single Federation till
1969 in the P&T Department called “National Federation of P&T Employees”
(NFPTE) which was formed as part of the realignment scheme agreed to by
Department and the then existing unions. FNPTO was formed in 1969 and
BTEF in 1977. They were affiliated to INTUC and BMS respectively, while
NFPTE was not affiliated to any Central Trade Union.
After bifurcation of P&T Department in to Posts & Telecommunications,
NFPTE also was bifurcated into NFPE and NFTE in the Calcutta Federal
Council in 1986. NFTE was affiliated by the following five unions: All
India Telecom Employees Union Class-III, All India Telecom Employees
Union, Line Staff & Class-IV, All India Telegraph Traffic Employees
Union Class-III, All India Telegraph Traffic Employees Union Class-IV
and All India Telecom Administrative Office Employees Union Class-III &
IV.
There was strong protest against the pro-management policy of the NFTE
leadership which resulted in contest in 1991 Bhopal AIC of E-III Union,
where its General Secretary O.P. Gupta, who was also the Secretary
General, NFTE was defeated in election. V.A.N. Namboodiri and Moni Bose
were elected President and General Secretary respectively. In T-III,
P.S.Ramankutty was elected as General Secretary in 1987. Pabitra Ranjan
Chakraborthy was elected as General Secretary of Administrative Union in
1993 at Calcutta. These three unions co-ordinated functioning and
strongly opposed the collaborationist approach of NFTE leadership. O.P.
Gupta, SG, NFTE agreeing to ban on recruitment, liquidation of 1,50,000
posts in the name of cadre restructuring etc. was actually helping the
government to implement its anti-worker policies. The new alignment of
forces of E-III, T-III and Administrative union, heralded a new wave of
enthusiasm amongst workers.
Three more unions viz. All India P&T Industrial workers union, with
veteran leader Sisir Bhattacharjee as General Secretary, ITEU Line Staff
& Class-IV with E. Gopal as General Secretary and All India P&T Civil
Wing Employees Union with S. Killivalavan as General Secretary, joined
the coordination. Circle Unions of Kerala, West Bengal, Assam & North
East of E-IV & T-IV also joined. Continued agitational programmes were
organised on the demands of telecom workers as also against
corporatisation / privatisation of Telecom. The Sanchar Bhawan March
organised in 1997 at New Delhi was participated by more than 13,000
workers, giving a new image to the organisation.The co-ordination
strengthened further. A National Action Committee (NAC) against
Corporatisation / Privatisation was formed with Sisir Bhattacharjee as
Chairman and V.A.N. Namboodiri as Convenor. The All India strikes
against Corporatisation of Telecom on 28th June and 24th & 25th August
2000 were big success with participation of workers even belonging to
other unions. The struggle continued, but the government was hell bent
upon corporatisation.
Department of Telecom Services (DTS) and Department of Telecom
Operations (DTO) were corporatised on 1st October 2000 with the name
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL). The change over could be made six
months earlier than the proposed date of 1-4-2001, due to the whole
hearted support given by NFTE and other Federations.
The change from government Department to corporation had its own
problems for the unions. While in the Department, Cadre unions were
recognised; in corporation, industry wise union alone is allowed. It
became necessary to form an industry wise union including all cadres of
employees. The issue was thoroughly discussed by the National Action
Committee and it was decided to form a new industrial union. A Telecom
convention as well as a Joint Central Working Committee of All India
Unions were decided to be held at Visakhapatnam.
The Joint Conference held on 21st –22nd March, under a presidium
consisting of the Presidents of all the unions being merged, unanimously
adopted the Resolution forming BSNL Employees Union and the Constitution
of the union with thunderous applause. Founder office-bearers with J.N.
Mishra as President and V.A.N. Namboodiri as General Secretary were
elected. BSNLEU was the first union to be registered in BSNL with
Registration. No. 4896 dated 15th June 2001, within 3 months of its
formation, a record in itself.
The initiative and pivotal role of BSNLEU and its General Secretary,
V.A.N. Namboodiri have been appreciated by all. Memorandum which the
Joint Committee presented as the basic document for discussion, was
prepared by Namboodiri, after a thorough study of the wage agreements in
many PSUs. At each and every stage when NFTE leadership was conniving
and conspiring with management for lesser benefit, the intervention by
Namboodiri, supported by other unions saved the situation and resulted
in a better wage lift for the employees coming to more than Rs. 1500 to
Rs. 3000. O.P. Gupta, GS, NFTE BSNL, could not succeed in his sinister
game. The daily circulars issued by BSNLEU enabled the field units to
know the latest developments and give feed back to CHQ for a better wage
agreement. It was a credit to BSNLEU that its General Secretary was the
first person from the union side to sign the agreement.
BSNLEU once again took the lead in serving a notice on 05-08-2002 for
Indefinite Strike w.e.f. 19-08-2002, as per Aurangabad CEC decision,
against the undue and unwarranted delay in issue of wage orders. It had
immediate effect. Within a few days, orders were issued.
Even though, formed only one year back, office bearers of BSNLEU
campaigned throughout the country forming Circle / District / Branch
unions and also preparing for the membership verification. Namboodiri,
GS, himself attended about 200 meetings. Thirty circle unions and
hundreds of District Unions were formed in record time. While it was
only a change of name for the 3 Federations in to BSNL unions, we have
to form a new union in almost all respects and form its Circles,
Districts and Branches. Our comrades made it to the extent possible
within a short time.
Making the management agree for secret ballot for membership
verification was another success. But because of Code of Discipline and
opposition from NFTE, we could not make the management and Chief Labour
Commissioner to agree for proportionate representation. While BSNLEU
made pre-poll alliance with TEPU, BSLWRU and AITSC/STEWA, the alliance
with NUBSNLW-FNTO could not materialise due to certain unavoidable
difficulties.
BSNLEU with its alliance got about 90,000 votes with majority of more
than 50% votes in 9 circles. It got the first position in three more
circles. It got 95% in NE-II, 76% in NE-I and 72% in Assam. BSNLEU
showed its presence in all the 36 circles, while NFTE – BSNL got
0,2,3,11 etc. in certain circles. The management was shocked that BSNLEU
within a short time could get the support of about 30% of the total
staff.
But BSNLEU was not granted recognition. Only NFTE BSNL, which got first
position with about 35%, was recognised. Our unions in 9 circles where
we got more than 50% were given limited trade union facilities. We made
pressure on the management for recognition. Our Andhra comrades went to
A.P. High Court, through which we could get right of representation.
NFTE BSNL, as soon as it got recognition, started running amuck by
pressurising local managements to victimise, harass and transfer workers
and office-bearers of other unions, especially, BSNLEU. Management at
local levels succumbed and transferred our office-bearers and workers in
many places. NFTE BSNL dreamed that the non-recognised unions can be
finished this way. BSNLEU and its workers took up this challenge and
fought against victimisation and transfers wherever it took place. As
per the call of the Delhi CEC Meeting, 48 hours Hunger Strikes by Circle
Union Office Bearers were organised on 13-14 September 2003,
participated by hundreds of workers in each Circle Head Quarters. A
massive Dharna was conducted in New Delhi participated by more than 800.
A memorandum detailing the transfer, harassment
tc. was submitted to the CMD, BSNL. As a result of the agitation, BSNL
management was compelled to issue clear instructions that there should
be no harassment, victimisation and pick and choose transfers of members
and leaders of non-recognised unions. Most of the cases are settled. The
remaining cases are being perused. Through continued struggles, we are
able to defend our workers.
When there was delay in grant of Bonus for 2002-03, the matter was
immediately taken by BSNLEU with the management. The management
expressed its inability to pay Bonus as last year, since only Rs. 32
crore was available for disbursement. On our initiative, all the unions
met and decided to issue notice for strike. In the conciliation meeting,
we put strong arguments, which the management could not rebut. When the
management offered 50% bonus of last year paid, NFTE BSNL happily
accepted. It was only due to the strong stand taken by BSNLEU that the
adhoc bonus could be increased to 75%. All the non-recognised unions
have now demanded for the balance 25% of Bonus.
BSNLEU along with other non-recognised unions put strong
pressure during wage negotiations for Pension on IDA from consolidated
fund. It was
agreed, despite opposition from NFTE. Now NFTE is trying to subvert it.
We have opposed. In the Strike Notice of BSNLEU on
24th February 2004, the demand to continue pension on IDA scale is
included. We will defend pension on IDA.
The Charter of Demands finalised by Delhi CEC meeting and submitted to
CMD, BSNL on 30th October 2003, included the important issues of BSNL
workers. CHQ is perusing all these cases vigorously, despite the fact
that it is not recognised by the management. Hundreds of individual
cases were taken and settled.
