JOIN USGundanna C K, the convenor of the Joint Action Committee, said here on Tuesday that about 92 million mobile users and 29 million landline-users could expect disruption of services on the day of the all India strike, in protest against lack of co-operation by the Centre in promoting the telecom service provider. The customer care centres, which oversee payment of bills, sale and recharge of SIM cards, will be closed, he added. He said 18,000 executives and non-executives from the Karnataka Circle, and another 8,000 from the Bangalore Circle will extend their support to the strike.
Some on the top management, in cahoots with private operators, have been delaying procurement of material to the State-run telecom company, which has led to decline in its popularity among people, the BSNL JAC, Karnataka Circle alleged.
While private players have recorded high growth globally over the last five years, the BSNL has suffered losses due to the nexus between the management and the private telecome providers, the committee members said.
“The delay in calling for tenders to place significant orders for BSNL equipment have have affected us” they added.
They have also opposed the voluntary retirement scheme, immediate repatriation of ITS non-optees, handing over charges to absorbed executives, withdrawal of existing medical benefits and leave travel concession enhancement among others.
Their main demand was improving infrastructure by immediately procuring material, including cables, GSM equipment, broadband modems and data cards.