BSNL staff to stay away from work 'morrow

A release from the convener of the committee N Bhaskar stated that the staff of the office at Jayalakshmipuram here will stay away from the office on the day. A meeting has been convened on the office premises at 10.30 am.

The committee has put forth 12 demands to be fulfilled; they are- relieving Indian Telecom Service officers who are opposed to merger with BSNL and send them back to Department of Telecom (DOT), abolition of voluntary retirement scheme, payment of bonus depending on the production, medical and leave travel allowance, merger of 78.2 per cent dearness allowance with basic salary, buying of mobile and broadband equipment, cancelling Telecom Advisory Committee, withdrawing BWA spectrum fee, cancelling illegal 2G roaming of private companies, finding out solutions for BSNL services in rural areas, DOT making repayment of Rs 7,500 crore symbolic loan obtained by BSNL and re-introduction of ADC charges.

The strike will be led by the district secretary of BSNL Employees Union Mahadevappa, district secretary of All India BSNL Employees Union Shankar, district secretary of Sanchar Nigam Employees Union Vishakanta Murthy and district secretary of BSNL (SC,ST) Lingaraju, said a press release.