Joint Forum of BSNL Unions from Gujarat joined nationwide strike

Ahmedabad, July 11 (UNI) At least 3,000 members of the Joint Forum of BSNL Unions and Associations of Non-Executive and Executives of Ahmedabad boycotted work today and staged a dharna before the Chief General Manager's Office at Navrangpura.

The Convenor of the Joint Forum of BSNL Unions Rakesh Mehta told UNI that about 26,000 members across the state joined the nationwide strike to remind the government of its duty to make available the telecom services with latest technology at most affordable rates.

He said the employees started the protest since July 6 by wearing black badges during lunch hours and staged dharnas on July 9 and 10 before the respective offices.

Mr Mehta said they are protesting the callous attitude of the government which, he alleged, is indirectly promoting private players in mobile communication. If the government does not concede to their demand, the Forum will carry on an indefinite strike.

This is a strike not for employees pay scale, bonus, promotion but in the interest of customers, BSNL and nation as a whole. The one and only demand of the Forum is to place advanced purchase order of 45.5 million GSM line, he said.

However, Mr Mehta said telecom operations and other services of the BSNL in the state were not affected following the nationwide strike.

BSNL in its most transparent manner has finalised tender for the purchase of 45.5 million GSM lines, a year ago costing Rs 18,000 crore approximately.

He said the customers were paying heavily for outgoing and incoming calls (Rs 16.40 per minute) earlier but the same was reduced by Rs 2.40 per minute when BSNL entered the mobile segment.

If order for 3G technology for BSNL is not given now, the private operators, who are ready with 3G technology, will loot the public, he warned.

UNI