Calls to and from BSNL’s network will be disrupted from April 20, with nearly 3,00,000 BSNL employees planning to go on an indefinite strike against the management’s decision to divest 30 per cent stake.
“We have not heard as yet from the management. We are planning to go on an indefinite strike from April 20,” Joint Forum of Executives and Non-Executives’ Unions and Associations Convener VAN Namboodiri said.
BSNL, which has over 3,00,000 employees, saw profits plummet to Rs 178 crore in 2009-2010 (up to December 2009)from over Rs 575 crore in 2008-09, as the PSU is rapidly losing market share to new entrants. The PSU has 91 million users.
The strike call has been given by a joint forum of unions that has both executives and non-executives as members.
The employees’ unions are protesting against the recommendations of the Pitroda Committee report that favoured 30 per cent divestment in the PSU and voluntary retirement to nearly 1,00,000 staff.