Angered at being denied a bonus this year, employees of government-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd (MTNL) have given notice for an indefinite non-cooperation movement from November 18.
The agitation would mean jammed lines for online banking, Indian Railways and air ticketing, a repeat of May 2009, when MTNL workers went on a similar agitation over a wage revision. MTNL operates in Delhi and Mumbai.
The 2009 agitation followed an announcement of a five per cent wage revision when the unions felt a 30 per cent revision was due. The revision order was withdrawn and the demands of the workers were met at the end of the movement.
MTNL officials say the combined burden of 3G spectrum acquisition and pension payouts have resulted in losses for the company. Workers say the government has turned its back on its responsibility to pay pensions to retired workers and has been forcing MTNL to pay these from the salary accounts, turning it into a loss -making enterprise. MTNL has run up losses of just under Rs 1,000 crore but is paying Rs 600 crore in pensions.
“This is being done in spite of the fact that the government had promised to pay the pensions from its funds at the time of listing the stocks on the New York Stock Exchange. Now, not only are workers being cheated of their rightful earnings but even the shareholders are being cheated of their rightful dividends,” says Vrajesh Upadhyay, secretary, Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh.
MTNL officials did not want to comment, except to say the matter was pending before the government and hence it was premature of the unions to go on an agitation over it. It is under consideration of the government and management has been raising it, an official said.
As for denial of bonuses, officials note the company made no profit this year. A top official said it was not pension payments alone that had led to losses.
