BSNL employees’ union calls for hunger strike on February 24

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB), the umbrella organisation of all the employees’ unions of the state-run telecom operator, has called for a hunger strike on February 24. It will also hold a lunch-hour demonstration on Tuesday seeking the immediate payment of two months’ salaries and the rollout of 4G services.

The agitation is also against the “abnormal delay” in issuing sovereign bonds for Rs 15,000 crore as approved by the Union Cabinet in BSNL’s revival package. Additionally, the AUAB has sought the immediate payment of wage arrears to contract workers and the ending of “whimsical” transfer of employees following the success of the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS).