EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE LUDHIANA,DECEMBER 3 The three-day strike called by the Joint Action Committee of Associations/ Unions of Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd (BSNL) executive and non-executive employees,which started on December 1,was called off at 9.30 pm on Thursday after marathon meetings which DOT Secretary R Chandrasekhar and BSNL Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) Gopal Dass had with Joint Action Committee (JAC ) leaders. Several agreement and assurances were reached at the meeting. These included agreements that BSNL would procure equipment for 55 lakh GSM lines this year and another1.5 crore lines would be procured next year. There would be no disinvestment and IPO in BSNL,as well as no retrenchment of staff. The issue of remaining IDA merger of 9.4 per cent will be again taken up by the Board of Directors while the process of absorption of ITS officers in BSNL will be accelerated. Cases of pension revision for those retired prior to January 1,2007,will immediately be referred to the concerned Cabinet committee,programmes and projects like enterprise resources planning (ERP) and next generation Net Work will be undertaken without further delay and government commitments on BSNLs financial viability will be implemented. The Joint Action Committee will keep a close watch on the implementation of the agreement and strike work again,if necessary. The JAC congratulated all BSNL workers for their participation in the glorious strike.
