Srinagar Dec 15: Over 3000 BSNL employees in J&K today struck work to participate in the country-wide strike of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited workforce against central government introduced Voluntary Retirement Scheme.
 The government has introduced VRS as part of reform to prune the employee strength in the corporation.
 Convener, BSNL Employees’ Union Kashmir, Bashir Ahmad told Greater Kashmir that over 3000 Nigam employees in the state fully supported the strike call by Joint Action Committee of executive and non-executive employees of BSNL.
 Bashir said the VRS, if implemented, will render many employees in the corporation jobless and “we will not let it happen.”
 “We want government not to implement the scheme as it will do disserve to the BSNL by leaving it with little manpower.”
 He alleged that the government was adopting very tough posture against the BSNL employees. “As per the scheme the employee who will opt voluntary retirement will have to pay 33 per cent income tax on the amount he is entitled to at the time of retirement.”
 According to sources the government wants to cut the BSNL staff strength from present around 3 lakh to 1 lakh.  The government is offering VRS to employees who are above 45 years of age and have served on a regular basis for 15 years.
 Bashir said besides VRS, BSNL  employees are also  protesting   the  central government policy to recruit directly Indian Telecom Services (ITS)  officials to run the management ignoring the BSNL employees for higher posts.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Dec 2011 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 16 Dec 2011 00:00:00 IST