Phone services hit as telecom stir continues

By Our Tamil Nadu Bureau

CHENNAI, AUG. 11. Telephone services in Chennai and the state were severely affected today as the ``work to rule'' agitation by the Telecommunication Engineering Services Association (TESA) continued for the second day.

Subscribers were unable to make local, STD and ISD calls in most parts of the state. Many lines went dead or were unusable.

Mobile and pager services were also crippled. ``All our DoT links were disconnected by striking employees. Mobile-to- DoT calls seriously affected,'' said a message to its subscribers by cellular operator, Skycell.

Sources in Chennai Telephones said the agitating engineers did not sabotage operations, but strictly ``followed the rule.'' For instance, an SDE (Sub Divisional Engineer) was in charge of 2,500 lines, but had to look after 7,500 lines. Similarly, a Divisional Engineer also had a workload which was several times over and above his/her official load.

Though the officials tried to explain that things were under control, there was sever congestion on most of the local and long-distance circuits and junctions. Business houses and offices were marooned off and on. Even the senior officers of Chennai Telephones and Tamil Nadu Telecom Circle were inaccessible.

In Tiruchi, which too bore the brunt of the strike, some of the lines were partially restored. But long distance and inter- exchange traffic was badly affected. Internet service was also affected.

The Trichy District Chamber of Commerce strongly condemned the strike by the TESA engineers. Mr. L. Gnanaraj, Chamber president, said in a statement the agitation posed great hardship to people and the traders. Businessmen suffered huge losses.

In Hosur, telecom employees took out a cycle-rally in support of the ongoing agitation. The rally, from the Hosur main exchange to the Taluk office, was attended by the members of the All India Telecom Employees Union (Namboodiri), Indian Telecom Employees Union and the All India Telegraph Traffic Employees Union.

The engineers have been on ``work to rule'' strike from Thursday demanding reduction in the residency period for placement of TES (Telecom Engineering Service) group B officers in the Sr. SDE grade, removal of promotion-bottlenecks, filling up of vacancies for DEs (Divisional Engineer) by promoting SDEs, settlement of all claims of the SDEs and implementation of the Supreme Court order regarding promotion and seniority, among others.

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