Despite the relentless pressure from the authority, Grameenphone Employees Union (GPEU) again took the leadership of Grameenphone People’s Council (GPPC) after swiping over full panel victory in the election.
The employees union of the cellular phone operator continued its strong presence against the backdrop of “illegal” termination and job cut of employees and hindrance of running trade union, said the leaders of GPEU.
The candidates of GPEU panel secured their victory at all the 17 posts of councilors of GPPC, an internal platform established by the Grameenphone (GP) authority to tackle the employees union.
Following an unpleasant employees’ unrest within the company for the last couple of years, Grameenphone formed the GPPC in 2012, which will not be a bargaining agency or a traditional union.
Former CEO Tore Johnsen on October 30, 2012 approved the GPPC in the wake of a movement against unlawful job cut and termination. But, the company did not allow the trade union yet.
At present, displeasure has again been started among the employees as the operator on April 23 terminated its 28 employees without any notice, claimed GPEU.
Among the winners of GPEU panel for the tenure of 2015-17, six members represent from commercial division while four from technology division, two as female representatives and five people come from other division.
A total of 37 contenders contested in the election held on May 26 where 2968 employees of GP cast their vote.
Incumbent general secretary of GPPC Miah M Shafiqur Rahman Masud has been elected as the Chairman of the new committee while Subrata Kumar Das as general secretary by the newly elected councils in meeting on June 1. In 2013, the GPEU candidates were also elected in full panel.
Talking to BSS, Miah M Shafiqur Rahman Masud vowed to continue the work to realize the rights of GPEU members as well as the betterment of the organization.
“The second consecutive victory gives the message that all the GP employees have kept their trust to the GPEU,” he added.
The GPEU, which formed in June 2012 following the job cut of over 200 employees, said they had filed application to the Directorate of Labour for registration, but the application was rejected. Later, their appeal was also rejected by the Labour Court. So, they filed appeal at the Labour Appellate Tribunal on 19 April and the tribunal passed stay order on the Judgment of Labour Court on April 20, added the GPEU.
Earlier, GP in a statement had said: “Grameenphone is respectful of employee rights and strictly complies with the relevant laws of the land.”
