It was an employees' protest with a difference at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Wednesday. For starters, it was a protest which had the tacit support of the management. Those demonstrating their disaffection had taken a day off to do so – and were equipped with T-shirts with the corporate logo!

Over 2,000 employees of Uninor, a joint venture between Norway's Telenor and India-based Unitech, and their families took to the streets on Wednesday, protesting the imminent loss of their jobs.

Holding placards, the employees were protesting the ‘collateral damage' inflicted on them by the 2G scam.

In its February 2 order, the Supreme Court has set a date of June 2 for quashing the 122 licences issued during the regime of former Telecom Minister, Mr A Raja, and had asked the Government to conduct an auction.

“With due respect to the honourable court, all we are asking for is a chance to continue to work beyond June 2, till such time the auction takes place,' said Mr Joslin, who works in the sales and distribution division of the company.

He said all the employees had taken a day off and the company was backing them in this effort. Some vendors, too, had landed up in support.

Uninor, a joint venture between Norway's Telenor and India-based Unitech, the employees said they planned to submit a ‘prayer' to the Prime Minister and the Telecom Minister, seeking continuity in work for the 14,000 staff across the country.

The company said it has 2,000 distributors, 3,000 vendors, over 1,000 exclusive stores, 58 offices and 40 million subscribers, who could be directly affected.

aditi.n@thehindu.co.in

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