The Society dues deducted from the salaries of the employees, have not been remitted to the societies, by the BSNL Management, for the past one year. Besides, the society dues of VRS optees, as well as retirees on superannuation, are deducted from their Leave Encashment. However, this amount is also not remitted to the societies. Leave Encashment money is received by BSNL, from the LIC. Hence, it is unfair on the part of the BSNL Management to hold back this money also, without remitting it to the societies. BSNLEU has urged upon the CMD BSNL to immediately remit the society dues.

Inordinate delay in effecting mutual Transfers of DR JEs.

CHQ writes to the circle secretaries for intervention.

Many of the newly recruited DR JEs, who joined duty in 2017, have applied for mutual transfers. It is learnt that, in many places, their applications are being held up by the local administration, and are not being forwarded to the CGM office. This issue was brought to the notice of the General Secretary, in the DR JE convention of Punjab circle, held at Ludhiana on 27.05.2018. As a matter of rule, mutual transfers cannot be denied. Hence, circle secretaries are requested to look into this issue. CHQ has written to Pujab, Karnataka, Kerala and Chennai circle secretaries.

The AUAB has already written a detailed letter, to the Hon’ble Prime Minister of India, seeking his intervention to remove the road-blocks being created to stall BSNL’s 4G equipment procurement. Further, today, the AUAB has written to Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister for Communications, seeking a meeting to discuss this issue.

BSNLEU has already opposed the Corporate Office letter No.BSNL/Admn.I/15-22/14 dated 13.07.2018, vide which the 50% ceiling for payment of medical allowance without voucher, to the retirees, has been reduced to 25%. BSNLEU has once again written letter to the Director (HR) demanding restoration of the 50% ceiling.

As per the MoU signed between the Secretary, DoT, and the CMD BSNL on 30th September, 1999, the assets of Department of Telecom Services (DTS) and the Department of Telecom Operations (DTO) are handed over to BSNL. However, the DoT is frequently issuing letters to BSNL, directing it to hand over it’s buildings and office premises. In this manner, a lot of BSNL’s buildings and office premises are already taken over by the DoT. BSNLEU has already taken up this issue with the Secretary, DoT. Again BSNL has written to the Prime Minister now, seeking his intervention for stopping the DoT from violating the provisions of the MoU signed on 30.09.1999.

As regards the outsourcing of CSCs, the UP(East) circle administration and the Azamgarh district administration have thrown the Corporate Office instruction to the winds. Glaring violation of the Corporate Office instruction, to fulfill hidden agenda, cannot be allowed. CHQ has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding his intervention.

Since BSNL is not being permitted to avail bank loans, to meet it's operational expenditures, it's quality of services is deteriorating fast. The AUAB is consistently demanding that permission should be granted, by the Dot to BSNL, for availing bank loans. Once again, the AUAB has written to the Hon’ble MoS(C) demanding to permit BSNL to avail bank loans to meet it’s operational expenditure.

BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate payment of salary for the month of February, 2020, as well as timely payment of salary for the month of March, 2020.

CHQ has printed posters in English, for organising the one day General Strike to be held on 8^th January, 2020 and the same has been despatched to the various district unions today. On getting delivery of the posters, District Secretaries are requested to immediately make arrangement for their display. Further, Circle Secretaries are also requested to get the posters translated in the regional languages. Uploading of the posters in the CHQ website can be used for this purpose.

The DoP&T and the DPE have already issued instructions to be followed to contain the spread of Corona Virus. However, BSNL specific instructions are yet to be issued by the Corporate Office. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to immediately issue such instructions. BSNLEU has also demanded that all such activities like Mela, Road Shows, etc., which make employees susceptible to Corona Virus infection, should be discontinued till the situation improves.

BSNL’s revival package was announced with much fanfare. Through the VRS-2019, nearly 80,000 employees are going to be sent home by January, 2020. Government has also allotted 4G spectrum to BSNL. However, the vendors, viz., ZTE, Nokia, etc., are not coming forward to upgrade BSNL’s BTSs, since BSNL has not paid the outstanding amount of around Rs.3,800 crores to these companies. BSNL is also not having the cash flow to pay electricity bills, clear contractors’ bills and contract workers’ wages, salary on time to the employees, remittance of the dues already deducted from employees’ salaries, etc. The next 3 to 4 months are going to be crucial for BSNL. The Company needs short term financial help to tide over this financial strain. Otherwise, BSNL’s revival will remain as a distant dream, despite the revival package given by the government. BSNLEU has written to the Hon’ble Minister of Communications, soliciting his immediate intervention for helping BSNL to overcome the hiccup.

BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate payment of salary for the month April, 2020. The Union has pointed out that, the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Finance, have given clear cut instruction that, even payment of contract workers should not be denied on account of the Lockdown, whereas in BSNL, even salary of regular employees is not being paid on time. BSNLEU has also pointed out that, payment of salary to the employees has become the last priority of the Management and has demanded that this mindset should be given up. BSNLEU has demanded immediate payment of the April salary.

Forum of BSNL unions and associations has written a detailed letter to the Prime Minister of India, responding to the letter of the Prime Minister’s Office, addressed to the Secretary, DoT, calling for report on the implementation of the Niti Aayog's report, for the closure / transfer to states / status, etc., of BSNL and ITI. The unions and associations of BSNL have to chalk out agitational programme without delay, against the covert moves being made by the Niti Aayog and the Government of India, for the disinvestment through strategic sale / privatisation / closure of BSNL, which is being seriously contemplated by the Niti Aayog and the Government of India.