BSNL Corporate Office has issued a letter to all the CGMs, directing them to cut down the strength of contract workers. Only a few months back, all the circle administrations had cut down the strength of contract workers to the extent of up to 30%. Once again reducing the strength of contract workers will seriously hamper the maintenance of BSNL's vital networks and installations, and thereby, will impact the quality of services. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, with copy to the other full-time directors of BSNL Board, demanding not to cut down the strength of contract workers.

The deduction from employees’ salaries, on account of bank EMI, PLI premium, GPF recovery, society dues, etc., are not being paid to the concerned organisations by BSNL, for the past several months. BSNLEU, has once again written to the CMD BSNL requesting for immediate remittance of these dues to the respective organisations. BSNLEU has also demanded that, the penal interests being levied on employees, on account of non-remittance of bank loan EMI amounts, should be borne by the BSNL Management only. BSNLEU has pointed out that, employees should not be made to pay penal interests, on account of the lapse on the part of the Management.

BSNLEU has come to know that certain "non-serious players” are writing to the BSNL Management requesting to postpone the 8th Membership Verification. They are afraid that they will face humiliating defeats if the verification takes place as per the schedule. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL requesting not to postpone the 8th Membership Verification, but to hold it as per the schedule.

The Corporate Office has posted Shri Y. Ravindranath, GM (HR), AP circle, as the new GM TD, Vijayawada. However, the CGM, AP circle is refusing to implement this order. The GM, Guntur, who continues to look after as GM, Vijayawada, is harassing the employees, by issuing mass transfer orders. Hence, BSNLEU, SNEA, FNTO, BTEU and BSNL ATM are on agitation. CHQ has written to the Director (HR) demanding immediate implementation of the Corporate Office order.

BSNLEU and BSNL CCWF have conducted movements for payment of wage arrears to the contract workers. Now, the AUAB is also taking up this issue with the BSNL Management vigorously. In this regard, the Chief Labour Commissioner (Central) has given direction to the CMD BSNL to ensure that the unpaid wage arrears to the contract workers should be paid by BSNL immediately.

Based on the memorandum submitted to him by the AUAB, Com.M. Shanmugam, Rajya Sabha member, as well as the General Secretary of LPF, which is one of the Central Trade Unions, has written to the Prime Minister, demanding prompt action for the launching of BSNL’s 4G service, as well as implementation of the assurances given in the Revival Package. Most importantly, Com.M.Shanmugam, MP, has insisted in his letter to the Prime Minister that, BSNL’s surplus lands should be sold only at market price, through a trustworthy and transparent process. BSNLEU expresses it’s sincere gratitude to Com.M. Shanmugam, MP, for his prompt action.

Yesterday’s judgement of the CBI special court, acquitting all the accused, is contrary to the findings of a Supreme Court Bench. The Supreme Court Bench consisting of Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice A.K. Ganguly, in their order dated 02^nd February, 2012, have stated the following with regards to the 2G scam.

“the exercise undertaken by the officers of the department of telecom between September 2007 and March 2008, under the leadership of the then minister of communications and information technology, was wholly arbitrary, capricious and contrary to public interest apart from being violative of the doctrine of equality.” 

 “…. the material produced before the court shows that the minister of communications and information technology wanted to favour some companies at the cost of the public exchequer.”  

“….the then communications minister was “very much conscious of the fact that the secretary, finance, had objected to the allocation of 2G spectrum at the rate fixed in 2001, but did not consult the finance minister or the office of the finance ministry.”

“….the manner in which the exercise for grant of LoIs to the applicants was conducted on January 10, 2008, leaves no room for doubt that everything was stage managed to favour those who were able to know in advance the change in the implementation of the first come first served policy.”

[Courtesy: Times of India 22.12.2017]

8^th Membership Verification was held in September, 2019. Based on the results, the National Council was reconstituted in March 2020. However, no meeting of the National Council could be conducted till date, due to the lock-down and other restrictions. Under these circumstances, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding to hold the National Council meeting online. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke to Shri A.M.Gupta, Sr.GM(SR), BSNL CO., today and discussed the issue. The Sr.GM(SR) agreed to look into the demand and to take the necessary action.

The meeting of the Joint Committee on change of designations of the left out cadres was held on 26.09.2017. However, the minutes of this meeting is not yet released. The Management has inserted in this minutes, certain issues which are not at all discussed in the meeting. This tantamounts to manipulation. BSNLEU has protested this unfair practice and has demanded to release the corrected draft minutes. So far the Management has not corrected the draft minutes. BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), seeking her intervention to resolve the matter.

BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), seeking a formal meeting to discuss certain issues. These issues include those already discussed in the National Council meeting, on which action is not taken, and other issues are those which are already discussed many times with the Corporate Management.

The CHQ of BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) regarding the problem of some officials who have gone out of their places of duty and are unable to join duty, due to the suspension of Air, Rail and all other modes of transport, under the lockdown. BSNLEU has requested the Management that, such of those officials who are unable to return to their places of duty, due to the imposition of the lock-down, should not be compelled to apply for their own leave. BSNLEU has demanded that the period of absence of the above mentioned category of officials, should be treated as “on duty”.