BSNLEU has continuously been demanding that the Non-Executives, especially the Directly Recruited JEs, who are engineering graduates, should also be permitted to appear in the Management Trainee internal examination. Once again BSNLEU has drawn the attention of the CMD BSNL, by writing a letter.

Based on the order of DoP&T, Corporate Office has renewed the payment of Special Concessions / Facilities to the employees working in Kashmir Valley, w.e.f. 01.01.2018. Currently, this allowance is being paid with the salary. However, the arrears from 01.01.2018 is not paid. BSNLEU has written to the Director (Finance), demanding to release funds for payment of the arrears.

As per the BSNL MRS, the employees and retirees of BSNL are entitled for cashless treatment from the empanelled hospitals. However, due to the non-payment of the bills of the empanelled hospitals for a pretty long time, by the BSNL Management, these hospitals are denying cashless treatment to the employees and retirees. This is creating a crisis to the employees, especially those who get infected with COVID-19, in the course of discharging their official duties. Hence, BSNLEU has demanded that the BSNL Management should immediately make at least a part payment of the outstanding bills of the empanelled hospitals and should negotiate with them, to ensure cashless treatment for the employees and retirees.

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.