BSNL Employees Health Insurance Policy is going to be implemented w.e.f. 01^st September, 2021. The New India Assurance Company has communicated to the BSNL Management, the list of empanelled hospitals throughout the country under this Health Insurance Policy. However, it is observed that, no empanelled hospitals are available in NE-I and NE-II circles. This will create very big problems to the BSNL employees posted in NE-I and NE-II circles and who opt for the Insurance Policy. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the GM(Admn.), BSNL Corporate Office, and has demanded that empanelled hospitals are made available in NE-I and NE-II circles.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a directive that the salary for the month of August, 2021, should be paid on 19.08.2021 itself, to the Central Government employees posted in Kerala, in view of the Onam festival. But in BSNL, so far, even the salary for the month of July, 2021, has not been paid to the employees. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL that, in accordance with the spirit contained in the Ministry of Finance letter, salary for the month July, 2021, should be paid to all the employees immediately. Further, BSNLEU has demanded salary for the month of August, 2021, should be paid to the BSNL employees posted in Kerala circle, on or before 19.08.2021.

BSNLEU is continuously taking up the various issues connected with the Restructuring process. It has submitted it’s suggestions to the Management, on the proposed strength of the cadres of TT, Sr.TOA, JE and JTO. BSNLEU has also opposed Management’s proposal to declare the Sr.TOA and the ATT cadres as Dying Cadres. While the Director (HR) has agreed to retain Sr.TOA cadre as a Live Cadre, he did not agree to keep the ATT also as a Live Cadre. 

Hence, BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL, to retain the ATT cadre as a Live Cadre. For this, BSNLEU has suggested that the educational qualification of the ATT cadre could be increased. Alternatively, BSNLEU has suggested that, a "Multi Tasking Cadre" could be created.

BSNLEU has pointed out that, after VRS, the situation in BSNL is still very fluid. Hence, the Union has demanded that, all decisions taken regarding Restructuring, should compulsorily be reviewed after one year. BSNLEU has also demanded that no final decision should be taken regarding the strength of TT, Sr.TOA, JE and JTO cadres without holding discussion on the proposals already submitted by BSNLEU.

The New India Assurance Company Limited has informed the terms and conditions for the BSNL Employees Health Insurance Policy. However, the list of empanelled hospitals is not given by this Insurance Company. This information is very vital for the employees to choose the right hospital. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the GM(Admn.), BSNL CO., demanding to ensure that the list of empanelled hospitals is informed by The New India Assurance Company Limited.

BSNL Management had given it’s proposals for the future manpower strength in various cadres (Restructuring). BSNLEU, in turn has given a detailed note on the future requirement of manpower in various Non-Executive cadres. However, it is learnt that, the Management is taking hasty steps to implement Restructuring. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding that no unilateral decision should be taken in the matter of Restructuring.

BSNLEU has already demanded that, the Non-Executives (JOA, SOA, AOS and OS) should be provided with passwords in the E-Office. The Director (HR), in the meeting held with BSNLEU on 24.03.2021, has agreed for providing passwords to the 25% of the Non-Executives. However, it has been brought to our notice that, passwords have not been provided to the Non-Executives so far. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding to immediately implement the assurance given to BSNLEU.

After a long waiting, the DPE has issued letter for IDA increase for the Public Sector Employees, w.e.f. 01.10.2020. Everyone knows that, in the writ petition filed by BSNLEU, the Hon’ble Kerala High Court has ordered that the IDA freezing is not applicable to the Non-Executives of BSNL. As a result of this court order, obtained by BSNLEU, the Non-Executives of BSNL will get arrears of the IDA w.e.f. 01.10.2020. Accordingly, arrears for 5.5% IDA increase will be paid w.e.f. 01.10.2020. From 01.01.2021, IDA has increased by 6.3%. So, arrears for 11.8% IDA will be paid from 01.01.2021. Since, IDA is reduced by 1.2% w.e.f. 01.04.2021, IDA arrears for 10.6% will be paid from 01.04.2021. This payment of IDA arrears is a great achievement of BSNLEU. Today, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL to take steps for payment of the IDA arrears without any delay. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates all the Non-Executives who are going to be benefitted. 

Based on the demand of BSNLEU, the BSNL Management has implemented the “BSNL Employees Health Insurance Policy, 2021”. As per the notification, this Insurance Scheme will become operational from 01.09.2021. In that case, the premium amount has to be paid to the Insurance Company in the month of August, 2021, itself. It means, the premium amount has to be deducted from the salary of August, 2021. But normally, the monthly salary of the employees is being paid belatedly. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL demanding that the August, 2021 salary should be paid on the due date. Alternatively, BSNLEU has demanded that, the premium amount should be paid to the Insurance Company in advance by the BSNL Management. 

The DPE, vide it’s letter issued on 19.11.2020, froze the IDA of the Central Public Sector Employees that is to be paid w.e.f. 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021. According to that letter, the frozen instalments of IDA are to be paid w.e.f. 01.07.2021. It is already 31^st July, 2021 today. However, so far the DPE has not notified to the Central Public Sector Enterprises, about the quantum of IDA that has become due w.e.f 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021, 01.04.2021 and 01.07.2021. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Secretary, DPE, demanding to immediately notify the increase in the IDA rates for the above mentioned period.

The Management has given it's proposals, regarding the future manpower (future staff strength in various cadres) of the Company. In that, the Management has intimated that the Sr. TOA cadre will become a dying cadre. BSNLEU immediately wrote to the Director (HR), strongly opposing this. In the meeting, held between the Director (HR) and the Unions on 20.07.2021, BSNLEU raised this issue and strongly demanded that, the Sr.TOA cadre should continue to be a live cadre. After detailed discussion, the Director(HR) accepted BSNLEU's demand. Due to the efforts taken by BSNLEU, the cadre of Sr. TOA shall continue to remain as a live cadre. Following this, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) today, demanding to give the Management's proposal for the norms for the Sr.TOA cadre. Thereafter, BSNLEU will submit it's views on it.

BSNLEU has long been telling the Management that, the cluster-based outsourcing system has sharply increased the expenditure, while the quality of service has declined drastically. Moreover, massive disconnection of landline and broadband connections is taking place after the outsourcing. Hence, once again BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL with fact and figures to prove that, the cluster-based outsourcing system is a total failure and has demanded a thorough review of this outsourcing system.

On 19.06.2021, BSNLEU had an online Formal Meeting with the Director (HR). The SR Branch of the Corporate Office, has issued a casual and careless minutes for this meeting. For example, the minutes has got no letter number or date. Further, on important items like resumption of the wage negotiations, the minutes has carried either vague or irrelevant replies. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), raising the issues and has requested to issue modifications to the minutes.

All are aware that BSNLEU is continuously insisting upon the Management to hold the various LICEs of the Non-Executives. However, the Management had been telling that, the LICEs for the Non-Executives would be held only after the completion of the Restructuring of Manpower in BSNL. However, on 08.07.2021, the Management has promoted 3,697 JTOs as SDEs. Implementing the promotions of the Executives and telling the Non-Executives to wait for the LICEs is nothing but a foul-game played by the Management. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL to immediately hold the LICEs of the Non-Executives, without waiting for the Restructuring to be completed.

According to the deployment plan approved by the Cabinet, the number of PGM/GM level officers to be posted in BSNL during 2021-22 is just 199. However, today, the working number is more than 425. About 130 PGM/GM level officers are working in excess from 2020 onwards and in 2021-22 the number will be around 225. Management is simply accommodating hundreds of senior officers in BSNL without any justification and paying them the benefits of 7th CPC, LTC, Transport Allowance, TA, Tuition Fee reimbursement etc., on the revised rates, when the same are denied to BSNL employees. It is identified that, about 20 PGM/GMs are in excess at BSNLCO itself. BSNL is paying about Rs.90 to 100 crore per annum as salary and allowances for the excess officers working in BSNL.

The Corporate Office has issued order today, implementing the JTO to SDE promotions for 3,697 officials. BSNLEU welcomes this order since this has given relief to the JTOs who have been suffering without promotion for long years. However, in the similar manner, BSNLEU wants the LICEs of the Non-Executives should also be conducted, without waiting for the process of the ‘Restructuring’ to be completed. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding the immediate holding of LICEs of the Non-Executives.

BSNLEU is taking continuous efforts to settle the issue of non-declaration of JTO LICE results in Punjab circle. However, Management has not taken the any step so far, to settle this issue. Under these circumstances, the Punjab circle union of BSNLEU is organising massive dharna in front of Punjab CGM Office on 12-07-2021, demanding settlement of the issue. In this backdrop, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding to immediately settle the issue as per the DoP&T letter dated June 15, 2018. 

After dragging on for one and half years, the BSNL Management has finalised it’s proposals for the future manpower of the Company. It has declared the Sr.TOA and ATT as dying cadres. The strength of the JE cadre has been increased from 7,148 to 7,923, which is not sufficient. The strength of the JTO cadre, which is the promotional cadre of JE has been reduced from 14,536 to 11,283. This will severely affect the promotional prospects of the JE cadre. Further, the strength of the JAO cadre has also been cut down from 2,351 to 1,890. This will also affect the promotions of the Non-Executives.  BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) strongly opposing these proposals and requesting to hold a discussion on this issue.

BSNLEU has already written to the Director (HR), demanding to attach Narsinghpur SSA under the Jabalpur or Hoshangabad Business Areas, instead of attaching with the Sagar BA. Based on the discussion held by the BSNLEU circle union, the CGM, Madhya Pradesh circle, has now written to the Director (HR), recommending that Narsinghpur SSA could be brought under the Hoshangabad SSA. Hence, once again BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding to accept the recommendation of the CGM, MP circle.

As has already been informed, the AUAB has decided to organise lunch hour demonstrations on 25.06.2021 and submitting of memorandum on 30.06.2021. The AUAB has issued notification today, for these programmes. All the circle secretaries are requested to send a copy of this notice to the Chief General Managers through E-mail/WhatsApp.

BSNLEU is demanding certain amendments to the Recruitment Rules of JAO cadre. These amendments are demanded, with the view to remove certain hardships being faced by the Non-Executives, in appearing the JAO LICE. However, the Management has not taken any action on this issue so far. Hence, BSNLEU has once again written to the Director (HR), demanding to incorporate the amendments to the JAO RR without further delay.