The two day General Strike has started in BSNL. The Non-Executives are participating in the strike and lively demonstrations are organised in various places throughout the country. The CHQ of BSNLEU congratulates the comrades. The CHQ also calls on the circle and district unions to organise the strike more powerfully tomorrow.

In it’s 110^th report, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievances, Law and Justice had recommended the increase in basic pension at the rate of 5%, 10% and 15%, on attaining the age of 65 years, 70 years and 75 years, respectively. In a question raised in the Rajya Sabha on 24.03.2022, by Shri Narain Dass Gupta, MP, the Minister of State, Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions has replied that, the matter has been taken up with the Ministry of Finance (Department of Expenditure). The question and answer is enclosed.

The two day General Strike, against privatisation of the Public Sector and other anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the government, started throughout the country today. This is the 22^ndGeneral Strike against the wrong policies of the government and demanding settlement of key-demands of the Indian working class. The strike has started in BSNL also. The CHQ of BSNLEU greets and congrats all the comrades participating in the strike. Circle and district unions are requested to ensure that the strike is organised effectively tomorrow also. 

जनरल स्ट्राइक के पहले दिन, यानी दिनांक 28.03.2022 को प्रभावशाली प्रदर्शनों का आयोजन करें।*

CHQ ने पहले ही आह्वान किया है कि सामान्य हड़ताल के पहले दिन याने कि दिनांक 28.03.2022 को सभी कार्यालयों के सामने प्रदर्शन आयोजित किए जाने चाहिए । सर्किल और जिला सचिवों से अनुरोध है कि वे इन प्रदर्शनों में अधिक से अधिक संख्या में कर्मचारियों को इकट्ठा करें और मोदी सरकार की सार्वजनिक क्षेत्र विरोधी और कॉर्पोरेट समर्थक नीतियों के प्रति अपना विरोध व्यक्त करें। केन्द्रीय ट्रेड यूनियनों द्वारा जहां भी संयुक्त रैलियों का आयोजन किया जाता है, हमारे साथी उन रैलियों में शामिल हो सकते हैं। जहां कहीं भी संयुक्त रैलियों का आयोजन नहीं किया जाता है, तो हमारे कार्यालयों के सामने प्रदर्शन आयोजित किए जाने चाहिए। इन प्रदर्शनों में पेंशनभोगियों और ठेका श्रमिकों को भी शामिल करने के प्रयास किए जा सकते हैं। 

The CHQ has already given call that, demonstrations should be organised in front of all the offices on 28.03.2022, i.e., on the first day of the General Strike. Circle and district secretaries are requested to mobilise maximum number of employees in these demonstrations and express our protest to Modi sarkar’s anti-public sector and pro-corporate policies. Wherever joint rallies are organised by the Central Trade Unions, our comrades can join those rallies. Wherever joint rallies are not organised, demonstrations should be organised in front of our offices. Efforts may be taken to involve pensioners and contract workers also in these demonstrations. 

The working class of India is going on a two day glorious General Strike on 28th & 29thMarch, 2022. Public sector, private sector, central government and state government employees are participating in this strike, to express their vehement protest for the demolition of public sector by the Narendra Modi government and also against other pro-corporate and anti-working people policies. It is a must for the BSNL employees to make this strike a success, for safeguarding BSNL from the attacks of the government. The CHQ of BSNLEU appeals to the entire employees of BSNL to participate in this strike and to make it a success. The CHQ also calls on all the circle and district secretaries to make the last minute mobilisations to make the strike a success.

The two day Circle Conference of AIBDPA, Tamil Nadu circle, started at Tuticorin today. 350 delegates are attending this Conference. Com.N. Kuppusamy, CS, AIBDPA, welcomed everyone and Com.C.K. Narasimhan, CP, AIBDPA, presided. Com.K.G. Jayaraj, GS, AIBDPA, delivered the inaugural address. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the Conference and explained in detail about the issues of the pensioners, anti-worker and pro-corporate economic policies of the government. The Conference is greeted by Ms. Gouthami, Joint CCA, Tamil Nadu circle. Com.S.Mohandas, VP, AIBDPA, Com.S.Chellappa, AGS, BSNLEU, Com.Babu Radhakrishnan, CS, BSNLEU, Com.C. Vinod Kumar, CS, BSNLCCWF.

Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, has reported that “the MTNL is in the ICU and any day it can be declared dead. I can say a catastrophe is waiting to happen in MTNL.” Shri P.K. Purwar has further stated that the debt of MTNL is Rs.26,000/- crore whereas it’s revenue is only Rs.1,300/- crore (per year). The interest payment alone comes to Rs.2,100/- crore. (Business Line dated 21.03.2022).  

Under these circumstances, the employees are also receiving media reports that, the government has taken decision to merge BSNL, MTNL and BBNL and convert them into a single company. BSNL is already struggling in a financial crisis. Under these circumstances, if MTNL, which is already in the ICU and is waiting to die any time, is merged with BSNL, what will happen to BSNL? Is it appropriate on the part of the government to merge BSNL and MTNL?

BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to the martyrs, Com.Bhagat Singh, Com.Shivaram Rajguru and Com.Sukhdev Thapar, who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of India. It was on this day in 1931 that, these three revolutionary freedom fighters were hanged at the Lahore jail, by the British colonial rulers. BSNLEU cherishes the revolutionary thinking of these heroes of the freedom movement and resolves to carry forward their legacy. 

CHQ has already informed that the list of delegates and observers should be sent to the CHQ by 25.03.2022. It is seen that, many circle secretaries are sending the list without mentioning who is the delegate and who is the observer. Hence, CHQ requests that it should be clearly mentioned who is the delegate and who is the observer.

It was on this day in 2001 that, BSNLEU took it’s birth in a jubilant convention held at Visakhapatnam. All these years BSNLEU has stood in the forefront of all the struggles, to defend the interests of the employees and to protect BSNL as a vibrant public sector company. BSNLEU treads in the path of “unity and struggle”, shown by the visionary working class leader Com.K.G. Bose. On this occasion, the CHQ of BSNLEU conveys it’s revolutionary greetings to all the comrades.  The CHQ assures that, BSNLEU will continue to fight for the cause of the working class.

CHQ has already informed all the circle secretaries that, the list of 10^th All India Conference delegates and observers should be sent to the CHQ on or before 25.03.2022. So far, only Kerala, Karnataka, Kolkata Telephones, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and NE-I circles have sent the list of delegates and observers. The remaining circles are also requested to send the list immediately. While sending the list, it should be clearly mentioned who are the delegates and who are the observers. The list should be e-mailed to bsnleuchq@gmail.com.

The Haryana circle union of BSNLEU organised an Extended Executive Committee meeting at Rohtak, yesterday the 20.03.2022. This meeting has been called to discuss about the ways and means for successfully organising the forthcoming two day General Strike, to be held on 28^th & 29^th March, 2022. Com.Ramkumar Gujjar, Circle President, delivered the presidential address. Com.M.S. Kadian, Circle Secretary, delivered the welcome address. Com.Kuldeep Singh, Circle Secretary, AIBDPA, conducted the proceedings. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and gave a detailed account on the demands of the General Strike. He called on the comrades of Haryana circle to successfully organise the strike. Com.Ramesh Chand, Organising Secretary (CHQ) and Com.Deepak Sharma, Dy.GS, SNATTA, addressed the meeting and criticised the anti-worker policies of the government. All the Executive Committee members spoke and assured to make the strike a success.

The Foundation Day of our great Organisation, BSNLEU, shall be observed tomorrow the 22.03.2022. In this connection, the CHQ has already given call to hoist our Union Flag in all places and also to organise gate meetings. Hoisting of the Union Flag will mark the Foundation  Day of BSNLEU and also will highlight the holding of the 10th All India Conference, being held at Guwahati, from 02nd to 04th April, 2022. Organising the gate meetings will be to explain the demands of the General Strike, to be held on 28th & 29th March, 2022 and for mobilising  the employees for the success of the General Strike. All the circle and district secretaries are requested to take best efforts to organise tomorrow’s programmes successfully. Photos and reports may be e-mailed on bsnleuchq@gmail.com.

The CHQ has already given call to hoist our Union Flag and to organise Gate Meetings on 22.03.2022, to mark the holding of the 10th All India Conference of BSNLEU at Guwahati from 2nd to 4th April, 2022 and also to observe the Foundation Day of our great organisation, BSNLEU.  The Gate Meetings should be organised for mobilising the employees for the General Strike, to be held on 28th & 29th March, 2022. All the circle and district unions are requested to organise this programme successfully.