A highly successful online  Executive Committee meeting was conducted by the Chennai circle, today. Out of the 31 Circle Executive Committee members, 28 comrades participated in the meeting. Com.E. Natarajan, Circle President, presided over. Com. Sridharasubramanian, Circle Secretary, welcomed every one and briefed on the functioning of the circle union. Com. P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the inaugural address. He explained about the present condition of BSNL’s 4G launching, the General Strike to be held on 26.11.2020 and the demands of the strike. All the comrades participated in the deliberations, and assured to organise the strike successfully. The deliberations are enthusiastic and inspiring. Com.S. Chellappa, AGS, addressed and greeted the meeting. A detailed roadmap was drawn to organise the General Strike successfully.  The meeting came to an end with Com.V. Rajasekharan, proposing the vote of thanks. 

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, was held on 02.11.2020. The meeting has taken important decisions for successfully organising the General Strike on 26.11.2020. The CHQ has issued circular no.13, carrying the decisions of the CEC meeting. All the circle and district secretaries are requested to implement the decisions effectively, to organise the General Strike successfully.

Circle and district secretaries of the Hindi speaking circles are requested to widely circulate the above poster for organising the Facebook live address by Com.K. Hemalata, President, CITU, at 06:00 pm on 17.11.2020.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of Gujarat circle is successfully held online today. Com.Deepak Trivedi, Circle President, presided over. It is worth mentioning that he participated in the meeting from the US. 17 out of the 19 District secretaries and 15 out of the 21 circle office bearers participated in this meeting.  Com.D.K. Bakutra, welcomed and briefly reported on the functioning of the organisation in Gujarat circle. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the inaugural address. He explained in detail about the road-blocks being created by the government, in the launching of BSNL’s 4G service and the need to participate in the General Strike, being organised on 26^th November, 2020. He also explained about the functioning of the CHQ, as well as the issues taken by the it. Com.John Verghese, AGS, greeted the meeting. All the Executive Committee members participated in the deliberations and assured to make the 26^th November General Strike successful, in their respective districts. The CHQ heartily congratulates the Gujarat Circle for holding a very successful online Circle Executive Committee meeting.

डॉ के हेमलता, अध्यक्ष, CITU फेसबुक पर BSNL कर्मियों को  लाइव संबोधित करेंगी....

BSNLEU द्वारा 26 नवंबर, 2020 की आम हड़ताल के संबंध में कॉम तपन सेन, महासचिव, CITU का फेसबुक पर लाइव उद्बोधन कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया जा चुका है। वह उद्बोधन अंग्रेजी में था।BSNLEU के ऑल इंडिया सेन्टर ने अब हिंदी में फेसबुक लाइव कार्यक्रम आयोजित करने का निर्णय लिया है। तदनुसार, डॉ के हेमलता, अध्यक्ष, CITU फेसबुक पर 17-11-2020 को शाम 6.00 बजे BSNL कर्मियों को हिंदी में संबोधित करेंगी। चूंकि, यह लाइव उद्बोधन हिंदी में होगा, हिंदी भाषी सर्किल के सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज से अनुरोध है कि, वें सुनिश्चित करें कि यह कार्यक्रम अधिक से अधिक साथी देखें। 

BSNLEU has already organised a Facebook live address of Com.Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, in connection with the 26^th November, 2020, General STRIKE. That address was in English. The All India Centre of BSNLEU has now decided to organise a Facebook live programme in Hindi. Accordingly, Dr.K. Hemalata, President, CITU, will be addressing the BSNL employees, live on the Facebook, at 18:00 hrs on 17-11-2020. Since, this live address will be in Hindi, the circle and district secretaries of the Hindi speaking circles are requested to ensure that, maximum number of comrades view this programme.

BSNLEU has long been pursuing the matter of holding the LICEs immediately. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with  Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.) today. The Sr.GM(Estt.) replied that the file is being sent for the approval of the Management Committee within a week, for holding the JTO, Telecom Technician and Junior Engineer LICEs. CHQ will pursue this issue further. 

Even without making payment of their wage arrears, which is not paid for the past one year, the BSNL Management is mercilessly retrenching the contract workers, through mindless outsourcing. Contract workers went on a militant struggle yesterday at Cuddalore SSA in Tamil Nadu circle. Many contract workers together with Com.K.S. Sambandham, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Cuddalore district, were taken into police custody by the police, for peacefully agitating at the General Manager's office in Cuddalore. BSNLEU congratulates the contract workers who are on struggle path.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, NE-II circle, is held online today. Com.M.B. Singh, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com.K.Saheb Singh, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, inaugurated the meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, joined the meeting thereafter. Both the President and the General Secretary explained about BSNL’s present critical condition and also the demands for the 26^th November, 2020, General Strike. Both the leaders appealed to the CEC members to make the General Strike successful. All the district secretaries and circle office bearers participated in the meeting and spoke on the problems prevailing in the circle. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, clarified those issues and assured to take the issues at the Corporate Office level. Com.K.Saheb Singh, Circle Secretary, summed up the discussion and delivered vote of thanks.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of Himachal Pradesh is held online today.  The meeting is very successful, since all the district secretaries and most of the circle office bearers attended the meeting. Com.Amarjit Singh, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com.K.C. Panwar, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and reported on the activities of the circle union. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, inaugurated the meeting and spoke at length on the demands of BSNL employees and the Central Trade Unions, on which the General Strike is being organised on 26^th November, 2020.

The General Secretary severely criticised the government, for wantonly creating roadblocks in BSNL’s 4G launching and urged upon the comrades to powerfully organise the strike.  All the comrades participated in the debate and the General Secretary replied to all the All India level issues, raised by the comrades. The meeting unanimously resolved to to take all out efforts, powerfully organising the General Strike on 26^th November, 2020. Com.Jagat Ram Sharma, Organising Secretary (CHQ), addressed and greeted the meeting. Finally, Com.K.C. Panwar, summed up the discussions. CHQ heartily congratulates the Himachal Pradesh circle union for successfully organising this online Executive Committee meeting.  

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU is held enthusiastically today. The online meeting is presided over by Com.Animesh Mitra, President. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, delivered the welcome address. Com.John Verghese, AGS, moved the condolence resolution. 

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, presented the note for discussion.  He briefly explained on the decision of the Central Trade Unions to organise a General Strike on 26.11.2020, the need for BSNL employees to join this General Strike, the decision of the DoT Committee, stating that, BSNL should adopt the “system integration model” for rolling out it’s 4G networks, preparations taken so far for organising the strike in November, 2020. Totally, 40 comrades participated in the deliberations.

BSNLEU is already campaigning for organising a strike in November, 2020, on 4G and other issues of the employees. Under these circumstances, the Central Trade Unions have given call for a General Strike on 26.11.2020. After in depth discussions, it is unanimously decided in today’s meeting that, BSNLEU should join the General Strike on 26.11.2020, together with the demands on 4G and other demands of the employees. 

आम हड़ताल में व्यापक रूप से शामिल होवें- कॉम तपन सेन की BSNLEU कर्मियों से अपील.

BSNLEU द्वारा 28 अक्टूबर, 2020 को शाम 6.00 बजे, 26 नवंबर, 2020 को होने वाली हड़ताल हेतु कर्मचारियों को संगठित करने के लिए फेसबुक पर लाइव कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया गया। कॉम तपन सेन, महासचिव, सीटू ने संबोधित किया। उन्होंने इस पर प्रकाश डाला कि किस तरह विगत सरकारों के निजी समर्थक और BSNL विरोधी कदम उठाए जाने से BSNL लगातार कमजोर होता जा रहा है। उन्होंने, नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार द्वारा सार्वजनिक उपक्रमों के वृहद रूप से किए जा रहे निजीकरण बाबद विस्तार से समझाया। कॉम तपन सेन ने स्पष्ट किया कि कर्मचारियों द्वारा संघर्षों से हासिल अधिकारों को छीन कर मोदी सरकार उन्हें बड़े कॉर्पोरेट्स का गुलाम बनाने हेतु प्रयासरत है। कॉम तपन सेन ने विभिन्न संघर्षों, उदाहरण के लिए कोयला क्षेत्र के कर्मियों, BPCL और ऑर्डनेन्स फैक्ट्री के कर्मियों और उत्तर प्रदेश के इलेक्ट्रिसिटी कर्मियों के संघर्षों का जिक्र किया जहां सरकार द्वारा निजीकरण कार्यवाही को वापस लेना पड़ा। अंत में, कॉम तपन सेन ने BSNL कर्मियों से, BSNL के हितों की रक्षा के लिए और साथ ही मोदी सरकार के कर्मचारी विरोधी, और पब्लिक सेक्टर विरोधी अभियान को रोकने के लिए 26 नवंबर, 2020 को होने वाली आम हड़ताल में वृहद रूप से शामिल होने की अपील की।   

BSNL को खत्म करने का षड्यंत्र गहरा रहा है..

BSNL के 4G टेंडर के निरस्तीकरण के पश्चात सरकार द्वारा BSNL के 4G की शुरुआत हेतु रोडमैप के लिए सुझाव देने हेतु जो समिति गठित की गई थी,उसके द्वारा, प्राप्त जानकारी अनुसार, अपनी अनुशंसा प्रस्तुत कर दी गई है। उक्त समिति द्वारा दिए गए सुझाव स्पष्ट रूप से  प्रदर्शित करते हैं कि सरकार 4G की शुरुआत में विलंब कर BSNL को एक बीमार कंपनी में परिवर्तित करना चाहती है। 

मीडिया की रिपोर्ट्स के अनुसार, DoT कमिटी ने, सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर द्वारा BSNL का 4G नेटवर्क निर्मित करने व संचालित (manage) करने की अनुशंसा की है। “सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर” एक भारतीय कंपनी होगी, जिसे विभिन्न वेंडर्स से हार्डवेयर और सॉफ्टवेयर प्राप्त कर उनको असेम्बल करने की जिम्मेदारी दी जाएगी। 
 
यह जानना बेहद जरूरी है कि सभी प्राइवेट टेलीकॉम ऑपरेटर्स द्वारा टर्नकी कॉन्ट्रैक्ट के जरिए सिर्फ एक वेंडर द्वारा अपना नेटवर्क निर्मित किया गया है। “टर्नकी कॉन्ट्रैक्ट” के अनुसार केवल एक ही वेंडर, मैनेज्ड सर्विस एग्रीमेंट के तहत नेटवर्क संचालित करेगा। किन्तु, “सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर” मॉडल में एक से अधिक वेंडर शामिल रहेंगे, जिससे तकनीकी समस्याएं निर्मित होंगी।

“सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर मॉडल” को लेकर  ET Telecom अखबार ने अपने 12 अक्टूबर, 2020 के अंक में निम्न समाचार प्रकाशित किया है:-

" BSNL के 4G नेटवर्क के निर्माण हेतु घरेलू वेंडर (home-grown vendors) को प्राथमिकता देते हुए , “सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर मॉडल” को अपनाने के किसी भी प्रयास के परिणाम स्वरूप, इंडस्ट्री एक्सपर्ट्सऔर एनालिस्ट के अनुसार, कीमतें प्रभावित होंगी और मार्किट में प्रतिस्पर्धा करने में कंपनी (BSNL) की क्षमताएं आहत होंगी। उनका कहना है कि 4G नेटवर्क, जिसमें रेडियो और कोर प्रोडक्ट्स शामिल है, के निर्माण में सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर (SI) मॉडल और स्थानीय प्लेयर्स की निपुणता अभी तक व्यापक तौर पर साबित नही हुई है। 

इन सभी से यह परिलक्षित हो रहा है कि BSNL को खत्म करने का षड्यंत्र गहराता जा रहा है। इसे रोकने के लिए, सभी यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशंस को एक साथ आना चाहिए।

The committee that has been formed by the government, in the aftermath of the cancellation of BSNL’s 4G tender, for suggesting the roadmap for BSNL’s 4G service launching, has reportedly submitted it’s recommendations. The suggestions of the Committee clearly indicate the government wants to convert BSNL into a sick company, by delaying it’s 4G launching.

As per media reports, the DoT Committee has recommended that a system integrator will build and manage BSNL’s 4G network. The “system integrator” will be an Indian Company, which will be given the responsibility of procuring the hardware and software from different vendors and to assemble them.

It is important to note that, all the private telecom operators have built their networks by a single vendor, through turnkey contracts. According to the “turnkey contract”, a single vendor will manage the networks, under Managed Services Agreement. However, in the “system integrator” model, multiple vendors will be involved, which will lead to technical problems. 

As regards the “system integrator model”, the ET Telecom has published the following news item on 12th October, 2020:-

"Any move to adopt the system integrator model, with a preference to home-grown vendors, for building BSNL’s 4G network, will result in cost inefficiencies, hurting the telco’s capability to compete in the market, industry experts and analysts said. They said that the System Integrator (SI) model and expertise of local players in building a 4G network, including both radio and core products, are largely unproven.

All these only shows that the conspiracy to kill BSNL, is deepening. All the unions and associations have to come together, to stop it.

As has already been informed, the CEC meeting of BSNLEU, is being held online on 02^nd November, 2020. The meeting is being held mainly to discuss and decide the steps to be taken to successfully organise the strike on 26^th November, 2020.

In the name of reviving BSNL, the government and BSNL Management have retrenched 79,000 BSNL employees through the VRS. Together with this, the BSNL Management has also retrenched almost all the contract workers, through the outsourcing of works. After the retirement of 79,000 employees under the VRS, the necessity for retaining the contract workers became all the more important, to cope with the staff shortage. However, the BSNL Management retrenched the contract workers massively. The Management claimed that the SLA agreements, made with the private contractors, will help to maintain the services efficiently. 

However, the reality tells us something different. The retrenchment of 79,000 BSNL employees, as well as a large number of contract workers, has affected the maintenance of BSNL’s landlines and broadband connections very seriously. For example, 1.54 lakh connections have got disconnected in the month of July, 2020, alone. This has been reported in the ET Telecom dated 14^th October, 2020. The blind outsourcing of works, through SLA contracts, has affected the services very badly. The trade unions and associations in BSNL cannot close their eyes to this reality. The mismanagement of the services has to be taken up.

In this direction, the AUAB, Aurangabad, has done a good job. They have discussed this issue in an in-depth manner and have submitted a memorandum to the GMTD, Aurangabad, wherein it is stated that the outsourcing model has failed totally. Further, they have pointed out that 2,700 landlines and 1,000 broadband connections were surrendered during the last 6 months alone. The AUAB, Aurangabad, has pointed out the steps that have to be taken by the Management, for the proper maintenance of the services.

CHQ requests that, all our circle and district unions, together with the AUAB, should raise this issue, with their respective circle and district administrations. The memorandum submitted by the AUAB, Aurangabad, is given hereunder, for the information of our circle and district secretaires.

A poster in English, has been printed by BSNLEU and 7 other organisations participating in the General Strike, to be held 26.11.2020. The poster consists of the demands of the BSNL trade unions, as well as the demands of the Central Trade Unions. This poster is also getting printed in Hindi. The CHQ of BSNLEU has sent the English posters directly to all the district secretaries, by speed post. They will reach all the district secretaries within 2/3 days. The circle secretaries are requested to ensure that, these posters are promptly displayed in offices and exchanges. The non-Hindi speaking circles are requested to get this poster printed in the regional languages. CHQ will be despatching the Hindi posters from Delhi on Saturday.

BSNLEU organised a Facebook live programme yesterday evening, for mobilising the employees in the General Strike, to be held on 26^th November, 2020. Com.Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, delivered the address. He highlighted how BSNL is continuously being weakened by the pro-private and anti-BSNL steps taken by the successive governments. He also explained in detail, about the massive privatisation of the Public Sector Undertakings, being carried out by the Narendra Modi government. By snatching away the hard-won rights of the workers, the Modi government is trying to convert them into slaves of the big corporates, explained Com.Tapan Sen. The various struggles, viz., struggles of the Coal sector workers, BPCL workers, Ordnance Factory workers and Electricity workers were cited by Com.Tapan Sen, where the privatisation drive of the government has been pushed back. Finally, Com.Tapan Sen appealed to the BSNL employees to join the General Strike on 26^th November, 2020 enmasse, to safeguard BSNL and also to stop the anti-working class and anti-Public Sector steps, being taken by Modi government.

The Corporate Office has issued the letter for the sanctioning of special casual leave, to the Circle Secretaries and Central Office Bearers, for attending the CEC meeting of BSNLEU, to be held online on 02.11.2020.