The salary of the employees is now being directly disburse by the Corporate Office. Salary for the month of November, 2021, has been disbursed on 01^st December, 2021. However, the CHQ of BSNLEU has received complaint that a section of the employees in UP(West) have not received their salary. CHQ has received complaint from Moradabad and Aligarh. It seems the problem is with the Bank. Hence, CHQ has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate action on this matter.

The Central Trade Unions organised a National Convention of Workers at Jantar Mantar on 11^th November, 2021. The Convention deliberated in detail about the pro-corporate, anti-people, anti-worker and anti-kisan policies of the Modi government. The Convention unanimously resolved to organise a two day General Strike in the budget session of the Parliament, opposing the wrong policies of the government and demanding settlement of the 12 point charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions. Thereafter, the Central Trade Unions have discussed and finalised the date of the General Strike. Yesterday, the Central Trade Unions have issued a statement, announcing that the two day General Strike would take place on 23^rd & 24^th February, 2022.

Charter of demands

1. Scrapping the Labour Codes; Scrapping of EDSA.
2. Accept 6-point charter of demands, post repeal of Farm Laws, of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha.
3. No to Privatisation in any form and scrap the NMP;
4. Food and Income Support of Rs 7500 per month to non-income tax paying households;
5. Increased allocation for MNREGA and extension of Employment guarantee Scheme to urban areas;
6. Universal social security for all informal sector workers;
7. Statutory Minimum wage and social security for Anganwadi, ASHA, Mid-day-meal and other Scheme workers;
8. Proper protection and insurance facilities for frontline workers serving the people in the midst of pandemic;
9. Increase in public investment in agriculture, education, health and other crucial public utilities by taxing the rich through wealth tax etc in order to revive and revamp the national economy;
10. Substantial reduction in Central Excise duty on petroleum product and concrete remedial measure to arrest price rise.
11. Regularisation of contract workers, scheme workers and equal pay for equal work for all.
12. Cancellation of NPS and restoration of old pension; substantial increase in minimum pension under Employees’ Pension Scheme.

The CHQ has already given call for organising Black Badge wearing demonstrations tomorrow the 08.12.2021. The CHQ has also given call to the circle secretaries to submit memorandum to the CGMs. This memorandum is addressed to the CMD BSNL and the Secretary, Telecom. A copy of the memorandum is already sent to the circle secretaries, through WhatsApp. So, the circle secretaries should submit a copy of the signed memorandum to the CGMs. In addition to this, the memorandum should also be e-mailed to the CMD BSNL and the Secretary, Telecom, on the following e-mail IDs.

1. cmdbsnl@bsnl.co.in
2. secy-dot@nic.in

The CHQ of BSNLEU has already given call to organise Black Badge wearing demonstration tomorrow the 08.12.2021, condemning the sexual harassments being done by the GMTD, Ludhiana, in Punjab circle. All the circle secretaries are requested to organise the programme successfully. Maximum number of employees should be organised in this programme. Each and every employee should wear Black Badges. Reports and photos may be sent to the CHQ. 

A meeting of the Central Executive Committee of BSNLEU will be held online on 22.12.2021. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, will preside over this meeting. Notification for this CEC meeting is issued today. The link for joining this meeting will be sent to all the CEC members through WhatsApp in due course. All the circle secretaries and central office bearers of the Union are requested to attend the meeting without fail. Notification is enclosed.

The SR Branch of the Corporate Office has issued the minutes of the Wage Negotiation Committee meeting. The same is enclosed for the information of our comrades.

The CHQ has already given call to organise black badge wearing demonstrations on 08.12.2021, against the sexual harassments of women employees, by the GMTD, Ludhiana, Punjab circle. Two women employees have complained against this sexual harassment. The GMTD, Ludhiana, is trying to arm-twist the ICC. The efforts taken by BSNLEU to get the matter resolved by the intervention of the high authorities, have failed. Hence, the CHQ calls upon the circle and district secretaries to take serious steps for organising the black badge wearing demonstrations on 08.12.2021. Efforts should be taken to mobilise maximum number of employees, pensioners and contract workers. Circle secretaries should submit a memorandum to the CGMs on that day. A copy of the memorandum to be submitted has already been sent on WhatsApp to the circle secretaries.

A meeting of the Wage Negotiating Committee of the Non-Executives is held today. All the Staff Side and Management Side members participated. As has already been assured in the last meeting, the Management Side made a power point presentation. According to the information of the Management: -

1)   The present strength of Non-Executives is 33,048. In this, absorbed employees are 18,553. BSNL recruited employees are 14,495. In this, number of the Non-Executives in stagnation is as follows: -

1. Stagnation 1 – 2,134
2. Stagnation 2 – 2,351
3. Stagnation 3 – 1,938
4. At maximum of the pay scale to 2,784.
5. Total number of stagnated employees 9,207.

2)   The Management Side further stated that, the employees who lost their increments, due to stagnation, will get them now. This will give financial benefit to the stagnating employees. They further stated that, the Directly Recruited employees will get benefit to the extent of 12% increased EPF contribution by the Management.

3)   The Management stated that the financial burden of the Company on account of Pension Contribution in the new pay scales will increase by 2.6 times. Hence, they suggested to reduce the minimum and the maximum of the pay scales that have already been finalised in the Wage Negotiation Committee. But, the Staff Side strongly opposed this.

4)   Instead, the Staff Side demanded that the already finalised pay scales should be implemented with 5% fitment. Further discussion will take place in the next meeting.

In a question raised in the Lok Sabha on 01^st December, 2021, by Shri G.M. Siddeshwar, MP, the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan, has replied that the value of BSNL is Rs.89,878/- crores. The breakup figures of this value amount is also given by the Hon’ble Minister. Similarly, the value of MTNL is stated as Rs.3,252/- crores.

Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL today and discussed about the harassment of women employees by the GMTD, Ludhiana. They explained how the GMTD, Ludhiana, is misusing his official powers and is enraging the modesty of women employees. They bitterly complained that, BSNLEU is taking up the issue for the past three months, but the circle and Corporate Managements have not made any intervention on this issue. The CMD BSNL gave a patient hearing and assured that appropriate action would be taken.

The Establishment Branch of the Corporate Office has written to all the CGMs, with regards to holding JTO(T), JE and Telecom Technician LICEs. The Corporate Office has called for the working strength category wise (OC/SC/ST/OBC), of the above mentioned cadres. The AUAB will ensure the early holding of these examinations.

The United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has given call to go on a two day strike on 16^th & 17^th December, 2021, against the privatisation of Public Sector Banks. The trade unions of the banking industry have taken this decision, consequent to the decision of the Modi government to rapidly privatise the Public Sector Banks.  BSNLEU extends it’s solidarity to the UFBU. 

पंजाब सर्कल के लुधियाना जिले-Ludhiyana District of Punjab Circle में महिला कर्मचारियों के उत्पीड़न-harassment of women employees के खिलाफ दिनांक 08.12.2021 को प्रदर्शन-Demonstrations और ज्ञापन सौंपना-submission of memorandum और ब्लेक बेज़-black badge पहनकर विरोध प्रदर्शित करने का निर्णय ।

बीएसएनएलयू सीएचक्यू-BSNLEU CHQ पंजाब सर्कल के लुधियाना जिले-Ludhiyana District of Punjab Circle में महिला कर्मचारियों के उत्पीड़न-harassment of women employees के खिलाफ आंदोलनात्मक कार्यक्रम-agitational programmes आयोजित करने का प्रस्ताव पहले ही घोषित कर चुका हैं। बीएसएनएलईयू-BSNLEU बार-बार इस मुद्दे को कारपोरेट प्रबंधन-Corporate Management के ध्यान में लेने के बावजूद कोई कार्रवाई नहीं की गई है। लुधियाना जिले में जब महिला कर्मचारियों की मर्यादा का उल्लंघन हो रहा है तब सीजीएम, पंजाब सर्कल-CGM Punjab Circle और बीएसएनएल कारपोरेट मैनेजमेंट-BSNL Corporate Management दोनों ही मूक दर्शक बनकर रह रहे हैं। दिनांक 29.11.2021 के दिन आयोजित बीएसएनएलईयू के अखिल भारतीय केंद्र-all India Centre ऑनलाइन मीटिंग-online meeting ने इस मुद्दे पर विस्तार से चर्चा की और 08.12.2021 को ब्लेक बेज़-black badge पहनकर प्रदर्शन-demonstrations आयोजित करने और ज्ञापन-memorandum सौंपने का निर्णय किया गया है ।  इसलिए सभी सर्कल और जिला डिस्ट्रिक्ट-all Circle and District Secretary से इन कार्यक्रमों को आयोजित करने का अनुरोध किया जाता है, जिससे निगम प्रबंधन से इस मामले में तत्काल हस्तक्षेप करने की मांग की जायेगी । 

After rendering a long 40 years of meritorious service, Com.Gakul Borah, Treasurer (CHQ), retired from BSNL service on 30.11.2021. He joined service on 02.12.1981 as a Postal Assistant and went on to become a sub-Post Master. Being a Postal Signaller, he joined the telecommunications department in 1993. Com.Gakul Borah has worked in NFPTE, AITTEU Class-II and in BSNLEU, in various capacities. Ultimately, he has become the Treasurer of the CHQ of BSNLEU. The CHQ heartily congratulates Com.Gakul Borah and wish him a long happy and healthy retired life. 

The Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF, Odisha circle organised a Convention against National Monetisation Pipeline. The Convention was held at Bhubaneswar on 28.11.2021. Com.S.R. Das, Circle President, BSNLEU, presided over. Com.J. Kameswar Rao, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, welcomed everyone and initiated the Convention. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, BSNLEU, Com.Janardan Pati, President, BSNLCCWF (CITU), Odisha, Com.A.Dhupal (AIBDPA), Com.Sridhar Mallick (AIBDPA), Com.Biswanath Behera, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF and others addressed. All the speakers severely criticised the National Monetisation Pipeline and also exposed the pro-corporate policies of the Modi government.

The Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF, Telangana circle, organised a Convention opposing the National Monetisation Pipeline at Hyderabad on 30.11.2021. The Convention was presided over by Com.Ramachandradu, President, Co-ordination Committee & CS, AIBDPA. Com.J. Venkatesh, Secretary, CITU, Telangana state, Com.G. Samba Siva Rao, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Com.D. Shankar, Vice-President, AIBDPA (CHQ), Com.B. Paripurnachari, Circle Secretary, BSNLCCWF and Com.D. Seshaiah, ACS, BSNLEU, addressed the Convention. They explained how the priceless national assets would be looted by the corporates, under the National Monetisation Pipeline.