The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) has decided to organise placard showing agitation on 15.07.2021, at New Delhi, Circles, BAs and SSAs. The matters to be written on the placards (in English) has been finalised by the AUAB and is attached below. Circle and district secretaries are requested to make use of these matters for preparing the placards. They are requested to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB and to successfully organise the placard showing agitation.

All circle secretaries and CHQ office bearers are requested to note please.  The All India Centre meeting, held online on 10.07.2021, has decided to hold the Central Executive Committee meeting of our Union at Hyderabad on 6^th and 7^th August, 2021.  All the CEC members are requested to attend the meeting without fail. Travel tickets may be booked immediately.

Some mischievous persons are continuously spreading lies that the 3rd Wage Revision is not settled only because of BSNLEU. They are spreading the lie that, the DoT offered Wage Revision with 5% fitment. But, it was rejected by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU. These lies are being spread only to defame BSNLEU. Hence, to expose the liars, we are giving below the facts.

(i)     Minister Shri Manoj Sinha, rejected 15% fitment.

On 03.12.2018, a meeting was held between the AUAB and the then Minister Shri Manoj Sinha. The Minister rejected the 15% fitment demand of the AUAB, stating that the Cabinet will not accept it. He suggested that, the AUAB, the DoT and the BSNL Management should come to an agreement for a lesser fitment.

(ii)   Shri Anshu Prakash, Additional Secretary, withdraws his 5% offer.

On 30.01.2019, there was a meeting between the AUAB and Shri Anshu Prakash, the then Additional Secretary, DoT. Shri Anshu Prakash requested the AUAB leaders to accept 5% fitment. The AUAB leaders unanimously decided to accept this proposal. But, on the next day itself, Shri Anshu Prakash somersaulted and withdrew his 5% offer.

(iii)  The AUAB issued notice for 3 day strike from 18.02.2019.

On 13-02-2019, Shri Anupam Shrivastava, the then CMD BSNL, met the AUAB leaders and made the following offer.

(a)  The AUAB should withdraw the strike notice.

(b)  After the strike is withdrawn, the Hon’ble Minister will try to settle Wage Revision with 5% fitment.

The AUAB leaders accepted these proposals. However, they insisted that, the DoT should give this offer in writing. But, the DoT was not prepared to give anything in writing.  Hence, all the General Secretaries decided unanimously  to go ahead with the strike.

The General Secretaries of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA and AIGETOA had participated in all the above mentioned meeting. All the decisions are taken unanimously by the above mentioned General Secretaries. Then why mudslinging is being made on BSNLEU? 

The above facts will expose the real face of those who are spreading lies against BSNLEU. 

It is disturbing to note that BSNL has been able to achieve only 47% of it’s target of providing mobile connections, in June, 2021. The target fixed for June, 2021 was 16,38,263. However, the number of connections (both prepaid and postpaid) provided by the BSNL in June, 2021, is only 7,69,682. This comes to only 47% of the target fixed. It is crystal clear that the non-launching of 4G service by BSNL is the important reason for the poor performance in the mobile segment. The AUAB is taking up the 4G issue on a top priority.

The BSNL Management has decided to call for fresh option from the retirees to avail the medical cash allowance facility for the financial year 2020-21 in a requisite format, along with the following details: -

1. Option Form (including dependents self certification).
2. Updated bank details.
3. PAN Card (self attested photocopy).
4. Cancelled cheque (in original).
5. Address Proof.
6. Working Mobile Number plus one additional mobile number.

Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary and Com.Sanjiv Kumar, Organising Secretary (CHQ), met Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, yesterday the 08.07.2021, and discussed the following issues: -

1. Disbursement of June, 2021 salary.

The representatives strongly urged upon the CMD BSNL to take steps for the immediate disbursement of the June, 2021 salary. It was pointed out that, the employees are facing extreme hardships during this pandemic situation, due to non-disbursement of salary. However, the CMD BSNL replied that, presently this disbursement cannot be done, since there is acute shortage of funds.

2. Immediate holding of the LICEs of the Non-Executives.

The representatives welcomed the orders issued by the Corporate Office for promoting 3,697 JTOs as SDEs. They pointed out that, this promotion has been effected even though the Restructuring of Manpower is not completed. They argued that, in the similar manner, the LICEs of the Non-Executives should also be conducted immediately, without waiting for the completion of the ‘Restructuring’ process.  The CMD BSNL replied that he expects the Restructuring to be completed by 15th August, 2021, after which the LICEs would be conducted. However, the representatives insisted for holding the LICEs, without waiting for the completion of the ‘Restructuring’.

3. Declaration of the JTO LICE results in Punjab circle.

The representatives strongly complained that the JTO LICE results have not been declared in Punjab circle, mainly due to the mishandling of the issue by the Punjab circle office. They demanded that, based on the DoP&T order dated June 15th, 2018, the JTO LICE results should be immediately declared. The CMD BSNL stated that he was not aware of the case and that he would look into it.

4. Deployment of ITS officers in BSNL.

The representatives pointed out that, according to the DoT order dated 11th March, 2013, all the ITS officers deployed in BSNL are to be repatriated to the DoT by 2022-23 in a phased manner. However, contrary to this order, more and more ITS officers are being brought into BSNL, from the DoT, they complained. These ITS officers are being posted even in the HR vertical, replacing the Civil and Electrical offices, when many big SSAs are remaining without SSA Head. For this issue also the CMD BSNL did not give any concrete reply. This issue will be continued to be pursued by the AUAB.

Com.Sanjiv Kumar, Organising Secretary (CHQ), from Amritsar, joined the CHQ yesterday, to work in the Head Quarters. He will be in the Head Quarters for two weeks.

As has already been informed, the AUAB is organising placard showing agitation on 15.07.2021 and hunger strike on 28.07.2021. The AUAB has issued notification to the Secretary, Telecom and to the CMD BSNL today. 

बीएसएनएल प्रबंधन ने जेटीओ सँवर्ग के 3,697 अधिकारियों को एसडीई प्रमोशन का आदेश दिया - बीएसएनएलईयू ने सीएमडी बीएसएनएल को गैर-अधिकारियों के एलआईसीई  आयोजित करने के लिए पत्र लिखा ।

निगम कार्यालय ने आज आदेश जारी कर 3,697 अधिकारियों के लिए एसडीई को एसटीई प्रमोशन करने के लिए आदेश जारी किया है। BSNLEU इस आदेश का स्वागत करता है क्योंकि इससे जेटीओ को राहत मिली है जो लंबे वर्षों से बिना पदोन्नति के पीड़ित हैं । तथापि, इसी प्रकार, बीएसएनएलईयू चाहता है कि पुनर्गठन की प्रक्रिया पूरी होने की प्रतीक्षा किए बिना गैर-अधिकारियों के एलआईसीई का भी आयोजन कियाजाने चाहिए । बीएसएनएलईयू ने सीएमडी बीएसएनएल को पत्र लिखकर गैर अधिकारियों के एलआईसीई का तत्काल आयोजित करने की मांग की है। 

श्री रविशंकर प्रसाद ने संचार मंत्री पद से इस्तीफा दिया - श्री अश्विनी वैष्णव संचार विभाग के नए मंत्री हैं।

दूरसंचार मंत्री श्री रविशंकर प्रसाद ने कल मंत्रिमंडल से इस्तीफा दे दिया था। उनके स्थान पर श्री अश्विनी वैष्णव ने संचार मंत्री का पदभार संभाला है। ओडिशा के पूर्व आईएएस अधिकारी और राज्यसभा सदस्य श्री वैष्णव रेल, संचार और सूचना प्रौद्योगिकी (आईटी) मंत्री हैं। वह राजस्थान से संबंध रखते हैं और अमेरिका में पेंसिल्वेनिया विश्वविद्यालय के व्हार्टन स्कूल में मैनेजमेंट की पढ़ाई की है । एक आईएएस अधिकारी के रूप में, श्री वैष्णव ने श्री वाजपेयी के प्रधानमंत्री पद के दौरान प्रधानमंत्री कार्यालय में काम किया है और सार्वजनिक-निजी भागीदारी (पीपीपी) ढांचे को संभाला है।

In a surprise move the Telecom Minister, Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, resigned from the Cabinet, yesterday. In his place, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, has taken over as the Minister of Communications. Shri Vaishnaw, a former IAS officer and Rajya Sabha member from Odisha, is the Minister of Railways, Communications and Information Technology (IT). He belongs to Rajasthan and has studied Management at Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, in the US. As an IAS officer, Shri Vaishnaw has worked in the PMO, during the prime ministership of Shri Vajpayee and has handled the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework.

Bollywood actor, Dilip Kumar has passed away today, after prolonged illness. He was 98 years and had acted for more than 50 years. Dilipkumar has been conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, Dada Saheb Palke and many awards. In fact, he held the Guinness Record for receiving the highest number of awards. His body has been cremated with full state honour. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to Dilip Kumar. 

Today is the 101^st Birth Anniversary of Com.K.G.Bose, the revolutionary leader who changed the course of the P&T Trade Union movement. BSNLEU has decided to observe the year-long Birth Anniversary of Com.K.G. Bose. A few programmes were organised in this connection. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we were not able to observe the Birth Centenary of Com.K.G. Bose, as elaborately as we desired. On this occasion, BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to Com.K.G.Bose and pledges to move forward in the path shown by him.

Com. Animesh Mitra, President and com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met certain officers in the Corporate Office today and discussed/ followed- up, the issues already taken up by BSNLEU. The following are the details of the discussions: -

Sr. GM (Estt.)

The BSNL Corporate Office has already written to the DPE, requesting to inform the IDA rates, that have become due to the Non- Executives of BSNL. The President and GS discussed this issue today. Shri Saurab Tyagi, Sr. GM (Estt.) replied that the DPE has not informed the IDA rates so far. The leaders requested him to seriously pursue this matter with the DPE. The Honourable Kerala High Court order, on payment of IDA to the Non- Executives of BSNL, can be implemented by the Corporate Office, only after the IDA rates are informed by the DPE. The leaders also requested the Sr. GM (Estt.) to ensure that the JTO LICE results of Punjab circle are immediately declared, based on the Supreme Court judgment, as conveyed in the DoP&T letter no F.No.36012/11/2016 – Estt. (Rest-I) {Pt-II} dt. June 15,2018.

Sr. GM (Admin.)

As per the request of BSNLEU, Corporate Office is taking steps to implement the Medical Insurance. The President and GS discussed this issue with shri A.M. Gupta, Sr. GM (Admin.). He stated that, the matter is being dealt with speedily. Both the leaders requested to complete the work by the end of July.

GM (Trng.)

Accepting the demand of BSNLEU, yesterday, the Corporate Office issued letter, for the training of the two JAO candidates of Punjab circle. The President and GS, met Shri S.P. Singh, GM (Trng.) and thanked him for the quick action taken by him. The leaders also requested to ensure that the Corporate Office letter on this matter is implemented immediately by the NATFM.

GM (CBB)

BSNLEU has already written to the GM (CBB), demanding to renew the MoU signed with the Canara Bank. The President and GS met shri P.C. Bhatt, GM (CBB) and discussed this issue. The GM (CBB) replied that, he has already written to the Corporate Office of the Canara Bank, but, they have not responded so far. Both the leaders requested him to remind the Corporate Office of the Canara Bank on this matter.

In Punjab circle, two candidates have been declared successful in the review of the JAO results for the SC/ST candidates. However, they were not sent for training for a long time. BSNLEU took up this issue and wrote to the GM (Trg.), BSNL Corporate Office. The Corporate Office has taken prompt action for sending both the candidates for JAO training. Letter has been issued directing the NATFM to start the training of these candidates.

The BSNL Management has neither conducted the promotional examinations of the Non-Executives, nor has effected the promotions of the Executives, for a long time. They have been delayed under the pretext of non-completing the restructuring of manpower in BSNL. After wasting one and half years, in the name of doing the exercise of restructuring, the BSNL Management has now come out with anti-employee proposals. According to these, the Sr.TOA cadre has been made a dying cadre. It means, no fresh recruitment will be made in the cadre of Sr.TOA and their posts will be abolished on retirement of  the 4,973 Sr.TOAs working presently. This cannot be accepted. The JE is a vital cadre in the present era of high technology. However, the present strength of the JEs is 7,168 and the Management has increased these posts only up to 7,923. JTO is the main promotional cadre of JEs. The present working strength of the JTOs is 14,536 and this has been cut down to 11,286. This will seriously affect the promotion of the JEs. The number of JAO posts has also been cut down from 2,351 to 1,850. The AUAB has decided to take up these issues very seriously with the Management.

The AUAB, in it’s meeting held on 01.07.2021, has emphasised the need to make widest mobilisations, to ensure the early financial revival of BSNL. Accordingly, the AUAB has decided to write to all the Pensioners' Organisations, seeking their support and involvement in the future mobilisations to be made by the AUAB, on the issue of the financial revival of BSNL. 

The Punjab circle union has decided to organise massive dharna at the CGM Office, Chandigarh, on 12.07.2021, demanding settlement of certain burning problems. The non-declaration of the JTO LICE results in Punjab circle, is a burning problem. Further, Rs.200/- is being deducted from the salary of the employees every month, towards professional tax. Apart from this, non-implementation of the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, on the recovery of the excess payment made to the Non-Executives is another burning problem. Punjab circle union has announced that the dharna programme would be organised by maintaining all the COVID-19 protocols.