Everyday more than 3.5 lakh new COVID cases are being reported in India. In every city and town, there is no bed in  hospitals for admitting the COVID patients. Even the patients who are admitted are dying due to lack of oxygen. Under these circumstances, the Madras High Court has told yesterday that, the Election Commission of India is fully responsible for the present situation in India. Massive election rallies were conducted in many states recently. No COVID protocol was followed by the political parties. The court charged that, the Election Commission has failed to implement the court directive that, COVID protocol should be maintained by the political parties during the election rallies. The Bench consisting of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy asked whether the Election Commission was on another planet when election rallies were held. In a harsh remark, the Court said that, the Election Commission should be put up on murder charges probably.

केनरा बैंक के साथ एमओयू के नवीनीकरण में अत्यधिक देरी-BSNLEU ने Sr.GM (सीबीबी) को पत्र लिखकर जल्द कार्रवाई की मांग की । 
कर्मचारियों को विभिन्न बैंक ऋण देने के लिए बीएसएनएल प्रबंधन और केनरा बैंक के बीच हस्ताक्षरित समझौता ज्ञापन 31.12.2019 को समाप्त हो गया है। बीएसएनएलईयू ने एमओयू के शीघ्र नवीनीकरण के लिए आवश्यक कार्रवाई करने के लिए Sr.GM (सीबीबी), कारपोरेट कार्यालय को पहले ही पत्र लिखा है । हालांकि अभी तक निगम कार्यालय ने एमओयू का नवीनीकरण नहीं कराया है। इसलिए बीएसएनएलईयू ने एक बार फिर Sr.GM (सीबीबी) को पत्र लिखा है।

सीएचक्यू ने निदेशक (एचआर) और निदेशक (वित्त) को पत्र लिखकर नियत तिथि पर अप्रैल, 2021 के वेतन के वितरण की मांग की है।

बीएसएनएलईयू नियत तिथि पर अप्रैल, 2021 के वेतन के वितरण के लिए प्रबंधन पर लगातार दबाव बना रहा है। बीएसएनएलईयू इस मुद्दे को उठाते हुए सीएमडी बीएसएनएल को पहले ही पत्र लिख चुका है। इस संबंध में महामंत्री कॉम.पी. अभिमन्यु बीएसएनएल के सीएमडी से बात कर चुके हैं। सीएमडी बीएसएनएल अब अस्पताल में भर्ती है, इसलिए कॉम.पी.अभिमन्यु, जीएस ने निदेशक (एचआर) से बात की है और आवश्यक कदम उठाने की मांग की है, ताकि कर्मचारियों को नियत तिथि पर अप्रैल के वेतन का वितरण मिल सके । इसे जारी रखते हुए बीएसएनएलईयू ने निदेशक (एचआर) और निदेशक (वित्त) को पत्र लिखकर 30 अप्रैल, 2021 को अप्रैल, 2021 के वेतन के वितरण के लिए आवश्यक कदम उठाने की मांग की है।

CHQ is extremely saddened to know that, Com.Sipra Mukherjee, former Vice-President of BSNLEU, has passed away at around 10:30 pm yesterday. She had an heart attack a few days ago and had been hospitalised. Com.Sipra Mukherjee was elected as Vice-President of BSNLEU, in it’s foundation conference, held at Visakhapatnam. She was a militant comrade and dedicated her entire life to the working class movement. CHQ dips the banner and pays respectful homage to Com. Sipra Mukherjee. CHQ also conveys it's deep condolences to her family members, friends and comrades of Kolkata Telephones circle.

WFTU

World Federation of Trade Unions

Athens 26.42021

To our comrades, our brothers and sisters in India,

Dear comrades,

The devastating news that daily we read about India are shocking beyond any human imagination. We are in so much and deep pain to share the news with all of you and your families your beloved ones and all our comrades.

Life has become so uncertain and the responsibilities lays in the hands of the capitalist government of India that has been proved totally incapable to deal early with the pandemic and protect the people by taking appropriate sanitary measures and provide with full medical care to all citizens.

Once more the King has been proved to be naked.

In all capitalist countries the pandemic of the corona virus came to confirm once again that capitalism can give nothing positive to the Peoples and the young generations. The only thing it gives to workers, the poor peasants and the ordinary people is pain, misery, exploitation and social injustice. We have no other way but the path of struggles until the overthrow of this barbaric system.

The WFTU family in the face of this dangerous situation in India, Mexico, Brazil and around the world, in every corner of the globe, is intensifying its struggle for free public health for all, for safe and free vaccines for all and, at the same time, calls the workers and the people not to stop the class struggle until the abolition of capitalist slavery.

Please protect yourselves your families and your members.

We are with you on this fight, stay strong and healthy.

Until we meet again, receive my personal cordial thoughts, the wishes of all WFTU Leadership and staff from Athens.

George Mavrikos

WFTU General Secretary

This year's May Day will be observed in the midst of an unprecedented catastrophe, caused by the COVID-19. Presently, more than 3.5 lakh people are being affected every day in India, by COVID-19. Many state governments have imposed restrictions in the movement of the people. Hence, this year's May Day cannot be observed in the normal way, by organising  meetings, rallies, etc. However, all circle and district unions are requested to ensure that, our Union Flag is hoisted on the May Day, in all offices.

A Formal meeting between BSNLEU and the Director (HR) is to be held on 17^th May, 2021. BSNLEU has submitted it’s agenda items for discussion in the meeting. The following are the items to be discussed.

(1)      Resuming the negotiations for wage revision of the Non-Executives.

(2)      Non-implementation of the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court, in the WP(C) No.29212/2020 (B), dated 17th February, 2021, regarding payment of IDA to the Non-Executives.

(3)      Violation of the transfer liability of Non-Executives.

(4)      Holding of various LICEs for the Non-Executives.

(5)      Issuing of Presidential Orders to the Non-Executives, who are recruited by the DoT, but who were posted after 01.10.2000.

(6)      Banning of peaceful dharna, hunger strike, etc., in BSNL.

(7)      Non-declaration of JTO LICE results in Punjab circle.

(8)      Considering the request transfers of DR JEs.

(9)      Transfer of DR JEs out of Leh SSA, on completion of two years of service.

The letter submitted to the Director (HR) is enclosed.

BSNLEU wishes a very Happy Mahavir Jayanti to all the comrades. 

As a part of their "Pro-corporate and Anti-people policies, the successive governments at the centre have gradually weakened the Public Health System of the country. Government Hospitals, Vaccine Manufacturing Institutes and other Research Institutes, are either weakened or closed down. The governments have systematically cut down the fund allocation to the government hospitals and institutes. All these are done to benefit the private sector. Only the trade unions were fighting against the privatisation / weakening of the Public Health System. But, the vast majority of the general public did not bother about this. Instead, they were fighting among themselves in the name of religion, caste, etc. 

Today, when the COVID-19 is attacking, it is the people, who are suffering. No beds in hospitals, no ventilators, no oxygen supply, no medical equipments, no sufficient doctors and staff, etc,. etc. At least now, the people should realise that, “the anti-people and pro-corporate policies"  of the government are their real enemies and not people belonging to other religions, Castes, etc. The people should stop fighting among themselves in the name of religion, region, caste, etc. They should fight against the policies of the government which have made Mukesh Ambani the richest man in Asia and Gautam Adani the biggest wealth gainer in the world.

It is already informed about the formation of the Coordination Committee (CoC) of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNL CCWF on 17.04.2021. The CoC has issued it’s first circular, calling upon the circle and district bodies to form the CoCs at circle and district levels as early as possible. The circle and district unions of BSNLEU are requested to take the initiative for the formation of circle and district level CoCs.

BSNLEU is continuously struggling to ensure disbursement of salary on time. As a result of this, March salary has already been paid on 07^th of this month. Now, BSNLEU is pressing upon the Management to disburse April salary on the due date. BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL in this regard and has discussed the matter with him also. In this connection, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke to Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR) yesterday evening and discussed the matter. The General Secretary pointed out that, if the April salary is disbursed on time this month, then the chain of belated disbursement of salary to the employees could be broken. The Director (HR) replied in the positive.

It is disturbing to note that, India has become the biggest victim of COVID-19.   Only on 5th April, the number of people affected in India, by COVID-19 in a single day, crossed the one lakh mark (1,03,796).  However, within the next 10 days, i.e., on 15th April, 2021, the number of people affected in a single day crossed the two lakh mark (2,00,739). Within the next six days, i.e., on 21st April, 2021, the number of people affected in a single day crossed the three lakh mark (3,14,835). 

COVID-19 patients are dying in various states, without oxygen. The Hon’ble Delhi High Court has severely criticised the Central Government for it’s failure to supply of oxygen to hospitals. The Court went to the extent of telling the Central Government, “Beg, Borrow or Steal, but provide oxygen to the hospitals”.  When this is the reality, the Prime Minister and the Home Minister are busy in gathering huge crowds in their election meetings in West Bengal. They are not worried that, gathering such huge crowds will further fuel the spread of COVID-19. The Prime Minister, who addressed the nation on television, has indirectly told that, controlling COVID-19 is the duty of the state governments. 

BSNLEU कॉर्पोरेट कार्यालय को लिखता है, यह बैंक खाते में परिवर्तन की सूचना ।

BSNLEU के CHQ कार्पोरेशन बैंक में उसका खाता चल रहा था। अब कॉरपोरेशन बैंक का यूनियन बैंक ऑफ इंडिया में विलय हो गया है। नतीजतन बैंक अकाउंट नंबर और आईएफएससी कोड बदल गया है। इसे देखते हुए सीएचक्यू ने Sr.GM (एसआर) को पत्र लिखकर सभी सर्किल प्रशासनों को बदलाव के बारे में बताने का अनुरोध किया है, ताकि सीएचक्यू में कोटे का प्रेषण सुचारू रूप से जारी रहेगा।

The Delhi High Court pulled up the Central Government yesterday, for the way it is handling the COVID-19 pandemic. Especially, many states are experiencing acute shortage of oxygen. The court directed the government to stop oxygen for industrial use to meet the demand by hospitals. The Court said that, we may lose one crore people if we don’t act in time. Taking note of the shortage of various life saving drugs amid the raging pandemic, the Court told the Centre to speak to drug manufacturing companies and to step up their production.

अखिल भारतीय केंद्र ने सर्किल और जिला सम्मेलनों के आयोजन को स्थगित करने का फैसला किया।

 चेन्नई में आयोजित केन्द्रीय कार्यकारी समिति की बैठक में निर्णय लिया गया है कि यूपी (पूर्व) और  यूपी (पश्चिम) के सर्कल सम्मेलनों के साथ-साथ जिला सम्मेलन जो पहले ही देय हो चुके हैं, 31 मई, 2021 तक पूरे कर लिए जाएं।. हालांकि, COVID-19 की दूसरी लहर, खतरनाक स्तर तक फैल रहा है । इसे देखते हुए आज ऑनलाइन हुई अखिल भारतीय केंद्र की बैठक में तय किया गया है कि सर्किल और जिला सम्मेलन स्थगित किए जाएंगे। इन सम्मेलनों के आयोजन का समय निर्धारित अखिल भारतीय केंद्र उचित समय पर करेगा।

The Central Executive Committee meeting, held at Chennai, has decided that the circle conferences of UP (East) and UP(West), as well as the district conferences that have already become due, should be completed by 31^st May, 2021. However, the second wave of COVID-19, is spreading to dangerous levels. In view of this, the All India Centre meeting, held online today, has decided that the circle and district conferences shall be postponed. The time schedule for holding these conferences, will be decided by the All India Centre at the appropriate time.

The TNTCWU and BSNLEU, Tamil Nadu circle, have fought a legal battle against the inhuman non-payment of wages to the contract workers. As per the direction of the Court, Rs.14.5 crores have already been paid as wage arrears to the contract workers. Today, another Rs.20.47 crore  has been released by the BSNL Management, as per the court order, towards payment of   wage arrears of the contract workers of Tamil Nadu circle. With this, Rs.34.97 crore is paid to the contract workers of Tamil Nadu circle, as their wage arrears. This is purely because of the legal battle fought by our Unions. The CHQ heartily congratulates the contract workers of Tamil Nadu, as well as the TNTCWU and BSNLEU, Tamil Nadu circle union.

CHQ is saddened to hear that, Com.Krishna Reddy, Circle Secretary, NFTE BSNL, Karnataka, has passed away today morning due to heart attack. This is a very big loss to the BSNL trade union movement in Karnataka circle. The CHQ of BSNLEU pays respectful homage to Com.Krishna Reddy and conveys heartfelt condolences to his family members and comrades of Karnataka circle.

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Chennai, decided that a Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF should be formed, for effectively organising various agitational programmes. In accordance with this, a meeting of the leaders of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNL CCWF was held online on 17.04.2021. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS (BSNLEU), Com.Anantha Bhattacharjee, President, Com.K.G. Jayaraj, GS (AIBDPA), Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, President and Com.Animesh Mitra, SG(BSNLCCWF), participated in this meeting. Veteran leader and President of the AIBDPA, Com.Anantha Bhattacharjee, presided over the meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, welcomed all the comrades and briefly explained about the present position on various issues. Thereafter, all the comrades participated in the discussions. Every one welcomed the proposal to form a Co-ordination Committee, for effectively organising struggles on the issues of the employees and that of the Company. Finally, the meeting unanimously elected the following office bearers of the Co-ordination Committee.

President: Com.K.G. Jayaraj, GS, AIBDPA, Convenor: Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, Joint Convener: Com.Animesh Mitra, SG, BSNLCCWF. The meeting decided that this co-ordination committee should be formed at the circle and district levels in the similar pattern. The meeting unanimously demanded that BSNL employees should be treated as frontline workers and should be vaccinated against COVID-19, on a priority basis. A detailed circular on the meeting will be issued shortly. 

Corporate Office issued instructions on 17.04.2021 regarding preventive measures to be taken, to stop the spreading of COVID-19. However, the preventive measures suggested were not sufficient. Under these circumstances, the Corporate Office has once again issued instructions on 18.04.2021, wherein more preventive measures have been prescribed. Accordingly, offices shall be maintained with 50% attendance. Further, employees below E5 pay scale shall attend office on alternate days.