Recently BSNL has started it’s internet telephony service. Customers, by using BSNL’s app ‘Wings’, can make unlimited calls by paying an annual fee of Rs.1,099/- and by using internet service or wi-fi of any telecom operator. This service was launched on 11^th July, by Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communication. It is great to hear that within two weeks BSNL has received 4,000 bookings, for the new service. CHQ requests all the comrades to make effective campaign to make the public aware of BSNL’s Net Telephony service.

[Source: ET – 25.07.2018]

The employees of BSNL are struggling, demanding immediate steps to be taken by the government for the revival of BSNL. At this crucial juncture, Business Line, one of the prominent financial newspapers of the country, has demanded that the government should take urgent steps for the financial revival of BSNL. This is a good development. Business Line has argued that the consumers of India need a strong Public Sector company like BSNL, to safeguard themselves from the high tariffs of the private telecom companies. This is an important view and we strongly support it. Similarly, Business Line argues that BSNL’s vacant lands should be monetised, and the proceeds (amount) should be invested for the modernisation and expansion of it’s networks. We strongly support this view also. However, we do not endorse the view of Business Line saying that VRS should be implemented.

Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, addressed the Central Committee meeting of the National Telecom Employees Association of Nepal (NTEAN) on 25-07-2019. This meeting was specially organised, on the occasion of the visit by the General Secretary of BSNLEU. 55 members of the Central Committee of the NTEAN attended this meeting. Addressing this meeting, Com.P.Abhimanyu spoke elaborately on the scenario prevailing in the telecom sector in India, the pro- private policies of the government and the united struggles being waged by the employees of BSNL, under the banner of the AUAB. He also explained how the WFTU and the TUI Transports and Communications are uniting the working class world over, in the fight against the Neo-Liberal policies, being dictated by the World Bank and the IMF. He urged upon the NTEAN to join the WFTU and the TUI Transports and Communications, to put up an effective fight against the capitalist exploitations.

The 5th meeting of the BSNL Working Women’s Co-ordination Committee (BSNL WWCC), was held in Tulsi hotel at Vadodara today. Com.K. Ramadevi, Vice President (CHQ) presided over the meeting. Com. Banani Chattopadyaya, moved the condolence resolution. The house stood in silence for a minutes and paid homage to the leaders and comrades, passed away after the last meeting. Com. Tapaswini Trivedi, Gujarat, sang the inaugural song. Com.D.K. Bakutra CS, Gujarat and Com.Anand Narayan Singh, ACS, Gujarat, delivered the welcome address.  Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, inaugurated the meeting and delivered his address. Com.P.Indira, Convenor, presented the report on activities and addressed the meeting. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com.Rama Devi, Vice President (CHQ), addressed and greeted the meeting. Thereafter, deliberations on the report presented by the Convenor started. Com.K.Baghyalakshmi, Kerala, Com.Banani Chattopadyaya, West Bengal, Com.Sharmila Data, Kolkata, Com.Tapaswini Trivedi, Gujarat, Com.Berlin Alice Mary, Tamil Nadu, Com.Hemavati, Chennai Telephones, Com.Amita Nayak, Maharashtra, Com.Revathi Rajesh, Karnataka and Com.Shaveta Malhotra, Punjab, addressed the meeting. Com.P.Indira, Convenor, summed up the discussions. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, made his closing remarks. Many important decisions were taken in the meeting, for the revival of BSNL and the strengthening of BSNLEU, as well as BSNL WWCC. Com.D. Shylla, North East – I and Com.Mamta Bhavsar, Madhya Pradesh, have availed leave for the meeting.

1) Com. L.M. Tiwari, DE Phones, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

2) Com. Baskar Das, JTO, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

3) Com. M.C. Upadhyay, Retd. OS, Branch President, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

4) Com. Deepak Singh Bhandari, TT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

5) Com. P.D. Joshi, TT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

6) Com. Wahid Husain, TT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

7) Com. Madhavi Devi, ATT, Nainital – Rs.1,000/-

8) Com. Gurudas, TT, Nainital – Rs.500/-

BSNLEU's 2 day online Central Executive Committee meeting started successfully today. It is heartening to note that even the circle secretaries and CHQ office bearers from far-flung areas like Andaman & Nicobar, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Assam etc., are participating in this meeting. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS welcomed everyone. Com.Animesh Mitra, President is presiding over the meeting. Com.A.K.Padmanabhan, National Vice-President of CITU, inaugurated the meeting and explained in detail about the attacks being launched on the Public Sector and on the working class, by the Modi government. He told that dissent is not being tolerated by the government; NSA is being used against those who criticise the government and that working people are being devided by using religion. Thereafter, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, presented the note for discussion. He explained about the functioning of the CHQ and AUAB, road-blocks being created in BSNL’s 4G launching, contract workers' issues and the issues of the employees. After lunch, deliberations by the CEC members started and is going on.

West Bengal circle union conducted a convention at Kolkata today, on issues related with improving quality of services, wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, attacks on BSNLEU in West Bengal circle and other issues. Around 350 comrades participated enthusiastically in this convention, from the various parts of West Bengal circle. Com.Nazes Nauroz, circle president, presided over. Com.Amitav Chattopadyay, ACS, welcomed every one and initiated the discussion. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and com.Animesh Mitra, circle secretary and vice-president (CHQ) addressed the convention. Both the comrades explained in detail about the various issues connected with the wage revision, unity and struggles, Subsidiary Tower Company, improving the quality of services, attacks being mounted on BSNLEU by Trinamool goons, etc., A good number of comrades participated in the discussion. The convention took many decisions on the subjects mentioned above. CHQ heartily congratulates the West Bengal circle union for conducting a very effective convention.

The Standing Committee on Information Technology has told the government to allot 4G spectrum to BSNL and MTNL at the earliest. The Committee has told in it’s report that allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and MTNL will help them to compete and survive in the market. The Committee is of the strong view that BSNL and MTNL will lose their data market, if they are not allotted 4G spectrum soon. However, the flip-side of the report is that, it has also told the government to consider the voluntary retirement scheme submitted by both the PSUs.

[Source: ET Telecom dated 14.03.2018]

In yet another incident, which shows that the government machinery will go to any extent to defend the interests of the big corporates and the multinational companies, 10 innocent people have been killed, and more than a hundred people are seriously injured in the police firing yesterday, at Tuticorin, in Tamil Nadu. The people in and around Tuticorin town have been conducting struggles, demanding closure of a copper smelter unit, belonging to the Sterlite company. This company is a part of the multinational Vedanta Group. This smelter unit has been causing serious health hazards to the people of Tuticorin city. Serious health problems like cancer, kidney ailments are being caused due to the pollution created by this smelter unit. This is yet another example which shows that big corporates have no care for the environment or the health of the people, but making big profits is only their ambition. BSNLEU strongly condemns the Tamil Nadu government for this brutal police firing. BSNLEU also strongly demands the immediate closure of Sterlite smelter unit at Tuticorin and appropriate compensation to the families of the victims and injured.

Those killed in the police firing at Tuticorin.

As per the news and photos being received from various parts of the country, we can understand that the second day of the Relay Hunger Strike is being observed throughout the country, with more response from the employees, who are massively participating in the hunger strike. BSNLEU heartily congratulates all the participants as well as the circle and district level AUAB’s, for the success of the second day programme.

A meeting of the AUAB was held yesterday. General Secretaries / representatives of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, BSNL MS, ATM and BSNL OA participated in the meeting. The meeting reviewed the progress in the implementation of the assurances given by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications. 

The meeting expressed it’s severe disappointment that even after the lapse of 8 months, the DoT has not prepared the Cabinet Note, to get relaxation to BSNL, from the affordability clause of the 3rd PRC. Further, the meeting also observed that, the DoT has not taken any action for the implementation of the other assurances given by the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, such as Pension Revision, Allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and Payment of Pension Contribution on the actual basic pay. The meeting came to the unanimous conclusion to resume the agitational programme, including that of strike. Therefore, the meeting called upon the employees to successfully organise the following programme of action, with the view to mobilise the employees for a strike action.

1. Holding of press conferences at circle and district levels on 29-10-2018, and explaining the demands, especially the anti-BSNL and pro-private policies of the government.
2. Dharna at all levels on 30-10-2018.
3. Rallies at circle and districts levels on 14-11-2018.
4. Mobilise the employees for further serious struggles, including strike, if the demands are not settled early.

CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to immediately get into touch with the other unions and associations, and organise the above mentioned programme effectively. Through the above mentioned agitational programme, employees should be prepared for the strike action.

The AUAB has already given call to conduct joint general body meetings, during the period from 26^th to 29^th December, 2018, and to explain about the decisions taken in the meeting held on 03-12-2018, between the AUAB and the Hon'ble MoS(C). The AUAB has issued a circular also, explaining the details. This circular is also translated into Hindi.  If required, it may be translated into regional languages also. All circle and district secretaries of BSNLEU are requested to take the initiative and to coordinate with other constituents of the AUAB for successfully holding the joint general body meetings.

It is very unfortunate that payment of salaries of the Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL, for the moth of February, 2019, is not made today.  All of us are aware that BSNL is not getting the permission of the DoT, for taking bank loans. The AUAB has already demanded that the DoT should immediately permit BSNL for taking bank loans, to tide over the crisis. However, so far, the DoT has not given the necessary approval. The AUAB has called on the employees to organise demonstrations tomorrow the 01-03-2019, protesting the non-payment of salary, and demanding the DoT, to immediately grant sanction to BSNL, for taking bank loans. All circle and district unions of BSNLEU are requested to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB, and to organise the demonstrations successfully.

मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन कैंपेन को लेकर BSNLEU ने महासचिव, NFTE को पत्र लिखा...

8वें मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन के लिए BSNLEU ने बेहद सैद्धांतिक तरीके से अभियान चलाया। पुणे एक्सटेंडेड सीईसी में लिए गए निर्णय अनुसार, BSNLEU लीडर्स ने प्रचार अभियान का उपयोग सरकार की पब्लिक सेक्टर और BSNL विरोधी नीतियों का पर्दाफाश करने के लिए किया। सम्पूर्ण अभियान का लक्ष्य कर्मचारियों में व्याप्त निराशा को दूर करने और उनमें विश्वास निर्मित करना था। इस कार्य को पूर्ण करने में BSNLEU काफी हद तक कामयाब भी रही है। किन्तु, इस अभियान के दौरान BSNLEU पर काफी कीचड़ उछाला गया है। इसी वजह से, BSNLEU के महासचिव ने NFTE महासचिव के साथ इस मुद्दे को लिया है।
 

The two day Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU started at Vadodara today. The meeting kick-started with Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, hoisting the Union’s red flag. Com.D.K.Bakutra,CS, Gujarat, welcomed everyone, on behalf of the Reception Committee. Com.Swapan Chakraborty,Dy.GS, delivered the welcome address on behalf of the CHQ. Com.K.Hemalata, President,CITU, delivered the inaugural address. In an hour long speech, Com.K.Hemalata explained about the roots of the ongoing Indian, as well as global economic crisis. She also explained how the working class is being divided in the name of religion, region, caste, etc. Thereafter, Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, presented the report on activities. Thereafter, deliberations by the CEC members started. Resolutions opposing the CAA,NPR and NRC, as well as demanding immediate resumption of the wage negotiations of the Non-Executives. The meeting is continuing.

The Central Government has frozen the DA of it's employees and pensioners, for a period of one and half years, i.e., from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021.

The Kerala government has decided to defer 6 days’ pay of it's employees for 5 months, i.e., from April to August, 2020.

Whether, the actions of the Central government and the Kerala government are one and the same? Let us see.

1. As per the decision of the Central Government, the DA, payable to the employees and pensioners is frozen for a period of 1 ½ years, i.e., from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021. It means, this money is taken away once for all and will not be paid back to the employees and pensioners. It is nothing but grabbing money from the pockets of the employees and pensioners.

Whereas, the Kerala government has only deferred the payment. In it’s letter, dated 23.04.2020, the Kerala government has categorically mentioned that, this money will be repaid to the employees on a later date.

Thus, the actions taken by the Central Government and the Kerala Government, are not the same.

2. Pensioners survive only from the meagre pension that they are getting. However, Central Government did not show any mercy to the pensioners. Their pension is also reduced for one and half years. This is a very big injustice.

At the same time, the Kerala government did not touch the pensioners and thereby avoided causing any hardship to them.

3. Very importantly, before taking this decision, the Kerala government has consulted the trade unions. The NGO Union of Kerala, which is having 80% of the employees as it’s members, has given it's consent for the deferment of the pay. It is relevant to mention here that, in 2018 also, when Kerala was affected by the unprecedented floods, 80% of the Kerala State Government employees have donated one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund. 

However, the Central Government did not bother at all, to consult the trade unions, before freezing the DA. It has arbitrarily frozen the DA for one and half years.

4. Further, as per the order of the Kerala government, the salary of the employees, who receive salary below Rs.20,000/- will not be deferred. But, the Central Government did not make any such distinction.

5. There is a big difference between the central government and the government of a small state, like Kerala. The central government is having unlimited resources, at it’s disposal. But, it spends lakhs of crores of rupees for giving concessions to the big corporates.  For example, from 2014 onwards, the Central Government has written off Rs. 5.5 lakh crore bank loans as bad debt. These loans are mostly taken by the big corporates. Further, in October, 2019, the Central Government has reduced the Corporate Tax, as a result of which, the big corporates were benefitted to the extent of Rs.1.45 lakh crore. At the same time, for fighting the Corona Virus Disease, it grabs money from the pockets of the employees and pensioners and hit them in their stomachs.

Kerala is a small state, with very limited resources. It is the first state, which was hit by the Corona Virus Disease. Still, it allotted Rs. 20,000 crore to tackle the disease. Especially, it took care of the poor people and provided all helps to them. The manner in which the   Corona Disease is kept under control in Kerala and how the government has taken care of the poor people affected due to the lockdown, are being appreciated by the whole world. 

Thus, action of the central government and the action of the Kerala state government are incomparable.

AUAB द्वारा 01.10.2020 को काला दिवस के रूप में मनाने का निर्णय.
BSNL के 4G टेंडर को निरस्त (कैंसिल) करना, कंपनी के रिवाइवल के लिए के एक बड़ा आघात है। अब यह पूर्ण रूप से स्पष्ट हो चुका है कि एक षड्यंत्र के तहत ही टेंडर निरस्त किया गया है।  BSNL को 4G से वंचित करने की यह एक सुनियोजित रणनीति है।  2006 से 2012 के बीच भी BSNL को उपकरण प्राप्ति से रोका गया था। वही स्थिति, सरकार द्वारा अब पुनः निर्मित की जा रही है। मैनेजमेंट, कंपनी के 4G कम्पेटिबल BTSs को अपग्रेड कर 4G सेवाएं शुरू करने में बुरी तरह से नाकाम रहा है। साथ ही, मैनेजमेंट सरकार के हाथ का हथियार (tool) बन चुका है, जो BSNL को एयर इंडिया की तरह खत्म करना चाहती है। सरकार चाहती है कि सम्पूर्ण टेलीकॉम सेक्टर पर जिओ काबिज हो जाए। इस प्रकार, BSNL और उसके कर्मचारियों का भविष्य अंधकारमय होता जा रहा है। अतः, AUAB ने निर्णय लिया है कि सरकार के इस योजनाबद्ध खेल (गेम प्लान) का आम जनता के समक्ष भंडाफोड़ किया जाए। इसलिए, AUAB द्वारा  01.10.2020 को काला दिवस के रूप में मनाने का निर्णय लिया गया है। BSNLEU , अपनी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट यूनियन से अनुरोध करती है कि, AUAB के सभी घटकों से समन्वय कर,  कॉल इम्पलीमेंट करने के लिए तत्काल कार्यवाही करें।