BSNLEU and the AUAB are continuously accusing that, the cluster-based outsourcing system is a total failure, as a result of which the quality of landline and broadband services has vastly deteriorated. BSNLEU has given in writing, with facts and figures, detailing how the cluster-based outsourcing has sharply increased the expenditure, while quality of service has steeply declined. Due to the hue and cry raised by BSNLEU and AUAB, now the Management has formed an internal committee, consisting of seven senior officers to review the cluster-based outsourcing system. BSNLEU desires that, the formation of this committee should not be an eye-wash, but should make a true self-introspection.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, NE-I circle, was held online on 24.07.2021. Com.D.A. Shylla, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com.Shivjee Ray, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and presented the report on activities. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and spoke in detail on the HR issues being taken up by the CHQ, the charter of demands and agitational programmes of the AUAB and other issues. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, also addressed the meeting. Detailed deliberations by the Circle Executive Committee members were held on strengthening the Union and struggles for the revival of BSNL.

Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri A.M.Gupta, Sr.GM(Admn.) today and discussed certain outstanding issues. The issues raised and reply given are as follows: -

(1)  Submitting of option for Outdoor Medical Claim.

As regards BSNL MRS Outdoor Medical Claim, some circles have issued clarification, stating that, all the retirees need not give option again. Only those who want to change their option and also whose a/c number and IFSC code are changed, should submit option. However, the Corporate Office has not issued such a clarification so far. This issue is raised today. After discussion, the Sr.GM(Admn) agreed to issue the clarification.

(2)  Reconstitution of Welfare & Sports Boards.

The BSNL Staff Welfare Board, as well as the Sports and Cultural Board, have not been reconstituted for the past so many years. BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, demanding the reconstitution of both the boards. This issue was discussed today. The Sr.GM(Admn) assured to take the needful action speedily.

(3)  Promotions under the Career Progression to the Sports Personnel.

BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to implement promotions to the Sports Personnel, under the Career Progression Scheme. However, this issue still lying pending in the Corporate Office. This issue was discussed today and it was replied that work has already been initiated in this regard.

The AUAB has organised many struggles in the recent years, on the issues related to the revival of BSNL. This includes the 3 day strike in February, 2019. At the same time, the AUAB has used every opportunity to negotiate with the DoT and the Ministers. However, it was unfortunate that, we could not meet the Minister for the past 3 years or so and put our views across the table. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, who had been the Communications Minister, had taken an unreasonable stand of not meeting the trade unions. He had openly told this to the senior MPs who requested him to meet and discuss the issues with the trade unions. However, he is gone now and new Ministers have taken over. The new Minister of State for Communications, Shri Devusinh Chauhan has met the unions and associations on 24.07.2021, without any hesitation. Whether to accept, or not to accept, what the trade unions say, is ultimately the decision of the Minister and the government. But, in a Democratic country, it is the duty of the government and it's ministers, to at least meet the trade unions and listen to what they say.

   President and General Secretary, BSNLEU, welcoming the Hon’ble Minister.

Memorandum being submitted by the leaders.

Shri Devusinh Chauhan, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications visited BSNL Corporate Office today. Utilising this visit, the CMD BSNL arranged a meeting between the Hon’ble Minister and the recognised unions and associations. Com. Animesh Mitra, President & Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, represented BSNLEU in this meeting. Representatives of NFTE, AIGETOA and SNEA also participated. The representatives effectively projected the issues of discriminating BSNL in the matter of procuring 4G equipments, delay in the upgradation of BTSs for providing 4G service, Rs 39,000 crore dues to be refunded to BSNL by the DoT, Non- payment of salary to the employees on the due date, offsetting BSNL’s debt through monetisation of lands and other issues. The Hon’ble Minister assured to look into the issues.

Shri Devusinh Chauhan, has recently taken over as the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications. He is visiting BSNL Corporate Office tomorrow, to hold discussion with the Board of Directors of BSNL. During this visit, the Hon’ble Minister of State, will also be meeting the Unions and Associations of BSNL. The Unions and Associations will utilise this opportunity to highlight the important issues related to the Company's revival like, the inordinate delay in 4G launching by BSNL, Rs.39,000 crore dues to be paid by the DoT to BSNL and other issues.

Com. Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Ms.Anita Johri, Sr.GM(SR) today and discussed about the non-functioning of various Circle and Local Councils. They pointed out that in most of the circles, the Circle and Local Councils have not met even once after the last Membership Verification. BSNLEU has already written to the Sr.GM (SR) in this connection. The Sr.GM (SR) replied that, instruction is being issued to the circle administrations for holding the council meetings promptly.

स्वास्थ्य बीमा योजना को लागू करने के बारे में प्रबंधन, यूनियनों और संगठनों और न्यू इंडिया एश्योरेंस - New India Assurance के प्रतिनिधियों के  बीच बैठक हुई।

BSNLEU ने प्रबंधन से मांग उठाई थी कि इच्छुक बीएसएनएल कर्मचारियों के लिए स्वास्थ्य बीमा योजना लागू की जाए। इसके आधार पर प्रबंधन ने त्वरित कार्रवाई की है और चिकित्सा बीमा योजना - Medical Insurance Scheme का क्रियान्वयन अंतिम चरण में है। इस संबंध में आज कोर्पोरेट ओफिस में बीएसएनएल प्रबंधन, मान्यता प्राप्त यूनियनों और संघों और न्यू इंडिया एश्योरेंस - New India Assurance के प्रतिनिधियों के  बीच एक बैठक आयोजित की गई थी। कॉम.पी.अभिमन्यु, जनरल सेक्रेटरी ने इस बैठक में भाग लिया और निम्नलिखित दो मांगें उठाईं।

(1) मातृत्व ( Maternity ) सुविधा को इस बीमा योजना में शामिल किया जाना चाहिए।

(2) 5 लाख रुपये की पॉलिसी के लिए प्रीमियम राशि 6,100 रुपये + 18% जीएसटी के रूप में तय की गई है जो 7,198 रुपये होगी। इस राशि को कम किया जाना चाहिए।

जहां तक मातृत्व ( Maternity ) सुविधा सहित योजना लागू लेने का प्रश्न है, न्यू इंडिया एश्योरेंस - New India Assurance के प्रतिनिधि ने बताया कि इसके परिणामस्वरूप सभी पॉलिसी धारकों के लिए प्रीमियम में 12% से 15% की वृद्धि होगी।

BSNLEU द्वारा लंबे समय तक आग्रह के बाद न्यू इंडिया एश्योरेंस -New India Assurance के प्रतिनिधि ने प्रीमियम राशि को कम करने और बीएसएनएल प्रबंधन को वापस रिपोर्ट करने की मांग पर कंपनी से परामर्श करने पर सहमति व्यक्त की है ।

क्लस्टर आधारित आउटसोर्सिंग से खर्च बढ़ा है और सेवा की गुणवत्ता खराब हुई है : BSNLEU ने सीएमडी बीएसएनएल को पत्र लिखकर गहन समीक्षा की मांग की है।

BSNLEU लंबे समय से प्रबंधन को बता रहा है कि क्लस्टर आधारित आउटसोर्सिंग प्रणाली से खर्च में तेजी से वृद्धि हुई है, जबकि सेवा की गुणवत्ता में भारी गिरावट आई है । इसके अलावा आउटसोर्सिंग के बाद लैंडलाइन और ब्रॉडबैंड कनेक्शन बड़े पैमाने पर बंद हो रहे है। इसलिए, एक बार फिर BSNLEU ने सीएमडी बीएसएनएल को तथ्य और आंकड़ों के साथ पत्र लिखकर यह कहा है कि क्लस्टर आधारित आउटसोर्सिंग प्रणाली पूरी तरह से विफल है और इस आउटसोर्सिंग प्रणाली की गहन समीक्षा की जानी चाहिए ।

BSNLEU had raised the demand to the Management, to implement a Health Insurance scheme to the willing BSNL employees. Based on this, the Management has taken quick action and implementation of the medical insurance scheme is in the final stage. In this connection, a meeting is held in the Corporate Office today, between the BSNL Management, recognised unions & associations and the representative of New India Assurance. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, participated in this meeting and raised the following two demands.

1. Maternity facility should be included in this insurance scheme.
2. The premium amount for the Rs.5 lakh policy is quoted as Rs.6,100 + 18% GST, which comes to Rs.7,198/-. This amount should be reduced.

As regards, including maternity facility, the representative of New India Assurance told that, this will result in increase in the premium by 12% to 15%, for all the policy holders. After prolonged insistence by BSNLEU, the representative of New India Assurance agreed to consult the Company and report back to the BSNL Management.

भविष्य के कर्मचारियों की संख्या (पुनर्गठन) तय करने के बारे में 20.07.2021 के दिन आयोजित बैठक में BSNLEU द्वारा किए गए प्रस्ताव ।

पुनर्गठन के मुद्दे पर 20-07-2021 को निदेशक (HR) के साथ हुई बैठक में BSNLEU  ने निम्नलिखित प्रस्ताव दिए है। 

1. इंडोर - ( INDOOR ) :

प्रबंधन के प्रस्ताव में, 2,000 लाइनों (2K DELs) तक, कोई TT या JE नहीं होगा। BSNLEU ने मांग की है कि 1,000 लाइनों (1K DELs) के लिए एक TT और 2,000 लाइनों (2K DELs) के लिए एक JE होना चाहिए।

2. आउटडोर -(OUTDOOR) :

प्रबंधन ने शहरी क्षेत्र में 3,000 लाइनों के लिए एक TT/ATT का प्रस्ताव किया है। ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में 2,000 लाइनों के लिए एक TT/ATT का प्रस्ताव किया है।  BSNLEU ने शहरी क्षेत्र में 1,000 लाइनों के लिए एक TT/ATT की मांग की है। ग्रामीण क्षेत्र के लिए BSNLEU ने 500 लाइनों के लिए एक TT/ATT की मांग की है। 

3. जेई केडर-(JE CADRE) :

JE केडर के संबंध में प्रबंधन ने शहरी क्षेत्र में 6 हजार लाइनों के लिए एक JE और ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में 3 हजार लाइनों के लिए एक JE का प्रस्ताव दिया है। BSNLEU ने शहरी क्षेत्र में 3 हजार लाइनों के लिए एक JE और ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में 1,000 लाइनों के लिए एक JE की मांग की है । 

4. जेटीओ केडर (JTO    CADRE) : 

कर्मचारियों की संख्या तय करने के लिए प्रबंधन ने JTO केडर को SDE केडर के साथ मिला दिया है । BSNLEU ने मांग की है कि JTO और SDE केडर के कर्मचारियों को मिलाया नहीं जाना चाहिए और उन्हें अलग किया जाना चाहिए । BSNLEU ने बताया कि JTO कार्यशील केडर - working cadre है और SDE एक पर्यवेक्षी केडर - supervisory cadre है और इसलिए दोनों को एक साथ नहीं मिलाया जाना चाहिए ।  

प्रबंधन ने शहरी क्षेत्र में 12,000 लाइनों के लिए एक JTO/SDE और ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में 6,000 लाइनों के लिए एक JTO/SDE का प्रस्ताव किया है। BSNLEU ने कहा कि इसे स्वीकार नहीं किया जा सकता है और मांग की है कि JTO केडर को SDE केडर से अलग किया जाना चाहिए ।

इसके अलावा BSNLEU ने मांग की है कि शहरी क्षेत्र में 6,000 लाइनों के लिए एक JTO और ग्रामीण क्षेत्र में 3,000 लाइनों के लिए एक JTO होना चाहिए।

इसके अलावा, BSNLEU ने कहा कि वह एक या दो दिनों के भीतर BTS, ट्रांसमिशन (Transmission), बिक्री और विपणन ( Sales & Marketing ) और कोर नेटवर्क (TXN) के बारे में अपनी ओर प्रस्ताव प्रस्तुत करेगा । 

भविष्य के लिये कर्मियों की संख्या तय करने के लिए पुनर्गठन मुद्दे पर निदेशक (मानव संसाधन) के साथ बैठक ।

प्रबंधन ने पहले ही विभिन्न संवर्गों में भविष्य के कर्मचारियों की संख्या तय करने के लिए प्रस्ताव दिए हैं । BSNLEU ने प्रबंधन के विभिन्न प्रस्तावों पर अपनी आपत्ति व्यक्त की है और मांग की है कि इन मुद्दों पर चर्चा के लिए एक बैठक आयोजित की जानी चाहिए । तदनुसार, निदेशक (मानव संसाधन) ने 20-07-2021 को बीएसएनएलईयू और एनएनएफटीई के साथ बैठक की ।

इस बैठक में  कॉम.पी.अभिमन्यु, जनरल सेक्रेटरी और कॉम.संजीव कुमार, ओरगेनिज़िंग सेक्रेटरी (सीएचक्यू) ने बीएसएनएलईयू का प्रतिनिधित्व किया। बीएसएनएलईयू के जनरल सेक्रेटरी कॉम. पी. अभिमन्यु ने बताया कि प्रबंधन ने आउटसोर्सिंग के क्रियान्वयन के आधार पर विभिन्न संवर्गों की संख्या तय की है। उन्होंने बताया कि क्लस्टर आधारित आउटसोर्सिंग पूरी तरह से विफल रहा है और उसके आधार पर कार्यकर्ताओं की संख्या तय नहीं की जानी चाहिए।

इसके अलावा उन्होंने Sr. TOA और ATT केडर को मृतप्राय: केडर घोषित करने का पुरजोर विरोध किया। उन्होंने सवाल किया कि भविष्य में फील्ड स्तर पर Sr.TOA  कैडर के कर्मचारियों के बिना कैसे काम किया जाएगा  ? परिणामस्वरूप, विस्तृत चर्चा के बाद निदेशक (मानव संसाधन) ने Sr. TOA केडर को जीवित केडर के रूप में बनाए रखने पर सहमति व्यक्त की है।

बीएसएनएलईयू ने जेटीओ केडर की संख्या में कटौती के प्रबंधन के फैसले का भी पुरजोर विरोध किया। बीएसएनएलईयू के प्रतिनिधियों ने बताया कि इससे नॉन-एक्ज़ीक्यूटिव केडर के कर्मचारियों, विशेष रूप से JE केडर के कर्मियों की पदोन्नति की  संभावनाओं पर गंभीर रूप से प्रभाव पड़ेगा । बीएसएनएलईयू द्वारा दिए गए प्रस्ताव इस प्रकार हैं। 

In the meeting held with the Director (HR), on 20.07.2021, on the issue of Restructuring, BSNLEU made the following proposals.

1. Indoor

In the proposal of the Management, up to 2,000 lines (2K DELs), there will not be any TT or JE. BSNLEU demanded that there should be one TT for 1,000 lines (1K DELs) and one JE for 2,000 lines (2K DELs).

2. Outdoor

Management has proposed one TT / ATT for 3,000 lines in the urban. For rural, it has proposed one TT / ATT for 2,000 lines.   BSNLEU has demanded one TT / ATT for 1,000 lines in urban. For rural, BSNLEU has demanded one TT / ATT for 500 lines.

BSNLEU pointed out that, this is not sufficient. It demanded that, there should be one TT / ATT for 1,000 lines in the urban area and one TT / ATT for 500 lines in the rural.

3. JE Cadre

As regards the JE cadre, Management has proposed one JE for 6,000 lines in the urban and one JE for 3,000 lines in the rural. BSNLEU demanded one JE for 3,000 lines in the urban area and one JE for 1,000 lines in the rural area.

4. JTO Cadre.

For fixing the staff strength, Management has clubbed JTO cadre with the SDE. BSNLEU demanded that JTO and SDE cadres should not be clubbed and that, they should be segregated. BSNLEU pointed out that, JTO is a working cadre and SDE is a supervisory cadre and so both should not be clubbed together.  

The Management has proposed one JTO / SDE for 12,000 lines in the urban area and one JTO / SDE for 6,000 lines in the rural area. BSNLEU told this cannot be accepted and demanded JTO cadre should be segregated from SDE cadre.

Further, BSNLEU demanded that there should be one JTO for 6,000 lines in the urban area and one JTO for 3,000 lines in the rural area.

Further, BSNLEU told that it would submit it’s proposals regarding BTSs, transmission (TXN), sales and marketing and core network (TXN) within one or two days.

Management has already given it’s proposals for determining the future staff strength in various cadres. BSNLEU has expressed it’s reservations on various proposals of the Management and has demanded that a meeting should be held to discuss these issues. Accordingly, the Director (HR) held meeting with BSNLEU and NFTE yesterday the 20.07.2021. 

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Sanjiv Kumar, Organising Secretary (CHQ), represented BSNLEU in this meeting. The GS, BSNLEU, told that, the Management has determined the strength of cadres, based on the implementation of outsourcing. He pointed out that the cluster-based outsourcing is a total failure and that, the strength of the cadres should not be fixed based on that.

Further, he strongly opposed the declaration of the cadres of Sr.TOA and ATT as dying cadres. He questioned how works will be done at the field level in the future, without the cadre of Sr.ToA? However, after detailed discussions, the Director (HR) agreed to maintain the Sr.TOA cadre as a live cadre.

BSNLEU also strongly opposed the decision of the Management to cut-down the strength of the JTO cadre. The Union pointed out that, this would severely affect the promotional prospects of the Non-Executives, especially the JEs. The proposals made by BSNLEU are as follows:-

With the view to organise the campaigns among the general public more effectively, demanding immediate steps for the Revival of BSNL, the AUAB has sought the support of all the Pensioners’ Organisations functioning in BSNL. The AUAB has sent written appeal to all the organisations in this respect. The Pensioners’ Organisations have responded overwhelmingly to this appeal. The AIBDPA (All India BSNL DoT Pensioners’ Association), AIRBSNLEWA (All India Retired BSNL Executives Welfare Association), SNPWA (Sanchar Nigam Pensioners’ Welfare Association), BDPAI [BSNL & DOT Pensioners Association (INDIA)] and TPPO (Telecom Pensioners Progressive Organisation) have written to the AUAB, assuring their support.

The BSNL Corporate Office is sending funds today, for the payment of June, 2021 salary.

The BSNL Corporate Office has given it’s proposals on the future manpower strength. This is being called as ‘Restructuring’. The Management has proposed to make the Sr.TOA and ATT as dying cadres. BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) opposing this. Further, BSNLEU has also informed that, the manpower strength proposed for the cadres of JE, JTO and JAO are insufficient compared to the field level requirements. Management has invited BSNLEU and NFTE for a discussion with the Director (HR) at 16:00 hrs. tomorrow the 20.07.2021.

Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Sanjiv Kumar, Organising Secretary (CHQ), met the Shri Manish Kumar, GM(Restg.) and Ms. Anita Johri, Sr.GM(SR), yesterday and discussed the following issues.

Restructuring of Manpower.

The BSNL Management has already given it’s proposals for the Restructuring of Manpower, wherein they have proposed that, the cadres of Sr.TOA and ATT will be dying cadres and there will not be any recruitment in these cadres in the future. Further, the future strength of the JE cadre has also been increased only from 7,148 to 7,923. This issue was discussed with the GM(Restg.) yesterday. The representatives of BSNLEU strongly opposed the proposal of the Management to make the Sr.TOA and ATT cadres as dying cadres. Further, it was also pointed out that the increase in the strength of JE is not sufficient, as per the requirement in the field. The leaders strongly demanded a full-fledged discussion with the Management on this matter. BSNLEU has already given it’s views in writing to the Management.

Issues of the JE cadre.

The leaders met Ms. Anita Johri, Sr.GM(SR) and expressed their unhappiness over the lack of improvement on the issues discussed in the Formal Meeting, held with the Director (HR) on 19.06.2021. They pointed out that, there is no improvement on the issues like the Rule-8 transfer of DR JEs, transfer of JEs out of Leh SSA in J&K circle and also transfer of JEs in NE-II circle. The Sr.GM(SR) replied that, these issues are being delt with the CGMs of the concerned circles. The leaders also pointed out that, there are discrepancies in the official minutes issued for the meeting held between the Director (HR) and BSNLEU. They told that, the Union would give a letter in this regard.

The British Imperialists used the Sedition Law to punish freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and Bal Gangadhar Tilak. Why the Government is still using this Sedition Law to suppress voices of dissent? A Bench consisting of Justice N.V. Ramana, Justice A.S. Bopanna and Justice Hrishikesh Roy has raised this question to the Central Government. For the last 75 years after independence, this Sedition Law has been misused by various governments to suppress the voices of dissent. According to the NCRB, 559 persons were arrested under the Sedition Law between 2014 and 2019. However, only 10 of them were convicted. This shows that, the governments arrest citizens, by misusing the Sedition Law. This misuse of the Sedition Law, by the government is being questioned by the Supreme Court now.

[Source: Times of India, dated July 16, 2021]