The CHQ of BSNLEU is extremely shocked and pained to hear that Com. Kallappa, District Secretary of the Contract Workers Union, Bidar, Karnataka, died in an accident that took place today morning. He was a very active and dedicated functionary of the Contract Workers Union. A few years back, Com. Kallappa was retrenched from work. Due to the efforts taken by the CHQ of BSNLEU, he was taken back. He attended the Mahapadav, held at Delhi from 09^th to 11^th November, 2017. At that time another contract worker from Bidar, Mustafa by name, died due to heart attack. Com. Kallappa remained at Delhi for the next two days, and helped the CHQs of BSNLEU and the BSNLCCWF, for getting the post-mortem and other formalities completed. In the death of Com. Kallappa, the contract workers union has lost a dedicated comrade. BSNLEU pays homage to Com. Kallappa and conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to his family members.  

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) is consistently conducting struggles, demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company. The question of taking recourse to legal action, against the Subsidiary Tower Company, was discussed in the meetings of the AUAB. Finally, in the meeting held on 08.05.2018, after threadbare discussion, the AUAB decided to file a case in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. Due to certain tactical reasons, it was decided that the case shall be filed in the name of the Executive Associations, and that all the constituents of the AUAB shall extend financial support. Accordingly, the case has been filed, and it came up for hearing today in the Hon’ble Delhi High Court. The Hon’ble Court admitted the case, and it also stated that the operation of the Subsidiary Tower Company shall be subject to the out come of this case. The next hearing of the case will take place on 25.09.2018.

The CHQ has already requested the circle unions to send district wise quota particulars, for the years 2016 and 2017. These quota particulars are essential for the allotment of delegates for the forthcoming All India Conference. Most of the circles have so far not sent these quota particulars. CHQ has written to such of the circle unions, to send the district wise quota particulars, latest by 16.08.2018.

BSNLEU wishes to convey this message to the employees, with regards to the financial condition of BSNL. It is true that BSNL is in the midst of a severe financial problem. The Company is managing to pay salary to it’s employees every month only with much difficulties. The Corporate Office is unable to allot funds for payment of medical bills and other bills. Payment of contract workers wages is being terribly delayed, due to non-allotment of funds by the Corporate Office.

At the same time, utilising the financial problems of the Company, some mischief makers are trying to create panic among the employees. Due to the various rumours being spread by the mischief makers, employees are terribly confused and are worried about their future. Hence, it is the duty of BSNLEU to give a clear picture about what is going on. We wish to make it clear that BSNL’s financial position was severely affected only due to the tariff war started by Reliance Jio from September, 2016.

Not only BSNL, but also Airtel, Vodafone and Idea, have gone into loss. In fact, the entire telecom industry has become “stressed”. However, BSNL’s condition is much better then the condition of Airtel, Vodafone and Idea. All the private companies are having huge debts. For example, Airtel’s debt is Rs. 95,000 crores. The total debt of the Vodafone-Idea is Rs.1,20,000 crores. Comparatively, it is a good news that BSNL’s debt is only a few thousand crores.

Moreover, even under severe competition from Reliance Jio, BSNL’s customers’ growth continues to be remarkable. In fact, in 2017, BSNL’s mobile customer growth was higher than the growth of Airtel, Vodafone and Idea. In 2017, BSNL’s mobile customer growth was 11.50%, whereas Airtel’s customer growth was only 9.13%. Vodafone’s growth was only 3.83% and Idea’s growth was only 3.14%.

The only problem of BSNL is that, it’s revenue collection has gone down drastically. However, Telecom Industry Experts are of the opinion that the present tariff war will not continue for long, but may go only upto March, 2019. According to them, thereafter, the tariffs will start rising. It means, the revenue of the telecom companies, including that of BSNL will start increasing. As a result, BSNL’s present cash problem will slowly go away.

Further, because of the continuous struggles of the AUAB, BSNL is going to get 4G spectrum soon. Within 6 months of the allotment of 4G spectrum, BSNL will start providing 4G service in all the circles. The AUAB has already launched the movement called “BSNL At Your Door Steps”, requesting the employees to massively involve in sales and marketing activities. Further, the AUAB has demanded the BSNL Management to curtail wasteful expenditures. The AUAB has also demanded that austerity measures should be imposed for the top officers, for cutting down their luxurious / lavish expenditures. The AUAB will continue to fight to implement this.

Hence, BSNLEU wishes to inform all that the financial problems of BSNL is going to end soon. BSNL is having a very bright future. Let us not believe rumours and the stories being spreaded by mischief makers. Let us confidently march ahead for a better future. Undoubtedly, the future is ours.

A largely attended meeting was organised by the AUAB, Chennai circle yesterday the 28.12.2018. Com.C.K.Madhivanan, CS, NFTE & Chairman, AUAB, Chennai circle, presided over the meeting, which was held in the Flower Bazaar Telephone Exchange. Com.M. Kanniappan, CS, BSNLEU & Convenor, AUAB, Chennai circle, welcomed the gathering. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, BSNLEU & Convenor AUAB, Com. Chandeshwar Singh, CS, NFTE & Chairman, AUAB, Com.S. Sivakumar, President, AIBSNLEA, Com.Rajan, Treasurer (CHQ), SNEA and Com.V. Subburaman, GS, TEPU, addressed the meeting. The AUAB leaders explained the details of the talks held between the Hon’ble MoS(C) and the AUAB, on 03-12-2018. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU & Convenor AUAB, in his address explained in detail how the AUAB would uncompromisingly fight for the settlement of the wage revision. At the same time, he told that, getting 4G spectrum for BSNL and settling payment of pension contribution on actual basic pay are also important for the survival of BSNL. Further, he pointed out BSNL would get Rs.2,100 crore from the government, if the payment of pension contribution on actual basic pay is settled. This will help in a big way to settle the wage revision, for which the estimated expenditure is Rs.2,900 crore, he explained. He also made it very clear that the struggle for settlement of wage revision will start if our efforts to settle it through discussion with the DoT fails.

The AUAB representatives could not meet the CMD BSNL, since he was on leave today. Hence, they have met Shri Vivek Banzal, Director (Finance), and discussed the salary payment issue. However, he could not give any concrete reply, since he had taken over charge recently. Hence, the AUAB will have to meet the CMD BSNL tomorrow, to discuss this issue.

A meeting of the AUAB will be held at 15:00 hrs. on 16.05.2019, at NFTE’s office. The meeting will review the March to Sanchar Bhawan, status of the demands raised by the AUAB, as well as the future strategy.

A meeting of the AUAB was held yesterday the 01.08.2019, at NFTE’s office, New Delhi. The meeting was presided over by Com.S. Sivakumar, General Secretary, AIBSNLEA. General Secretaries / Representatives of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM, TEPU and BSNLOA attended. The meeting expressed it’s extreme unhappiness that the unions and associations of BSNL are being completely kept in the dark, with regards to the so called revival package of BSNL. The meeting also expressed it’s deep concern about the deterioration of BSNL’s services due to lack of working capital. The meeting took serious exception to the repressive measures being taken by the BSNL Management, to deny legitimate trade union activities in BSNL. After serious discussions, the meeting decided to organise countrywide lunch hour demonstrations and gate meetings on 07.08.2019, on the following demands:-

Demands:

1. Honour the commitments given by the Union Cabinet in the year 2000, to ensure BSNL’s financial viability.

1. Extend immediate financial support to BSNL, for the maintenance of the services.
2. Extend soft loan to BSNL for it’s capital expenditures.

2. Remove the total ban imposed on capital expenditure by BSNL. Allow field units to carry out capital expenditure, where revenue is assured.
3. No retrenchment. Honour the commitment given on job security at the time of formation of BSNL.
4. Stop repressive actions for even legitimate trade union activities.

All the circle and district unions are requested to effectively organise the lunch hour demonstration and gate meeting, by coordinating with the other constituents of the AUAB. 

There was a lot of media publicity about the meeting held in the PMO yesterday, regarding the revival of BSNL and MTNL. The meeting has taken place and the new Cabinet Secretary, Shri P.K. Mishra, has presided over it. According to informed sources, nothing positive has emerged in yesterday’s PMO meeting. In fact, questions have been raised in that meeting, whether the revival of BSNL is necessary and if so, whether it is possible to revive BSNL? Similar negative questions have been raised in yesterday’s meeting and no meaningful decision has been taken. We have come to know that yesterday’s PMO meeting has appointed a Committee consisting of 4 / 5 Secretaries. This Committee will advise whether revival of BSNL is necessary, and if so, whether it is possible?

Auto Immune Disease is a disorder, wherein the immune system of the body attacks tissues of it’s own body. Times of India yesterday, has published a very meaningful cartoon, wherein the Auto Immune Disease is compared to the political situation prevailing in the country, wherein the government of the country attacks it’s own people based on religious discrimination. This cartoon is published in the wake of the “Citizenship Amendment Bill” was passed in the Lok Sabha.

It seems the conspiracies to kill BSNL never end. In the past, BSNL’s equipment procurements have been stalled many times, which had greatly affected it's network expansion. A similar attempt is being made now also.

An industry body called TEPC (Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council) is the latest villain. As a result of it's complaint, the tender floated by BSNL on 23rd March, 2020, for procuring 50,000 4G mobile sites, has it roadblocks. The TEPC has objected that BSNL's tender conditions have made it impossible for the domestic vendors to participate in the tender. One such condition is that, the previous experience of having set up 20 million subscriber mobile network. The TEPC has also objected that procuring equipments from MNCs will pose a danger to “National Security”. Further, the TEPC has argued that, BSNL should give opportunity to the domestic producers, since public money is involved in the Company's revival. All these objections raised by the TEPC are untenable due to the following reasons. 

1. BSNL is procuring 4G equipments utilising it’s own money and not using public money. 
2. Even now, Airtel has entered into a one billion dollar contract with Nokia, for procuring 4G equipments. No objection was raised by TEPC on that contract. Why BSNL alone should be targeted? 
3. Why BSNL should be compelled to use low quality 4G equipments of local vendors, when private companies like Jio, Airtel and Vodafone Idea are using world class equipments supplied by multinational vendors like Nokia, ZTE, Ericsson, etc.?
4. 100% equipments of the private telecom companies have been supplied by MNCs. If there is no threat for national security in that, then why the threat of national security is being raised in BSNL’s case alone?

As per the call of the AUAB, the agitational programme of black-flag demonstration and black-badge wearing by the employees, are to be organised throughout the country tomorrow. The black-flag demonstration is to be organised during lunch hour, by maintaining social distancing. Comrades participating in the demonstration should compulsorily wear masks. Black-badge wearing by the employees has to be done for the whole day tomorrow. CHQ requests the circle and district unions to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB and to ensure the total success of these programme. Report and photos of the programme may be sent to the CHQ.

BSNLEU has given notice to the Management demanding payment of PLI for the year 2015-16 and observed nationwide demonstrations on 13th October 2017. As such the Director(HR) called both the recognised unions,i.e. BSNLEU and NFTE on 16th October and discussed the issue. Com Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and com R.S.Chouhan, Vice President attended the meeting,since ,com P.Abhimanyu, GS is out of station. After detailed discussion, the Director (HR ) instructed the GM(SR) to hold the meeting of the PLI committee and to finalise the permanent formula for the payment of PLI including the pending PLI for the year 2015-16.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL has given call to conduct lunch hour demonstrations tomorrow the 27.03.2018, against the decision of the government to form BSNL’s Subsidiary Tower Company, and also against the decision of the DoT, to appoint Shri Amit Yadav, IAS, as the CMD of the Subsidiary Tower Company. Circle and district secretaries are requested to make maximum mobilisations, in coordination with the other constituents of AUAB, and make the programme successful. Memorandum (copy available on website)  should also be submitted to the Chief General Managers and the State Governors. Photos and reports of the programme should be e-mailed on bsnleuchq@gmail.com.

Shri R.S. Sharma, TRAI chairman has become a laughing stock, in the matter of Aadhaar safety. It is very important to note that R.S. Sharma was the former chairman of the UIDAI, which is the body incharge of Aadhaar. A hue and cry is already going on in the country, with regards to the safety of the data of the citizens, contained in Aadhaar. Complaints are being raised for quite some time that, there is no safety for the data of the citizens contained in Aadhaar. In response to this complaint, R.S. Sharma, TRAI chairman, disclosed his Aadhaar card number on his Twitter account. He challenged any one to do any harm to him, using his Aadhaar number. Within no time, all his personal data, contained in Aadhaar started appearing in the public. This data included his phone number, address, pan card details, voter ID number, WhatsApp profile photo, etc. Further, to humiliate R.S. Sharma, some one deposited Rs.1/- into his bank account. What more is required to prove that the data of the citizens, contained in the Aadhaar is not safe at all.

अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस: 8 मार्च - महिलाओं पर हो रहे अत्याचारों पर विशेष रूप से प्रकाश डालते हुए प्रभावशाली कार्यक्रम आयोजित करें...

सीईसी मीटिंग्स के निर्णयों के अनुसार, BSNLEU द्वारा हर वर्ष 8 मार्च को अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस मनाया जाता है। सीएचक्यू द्वारा सभी सर्किल और जिला यूनियन्स को इस वर्ष भी अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस प्रभावी तरीके से आयोजित करने का अनुरोध किया जा चुका है। सीएचक्यू यहां यह भी स्पष्ट करना चाहेगा कि कार्यक्रम का आयोजन महज रस्म अदायगी न हो। कार्यक्रम के माध्यम से हमारे समाज में महिलाओं को 'समान अधिकार से वंचित' रखने के मुद्दे पर प्रकाश डाला जाना चाहिए। हमारे देश में महिलाओं पर विविध अत्याचार किए जा रहे हैं। द थॉमसन रायटर्स फाउंडेशन ने अपनी 19 जून 2018 को प्रस्तुत रिपोर्ट में स्वास्थ्य, आर्थिक स्त्रोतों तक पहुंच, भेदभाव, रूढ़िवादी परंपराओं का अनुसरण (कस्टमरी प्रैक्टिसेज), यौन व अन्य प्रताड़ना और मानव तस्करी आदि के परिप्रेक्ष्य में हमारे देश को बेहद खतरनाक निरूपित किया है। वर्किंग क्लास मूवमेंट (आंदोलन) का यह दायित्व बनता है कि वह महिलाओं के साथ हो रहे  इस प्रकार के सभी अन्याय के विरोध में लड़ें। सीएचक्यू सभी सर्किल और जिला यूनियन्स से अनुरोध करता है कि इन सभी मुद्दों पर प्रकाश डालते हुए इस वर्ष भी अंतर्राष्ट्रीय महिला दिवस प्रभावी तरीके से आयोजित करें।

कॉन्ट्रैक्ट और कैज्युअल वर्कर्स के परिवार भूखों मरने की स्थिति में- महासचिव , BSNLEU ने डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) से कहा और फंड्स जारी करने की मांग की...
सम्पूर्ण देश मे कॉन्ट्रैक्ट और कैज्युअल वर्कर्स के वेजेस के भुगतान में बेहद विलंब हुआ है। कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस द्वारा फंड्स जारी नही किए जाने से विगत 4 माह से वर्कर्स को वेजेस का भुगतान नही हुआ है। BSNLEU द्वारा इस संबंध में पत्र लिख कर डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) का ध्यान आकृष्ट किया जा चुका है। इसी क्रम में आज कॉम पी अभिमन्यु, जीएस, श्री एस के गुप्ता, डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) से मिले और इस मुद्दे पर विस्तार से चर्चा की। उन्होंने डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) को बताया कि कॉन्ट्रैक्ट और कैज्युअल वर्कर्स के परिवारों में भुखमरी के हालात निर्मित हो गए हैं। उन्होंने अनुरोध किया कि इस सम्बंध में यथोचित कार्यवाही कर  सर्कल्स को शीघ्र फंड्स जारी किए जाएं। डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) ने इस पर कहा कि उन्हें भी वर्कर्स के प्रति सहानुभूति है किंतु कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस में फंड्स का जबरदस्त अभाव है। उन्होंने आश्वासित किया कि वें इस संबंध में यथोचित कार्यवाही करेंगे।

BSNL का रिवाइवल- फिर जहां के तहां...
BSNL और MTNL के रिवाइवल के लिए कल PMO में हुई बैठक को ले कर मीडिया में काफी चर्चा रही। मीटिंग हुई, और इसकी अध्यक्षता नए कैबिनेट सेक्रेटरी श्री पी के मिश्रा ने की। सूत्रों से प्राप्त जानकारी के अनुसार, कल की मीटिंग में सकारात्मक कुछ भी नही हुआ। वस्तुतः, उक्त मीटिंग में सवाल उठे कि क्या BSNL का रिवाइवल करना जरूरी है, और यदि ऐसा है, तो क्या BSNL का रिवाइवल किया जा सकता है ? इसी प्रकार के नकारात्मक सवाल मीटिंग में होते रहे और किसी भी प्रकार का कोई सार्थक निर्णय नही हुआ। हमें ज्ञात हुआ है कि कल PMO की मीटिंग में 4-5 सेक्रेटरीज का समावेश करते हुए एक कमिटी की नियुक्त की गई है। यह कमिटी इस पर अपनी राय देगी कि क्या BSNL का रिवाइवल करना जरूरी है, और यदि है, तो क्या यह संभव है ?