In view of the All India Conference, General Secretary could not give dates to hold circle conferences, in respect of the circles where it has become due. Now that the All India Conference is already over, circle conferences must be conducted in those circles. CHQ requests the concerned circle secretaries to do the needful in this regard.

The demonstration that was held in front of Sanchar Bhawan today, is significant in many ways. This is the first time that a demonstration is held in front of the Sanchar Bhawan, by the unions and associations of BSNL, in the 18 years’ existence of BSNL. Since the Sanchar Bhawan is housing the Ministry of Communications, police does not give permission to conduct any agitational programme there. Even for today’s demonstration, the police informed us that demonstrations are banned in the vicinity of the Sanchar Bhawan, and hence no one would be allowed to demonstrate there. However, the unions and associations of BSNL decided to conduct the demonstration today at any cost, even by running into the risk of getting arrested. Around 12:45 hrs., the police locked all the gates of BSNL Corporate Office, to stop the employees of the Corporate Office from joining the demonstration. Similarly, a large number of riot policemen were deployed in front of the Sanchar Bhawan. Inspite of these road-blocks, more than 150 comrades gathered in front of the Sanchar Bhawan. Thundering slogans were raised, demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company, and also cautioning the government not to break BSNL, to favour Reliance Jio. All the 150 comrades were crammed into the waiting buses by the police, and were taken to the Parliament Street Police Station. Towards the evening, all the comrades were let off from the police station. CHQ heartily congratulates the UP (West) and Haryana circle unions of BSNLEU, for sending our comrades to participate in today’s demonstration.

BSNLEU, NFTE, BSNL MS and TEPU have called on the BSNL employees to join the 2 day General Strike, that is taking place on 8th and 9th January, 2019. This is the 18th General Strike, being organised by the Indian working class, against the pro-coporate and anti-working class Neo- Liberal Economic Policies of the government. Stopping disinvestment and privatisation of the Public Sector, is one of the major objectives of this strike. Hence, BSNL employees should join this strike enmasse, to stop disinvestment and privatisation of BSNL in the days to come. The success of this General Strike is a must, to protect BSNL from privatisation in the days to come. Hence, the circle and district secretaries of BSNLEU are requested to effectively mobilise the employees for the Strike, by coordinating with NFTE, BSNL MS and TEPU.

वोडाफोन को 4थी तिमाही में रु 4881 करोड़ का घाटा...
टेलीकॉम सेक्टर में रिलायंस जियो द्वारा निर्मित उथल-पुथल की वजह से पुरानी दूरसंचार कंपनीज का प्रभावित होना जारी है। वोडाफोन आईडिया, देश की सबसे बड़ी टेलीकॉम कंपनी, भारी घाटे की ओर अग्रसर है। उसे 4थी तिमाही (जनवरी से मार्च 2019) में रु 4881 करोड़ का घाटा हुआ है। इसी अवधि में 2018 में वोडाफोन आईडिया का घाटा रु 5033 करोड़ था।

वेज निगोशिएशन (वेतन वार्ता) की शुरुआत 8वें मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन के बाद ही संभव- कहा BSNL मैनेजमेंट ने....
ज्ञातव्य है कि BSNL मैनेजमेंट और मान्यता प्राप्त यूनियन्स के बीच जारी नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज के वेज रिवीजन हेतु निगोशिएशन अस्थाई तौर पर रोके गए हैं। BSNLEU और NFTE ने सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम को लिखे गए अपने पत्र दिनांक 14.05.2019 के द्वारा वेज निगोशिएशन पुनः शुरू किए जाने की पुरजोर तरीके से मांग की थी। प्रत्युत्तर में, देरी से ही सही, BSNL मैनेजमेंट ने BSNLEU और NFTE के महासचिवों को लिखा है कि दोनों ही यूनियन की मान्यता समाप्त होने की वजह से वेज निगोशिएशन शुरू करना संभव नही है। यह भी सूचित किया गया है कि 8वें मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन प्रक्रिया के तहत मान्यता प्रदान करने के बाद वेज निगोशिएशन पुनः शुरू किए जा सकेंगे।

IDA increase from 1st October, 2019 is 5.3%. With this, the total IDA payable has increased to 152%, i.e., 146.7%+5.3% = 152%. Necessary order has to be issued by the DPE.

Accepting the demand of BSNLEU, the Management took decision to hold the JE LICE as an ‘off-line’ exam. Due to this change, the JE LICE which was scheduled to be held as an ‘on-line’ exam on 07.04.2019 was postponed. Thereafter, despite repeated requests by BSNLEU, the JE LICE for the vacancy year 2017-18 is not yet held. Meanwhile, the JE LICE for the vacancy year 2018-19 has also become due. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), strongly demanding to hold the JE LICE for the vacancy years 2017-18 and 2018-19, without any further delay.

The International women's day was observed by the West Bengal circle union on 08.03.2020, at CTO, Kolkata. Com. Banani Chattopadhyay, Jt. Convenor, BSNL WWCC, hoisted the Union’s red flag. More than 100 women comrades attended the meeting, which was presided over by Com.Banani Chattopadhyay and Com.Mamata Sarkar. The meeting was addressed by Com.Animesh Mitra and Com.Jhumur Bandyopadhyay, Jt. convener, Working Women sub committee, West Bengal. The speakers spoke on the present condition of the women in the country and also deplored the pro-rich and anti-worker Neo-Liberal Policies being followed by the government.

Women’s Day celebration was also observed in the PGMT Office, Panjjim Goa, on 08.03.2020. Com.Amita Naik, member, BSNL WWCC, organised the meeting. A good number of women employees including the AGM (Admn.) participated in the meeting.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke to Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), over phone yesterday and insisted settlement of the following issues:-

(1)  Payment of April, salary without further delay.

The General Secretary insisted upon the Director (HR) to take the needful action to ensure the payment of salary for the month of April without much delay.
 

(2) Payment of  compensation of Rs.10 lakh to the employees who succumb due to the COVID-19. 

The General Secretary urged upon the Director (HR to take prompt action for implementation of the scheme, under which Rs.10 lakh compensation would be paid in case any employee dies due to Covid-19. The General Secretary told him that the DoT has put in place such a scheme, which has already been implemented by the Department of Posts. The General Secretary  informed the Director (HR) that copies of the orders issued by the DoT and the Department of Posts are already e-mailed to him, together with the request letter of BSNLEU.

(3)   Retention of quarters up to 6 months on normal licence fee.

The General Secretary requested the Director (HR) to take the needful action on the letter written by BSNLEU, for the retention of quarters by BSNL retirees up to 6 months, on the payment of normal licence fee. This demand is being raised in view of the lock-down imposed by the government. 

 The Director (HR) gave a patient hearing and assured to look into the issues and to take needful actions.

In the name of Consolidation of Business Areas, Management is bringing minor SSAs under the control of adjacent major SSAs. In this process, employees, especially the Non-Executives encounter many problems. BSNLEU has demanded that the process of Consolidation of Business Areas should be stopped, pending discussion. All unions and associations of Khammam SSA in Telangana SSA have conducted a massive dharna, opposing this SSA being brought under Warangal SSA. CHQ heartily congratulates the Khammam comrades.

8 और 9 जनवरी, 2019 को होने वाली 2 दिवसीय आम हड़ताल के लिए बीएसएनएल कर्मियों को संगठित (mobilise) कीजिए....

BSNLEU, NFTE, BSNL MS और TEPU ने 8 और 9 जनवरी, 2019 को होने वाली 2 दिवसीय आम हड़ताल में बीएसएनएल कर्मियों को शामिल होने का आव्हान किया है। सरकार की कॉर्पोरेट परस्त और वर्किंग क्लास विरोधी नव उदारवादी नीतियों के खिलाफ भारत के मजदूर कर्मचारियों द्वारा की जा रही यह 18वीं आम हड़ताल है। पीएसयूज में विनिवेश और उनके निजीकरण पर रोक, इस हड़ताल का प्रमुख लक्ष्य है। इसलिए आनेवाले दिनों में बीएसएनएल में विनिवेश और निजीकरण को रोकने के लिए बीएसएनएल कर्मियों को व्यापक पैमाने पर इस हड़ताल में शामिल होना चाहिए। आगामी दिनों में निजीकरण से बीएसएनएल को बचाने के लिए हड़ताल की सफलता जरूरी है। इसलिए  BSNLEU के सभी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज से अनुरोध है कि वें NFTE, BSNL MS और TEPU के लीडर्स से समन्वय स्थापित कर हड़ताल के लिए कर्मचारियों को संगठित करें।

The Forbes magazine releases the list of richest people in the world, every year. In the list for the year 2019, the Forbes magazine has shown Mukesh Ambani as the 13th richest man in the world. The Forbes magazine has also stated that Mukesh Ambani’s asset worth is 50 billion US dollars. It is very important to note that, the same Forbes magazine declared Mukesh Ambani as the world’s 19th richest man in 2018. It had also stated that Mukesh Ambani asset worth was 40.1 billion US dollars in 2018. Within one year, Mukesh Ambani’s asset worth has increased by around 10 billion US dollars, and he has jumped 6 places, to become world’s 13th richest man. It is also relevant to recollect that the Oxfam, in it's recent report, had stated, that there is a very big concentration of wealth in the hands of a few individuals in India. The rich is becoming super rich and the poor are becoming paupers. Only Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, has to explain why this is happening? Immediately after becoming Prime Minister, Narendra Modi declared that his entire energy would be spent the poor people out of poverty. But, what is happening in the country, is the opposite.

Media report says that the United States is mobilising 1,20,000 troops in to West Asia. This is nothing, but for bullying Iran. The US has already imposed sanctions against Iran and has ordered that no country should import oil from Iran. Accordingly, even India has stopped importing oil from Iran. Now, the US is mobilising troops massively into West Asia, presumably to attack Iran. Before attacking Iraq also, US mobilised troops in such a massive scale in 2003. The US has already attacked countries like Iraq and Libya and installed it’s puppet government’s. The oil reserves of these countries are now being looted by the US multinational companies. To play a similar game in respect of Iran, the US is mobilising troops now. This move of the US imperialism should be opposed by all the democratic forces.  

[Source: Times of India dated 15.05.2019]

On 02.07.2019, the SR Branch of the Corporate Office issued letter banning dharna, demonstration, etc., till completion of 8th Membership Verification. This letter was issued to stop the dharna called on by BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF, to be held on 16.07.2019, demanding payment of wage arrears to the contract workers. BSNLEU filed a petition in the Hon’ble Madras High Court, seeking the Hon’ble court’s intervention to the arbitrary action of the SR Branch, banning legitimate trade union activities. The Hon’ble Madras High Court issued an order on 22.07.2019, granting interim stay to the SR Branch's letter on banning demonstrations, dharna, etc. However, the SR Branch high-handedly issued another letter on 24.07.2019, directing all the Chief General Managers to take disciplinary action, including pay cut, on those who participated in the dharna held on 16.07.2019. Consequent to this, BSNLEU issued notice to the CMD BSNL, DGM (SR) and AGM(SR), for proceeding with contempt action against them, for violating the order of the Hon'ble Madras High Court. Today, the SR Branch has issued another letter intimating the CGMs, that the Hon’ble Madras High Court had stayed it’s letter dated 02.07.2019. Thus, the SR Branch has got belatedly enlightened.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), yesterday, and discussed the following issues.

1. Awarding of full marks to the questions with multiple correct answers, for the JTO LICE held on 26.05.2019.

The matter is already discussed many times. In the meeting held on 21.01.2020, the Director (HR) assured to sympathetically consider the demand of the Union to award full marks to the questions with multiple correct answers. However, in yesterday’s meeting, Director (HR) replied that the evaluation has been done as per the existing procedure and that awarding of full marks to the questions with multiple answers is difficult. However, the General Secretary insisted that full marks should be given, since whatever method has been adopted in the evaluation has done injustice to the candidates. The issue will be pursued further.  

2. Verification of caste certificates of the ST employees in Maharashtra circle.

BSNLEU has been insisting that the DoP&T orders should be implemented on this matter, according to which the verification of the ST caste certificates should be done only by the District Collectors / Magistrate. The Director (HR) informed in yesterday’s meeting that the caste certificates of 300 ST employees have already been validated by the District Scrutiny Committees. However, the General Secretary insisted that the assurance given by the Director (HR), for referring the matter to the District Collectors / Magistrate should be implemented.   

3. Non-declaration of JTO LICE results in Punjab circle.

The General Secretary told the Director (HR) that no improvement has come on this issue and insisted that the Management should take some pro-active steps, so that the results are declared.

4. Issuing of Presidential Orders to the employees recruited by the DoT, but appointed after formation of BSNL.

The BSNL Management has already filed SLP in the Hon’ble Supreme Court against the judgement of the Hon’ble High Courts. BSNLEU has already sought the co-operation of the Management, so that the Supreme Court case is disposed off at the earliest. The General Secretary informed the Director (HR) that no development has taken place on this issue also.

5. Hold of the JE LICE without further delay.

The JE LICE already notified, has been postponed, based on the demand of BSNLEU to hold it as an Off-line exam. Management has agreed to hold the exam as an Off-line exam, but the exam is not held so far. In yesterday’s meeting, the Director (HR) replied that the Committee formed by the BSNL Management on holding Internal Examinations is expected to submit it’s report within 2 to 3 weeks. The General Secretary insisted that the JE LICE should be conducted, since it will improve the efficiency of the existing staff.

At the end, the Director (HR) assured that needful action would be taken on the issues discussed today.

BSNLEU has expressed it’s own doubts about the announcement made by Mukesh Ambani recently, that Jio has developed it’s own 5G technology. In the website updating made on 18.07.2020, BSNLEU has also given the reasons for that.

Now, an article published in the latest "Frontline" magazine, a detailed analysis has been made, claiming why Mukesh Ambani’s announcement might not be correct. The article has stated that, Jio might not have developed a full-fledged 5G technology, but may be a “5G-like” technology.  The following are the excerpts from that article. 

"IPlytics, a Berlin-based company that monitors technology trends, reported that Huawei of China held the most patents among “5G patent families” in the world. Chinese companies, including Huawei and ZTE, commanded the largest number of such patents, closely followed by Korean companies, including Samsung and LG.

As of November 2019, Huawei held 3,325 such patents; its nearest rival was Samsung, with 2,846 patents. Nokia’s alliance with Alcatel-Lucent was the most significant non-Asian rival, with a combined tally of 2,308. 

Companies have spent several years developing the relevant technologies, which is why many are sceptical of Ambani’s claims.

.... The idea is that if a full-scale 5G rollout is not immediately possible or feasible, patches based on software solutions as well as open source hardware could be built in order to give a “5G-like” network performance, at least in limited markets or geographies".