The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, NE-II circle, is held online today. Com.M.B. Singh, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com.K.Saheb Singh, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, inaugurated the meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, joined the meeting thereafter. Both the President and the General Secretary explained about BSNL’s present critical condition and also the demands for the 26^th November, 2020, General Strike. Both the leaders appealed to the CEC members to make the General Strike successful. All the district secretaries and circle office bearers participated in the meeting and spoke on the problems prevailing in the circle. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, clarified those issues and assured to take the issues at the Corporate Office level. Com.K.Saheb Singh, Circle Secretary, summed up the discussion and delivered vote of thanks.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of Himachal Pradesh is held online today.  The meeting is very successful, since all the district secretaries and most of the circle office bearers attended the meeting. Com.Amarjit Singh, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com.K.C. Panwar, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and reported on the activities of the circle union. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, inaugurated the meeting and spoke at length on the demands of BSNL employees and the Central Trade Unions, on which the General Strike is being organised on 26^th November, 2020.

The General Secretary severely criticised the government, for wantonly creating roadblocks in BSNL’s 4G launching and urged upon the comrades to powerfully organise the strike.  All the comrades participated in the debate and the General Secretary replied to all the All India level issues, raised by the comrades. The meeting unanimously resolved to to take all out efforts, powerfully organising the General Strike on 26^th November, 2020. Com.Jagat Ram Sharma, Organising Secretary (CHQ), addressed and greeted the meeting. Finally, Com.K.C. Panwar, summed up the discussions. CHQ heartily congratulates the Himachal Pradesh circle union for successfully organising this online Executive Committee meeting.  

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU is held enthusiastically today. The online meeting is presided over by Com.Animesh Mitra, President. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, delivered the welcome address. Com.John Verghese, AGS, moved the condolence resolution. 

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, presented the note for discussion.  He briefly explained on the decision of the Central Trade Unions to organise a General Strike on 26.11.2020, the need for BSNL employees to join this General Strike, the decision of the DoT Committee, stating that, BSNL should adopt the “system integration model” for rolling out it’s 4G networks, preparations taken so far for organising the strike in November, 2020. Totally, 40 comrades participated in the deliberations.

BSNLEU is already campaigning for organising a strike in November, 2020, on 4G and other issues of the employees. Under these circumstances, the Central Trade Unions have given call for a General Strike on 26.11.2020. After in depth discussions, it is unanimously decided in today’s meeting that, BSNLEU should join the General Strike on 26.11.2020, together with the demands on 4G and other demands of the employees. 

आम हड़ताल में व्यापक रूप से शामिल होवें- कॉम तपन सेन की BSNLEU कर्मियों से अपील.

BSNLEU द्वारा 28 अक्टूबर, 2020 को शाम 6.00 बजे, 26 नवंबर, 2020 को होने वाली हड़ताल हेतु कर्मचारियों को संगठित करने के लिए फेसबुक पर लाइव कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया गया। कॉम तपन सेन, महासचिव, सीटू ने संबोधित किया। उन्होंने इस पर प्रकाश डाला कि किस तरह विगत सरकारों के निजी समर्थक और BSNL विरोधी कदम उठाए जाने से BSNL लगातार कमजोर होता जा रहा है। उन्होंने, नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार द्वारा सार्वजनिक उपक्रमों के वृहद रूप से किए जा रहे निजीकरण बाबद विस्तार से समझाया। कॉम तपन सेन ने स्पष्ट किया कि कर्मचारियों द्वारा संघर्षों से हासिल अधिकारों को छीन कर मोदी सरकार उन्हें बड़े कॉर्पोरेट्स का गुलाम बनाने हेतु प्रयासरत है। कॉम तपन सेन ने विभिन्न संघर्षों, उदाहरण के लिए कोयला क्षेत्र के कर्मियों, BPCL और ऑर्डनेन्स फैक्ट्री के कर्मियों और उत्तर प्रदेश के इलेक्ट्रिसिटी कर्मियों के संघर्षों का जिक्र किया जहां सरकार द्वारा निजीकरण कार्यवाही को वापस लेना पड़ा। अंत में, कॉम तपन सेन ने BSNL कर्मियों से, BSNL के हितों की रक्षा के लिए और साथ ही मोदी सरकार के कर्मचारी विरोधी, और पब्लिक सेक्टर विरोधी अभियान को रोकने के लिए 26 नवंबर, 2020 को होने वाली आम हड़ताल में वृहद रूप से शामिल होने की अपील की।   

BSNL को खत्म करने का षड्यंत्र गहरा रहा है..

BSNL के 4G टेंडर के निरस्तीकरण के पश्चात सरकार द्वारा BSNL के 4G की शुरुआत हेतु रोडमैप के लिए सुझाव देने हेतु जो समिति गठित की गई थी,उसके द्वारा, प्राप्त जानकारी अनुसार, अपनी अनुशंसा प्रस्तुत कर दी गई है। उक्त समिति द्वारा दिए गए सुझाव स्पष्ट रूप से  प्रदर्शित करते हैं कि सरकार 4G की शुरुआत में विलंब कर BSNL को एक बीमार कंपनी में परिवर्तित करना चाहती है। 

मीडिया की रिपोर्ट्स के अनुसार, DoT कमिटी ने, सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर द्वारा BSNL का 4G नेटवर्क निर्मित करने व संचालित (manage) करने की अनुशंसा की है। “सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर” एक भारतीय कंपनी होगी, जिसे विभिन्न वेंडर्स से हार्डवेयर और सॉफ्टवेयर प्राप्त कर उनको असेम्बल करने की जिम्मेदारी दी जाएगी। 
 
यह जानना बेहद जरूरी है कि सभी प्राइवेट टेलीकॉम ऑपरेटर्स द्वारा टर्नकी कॉन्ट्रैक्ट के जरिए सिर्फ एक वेंडर द्वारा अपना नेटवर्क निर्मित किया गया है। “टर्नकी कॉन्ट्रैक्ट” के अनुसार केवल एक ही वेंडर, मैनेज्ड सर्विस एग्रीमेंट के तहत नेटवर्क संचालित करेगा। किन्तु, “सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर” मॉडल में एक से अधिक वेंडर शामिल रहेंगे, जिससे तकनीकी समस्याएं निर्मित होंगी।

“सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर मॉडल” को लेकर  ET Telecom अखबार ने अपने 12 अक्टूबर, 2020 के अंक में निम्न समाचार प्रकाशित किया है:-

" BSNL के 4G नेटवर्क के निर्माण हेतु घरेलू वेंडर (home-grown vendors) को प्राथमिकता देते हुए , “सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर मॉडल” को अपनाने के किसी भी प्रयास के परिणाम स्वरूप, इंडस्ट्री एक्सपर्ट्सऔर एनालिस्ट के अनुसार, कीमतें प्रभावित होंगी और मार्किट में प्रतिस्पर्धा करने में कंपनी (BSNL) की क्षमताएं आहत होंगी। उनका कहना है कि 4G नेटवर्क, जिसमें रेडियो और कोर प्रोडक्ट्स शामिल है, के निर्माण में सिस्टम इंटेग्रेटर (SI) मॉडल और स्थानीय प्लेयर्स की निपुणता अभी तक व्यापक तौर पर साबित नही हुई है। 

इन सभी से यह परिलक्षित हो रहा है कि BSNL को खत्म करने का षड्यंत्र गहराता जा रहा है। इसे रोकने के लिए, सभी यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशंस को एक साथ आना चाहिए।

The committee that has been formed by the government, in the aftermath of the cancellation of BSNL’s 4G tender, for suggesting the roadmap for BSNL’s 4G service launching, has reportedly submitted it’s recommendations. The suggestions of the Committee clearly indicate the government wants to convert BSNL into a sick company, by delaying it’s 4G launching.

As per media reports, the DoT Committee has recommended that a system integrator will build and manage BSNL’s 4G network. The “system integrator” will be an Indian Company, which will be given the responsibility of procuring the hardware and software from different vendors and to assemble them.

It is important to note that, all the private telecom operators have built their networks by a single vendor, through turnkey contracts. According to the “turnkey contract”, a single vendor will manage the networks, under Managed Services Agreement. However, in the “system integrator” model, multiple vendors will be involved, which will lead to technical problems. 

As regards the “system integrator model”, the ET Telecom has published the following news item on 12th October, 2020:-

"Any move to adopt the system integrator model, with a preference to home-grown vendors, for building BSNL’s 4G network, will result in cost inefficiencies, hurting the telco’s capability to compete in the market, industry experts and analysts said. They said that the System Integrator (SI) model and expertise of local players in building a 4G network, including both radio and core products, are largely unproven.

All these only shows that the conspiracy to kill BSNL, is deepening. All the unions and associations have to come together, to stop it.

As has already been informed, the CEC meeting of BSNLEU, is being held online on 02^nd November, 2020. The meeting is being held mainly to discuss and decide the steps to be taken to successfully organise the strike on 26^th November, 2020.

In the name of reviving BSNL, the government and BSNL Management have retrenched 79,000 BSNL employees through the VRS. Together with this, the BSNL Management has also retrenched almost all the contract workers, through the outsourcing of works. After the retirement of 79,000 employees under the VRS, the necessity for retaining the contract workers became all the more important, to cope with the staff shortage. However, the BSNL Management retrenched the contract workers massively. The Management claimed that the SLA agreements, made with the private contractors, will help to maintain the services efficiently. 

However, the reality tells us something different. The retrenchment of 79,000 BSNL employees, as well as a large number of contract workers, has affected the maintenance of BSNL’s landlines and broadband connections very seriously. For example, 1.54 lakh connections have got disconnected in the month of July, 2020, alone. This has been reported in the ET Telecom dated 14^th October, 2020. The blind outsourcing of works, through SLA contracts, has affected the services very badly. The trade unions and associations in BSNL cannot close their eyes to this reality. The mismanagement of the services has to be taken up.

In this direction, the AUAB, Aurangabad, has done a good job. They have discussed this issue in an in-depth manner and have submitted a memorandum to the GMTD, Aurangabad, wherein it is stated that the outsourcing model has failed totally. Further, they have pointed out that 2,700 landlines and 1,000 broadband connections were surrendered during the last 6 months alone. The AUAB, Aurangabad, has pointed out the steps that have to be taken by the Management, for the proper maintenance of the services.

CHQ requests that, all our circle and district unions, together with the AUAB, should raise this issue, with their respective circle and district administrations. The memorandum submitted by the AUAB, Aurangabad, is given hereunder, for the information of our circle and district secretaires.

A poster in English, has been printed by BSNLEU and 7 other organisations participating in the General Strike, to be held 26.11.2020. The poster consists of the demands of the BSNL trade unions, as well as the demands of the Central Trade Unions. This poster is also getting printed in Hindi. The CHQ of BSNLEU has sent the English posters directly to all the district secretaries, by speed post. They will reach all the district secretaries within 2/3 days. The circle secretaries are requested to ensure that, these posters are promptly displayed in offices and exchanges. The non-Hindi speaking circles are requested to get this poster printed in the regional languages. CHQ will be despatching the Hindi posters from Delhi on Saturday.

BSNLEU organised a Facebook live programme yesterday evening, for mobilising the employees in the General Strike, to be held on 26^th November, 2020. Com.Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, delivered the address. He highlighted how BSNL is continuously being weakened by the pro-private and anti-BSNL steps taken by the successive governments. He also explained in detail, about the massive privatisation of the Public Sector Undertakings, being carried out by the Narendra Modi government. By snatching away the hard-won rights of the workers, the Modi government is trying to convert them into slaves of the big corporates, explained Com.Tapan Sen. The various struggles, viz., struggles of the Coal sector workers, BPCL workers, Ordnance Factory workers and Electricity workers were cited by Com.Tapan Sen, where the privatisation drive of the government has been pushed back. Finally, Com.Tapan Sen appealed to the BSNL employees to join the General Strike on 26^th November, 2020 enmasse, to safeguard BSNL and also to stop the anti-working class and anti-Public Sector steps, being taken by Modi government.

The Corporate Office has issued the letter for the sanctioning of special casual leave, to the Circle Secretaries and Central Office Bearers, for attending the CEC meeting of BSNLEU, to be held online on 02.11.2020.

CHQ has already issued notification, for holding the online CEC meeting on 02.11.2020. CHQ has already written to the Corporate Office, for the granting of special casual leave to the CEC members. However, so far the Corporate Office has not issued the letter to the CGMs, for the granting of special casual leave. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed the matter today, with the officers in the SR Branch. It is learnt that, the Director (HR) is out of Delhi, due to which the issuing of letter by the Corporate Office is being delayed. However, the CEC members are requested to apply for their special CL on time. 

The CHQ of BSNLEU is organising a Facebook live programme at 06:00 pm today. Com.Tapan Sen, General Secretary, CITU, will be addressing the BSNL employees, through this Facebook live programme. The subject matter is the General Strike to be held on 26-11-2020. The CHQ has already sent the link of the Facebook account of the CHQ, through which the live address will take place. CHQ requests the circle and district secretaries, as well as the CHQ office bearers, to take the last minute efforts, to ensure that the Facebook live address is viewed by a maximum number of comrades.

CHQ has already issued notification for holding the online Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, on 02.11.2020. In this connection, the CHQ wants to inform that, this online CEC meeting will be organised through Zoom. Hence, all circle secretaries and central office bearers are requested to download the Zoom app on their mobile phones. Further to ensure good quality of the online meeting, all CEC members are requested to use FTTH connectivity, or at least broadband connectivity, since mobile signal may not be strong enough to support the video conferencing.

(1)      Andhra Pradesh Circle – Rs.18,000/-

(2)      Punjab circle (including donations sent directly to the CHQ, by district unions) – Rs.12,660/-

(3)      UP(West) – Rs.10,100/-

(4)      NE-II Circle – Rs.4,000/-

(5)      A&N Circle – Rs.1,040/-

(6)      Haryana Circle:

GMTD, Ambala – Rs.1,060/-

CGM(O) District – Rs.420/-

(7)      UP(East) Circle:

Lucknow – Rs.1,000/-

Barabanki – Rs.500/-

Sultanpur – Rs.500/-

Pratapgarh – Rs.500/-

(8)      Punjab circle:

Pathankot – Rs.700/-

Bhatinda – Rs.500/-

CHQ heartily thanks and congratulates the above mentioned circle and district unions, for responding to the call of the CHQ. Only a few more circles have not sent the donation for the WFTU Fund. They are also requested to immediately send the same to the CHQ. 

The WFTU (World Federation of Trade Unions), the militant international body of the fighting trade unions, gave call for the collection of funds, to overcome it’s strained financial condition. Com.George Mavrikos, Secretary General of the WFTU, addressed the leaders of it’s affiliated unions in India, on 14.10.2020. BSNLEU seriously took the call of the WFTU, for Fund collection. It widely circulated the contents of the speech of Com.George Mavrikos among it's leaders and members. 

The All India Centre of BSNLEU gave the call to collect donations, at the rate of Rs.20/- per member. The circle and district unions of BSNLEU also took the matter seriously and plunged into action. The response has been magnificent. Within two weeks, the CHQ received Rs.2,21,000/- (as on 26.10.2020) as donations for the WFTU Fund. Out of this, BSNLEU has remitted Rs.2,20,000/- today, as WFTU Fund. This comes to 2,500 Euros. CHQ really feels proud of this achievement and it heartily thanks and congratulates the circle and district unions for accomplishing this great task. 

BSNLEU, Rajasthan Circle, successfully conducted it’s online executive committee meeting today. Com.Kamal Singh Gohil, circle president, presided over the meeting. Com.Ashok Pareek, circle secretary, welcomed everyone and presented a brief report on activities. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the inaugural address of the meeting. He explained in detail about the decisions of the CEC meeting, as well as about the General Strike to be organised on 26^th November, 2020. Com.John Verghese, AGS, greeted the meeting. 25 circle executive committee members participated in a lively debate. Finally, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, replied to the all India level issues raised in the meeting. Com.Ashok Pareek, delivered the summing up address. The meeting decided to successfully organise the General Strike on 26^th November, 2020.

सप्ताह भर, कर्मचारियों से मिलने एवं पैम्फलेट वितरण हेतु अभियान चलाएं....

CHQ द्वारा नवंबर में हड़ताल आयोजित करने हेतु पैम्फलेट छपवा कर प्रेषित कर दी गई है। 4G टेक्नोलॉजी से वंचित कर BSNL को खत्म करने का षड्यंत्र और साथ ही अन्य मांगों को इस पैम्फलेट में विस्तार से समझाया गया है। CHQ द्वारा हिंदी और अंग्रेजी में पैम्फलेट छपवा कर भिजवा दी गई है। गैर हिंदी भाषी सर्किल यूनियन्स को पूर्व में निर्देशित किया जा चुका है कि पैम्फलेट क्षेत्रीय भाषा मे अनुदित कर छपवाएं। 
 
सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट यूनियन्स कृपया यह सुनिश्चित करें कि ये पैम्फलेट्स प्रत्येक BSNL कर्मी  को प्राप्त हो।अतः, निवेदन है कि पैम्फलेट्स बांटने व जिन मांगों को लेकर हड़ताल की जा रही है, उन मांगों को समझाने हेतु प्रत्येक कर्मचारी से संपर्क करने हेतु सप्ताह भर का अभियान आयोजित करें। सप्ताह भर का यह अभियान पैम्फलेट्स प्राप्त/ प्रिंट होने के तुरंत पश्चात शुरू करें। सभी जिला सचिव सुनिश्चित करें कि पूर्ण सप्ताह  का यह अभियान प्रभावी रूप से आयोजित हो।

Eight trade unions and associations, viz., BSNLEU, NFTE BSNL, FNTO, BSNL MS, SNATTA, BSNL ATM, TEPU and BSNL OA, have decided to jointly organise the General Strike on 26.11.2020. In accordance with this decision, posters are being printed at Delhi in Hindi and English. These posters will be despatched to all the circles shortly. The non-Hindi speaking circles are requested to print these posters in their local languages. These posters should be used widely to organise the strike.