It is a good news that the revenue of the telecom industry has finally started growing. According to the data released by the TRAI, the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR) of telecom industry between April to June, 2019, stood at Rs.39,124 crore. The AGR during the same period in 2018 stood at Rs.36,552 crore. This is a growth of 7.3%. AGR is the revenue earned by companies by providing various telecom services. This does not include other revenues like bank interests, revenue earned through infrastructure sharing, etc. It is very encouraging to note that BSNL has recorded the highest AGR growth. BSNL’s AGR grew by 27.94% at Rs.2,598.61 crore. BSNL’s AGR during the same period in 2018 was Rs.2,031.07 crore. Airtel’s AGR grew by 26.15% and Reliance Jio’s AGR grew by 9.77%. However, Vodafone’s AGR has declined by 5.78%.

[Courtesy: Financial Express – 02.10.2019]

The wages of the contract workers has not been paid almost from January, 2019. BSNLEU, together with BSNLCCWF has already conducted many agitational programme on this issue. BSNLEU has raised this issue with the top Management on several occasions and written letters. As a result of the efforts taken by BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF, some nominal funds have been released to some circles, but not to all. Seven contract workers have already committed suicide due to the crisis caused by non-payment of wages. The issue has been raised in the Parliament also. In their meeting with Shri P.K.Purwar, CMD BSNL today, this issue was seriously raised and discussed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS. Once again, the acute financial crisis being faced by BSNL, was cited by the CMD BSNL, as the reason behind the non-payment of wages. However, the GS and Dy.GS pointed out that this is a humanitarian problem and should be addressed on a priority basis. They told the CMD BSNL that, the outstanding wage arrears of the workers could have been cleared in instalments, if not in one go. They told the CMD BSNL that the families of the contract workers are in starvation and fervently appealed to him to immediately release funds, at least to clear a part of the wage arrears. The CMD BSNL assured to do the needful at the earliest.

In addition to the payment of wage arrears, the Union raised the issue of large scale retrenchment of contract workers. The CMD BSNL replied that it will not be possible for the Company to continue to engage one lakh contract workers. However, the Union stated that, it is not correct to say that BSNL is having one lakh contract workers. The Union pointed out the following.

• The original strength of contract workers in BSNL could have been in the range of 80,000. Out of this, 30% to 40% workers were retrenched in most of the circles one year back.
• In addition to this, another round of retrenchment was done recently.
• Further, a good number of contract workers have already left the job on their own, especially in the Northern circles, due to the non-payment of wages.
• Hence, the present strength of contract workers will be only around 40,000.

The Union urged upon the CMD BSNL that, the Management should think about gainfully utilising the left out contract workers, especially in the backdrop of around 80,000 regular employees having opted for VRS. It was also pointed out that, considering the age profile of the contract workers, they could be gainfully utilised in the marketing activities, which will bring a win-win situation both for the Company, as well as the contract workers.  The CMD BSNL gave a patient hearing to the views of the Union and agreed to positively consider the same. The Union also assured to come back with the exact number of contract workers presently working in various circles, so that their gainful utilisation can be discussed in a more concrete manner. The CMD BSNL agreed for further discussion on the issue. 

Accepting our demand that the Management should discuss issues connected to development and restructuring with the unions and associations, the Management has called a meeting at 4:00 pm today. The CMD BSNL and Director (HR) will attend this meeting.

NFTE को अपने उद्दंड सर्किल सेक्रेटरी सी के मादिवनन को अनुशासित करना चाहिए- NFTE नेतृत्व से खुला निवेदन....

BSNLEU के ऑल इंडिया सेन्टर ने चेन्नई सर्किल के अपने सर्किल ऑफिस बेयरर के खिलाफ अनुशासनात्मक कार्यवाही की है। यह  BSNLEU का आंतरिक मामला है।

अन्य किसी को भी इसमें अपनी टांग अड़ाने की जरूरत नही है। किंतु, सी के मादिवनन, NFTE, चेन्नई सर्किल के
उद्दंड सर्किल सेक्रेटरी ने इस प्रकरण में अपनी वेबसाइट पर अपमानजनक रूप से आलोचना की है।

यह सभी जानते हैं कि सी के मादिवनन एक अनुशासनहीन और गरिमा विहीन व्यक्ति हैं। जब कॉम VAN नंबूदिरी BSNLEU के महासचिव थे, सी के मादिवनन उन्हें भी अपमानित कर उन पर हमले करते रहे हैं। महासचिव बनने के बाद कॉम पी अभिमन्यु, हमले करने के लिए उनके टारगेट बन गए हैं। और कहानी का  सबसे दुःखद  पहलू तो यह है कि सी के मादिवनन अपने लीडर्स को भी गालियां देते हैं, उन पर हमले करते हैं।

कुछ साल पहले, कॉम चंदेश्वर सिंह, महासचिव, NFTE ऑल यूनियन सेमिनार को संबोधित करने के लिए चेन्नई आए थे। वहां पर सी के मादिवनन और उनके ठगों ने काफी देर तक उनका घेराव किया था। जहां तक हम जानते हैं, ऐसी दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण घटना किसी भी अन्य महासचिव के साथ कभी भी नही हुई होगी।

इसके अलावा NFTE के एक अन्य प्रमुख ऑल इंडिया ऑफिस बेयरर भी सी के मादिवनन के हमलों का शिकार हो चुके हैं। सी के मादिवनन ने अपनी सर्किल यूनियन वेबसाइट पर उनके लिए लिखा था कि इस व्यक्ति ने जितनी बार अपनी शर्ट बदली होगी उतनी बार अपनी यूनियन भी बदली है।

जब JAC लीडर्स ने BSNL प्रबंधन के साथ 78.2% IDA मर्जर निराकरण से संबंधित एग्रीमेंट पर हस्ताक्षर किए थे, सी के मादिवनन ने अपनी वेबसाइट पर लिखा कि ऑल इंडिया लीडर्स ने कर्मचारियों के हितों को सरेंडर कर दिया है। और तो और, उन्होंने एग्रीमेंट की निंदा करते हुए विरोध स्वरूप मीटिंग्स भी आयोजित की थी। लेकिन जब 78.2% IDA मर्जर के आदेश जारी हुए तो सी के मादिवनन ने इसके सारे लाभ प्राप्त कर लुत्फ उठाया।

AUAB द्वारा BSNL के सभी अधिकारियों और कर्मचारियों के बीच एकता स्थापित कर, BSNL और उसके कर्मचारियों की रक्षा के लिए निरन्तर रूप से संघर्ष किए जा रहे हैं। किन्तु, सी के मादिवनन ने AUAB पर हमले करने और उसका उपहास करने की आदत सी बना ली है। इस मुद्दे को ऑल इंडिया AUAB की मीटिंग्स में NFTE लीडरशिप के समक्ष उठाया जा चुका है। अभी भी, चेन्नई सर्किल में NFTE, AUAB का हिस्सा नही है। 

कुछ महीनों पूर्व, एक बार पुनः, सी के मादिवनन ने  कॉम चंदेश्वर सिंह, महासचिव, को अपमानित किया था। सी के मादिवनन ने उनके लिए अपनी वेबसाइट पर जो लिखा था, वह कुछ इस प्रकार था, " महासचिव, जो स्वयं को कम्युनिस्ट कहते हैं, पटना एयरपोर्ट पर संचार मंत्री का इंतजार करते रहे। किन्तु, उनके आगमन पर मंत्री महोदय ने नेताजी की उपेक्षा की और उनकी तरफ देखा तक नही। फिर भी, महासचिव दोनों हाथ जोड़ कर उनके पीछे पीछे चलते रहे। ऐसी दयनीय स्थिति क्यों ? " 

यह भी एक हकीकत है कि  सी के मादिवनन ने कॉम ओ पी गुप्ता और कॉम जगन जैसे महान लीडर्स को भी नही बख्शा है। सी के मादिवनन द्वारा कॉम ओ पी गुप्ता के लिए तो प्रायः " वो बुढ्ढा " संबोधन प्रयुक्त किया जाता था। सी के मादिवनन द्वारा अक्सर कॉम ओ पी गुप्ता और कॉम जगन को गंदी भाषा में गालियां दी जाती थी।

NFTE के अंदर जो भी हो रहा है वह उनका आंतरिक मामला है। किंतु NFTE की लीडरशिप यदि सी के मादिवनन को  BSNLEU और AUAB को गालीगलौच की इजाजत देती है तो यह उचित नही होगा। 
 
अतः, BSNLEU, NFTE की लीडरशिप से अनुरोध करना चाहेगी कि वक्त रहते सी के मादिवनन को अनुशासित करें। 

The Tamil Nadu circle union of BSNLEU conducted an Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting today at Madurai, addressed by com.P.Abhimanyu,GS. Com.S.Chellappa, circle president & AGS presided over the meeting and addressed. Com.Babu Radhakrishnan, circle secretary, welcomed everyone and initiated the discussion. Addressing the meeting, the General Secretary spoke in detail on the current issues, such as 3rd wage revision, pension revision, formation of Subsidiary Tower Company, attacks on trade union rights in BSNL, PLI, revival of BSNL, contract workers issues, etc. The meeting resolved to successfully organise the agitational programme, called on by the "All Unions and Associations of BSNL".

B.N. Singh, the notorious ITS officer who got involved in huge corruptions and who also victimised BSNLEU’s Jamshedpur district secretary, Com. Ram Naresh Prasad, by imposing the punishment of compulsory retirement, has finally landed in jail. A Jamshedpur court has given him the punishment of 6 months in jail and Rs.10,000/- fine, for maligning the character of the widow of a deceased employee. Shri Anil Kumar, Telecom Mechanic, Jamshedpur, died in October, 2015. His wife, applied for extension of time for vacating the quarters in which the deceased employee was living. However, B.N. Singh rejected her request. While doing so, the arrogant B.N. Singh recorded on the file that, the wife of the deceased employee “is a characterless woman”. Insulted by the remark made by B.N. Singh on record, the widow of the deceased employee approached the court for justice. The court has rightly given the punishment of 6 months in jail to the rogue officer. Together with him, another retired DE, by name Marshal Topno, is also sentenced to 6 months in jail and Rs.10,000/- fine. BSNLEU heartily thanks the court for giving justice to the wife of the deceased employee and sending the rogue officer to the right place.

The All India Convention of Public Sector employees will be held at New Delhi Tomorrow. The Convention will start at 01.00 pm. The venue of the Convention Ghalib Institute, Opp. Matha Sundari College, ITO. Arrangements for staying / freshening-up, are made in Garhwal Bhawan, (Near Jandewalan Metro Station) for those comrades coming from outstations.

Non-implementation of the assurances of the Hon’ble MoS(C), on wage revision, allotment of 4G spectrum, pension revision and payment of pension contribution on actual basic pay, was seriously discussed in the CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Ghaziabad on 22^nd & 23^rd October, 2018. Since Parliament elections are approaching fast, time left with us for the settlement of wage revision, is running out. In view of this the CEC meeting has called upon the BSNL employees to massively organise the agitational programme called on by the AUAB, and also prepare the employees for strike action, including an indefinite strike.

620 km की मानव दीवार (Human Wall) बना कर केरल की महिलाओं ने इतिहास रचा.
महिलाओं के साथ भेदभाव के विरोध में 01.01.2019 को केरल की महिलाओं ने 620 km लंबी ऐतिहासिक मानव दीवार बनाई। यह मानव दीवार उत्तर में स्थित कासरगोड से दक्षिण में स्थित तिरुअनंतपुरम तक बनाई गई। महिलाओं के लिए समानता की मांग करते हुए बनाई गई इस दीवार की निर्मिति में कई संगठन सहभागी हुए। इस मानव दीवार हेतु, एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 50 लाख महिलाएं शामिल हुईं। ऐसे समय में, जब कट्टरपंथी ताकतें केरल को तमोयुग (dark age) की ओर ले जाने हेतु प्रयासरत हैं, वहीं केरल की महिलाओं का यह आंदोलन निःसंदेह प्रशंसनीय है। बीएसएनएल एम्प्लॉईज यूनियन उन सभी महिलाओं को और उनके संगठन को सैल्यूट करती है जिन्होंने इस ऐतिहासिक आंदोलन में शिरकत की।

The Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoP&PW) has rejected the proposal for making ex-gratia payment for the BSNL employees who opt for VRS. The DoP&PW has stated that the BSNL employees are eligible for payment of government pension after retirement. As such, payment of ex-gratia for those who go on VRS is not permissible, said the DoP&PW. It has also stated that payment of ex-gratia under VRS is eligible only for the Public Sector employees who are not eligible for government pension. An important observation of the DoP&PW is that, surplus employees in BSNL if any, can be taken back by the DoT.

The Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting of Kerala was held at Trichur on 03.08.2019. Nearly 400 comrades participated in this meeting from all over the circle. Com.Manoharan, CP, Presided over and Com.Santhosh KumarCS, welcomed everyone. Com. M. Vijayakumar, AGS, Com.P.R. Parameswaran, Organising Secretary (CHQ), and Com.Baghyalakshmi, Joint Convenor, BSNLWWCC, were present on the dias. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, former General Secretary of BSNLEU, Com. Mohanan, former Kerala Circle Secretary, addressed the meeting. Finally, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and explained about the issues related to BSNL’s revival. He also explained the demands placed by the AUAB, demanding actions by the government, for the financial revival of BSNL.

A lot of queries are being raised by our comrades, regarding payment of September salary. This issue was already discussed by BSNLEU, with the CMD BSNL on 23.09.2019 itself. In that meeting, the CMD BSNL told that it would not be possible to make payment of salary in the month of October. Thereafter, on 24.09.2019, BSNLEU wrote to the CMD BSNL. It was pointed out that, important festivals like Pooja, Dusshera and Deepawali are coming in the month of October and it was strongly demanded that salary payment should be made on time. Despite all these efforts, Management has not made payment of salary. It was under these circumstances that, BSNLEU, together with SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM and BSNL OA, has organised protest lunch hour demonstrations on 01.10.2019. One of the most important demands is immediate payment of September salary. All out efforts are now being taken for intensifying the struggle further, by uniting all the unions and associations.

In their meeting with the CMD BSNL held today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, raised the issue of granting relaxation to the failed candidates of the JTO LICE held on 26.05.2019. BSNLEU pointed out that, out of the 1030 candidates appeared in this JTO LICE, only 154 candidates have got qualified. They also highlighted that, no candidate has got qualified from six circles, including the educationally advanced Andhra Pradesh circle, which shows that something is wrong with the question paper. The Union bitterly complained that, it’s representation for granting full marks to wrong questions and questions with wrong, ambiguous and multiple answers, was not duly considered by the Recruitment Branch of the Corporate Office. The Union appealed to the CMD BSNL that, considering the fact that, most of the candidates appeared in this JTO LICE are young engineering graduates, granting of relaxation to the failed candidates will be gainful, both to the Company, as well as to the candidates. The Union also handed over it’s letter to the CMD BSNL, demanding relaxation to the failed candidates. The CMD BSNL gave a patient hearing and assured that the matter would be looked into appropriately. BSNLEU will further pursue this case.

A meeting between the BSNL Management and the Recognised Unions & Associations was held yesterday. Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR) and Shri Manish Kumar, GM(Restg.) were present from the Management Side. BSNLEU is represented by Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary. Representatives of NFTE, SNEA and AIBSNLEA attended. The following were briefed by the CMD BSNL:-

Performance of BSNL.

BSNL has given 21 lakh new mobile connections in January, 2020 and 18 lakh new mobile connections in February, 2020. BSNL’s market share has increased marginally. Disconnections in broadband is significant. 6% to 8% revenue increase is there in the EB segment. Presently, 6,000 OLTs are there in our FTTH segment. Bharat Air Fibre is introduced to give FTTH connections in isolated places. Hereafter, BSNL will purchase Armoured Optic Fibre Cables to trace out faults.

VRS.   

78,569 employees opted for VRS, out of which 199 have died. 1,767 cases are pending with BSNL and all other cases are already sent to the DoT. 76,929 VRS optees are getting provisional pension. 26,370 PPOs are issued. Rs.5,200 crore is the expenditure on account of Leave Encashment. First instalment of Ex-gratia and Leave Encashment will be paid to the VRS optees on 30^th or 31^st March, 2020.

BSNL’s 4G service.

In the budget for 2020-21, Government has made provision for allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and the same can be allotted to BSNL in May,2020. However, BSNL will not take the 4G spectrum immediately, since equipments will be ready for launching 4G service only after March, 2021. For 4G spectrum, BSNL has to pay Rs.5.5 crore, per day, as licence fee, even if BSNL does not use it. Hence, it is not wise to take the 4G spectrum, before the equipments are ready.

BSNL is already having 40,000 3G BTSs, which are 4G compatible. All these 40,000 BTSs can be upgraded to 4G BTSs, by which BSNL can immediately launch it’s 4G service. However, BSNL is experiencing certain difficulties in this regard. BSNL has to pay around Rs.2,000 crore as outstanding dues to the vendors of these BTSs, viz., Nokia, ZTE and Erricsson. Apart from that, Nokia is demanding a sum of Rs.3.5 lakh to Rs.7 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 13,000 BTSs supplied by them. Whereas, ZTE is demanding a sum of Rs.7 lakh to Rs.10 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 24,000 BTSs supplied by them. Since the rates are extremely high, BSNL is presently not in a position to upgrade these BTSs, for providing 4G service.

Monetisation of assets.

BSNL has already identified 14 assets for sale. In these, 11 are accepted by the DIPAM (Department of Investment and Public Assets Management). Value of these 11 assets comes to Rs.18,200 crore. Three MNCs are identified for effecting the sale of these assets. Monetisation of assets is very essential. BSNL’s liability as of now is Rs.40,000 crore. If these assets are not sold immediately, then BSNL will fall into a debt-trap.

Sovereign Guarantee.

Government is expected to give the sovereign guarantee in April, 2020, which will enable BSNL to raise funds to the tune of Rs.8,500 crore from the market, by issuing bonds. The rate of interest for these bonds will be around 7.5%.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL will happen soon. The government is taking steps to ensure this merger expeditiously.

Views expressed by the Unions and Associations.

Deep anguish was expressed over the delay in launching BSNL’s 4G service. At any cost, BSNL’s 4G service has to be launched without further delay. The maintenance of networks / attending of faults is not being done satisfactorily through outsourcing. The amount being offered by BSNL for outsourcing the maintenance of landline / broadband is quite handsome. Hence, this should include the maintenance of Primary Cables also. CGMs have ordered closing of the faults of more than 3 days’ duration, without restoration of the same. This manipulation should stop. The functioning of CSCs should be reviewed. The views of the Unions and Associations should be duly considered, before a final call is taken by the government on the merger of BSNL and MTNL. The IIM, Ahmedabad, report on the Revival of BSNL was never discussed with the Unions and Associations. However, it was replied in the floor of the Parliament that the same was discussed with the Unions and Associations. Management has taken decisions on the merger of Project and Maintenance Circles, merger of Telecom Factories with territorial circles and formation of Zonal Training Centres, without consulting the Unions and Associations. All restructurings / reorganisation must be discussed with the Unions and Associations. BSNLEU demanded that a separate discussion should be held to discuss the issues of the contract workers. CMD BSNL agreed for the same.

Due to paucity of time, restructuring / reorganisation plan was not discussed. CMD BSNL assured that this issue would be discussed within a day or two.

Many comrades among us are of the opinion that, it will be difficult to organise struggles after the massive retrenchment of employees, done through the VRS-2019. Further, it is also being generally felt that, agitations cannot be organised during the lock-down period, due to severe restrictions. But, the Azamgarh district union of BSNLEU, in UP(East) circle, has proved that the working class can organise struggles under any circumstance. Today, the Azamgarh district union has organised dharna programme, by maintaining social distance, against violation of Corporate Office instruction on outsourcing CSCs. CHQ heartily congratulates the Azamgarh district union.

The AUAB has already given a call to submit memorandum to all the MPs, requesting for their intervention in rolling out BSNL’s 4G service, as well as implementation of the assurances given in the Revival Package. In accordance with this, the AUAB, Tirupur, Tamil Nadu circle, has submitted memorandum to Com.K. Subbarayan, Lok Sabha member of Tirupur, belonging to the CPI. Com.Subbarayan has assured to take necessary steps in this connection. CHQ heartily congratulates all the comrades of the AUAB, Tirupur, Coimbatore district.