BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, demanding that the salary for the month of September, 2020, should immediately be paid, in view of the Puja festival commencing on 23rd October, 2020. We are glad to inform that, the Corporate Office has sent funds to the circles, for the payment of September salary.

The 39^th meeting of the National Council, to be held online on 07.10.2020, could not be conducted, because of the unwanted problem created by the BSNL Management. However, this is being utilised by some people to attack BSNLEU. WhatsApp messages are being sent to tarnish the image of BSNLEU. The propaganda being made by them and BSNLEU’s reply are as follows:-

(1)    Propaganda:- It is only of the General Secretary, BSNLEU, the National Council meeting could not be held. As a result, burning problems of the employees could not be discussed.

Reply:- During this COVID-19 pandemic situation, when others did not even think about the holding of the National Council meeting, it was BSNLEU, which demanded that the National Council meeting should be held online. Vide letter number BSNLEU/204(NC) dated 03.08.2020, BSNLEU wrote to the Director (HR) in this regard. It was only the General Secretary, BSNLEU, who continuously talked to the Director (HR) and the Sr.GM(SR)and made them to agree for holding the NC meeting online. All these efforts are taken by BSNLEU, only to make the Management to discuss the staff issues. Hence, blaming BSNLEU is nothing but, ridiculous and opportunistic. 

(2)   Propaganda:- Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, BSNLEU could not accept the leader of one particular Association, as a member of the National Council.

Reply:- This is a totally mischievous propaganda. BSNLEU has given in writing to the Management that, it is not opposing anybody’s nomination to the National Council. What BSNLEU’s demands is, when NFTE is given the right to nominate a non-member to the National Council, the same right should be given to BSNLEU also. Otherwise, it will be a discrimination, which cannot be accepted.  

The CHQ has prepared the pamphlet material, for the campaign and strike to be organised by BSNLEU. It will be printed in English and Hindi and will be despatched to the circle unions. At the same time, the circle unions of the non-Hindi speaking circles of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, West Bengal, Kolkata, Assam and Odisha are requested to translate the matter and to locally print the pamphlets in their regional languages. CHQ requests the circle unions to ensure that these pamphlets reach the hands of all the Executives and Non-Executives.

Com. George Mavricos, General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) is making an address to the leaders of the Indian trade unions affiliated to the WFTU, at 14:00 hrs. tomorrow the 14-10-2020. General Secretary BSNLEU has also been invited for this address. 

The Head Quarters of the WFTU is making arrangement for this address to be viewed live on the Facebook also, so that a large number of comrades can also be benefited from the speech. This is a very good opportunity and it should be utilised to the maximum. Hence, CHQ requests the circle secretaries and CHQ office bearers to ensure that maximum number of comrades of BSNLEU view this speech. The link for the speech is given below:-

https://www.facebook.com/GeorgeMavrikosWFTU

BSNLEU organised a convention at Alipore Telecom Factory, Kolkata, on 09.10.2020, against privatisation of the public sector undertakings and against the retrenchment of contract workers. It was organised under the banner of BSNL Coordination Committee. Com.Sisir Kumar Roy, CS, Kolkata, presided over. The Convention was addressed by Com.Debanjan Chakraborty, Secretary, CITU, Com.Animesh Mitra, President, BSNLEU, Com. Alok Nandi, INTUC, Com.Pradeep Gupta, 12^th July Committee, Com.Atanu Chakraborty, AICCTU, Com.Tapas Das Chowdhury, UTUC, Com.Ashoke Guha, ERMU, Com.Prabir Banerjee, TUCC, Com.Janardan Majumder, CGCC and Com.Om Prakash Singh, BSNLEU.

The CHQ has today released the e-copy of Tele-Crusader for the months of August, September and October. It carries useful articles and information. The circle secretaries are requested to kindly ensure that this e-copy of Tele-Crusader reaches all the members. BSNL Swar, which is BSNLEU's Hindi magazine, will  be released shortly.

The Indefinite Strike of the Defence Ordnance Factory Employees, scheduled to start from today, has been postponed. In the conciliation held with the Chief Labour Commissioner, the government has assured that, it would not take any step to corporatise the Defence Ordnance Factories, during the pendency of the conciliation proceeding. Further talks will take place at the Minister level. In view of this, today's solidarity demonstration, called on by BSNLEU, is also cancelled.

The All India Centre meeting of BSNLEU, held online yesterday, has decided to hold a one day Central Executive Committee meeting on 02.11.2020. Holding of the CEC meeting has become necessary, in view of the strike to be organised in November. This meeting will also be held online. Notification for this meeting will be issued shortly. All circle secretaries and central office bearers are requested to kindly make note of this information and  to attend the CEC meeting without fail.

WFTU को डोनेशन के रूप में रु 20/- प्रति सदस्य एकत्रित करने की CHQ की अपील.

द वर्ल्ड फेडरेशन ऑफ ट्रेड यूनियन्स (WFTU) वर्किंग क्लास का अंतर्राष्ट्रीय संगठन है। WFTU, वर्किंग क्लास के शोषण के विरोध में और उनके अधिकारों की रक्षा हेतु अंतर्राष्ट्रीय स्तर पर संघर्ष करने में अग्रणी रहा है। विश्व भर की संघर्षशील ट्रेड यूनियन्स, जो अपनी अपनी सरकारों की मजदूर विरोधी और पूंजीपति समर्थक नीतियों के खिलाफ संघर्षरत हैं, WFTU के साथ सम्बद्ध है। BSNLEU, ट्रेड यूनियन इंटरनेशनल (TUI) के माध्यम से  WFTU के साथ सम्बद्ध है। BSNLEU नियमित रूप से, WFTU द्वारा आयोजित कार्यक्रमों में शामिल होती है। 

चूंकि,वर्तमान में WFTU अत्यंत वित्तीय संकट के दौर से गुजर रही है, WFTU के मुख्यालय ने उनसे सम्बद्ध ट्रेड यूनियन्स से डोनेशन देने की अपील की है। मल्टीनेशनल कॉर्पोरेट्स के उत्पीड़न के खिलाफ लड़ने के लिए WFTU का मजबूत और ऊर्जावान बने रहना जरूरी है। अतः, कल ऑनलाइन सम्पन्न BSNLEU की ऑल इंडिया सेन्टर मीटिंग द्वारा, सर्किल यूनियन से, प्रत्येक सदस्य से सितंबर माह के वेतन से रु 20/- एकत्रित कर CHQ को प्रेषित करने का आव्हान करने का निर्णय लिया गया है। यह BSNLEU की महत्वपूर्ण जिम्मेदारी है,  BSNLEU की सभी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट यूनियन्स से अनुरोध है कि वें इस डोनेशन के संग्रहण और उसके CHQ को प्रेषण में विशेष ध्यान देंवें। WFTU को त्वरित वित्तीय सहयोग प्रदत्त करने के उद्देश्य से, ऑल इंडिया सेन्टर ने WFTU को रु 30,000/- भेजने का भी निर्णय लिया है।

ऑल इंडिया सेन्टर द्वारा BSNLEU के RTI सेल का गठन.

विगत माह सम्पन्न BSNLEU की सेंट्रल एग्जीक्यूटिव कमिटी मीटिंग में ऑल इंडिया लेवल और साथ ही सर्किल लेवल पर BSNLEU के RTI सेल के गठन करने का निर्णय लिया गया था। इन RTI सेल्स का, BSNL मैनेजमेंट और सरकार से विभिन्न जानकारियां प्राप्त करने का कार्य रहेगा। इस तरह, मैनेजमेंट और सरकार से प्राप्त विभिन्न जानकारियों (inputs) के आधार पर, मैनेजमेंट और सरकार के समक्ष मुद्दों को प्रभावी रूप से प्रस्तुत करने में  BSNLEU लैस होगी। CEC के इस निर्णय के अनुरूप , कल ऑनलाइन सम्पन्न BSNLEU की ऑल इंडिया सेन्टर की मीटिंग द्वारा BSNLEU के ऑल इंडिया लेवल RTI सेल का गठन किया गया, जिसमें निम्न कॉमरेड्स सदस्य के रूप में शामिल किए गए।

(1)   Com.C.K. Gundanna, former Circle Secretary, Karnataka.
(2)   Com.Mihir Dasgupta, former AGS.
(3)   Com.M.K. Dave, former Vice President (CHQ).

कॉम सी के गुंडान्ना इस RTI सेल के संयोजक के रूप में कार्य करेंगे। सभी सर्किल यूनियन से अनुरोध है कि वें अपने RTI सेल का शीघ्र गठन करें।

अभियान और हड़ताल कार्यक्रम के लिए BSNLEU की मांगें.

BSNLEU की   10 और 11 सितंबर, 2020, को सम्पन्न सेंट्रल एग्जीक्यूटिव कमिटी मीटिंग में सितंबर और अक्टूबर माह में व्यापक अभियान चलाने का निर्णय लिया गया है, जिसका समापन नवम्बर 2020 की हड़ताल के साथ हो। कल ऑनलाइन सम्पन्न ऑल इंडिया सेन्टर की मीटिंग ने तय किया है कि निम्न मांगों के साथ अभियान और हड़ताल आयोजित की जाएगी।
 

1. BSNL की 4G सेवा तत्काल शुरू की जाए। उपकरण प्राप्ति में प्राइवेट ऑपरेटर की तुलना में कोई भेदभाव नही किया जाए। 
2. तृतीय वेज रिवीजन का निराकरण किया जाए।
3. कार्यों की आउटसोर्सिंग के जरिए कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स की छंटनी नही की जाए। छंटनी किए गए कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स को वापिस लिया जाए। उनके वेज एरियर्स का शीघ्र भुगतान किया जाए। 
4. 01.01.2017 से पेंशन रिवीजन का निराकरण किया जाए। 
5. नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज के लिए नई प्रमोशन पॉलिसी लागू की जाए। 
6. कोविड-19 की वजह से दिवंगत हुए कर्मचारियों को रु 10 लाख का कैश मुआवजा दिया जाए। अधिकृत हॉस्पिटल्स में कैशलेस उपचार सुविधा सुनिश्चित की जाए।
7. JTO LICE, JAO LICE, JE LICE और TT LICE त्वरित आयोजित की जाए।
8. नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज के लिए ग्रुप टर्म इश्युरंस (GTI) सुविधा शुरू की जाए।
9. सीधे भर्ती हुए कर्मचारियों के लिए 30% सुपरएन्युएशन लाभ लागू किए जाएं। 
10. कैज्युअल लेबर्स के वेजेस संशोधित किए जाएं। 

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) is the international organisation of the working class. The WFTU spearheads the struggles at the international level, against the exploitations on the working class and to protect their rights. The militant trade unions throughout the world, which are fighting against the anti-worker and pro-rich policies of their respective governments, are affiliated to the WFTU. BSNLEU is affiliated to the WFTU, through the Trade Union International (TUI) Transports and Communications. BSNLEU is regularly participating in the programmes called on by the WFTU. 

Since the WFTU is presently facing an acute financial crisis, the Head Quarters of the WFTU has appealed to it’s affiliated trade unions to give donations. The WFTU has to remain strong and vibrant, to fight against the exploitations by the multinational corporates. Hence, the All India Centre meeting of BSNLEU held online yesterday, has decided to call on the circle unions to collect Rs.20/- per member in the September salary payment and to send it to the CHQ. This is a very important duty of BSNLEU and all circle and district unions of BSNLEU are requested to pay their full attention in collecting this donation and sending it to the CHQ. With the view to provide immediate financial help to the WFTU, the All India Centre has also decided to send Rs.30,000/- to the WFTU.

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU held last month, has decided that RTI Cells of BSNLEU should be formed at the All India level, as well as at the circle level. Getting various inputs from the BSNL Management and the government, is the job of these RTI Cells. The inputs so obtained from the Management and the government, will equip BSNLEU to effectively take up the issues with the Management and the government. In line with this decision of the CEC, the All India Centre meeting of BSNLEU, held online yesterday, has constituted the All India level RTI Cell of BSNLEU, with the following comrades as members: -

(1)        Com.C.K. Gundanna, former Circle Secretary, Karnataka.

(2)        Com.Mihir Dasgupta, former AGS.

(3)        Com.M.K. Dave, former Vice President (CHQ).

Com.C.K. Gundanna will function as the Convenor of this RTI Cell. All the circle unions are requested to immediately form their RTI Cells.

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, held on 10^th & 11^th September, 2020, has decided to organise massive campaigns in the months of September and October, which should culminate into a strike in November, 2020. The All India Centre meeting held online yesterday, finalised that the campaign and strike would be organised on the following demands.

1. Immediately launch BSNL's 4G service. No discrimination vis-a-vis the private operators in procurement of equipments. 
2. Settle 3rd Wage Revision.
3. Stop retrenchment of contract workers through indiscriminate outsourcing of works. Take back the retrenched contract workers. Immediately pay their wage arrears.
4. Settle pension revision from 01.01.2017.
5. Implement a New Promotion Policy for the Non-Executives.
6. Immediately hold the JTO LICE, JAO LICE, JE LICE and TT LICE.
7. Provide Rs.10 lakh cash compensation to the employees who die due to COVID-19.  Ensure cashless treatment in the empanelled hospitals. 
8. Implement Group Term Insurance (GTI) for the Non-Executives.
9. Implement 30% superannuation benefits to the Directly Recruited employees.
10. Implement revision of casual labourers’ wages. 

The BSNL Working Women’s Coordination Committee (BSNL WWCC) organised lunch hour demonstrations throughout the country today and condemned the gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl in Hathras. The protesters also condemned the attempts being made by the Uttar Pradesh government, to destroy the evidences and thereby to rescue the murderers. The Uttar Pradesh police had hurriedly cremated the victim’s body in the dead of the night. It did not allow the media persons and opposition parties to contact the victim’s family.  Today's demonstrators demanded all actions to stop the brutalities being committed on women.

Shri Ram Vilas Paswan, one of the prominent Dalit leaders, and former Union minister, has passed away yesterday. He was 74 years old and had recently undergone a heart surgery. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan had been a minister in almost all the Central Governments formed since 1989 and had served under six Prime ministers, starting with the cabinet of Shri V.P. Singh. Shri Ram Vilas Paswan had played a prominent role in the implementation of the Mandal Commission's recommendations. He was the Minister of Communications, at the time of formation of BSNL. The death of Shri Ram Vilas Paswan has created a big void in Indian politics. BSNLEU pays it's respectful homage to the departed leader.

The wealth of the world billionaires has increased by 27.5% within 3 months and that too, during the height of the Covid-19 crisis, from April to July 2020. As per the report of The Guardian, the wealth of the billionaires reached a new high of $10.2 trillion within these three months period. It was during this period that millions of people around the world, lost their jobs and were pushed to extreme poverty. We have to understand that these are the results of policies being pursued by the capitalist’s governments, including India.

[Courtesy: The Guardian, dated 07.10.2020]