It has been brought to the notice of the CHQ that difficulties are being created by the circle administration of Tamil Nadu, in issuing NoC to the employees, for applying for visa. Employees experience difficulties, since mention is being made in the NoC that, leave will be granted only for 3 months. Whereas, no such restriction has been imposed by the Corporate Office. This issue was discussed with Shri Arun Kumar, PGM (Pers.) in the Corporate Office, by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, yesterday. The PGM(Pers.) has agreed to issue necessary guideline in this regard.

The three day Extended CEC meeting of BSNLEU, which started at Pune, yesterday, is continuing for the second day. The district secretaries are participating in the deliberations. Most of the district secretaries have endorsed the proposals made in the General Secretary’s presentation, regarding the revival of BSNL and the approach of BSNLEU to be adopted in the forthcoming Membership Verification campaign. A meeting of the Central Executive Committee meeting will be taking place tomorrow morning.

BSNLEU ने सितंबर की सैलरी के समय पर भुगतान और साथ ही कटौत्री की राशि विभिन्न संस्थानों को प्रेषित करने की मांग करते हुए CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा...
BSNLEU के प्रतिनिधियों ने कल CMD BSNL से मुलाकात की और अक्टूबर माह में आने वाले प्रमुख त्योंहारों के मद्दे नजर सितम्बर की सैलरी का समय पर भुगतान करने का अनुरोध किया। BSNLEU ने कर्मचारियों के वेतन से काटी गई GPF, सोसाइटी की किश्तें, बैंक लोन की EMI आदि संबंधित संस्थाओं को प्रेषित करने की भी मांग की। आज पुनः इन मुद्दों पर जोर देते हुए  BSNLEU ने CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा है। साथ ही, BSNLEU ने कर्मचारियों के वेतन से काटी गई सब्सक्रिप्शन राशि भी सभी यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स को सौंपने की मांग की है।

France witnessed a massive general strike on 05th December, 2019. It was participated in by a whopping 1.5 million (15 lakh) workers. This strike is said to be the biggest after 1995. The strikers were opposing the anti-worker “pension reforms" of the macron government, intended at curtailing the existing pension benefits. France's public transport, including road and air transport, almost came to a standstill. Public sector workers, government employees refinery workers, students, etc., participated in the massive demonstrations, held throughout the length and breadth of France.

The unions and associations of BSNL are immensely contributing for the improvement of the quality of services as well as to increase the revenue of the Company. The unions and associations are relentlessly motivating the employees to intensify the marketing activities. However, the BSNL Management in turn, is continuously taking actions to curb the legitimate trade union rights of the unions and associations. Even peaceful protests like dharna and hunger strikes are not being allowed in BSNL. These actions of the Management are in total violation of the judgement of the Hon’ble Supreme Court which has stated that every citizen has the right to participate in peaceful protest actions. The CEC meeting of BSNLEU held at Vadodara has passed resolution demanding the BSNL Management not to deny the trade union rights.

An RTI question, replied by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), reveals that a staggering Rs.68,607 crore bank loan, due from 50 top wilful defaulters, including the absconding Mehul Chokshi and Vijay Mallya, has been silently written off by the government.  Absconder Mehul Choksi tops the list with Rs.5,492 crore. Second in the list comes Sandip Jhunjhunwala and Sanjay Jhunjhunwala with Rs.4,314 crore. Third comes, Diamond dealer Jatin Mehtha with Rs.4,000 crore. Vijay Mallya, who has fled to London also figures in this list with Rs.1,943 crore. The Naredra Modi government has written off the loans of all these “poor” millionaires and has decided to take away the DA of the “rich” Central Government employees and pensioners. Really great.

The online CEC meeting of BSNLEU was held on 10^th & 11^th September, 2020. The meeting held in depth discussions on various issues and has unanimously taken decisions which are enclosed herewith. All the circle and district unions are requested to take all out efforts to implement the decisions successfully.

Successful demonstrations were conducted today in all circles, as per the call of BSNLEU, demanding immediate payment of PLI. CHQ heartily congratulates all the circle and district unions, for making the programme successful at a very short notice.

As per the decision of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, Chennai Telephones circle organised an enthusiastic strike preparatory meeting today, at the Flower Bazaar telephone exchange. It was addressed by com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, com. Seshadri, Secretary,NFTE, com. Thomas John, President, FNTO, com.subburaman, GS, TEPU, com.Mallikarjun, President, BSNL MS, com.Shanmugasundararajan, CS, SNEA, com.Udhayasoorian, OS, AIBSNLEA, com.Senthil Kumar, OS, AIGETOA, and many other leaders addressed the meeting. The speakers explained the demands and called upon the employees to make the 2 day strike a cent per cent success.

The AUAB organised a spirited lunch hour demonstration today at the BSNL Corporate Office, after serving the notice for the walk-out, rallies, etc. to be organised on 28-05-2018. The meeting that ensued the demonstration, was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS,BSNLEU, Com.Mahabir Singh, Secretary, NFTE, Com.G.L.Jogi, Chairman,SNEA, Com.Prahalad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com. Madhu Trivedi, Vice-President(CHQ), FNTO and Com.N.D.Ram, GS, SEWA BSNL addressed the meeting. The leaders severely criticised the government and the BSNL Management for taking steps to make the Subsidiary Tower Company operational. In one voice, the leaders demanded that the government should roll back the Subsidiary Tower Company.

The 3 day relay hunger strike, organised at the BSNL Corporate Office, has turned out to be an extraordinarily successful programme. Apart from the employees of NTR and Corporate Office, comrades of BSNLEU from UP(West) and Haryana circle participated in large numbers on all the 3 days of the Relay Hunger Strike. Especially, the large number of comrades came and participated in the hunger strike today, from both the circles, despite rains. BSNLEU places on record, it’s hearty thanks to the comrades of UP (West) circle and the Haryana circle, for making the 3 day Relay Hunger Strike at the Corporate Office a great success.  

A lot of queries are being raised by our comrades, with regards to the outsourcing of the maintenance of passive infra of mobile towers. BSNLEU and the AUAB is paying serious attention to this issue. In the meeting held with the CMD BSNL on 20.09.2018, the General Secretaries of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA and AIBSNLEA questioned the wisdom of BSNL Management to spend such a huge amount, for outsourcing the maintenance of BSNL mobile towers. The CMD BSNL replied that the maintenance of BSNL mobile towers will remain with the Company. Only the maintenance of passive infra, has been outsourced. This includes maintenance of power plants, installing new batteries, payment of electricity bills, purchasing of diesel, etc. The CMD BSNL also told that the Company would save Rs.100 crore per annum, through these outsourcing. The meeting of the AUAB, which took place on 08.10.2018, reviewed this issue thoroughly. The meeting observed the amount to be paid for this outsourcing is very huge, which does not commensurate with the quantum of works. It was decided that a detailed letter is to be written to the CMD BSNL, expressing the view of the AUAB, as to how spending such huge amount for the outsourcing is not justified. The meeting also decided to demand the CMD BSNL to put the outsourcing on hold, pending a discussion with the AUAB.

The 14th Congress of the TUI - WFTU of the trade unions of Transport and Communications, started at Istanbul, the capital of Turkey, yesterday. The Turkish trade union, Nakliyat ls, is hosting the Congress, and has made excellent arrangements for the Congress. 80 delegates from 25 countries are participating in the Congress. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the Congress yesterday. He explained about the recent 3 day strike of the BSNL employees, demanding wage revision, pension revision and against the anti- BSNL measures of  the government. He also spoke on the international scenario, on development of telecom technology, and how imperialist countries are trying to monopolise it, for their exploitations.  He underscored the urgent need to unite the telecommunication workers throughout the world, under the banner of the WFTU, to fight against the imperialist designs.  Com.George Mavericks, General Secretary of the WFTU, will be addressing the Congress today.

The Jharkhand circle conference of BSNLEU was held at Ranchi on 23.02.2019. Election of office bearers was adjourned in that conference, due to the irregularities found in the accounts of the circle union, and consequent non-approval of the accounts. The adjourned circle conference was held at Ranchi today, in the Chhagan Lal Jain Smriti. Com.Omkar Nath Prasad, one of the senior most members of the union presided over. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, attended the conference from the CHQ. Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, welcomed everyone and explained about the background of the conference. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Animesh Mitra, President, addressed the conference and explained about the important issues such as wage revision, pension revision, issues related to the revival of BSNL, etc. Finally, election of office bearers was held unanimously. Com.Omkar Nath Prasad, Com.Azad Kumar Prasad and Com.Jitendra Prasad are elected as Circle President, Circle Secretary and Circle Treasurer, respectively. The CHQ heartily congratulates the newly elected team of office bearers.

The three day Extended CEC meeting of BSNLEU concluded jubilantly today. Deliberations by the district secretaries started day before yesterday and continued for the whole of yesterday. Totally, 83 district secretaries participated in the deliberations. By and large, all of them agreed with a line of approach, as was spelt out in the presentation of the General Secretary. Today, ie., the 3rd day, the meeting was addressed by the senior leaders of the Central Executive Committee. Ultimately, Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, summed up the discussions. In his speech, he explained about the achievements made by BSNLEU during the past three years. He also called upon the district secretaries to strengthen the unity of the Executives and Non-Executives, to fight against the anti-BSNL policies of the government, for strengthening BSNL. Overall, the Extended CEC meeting has generated a very big enthusiasm and hope among the participants. The excellent arrangements made by the Reception Committee, under the leadership of Com.N.K. Nalawade, CS, Maharashtra & VP (CHQ), were appreciated by all. The meeting came to an end with jubilant slogans.

VRS has been implemented in BSNL and 78,569 employees have already been retrenched. Before implementing VRS, the Management has not made any scientific study, as to how many employees are required to maintain the services. BSNL is not a private company, but a company of the people of India, which has to fulfil it’s social obligations like generation of employment. The mindset of the BSNL Management to outsource the entire works will undoubtedly pave the way for corruption. Hence, the CEC meeting of BSNLEU held at Vadodara has passed resolution demanding recruitment of fresh staff in BSNL.

1) Shri Dilip Siram, GMTD, Tripura - Rs.5,000/-

2) Com. Sajal Datta, AGM, Tripura, Agartala - Rs.4,000/-

3) Com.Bikash Sarkar, DGM, Tripura, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

4)Com. Alpana Baidya, BSNLEU Member, Agartala, Tripura - Rs.1,000/-

5) Com. Sushankar Sarkar, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

6) Com. Putul Rani Sarkar, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

7) Com. Gopal Das, C/S AIBDPA, NE1 Circle, Shillong - Rs.1,000/-

8) Com. Smriti Das Majumder, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

9) Com. Satyajit Roy, Assistant Branch Secretary, Agartala - Rs.1,000/-

10) Com. Kishan Bhowmik, BSNLEU Member - Rs.650/-

11) Com. Biplab Debnath, Assistant Branch Secretary, Agartala - Rs.500/-

12) Com. Pratima Debbarma, Asstt. Branch Secretary, Agartala - Rs.500/-

13) Com. Babita Debbarma, Org. Secretary, Agartala - Rs.500/-

14) Com. Jayanti Debnath, BSNLEU Member, Agartala - Rs.500/-

15) Com. Jaya Bhattacharjee,  Branch Secretary ETR, Agartala - Rs.500/-

16) Com.Sajal Bhowmik, JAO, Agartala - Rs.500/-

17) Com. Sajal Das, JAO, Agartala - Rs.500/-

18) Com.Nirmal Bhowmik, JAO, Agartala - Rs.500/-

19) Com. Mintu Chandra Bhowmik, DS, AIBDPA, Agartala - Rs.500/-

The Indian economy, which is  already in shambles, due to the wrong policies of the government, is further getting battered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Study shows that the GDP growth for the current year may be in the negative area. This is revealed by the latest round of economic survey, carried out by the FICCI. The survey indicates that, the median GDP growth of India, for the current financial year of 2020-21, will be at (-)4.5%. The survey has put the minimum GDP growth at (-)6.4% and the maximum at 1.5%. 

[Source: Economic Times dated 12.07.2020]