An impressive online Circle Executive Committee meeting was organised by Bihar circle union of BSNLEU today. 25 district secretaries and circle office bearers attended this meeting. Com.Ram Sobit Singh, Vice President, presided over the meeting. Com.B.P Singh, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and briefed on the activities of the circle union. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, attended this meeting on behalf of the CHQ. Both the comrades explained about the conspiracy through which 4G technology is being denied to BSNL. They also explained in detail about the issues contained in the charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions as well as eight unions and associations of BSNL. In the deliberations which took place thereafter, many district secretaries and circle office bearers participated. Finally, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, replied to the All India level issues on which questions were raised in the meeting.  At the end, Com.B.P. Singh, CS, summed up the discussions. All the comrades participated in the meeting, resolved to successfully organise the General Strike and the lunch hour demonstrations on 25.11.2020. The president addressed the meeting and proposed vote of thanks. CHQ heartily congratulates the Bihar circle union for organising an impressive Circle Executive Committee meeting.

The Trade Union International (TUI, Transports & Communications), is organising a solidarity demonstration, in front of the Consulate General (Indian High Commission), at Istanbul, the Capital of Turkey on 26.11.2020. This demonstration at Istanbul is being organised to support of the 26^th November General Strike being held in India. This demonstration at Istanbul is being organised by the Nakliyatis Trade Union, whose leader, Ali Riza Kucukosmanoglu, is the General Secretary of the TUI Transports and Communications. In this regard, the TUI Transports and Communications has sent the following message to the Indian Trade Unions.

“ Dear Comrades, please be informed that we, as Nakliyat-İş Union, will organize a solidarity action at Consulate General of India in Istanbul on the day of the massive 26 November strike to be organized by Indian Working Class led by the militant WFTU affiliate organizations. We will also hand in a letter to the Consulate in which it's stated that we firmly side with Indian Working Class and their just demands.

Later we'll share the photos of the action.

Fraternal greetings.”

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, who is also the Convenor of the Communications Sector of the TUI Transports and Communications, has sent the following message in Turkish language. (courtesy Microsoft translator).

“Nakliyat'ın liderlerine ve yoldaşlarına kırmızı selamlar, 26 Kasım 2020'de Hindistan'da düzenlenen genel greve destek amaçlı önerilen dayanışma eylemi içindir.

-P.Abhimanyu, 

Genel Sekreter, 

Telekomünikasyon çalışanları sendikası.”

"Long Live the solidarity of the working class."

"Workers of the world, unite."

The Jharkhand circle branch of BSNLEU, organised it’s online Executive Committee meeting yesterday the 22.11.2020. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, and Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, attended the meeting from the CHQ. Com.Omkar Nath Prasad, President, presided over the meeting. Com.Azad, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and presented his report on  activities. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the inaugural address. He explained about the present condition of BSNL, and the charter of demands of the BSNL unions and associations, as well as that of the central trade unions. He appealed to the comrades to successfully implement the General Strike, being organised on 26^th November, 2020.  Com.Animesh Mitra, addressed the comrades and explained about the ways and means to strengthen the Organisation. All the district secretaries participated in the deliberations. Finally, Com.Azad, Circle Secretary, summed up the discussion and gave the vote of thanks.

नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज के लिए वेतन वार्ता शीघ्र शुरू होगी..

BSNLEU द्वारा लगातार यह मांग की जाती रही है कि मैनेजमेंट द्वारा वेतन वार्ता (Wage Negotiation) शुरू की जाए, जो कि अधबीच में ही बंद हो चुकी थी। BSNLEU द्वारा यह उल्लेखित किया गया है कि, DoT द्वारा BSNL मैनेजमेंट को निर्देशित किया गया था कि वह मान्यता प्राप्त यूनियन्स के साथ एग्रीमेंट कर उनके (DoT के) अनुमोदन हेतु वापस भेजें। इसलिए, BSNLEU द्वारा यह भी फोकस किया जाता रहा है कि वेतन वार्ता में रुकावट, DoT के निर्देशों का उल्लंघन है। इसी आधार पर BSNLEU मांग करती रही है कि वेतन वार्ता पुनः शुरू की जाए। BSNLEU ने यह मुद्दा नेशनल कौंसिल की 39वीं मीटिंग में भी चर्चा हेतु शामिल किया है।  26.11.2020 को होने वाली आम हड़ताल हेतु दिए गए नोटिस में शामिल मांगों में भी यह एक प्रमुख मांग है। इन परिस्थितियों में, श्री प्रदीप कुमार, AGM(SR), जो समझौता वार्ता (Conciliation meeting) में शामिल हुए थे, ने सूचित किया है कि मैनेजमेंट शीघ्र ही वेतन वार्ता शुरू करने जा रहा  है। निःसंदेह, यह BSNLEU द्वारा किए गए अनवरत प्रयासों का परिणाम है। हम, मैनेजमेंट के निर्णय का स्वागत करते हैं और अनुरोध करते हैं कि वार्ता अविलंब शुरू की जाए।  

IDA फ्रीज करने के विरोध में 25.11.2020 को भोजन अवकाश में विरोध प्रदर्शन आयोजित करने हेतु AUAB का कर्मचारियों से आव्हान..

जैसा कि पूर्व में सूचित किया जा चुका है, सरकार द्वारा पब्लिक सेक्टर कर्मियों को 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 और 01.04.2021 को देय 3 IDA की किश्तें फ्रीज करने का निर्णय लिया गया है। ये तीनों IDA, 01.07.2021 से ही बहाल किए जाएंगे। किन्तु किसी भी प्रकार का एरियर नही दिया जाएगा।

ऑल यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स ऑफ BSNL (AUAB), IDA फ्रीज किए जाने के निर्णय की कड़ी भर्त्सना करता है। यह और कुछ नही, वरन BSNL सहित सभी पब्लिक सेक्टर कर्मचारियों के साथ सरासर  बेईमानी है। अतः, AUAB ने BSNL के सभी एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज और नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज से भोजन अवकाश में विरोध प्रदर्शन आयोजित करने का आव्हान किया है।

BSNLEU के सभी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज से CHQ अनुरोध करता है कि वें  25.11.2020 को भोजन अवकाश में जबरदस्त विरोध प्रदर्शन आयोजित करने हेतु पहल कर AUAB के अन्य घटकों से समन्वय स्थापित करें।

CITU has arranged for an online seminar of the leaders of the Public Sector Trade Unions, at 06.00 pm today. This will be a live programme on Facebook and Youtube. Together with Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, Com.Lalit Mishra, GS, Steel Workers Federation of India (SWFI), Com.T. Naredra Rao, General Secretary, Water Transport Workers Federation of India (WTWFI) and Com.Samarendra Nath Banerjee, Convenor, All India Co-ordination Committee of Public Sector Trade Unions (AICCPSTU), will address this Seminar. Each leader will speak for 15 minutes. Circle Secretaries are requested to ensure that maximum number of comrades view this live programme.

As has already been informed, the government has decided to freeze three instalments of IDA of the Public Sector employees, falling due on 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021. These three IDAs will be restored w.e.f. 01.07.2021, but no arrears will be paid. 

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) deplores this IDA freezing. This is nothing, but hitting the public sector employees, which includes the BSNL employees, below the belt. Hence, the AUAB has called upon the entire Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL to organise protest lunch hour demonstrations on 25.11.2020.

The CHQ requests all the circle and district secretaries of BSNLEU to take the initiative and coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB, for organising powerful lunch hour demonstrations on 25.11.2020. 

The West Bengal circle union has unleashed a massive campaign, to make the 26^th November General Strike a total success. The campaign started on 1^st November, 2020. Com.Animesh Mitra, All India President, as well as Circle Secretary, West Bengal, together with other circle leaders, are visiting each and every district and are conducting physical meetings. So far, 30 such campaign meetings are already conducted.  There is an excellent response from the employees and they turn out in large numbers in all the meetings. CHQ heartily congratulates the West Bengal circle union for organising a successful campaign for the General Strike. The other circle unions should also follow the example of West Bengal.

BSNLEU has been continuously demanding that, the Management should resume the Wage Negotiation, which has been discontinued midway. BSNLEU has been highlighting that, the DoT had instructed the BSNL Management to sign an agreement with the Recognised Unions and sent it back for it’s (DoT’s) approval. Hence, BSNLEU has been focusing that, the discontinuation of the Wage Negotiations by the BSNL Management, is a violation of the direction of the DoT. It is on this basis that BSNLEU has been demanding that Wage Negotiations should be resumed. BSNLEU has taken up this issue for discussion in the 39^th meeting of the National Council also. It is also one of the important demands in the notice that has been issued for the General Strike, to be held on 26.11.2020. Under these circumstances, the Shri Pradeep Kumar, AGM(SR), who participated in the Conciliation meeting today, has informed that the Management is going to resume the Wage Negotiations shortly. Undoubtedly, this is the result of the consistent efforts that has been taken by BSNLEU. We welcome the decision of the Management and request that the negotiations should resume without delay.

Based on the strike notice issued by BSNLEU, for the 26^th November General Strike, the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi, conducted a Conciliation meeting today. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, participated in this Conciliation meeting on behalf of BSNLEU and Shri Pradeep Kumar, AGM (SR) represented the Management. Com.P.Abhimanyu, elaborately explained about the charter of demands and accused that, the Management is not coming forward to settle any demand. The AGM(SR) gave his version. As regards the 3^rd Pay Revision, the AGM(SR) replied that the demand of the Union that, negotiations for Wage Revision should resume, is being considered and that the negotiations will resume soon. Thereafter, the Conciliation is adjourned to 4^th December, 2020. 

Shri Vinodh Kumar, the Vice Chairman of the Planning Commission, Government of Telangana, has addressed today’s gate meeting of BSNL employees, at the CGM Office of Telangana at Hyderabad. Shri Vinodh Kumar extended his total support to the justified demand of the BSNL employees, that BSNL should be allowed to immediately start it’s 4G service. He  also extended his support to the General Strike, taking place on 26.11.2020. CHQ heartily congratulates the Telangana circle union, being led by Com.J. Sampath Rao, AGS and Circle Secretary, for taking the efforts to enrol the support of the Vice Chairman of the Telangana State Planning Commission.

The government has issued an atrocious order, to freeze the IDA of the employees of the Central Public Sector Enterprises. Accordingly, the IDA which has already become due from 01.10.2020 will not be paid. Similarly, the next instalments of IDA, which will become due on 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021 will not also be paid. These three instalments of IDA will be restored w.e.f. 01.07.2021. However, no arrears will be paid. This tantamounts the government stealing workers' money. BSNLEU severely condemns this atrocious decision of the government.

As per the call of the eight unions and associations, which have called on the BSNL employees to join the 26^th November General Strike, lunch hour demonstrations and gate meetings are organised throughout the country today. The charter of demands, as well as the need to organise the strike successfully, are explained in these meetings. CHQ heartily congratulates all the circle and district unions, which have successfully organised the programme. 

An online meeting is organised today, through which Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, addressed the comrades of NTR circle union and Corporate Office circle union. Com.T.C. Nagar, Circle President, NTR circle, presided over the meeting. Com.R.S. Chauhan, CS, NTR circle & Vice President (CHQ), welcomed all the comrades. The General Secretary, explained in detail about the charter of demands and urged upon the comrades to effectively organise the strike. The meeting is also addressed by Com.Pankaj Atri, CS, and Com.Kamal Kishore, CP & Com.Com.Prem Kumar of the Corporate Office circle union. Com.T.C. Nagar, President, Com.Malhotra and Com.Atri spoke, spoke on behalf of the NTR circle union.

BSNLEU has issued strike notice for participating in the General Strike, to be held 26.11.2020. Consequent to this, BSNLEU has been invited for conciliation. In the letter issued on 17.11.2020, the Assistant Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi, has invited CMD BSNL and General Secretary, BSNLEU, to participate in the Conciliation meeting, to be held through video conferencing on 20.11.2020.

The online Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Uttarakhand circle, was held enthusiastically today. 26 members of the Circle Executive Committee, attended this meeting. Com.K.S. Soun, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and presented the note for discussion. Com.G.P. Kala, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, inaugurated the meeting and explained about the wanton delay being caused in BSNL’s 4G launching, attacks being launched on the Public Sector, trade union rights, as well as on workers rights. He also explained about the salient points of the charter of demands. The meeting was also attended by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com.John Verghese, AGS. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, addressed the meeting and stressed on the need to organise the strike successfully. Serious deliberations by the Circle Executive Committee members took place, in which 23 comrades participated. Finally, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, replied to the all the National level issues, raised in the discussion. Com.K.S. Soun, CS, summed up the discussions. Com.G.P. Kala, Circle President, addressed the meeting and concluded it.

Com.K.Hemalata, President, CITU, addressed the Facebook live yesterday. Also being the Vice-President of the WFTU, she thanked BSNLEU, for donating a sizeable amount as WFTU Fund. The delay caused in BSNL’s launching of 4G service, the unprecedented attacks being launched on the public sector, pro-employer Labour Law Amendments, violation of democratic and human rights in the country, were highlighted by Com.Hemalata. She  appealed to the BSNL employees to make the 26^th November General Strike a total success.

BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNL CCWF) has decided to join the General Strike to be held on 26.11.2020. The decision has been taken in the recently held Secretariat meeting of BSNL CCWF. BSNLEU calls upon it’s circle and district unions to coordinate with BSNL CCWF for making the strike effective.