CHQ is extremely saddened to hear that, Com.Seethalakshmi, former General Secretary of the All India Postman and Class-IV Union (NFPE), has passed away on 01^st August, 2020, at her residence in Bengaluru. Only very recently she was diagnosed to be having cancer.  As we remember, Com.Seethalakshmi is the only woman comrade, who had reached the highest post of the General Secretary of an all India union, in the P&T Trade Union movement. Even when many male comrades hesitate to leave their native places and to come over to work in the union head-quarters at Delhi, Com.Seethalakshmi boldly took over the post of the General Secretary and shifted to New Delhi. She was a great friend and well wisher of BSNLEU. She also addressed and graced our Mysuru All India Conference, held in December, 2018. Com. Seetha Lakshmi had also served as the Deputy General Secretary of the National Federation of Postal Employees (NFPE) and had taken active part in the Central Government employees, as well as in the general trade union movement. In the death of Com.Seethalakshmi, we have lost an ardent crusader for the cause of the working class. BSNLEU dips it’s banner and pays it’s respectful homage to Com.Seethalakshmi. BSNLEU also conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to the family members and friends of Com.Seethalakshmi.

Immediately after the strike, the CHQ requested the circle secretaries to immediately send the strike figures. However, it is observed that still some of the circle unions have not submitted their report with the strike figures. CHQ requests those circle secretaries to immediately send the report.

The “All Unions and Associations of BSNL” are meeting Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications at 5:00 PM tomorrow. Wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, rolling back of the retirement age from 60 to 58 and revision of pension issues will be discussed prominently.

The past few months, the amounts being deducted from the salaries of our employees, are not being remitted to the concerned organisations / agencies. These include deductions on account of GPF, bank loans, society dues, HBA, EPF, LIC, income tax, PLI, etc. Due to the non-remittance of the deducted amounts to the various organisations / agencies, the employees are being forced to pay penal interest. BSNLEU has already discussed this issue with the CMD BSNL. Again BSNLEU has written to the CMD on this issue.

A meeting of the Recognised Unions and Management on Group Term Insurance (GTI) was held on 25.03.2019. From Management Side, Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM (Trg.) and Shri Goyal, DGM(Trg.), were present. BSNLEU was represented by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com.Gakul Borah, Treasruer (CHQ). NFTE BSNL was represented by Com.Chandeswar Singh, GS and Com.Islamn Ahmed, President. At the outset the Management given the following informations to the Recognised Unions. 

1. The LIC who has made GTI facility to Executives is ready to give the same insurance benefits to the Non-Executives and it has suggested that the sum assured of insurance can be kept at Rs.20 lakh for Non-Executives, which is within the preview of the Regional Office at New Delhi.
2. If the insurance amount will be more than 20 lakh it may take long time since, it is to be processed by the LIC Head Quarter at Mumbai.
3. The insurance in any case should restricted to 5 times of salary of an employee. Hence, the Non-Executives insured amount can be Rs.20 lakh approx.
4. Since mortality rate is higher in case of Non-Executives, GTI may not be more than of Rs.20 lakh.
5. If the terms and conditions of the GTI for Non-Executives is keeping at par with the Executive policy it may take less time for signing the agreement.
6. According to Executive GTI policy, it is categorised in two groups of employees – i.e, (a) upto 50 years of age and (b)from 50 to 60 years.
7. No saving benefits will be available in GTI.
8. The premium should be in annual basis.

The representatives of the Recognised Unions expressed that they will discussed the matter in their respective levels and will come up with their suggestions / proposals within a short time.

It is interesting to note that the government is moving the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) to debar two companies which are engaged by the BSNL Management in the past, for the revival of BSNL. One is Deloitte and the other is BSR, which is an arm of the KPMG. Both, Deloitte and BSR, had earlier acted as auditors of the Infrastructure leasing and Finance Services (IL& FS). A massive corruption of Rs.95,000 crore has taken place in IL&FS, as a result of which that company has collapsed now. The Corporate Affairs Ministry has alleged that both the Deloitte and BSR (KPMG) have helped in the commitment of Rs. 95,000 crore. Based on the recommendations of Deloitte and KPMG, BSNL Management had taken many steps for the revival of BSNL. Now, all can understand what sort of advise/ recommendations could have been given by these two companies, for the revival of BSNL.

[Source: Times of India dt. 11.06.2019]  

Com.Animesh Mitra, President, addressed a well attended meeting at Durgabpur on 25.08.2019. It was a well attended meeting, even though it was a Sunday. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, addressed the meeting and explained about the financial revival of BSNL as well as the achievements of BSNLEU since the last Membership Verification.

As per notice given by the BSNLEU, the Regional Labour Commissioner (Central), New Delhi, Shri Raj Bahadur, invited BSNLEU to attend the conciliation on 6th January, 2020. BSNLEU was represented by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Management Side was represented by Shri A.K. Sinha, DGM(SR). The representative of the Union submitted view points from the Union. Finally, RLC requested the Union to hold the agitation in a peaceful manner.

The ILO (International Labour Organisation) has appealed to the Prime Minister of India to intervene in the violations of Labour Laws in the country. In the letter addressed on 22^nd May, 2020, to the 10 Central Trade Unions of India, the ILO has informed that, the Prime Minister of India has been appealed to send a clear message to the central and state governments, regarding the violation of Labour Laws. In it’s letter, the ILO has requested the Prime Minister, to up hold India’s international commitments. This letter has been written by Mr. Karen Curtis, Chief of the Freedom of Association Branch of the ILO, on behalf of the Director General of the ILO.

In today’s National Council meeting, com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU & Secretary, Staff Side, demanded in his initial remarks that the Management should implement Plan Rs.429/- to the Non-Executives, in the place of Rs.200/- SIM. As per plan Rs.429/-, unlimited voice calls and 1 GB data per day are being given for a period of 3 months. The Director (HR), who is the Chairperson of the National Council accepted this demand.

A meeting of the “All Unions and Associations of BSNL” has been scheduled to be held at 3:30 PM tomorrow. However, this meeting has been postponed, in view of the meeting to be held with the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications at 5:00 PM tomorrow.

The All Unioins and Associations of  BSNL Karnataka Circle organised a fantastic candle light demonstration,  in front of Town Hall, Bengaluru on the evening of 19th April 2018. Permission was not granted for March to Raj Bhawan, in view of the election code of discipline.  The Governor and ADC did not give appointment, hence the memorandum was submitted in the Governor's office.

In the meeting held with the Core Committee on 11.06.2018, the CMD BSNL briefed about the Management’s decision to give 12% discount to the retailers. In the meeting, Com. P.Abhimanyu, GS, raised the demand that the Management should put in place a plan to pay incentive to the employees who do marketing. This will motivate the employees in doing intensive marketing, he pointed out. The CMD BSNL readily agreed of this demand. When asked, as to when the Incentive Plan would be put in place, the CMD BSNL replied that it would be finalised within a month.

A meeting of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) was held yesterday, the 23.08.2018, at BSNL MS office. The meeting was presided over by Com. Ravi Shil Verma, GS, AIGETOA. The meeting was attended by:-

BSNLEU    : Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, and Com.Swapan Chakraborty,Dy.GS.

NFTE         : Com.Chandeswar Singh, GS, Com. K.S.Sheshadri, Dy.GS and Com.A.Rajamouli.

SNEA         : Com.K.Sebastin, GS.

AIGETOA   : Com.Ravi Shil Verma,GS.

BSNLMS    : Com.Suresh Kumar, GS, Com.Mallikarjuna, President.

ATM BSNL  : Com.Revti Prasad, AGS.

BSNL OA    : Com.H.P.Singh, Dy.GS.

The meeting observed one minute’s silence to condole the death of the people, who have lost their lives in the recent floods in Kerala.

The following decisions are taken in the meeting.

1. The meeting decided to write to the CMD BSNL, suggesting to deduct one day’s basic pay from the salary of the willing employees, and to send the same to the Kerala Chief Minister’s Disaster Relief Fund.

2. The meeting seriously discussed about the status of the issues of Wage Revision, Pension Revision, Pension Contribution on actual basic pay, Allotment of 4G spectrum and Superannuation benefits. The meeting decided to meet the CMD BSNL immediately, and to urge upon him to arrange a meeting with the Secretary, DoT, at the earliest, to discuss about these issues. The meeting also decided to meet the OSD of the Hon’ble MoS(C) at the earliest, and to discuss about the non-implementation of the assurances given by the Hon’ble MoS(C).

3. As regards the issue of Pension Contribution on the basis of actual basic pay, the meeting resolved to seriously pursue the issue with the Ministry of Finance and the PMO, through the Hon’ble Minister of State for Finance and the Hon’ble Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office. The meeting also decided to write to the Cabinet Secretary, about the non-implementation of the order of the DOP&T,on the issue of calculating Pension Contribution.

4. On the issue of Superannuation benefits, the AUAB has already written to the CMD BSNL. It was decided that the AUAB representatives should meet the CMD BSNL, and to demand expeditious action on it. Further, as regards the incorrect reply given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) on the floor of the Parliament, on the issue of implementation of the recommendations of the 2nd PRC, it is decided to write to the Hon’ble MoS(C).

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A meeting of the AUAB was held today the 25.03.2019, in the NFTE BSNL office. The representatives of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL OA, BSNL MS, AIGETOA and BSNL ATM were present. The meeting was presided over by Com.Chandeswar Singh, Chairman, AUAB and GS, NFTE BSNL. The meeting reviewed the preparation for the ensuing March to Sanchar Bhawan programme to be held on 05th April, 2019. All the unions and associations had given their expected number of members to be participated in the programme. The meeting decided to prepare a poster and the same will be send to all circles for circulation. The meeting further decided that the leaders of AUAB will be approaching to all political parties with request to address the gathering of the employees on that day. It is also decided that the General Secretaries / Representatives of AUAB will meet CMD BSNL on 27.03.2019 against repressive measures taken by the Management under FR 17A.

A meeting was held between Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), BSNL, and the trade unions participating in the 8th January, 2020 General Strike. BSNLEU and NFTE BSNL participated in the discussion. BSNLEU was represented by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com.R.S. Chauhan, Vice-President. The Union representatives explained the demands of the General Strike to the Director (HR). The Director (HR) appealed to the unions to maintain BSNL's services without any disturbance. Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR) was also present from the Management.

1) Com.Tarun kunar Nayak Br. Secy, Udala – Rs.5,000/-
2) Com. Ramachandra, Hembram Branch president, Udala - Rs.5,000/-
3) Com. Paramananda Mohanta, Udala - Rs.5,000/-
4) Com. Narayan Ch Jena, Circle Org. Secy . – Rs.3,000/-
5) Com. R N Sahoo, DS, Dhenkanal – Rs.2,000/-
6) Com. S R Samal, DS, Keonjhar - Rs.1,000/-
7) Com.  Abhi Swain, Dist President, Keonjhar - Rs. 1,000/-
8) Com. Kailash ch Biswal, Dist Treasurer, Keonjhar – Rs.1,000/-
9) Com.Tarun Kunar Nayak, Branch Secretary, Udala – Rs.5,000/-
10) Com. Sarat Mohanty, DS, Bhubaneswar - Rs.2,000/-
11) Com. Panchnan Mohanty, DS, ETP – Rs.1,100/-