The Circle Executive Committee meeting of UP(West) circle was held at Ghaziabad today. The meeting is specially organised for the mobilisation to be made for the Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally, to be held at New Delhi on 05th September, 2018. Com. Ansar Ali, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com. Upendar Singh Teotia, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and addressed the meeting. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and spoke at length about the anti-public sector and pro-private policies of the government. He urged upon the district secretaries to do the maximum mobilisation for the 5th September Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally. The General Secretary also explained about the current issues of wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company and progress in the issues of the Non-Executives. Com. S. Chellappa, AGS, was also present in the meeting. The meeting unanimously decided to mobilise not less than 800 comrades for the Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally.

After yesterday’s talks with the Secretary, Telecom, was over, the GS, BSNLEU and GS, NFTE BSNL, told the CMD BSNL that a deadlock has arisen in the wage revision talks of the Non-Executives, since the Management Side did not want to give HRA revision. They pointed out that Staff Side cannot accept the proposal of the Management Side to freeze HRA as of 31.12.2016. Both the General Secretaries requested the CMD BSNL to intervene in this matter and to give appropriate directions to the Management Side members, so that the wage revision agreement could be signed without delay. The CMD BSNL listened to the view of the Staff Side and told that he would look into it.

The issue of granting Group B status and pay scale to the Senior Accountants is lying pending for a long time. The issue was discussed by Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, with Ms. Smita Choudhary, GM (EF) today. The GM (EF) told that BSNL had already written to the DoT in respect of issuing fresh Presidential Orders to the Senior Accountants and also about the applicable pay scale. She told that the reply is still awaited from the DoT. She also informed that the case in the Hon’ble High Court of Allahabad on this issue, is still to be disposed off.  BSNLEU will take efforts to expedite the speedy disposal of the court case and will also persue the case with the DoT.

Jet Airways, which was the biggest Indian airways company some time back, is in a deep financial crisis. It’s pilots have not been paid salary for the past 3 months. They have threatened to go on strike from 1^st April, 2019, if the salary is not paid. Jet Airways is having a loan of one billion US dollars. The company is operating only 140 flights per week now, whereas, it was operating 600 flights per week, some time back. The important development that we should note on this issue is that, the government has conducted an emergency meeting yesterday to bail out Jet Airways. Today’s Economic Times (20.03.2019) has reported that the government is pressurising the banks to extend loans to Jet Airways. We appreciate the care that the government is taking for Jet Airways, which is a private company. But what about BSNL, which is the government’s own company? BSNL is crying and pleading to the government to permit it to take bank loans to overcome it’s financial crisis. But the Hon’ble Minister and the government are not coming to the rescue of BSNL. Whereas, in the case of Jet Airways, the government has conducted an emergency meeting and is pressurising the banks to extend loans to it.  No more example is required to explain the government’s pro-private and anti-public sector policies. It is these policies which have ruined BSNL. Together with the AUAB, BSNLEU is continuously fighting against these anti-BSNL policies of the government. However, amongst us, we have some great brains, who are giving experts opinion that, we should not fight against the government.

The 8th Membership Verification campaign meeting was held at the GM office, Tirunelveli, today, the 19.08.2019. Com.S. Rajagopal, District President, presided over. Com.N. Soosai Maria Antony, District Secretary, welcomed everyone. The meeting was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, Com. S. Chellappa, Circle President & AGS and Com.A. Babu Radhakrishnan, Circle Secretary, Com. Raju, DS, Nagercoil, Com.Panneerselvam, DS, Tuticorin and Com. Samuthrakani, circle org. secretary. The leaders explained about the reasons for the financial crisis for BSNL and also explained about the ways and means for the revival of the Company. Further, the leaders explained about the achievements of BSNLEU, after the last Membership Verification. The meeting condemned the efforts being made, to hand over BSNL’s precious landed property, to the corporates, in the name of Land Monetisation. BSNLEU members from Tuticorin, Nagercoil, Tirunelveli and Virudhunagar attended this meeting. 

The AUAB has issued notice for holding hunger strike at the Corporate Office, Circle and SSA levels on 18.10.2019. In this connection, Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, the Director (HR) has invited the AUAB for discussing the issues contained in the charter of demands. This meeting will take place at 10:00 am tomorrow the 17.10.2019. The General Secretaries of all the constituents of the AUAB will be attending this meeting.

1) Com. Indira and Com. Palanichamy - Rs. 6,000/-

2) Com. S. Chellappa, AGS  - Rs. 5,000/-

3) Com. Babu Radhakrishnan, CS, Tamil Nadu - Rs. 5,000/-

4) Com G.V.Bharath DR TTA,  Trichy- Rs.5,000/-

5) Com. Samuthirakani VGR - RS.3,000/-

6) Com. S. Magudeeswari, Retd OS - Rs. 3,000/-

7) Com.Berlin Alice Mary, Convenor BSNL WWCC, Tamil Nadu - Rs. 2,500/-

8) Com.Seethalakshmi, Tirunelveli - Rs. 2,500/-

9) Com.V.Manian, ACS - Rs.2,500/-

10) Com. Prameelarajan, Nagercoil - Rs.2500/- 

11) Com. S. Subramanian ACS – Rs. 2,000/-

12) Com.Jayakumar DP, Virudhunagar - Rs.2000/-

13) Com. C.Rajendiran, DS, Coimbatore - Rs.2,000/- 

14) Com.Kamalasaraswathi, Rtd.OS - Rs.2,000/-

15) Com Purushothaman, DS Project - Rs.2,000/-

16) Com Purushothaman- DS, STP - Rs.2,000/-

17) Com.R.Badri Retd AOS - Rs.1,000/-

18) Com. Cyril Raj, DS, TNTCWU, CGM Office - Rs.1,000/-

CHQ conveys it's hearty thanks to all the comrades.

At the behest of the Narendra Modi government, many state governments are changing the Labour Laws, to increase the working hours from 8 hours a day to 12 hours a day. Reacting to this, the Chairman of WIPRO, Azim Premji, has stated that the Labour Laws have been changed many times over the past few decades. Diluting these laws further, will not boost economic activities but will only worsen conditions of the low wage earners and the poor. Referring to the recent Aurangabad tragedy, wherein 16 migrant workers, sleeping on the railway tracks were run over by a goods train, Azim Premji has stated that, it is an unforgivable tragedy which indicates the tremendous misery being faced by the weakest and poorest in the country. Whether these views of Azim Premji, who is a corporate, will open eyes of Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, who, before becoming the prime minister, had vowed to remove the hardships of the poor? Read the full article of Azim Premji, given below, published in the Economic Times dated 16.05.2020.

As per the call of the AUAB, the comrades of the AUAB of Barabanki, UP(East) circle submitted the memorandum to Shri Upendra Singh Rawat, MP from Barabanki and explained the situation prevailing in BSNL regarding 4G and revival issues. Shri Upendra Singh Rawat assured to do the needful.

BSNLEU started it's 2 day Central Executive Committee meeting at New Delhi, today. Com.Balbir Singh, President, is presiding. Com.Swapan Chakraborty,Dy.GS, welcomed every one. Com.A.K.Padmanabhan, vice-president, CITU, inaugurated the meeting with an inspiring and informative speech. The meeting was greeted by com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, former general secretary. Com.Gundanna, CS, Karnataka, who was recently conferred with the Karnataka state Rajyotsava Award, was honoured in the meeting. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, offered him the shawl and com.A.K.Padmanabhan, presented the memento. The subjects committee started with a detailed presentation of the report, by com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary. Deliberation by the CEC members is going on.

The call given by the "All Unions and Associations of BSNL" for submission of memorandum to the MPs, has been well responded by our comrades. It is very encouraging to note that our comrades have shown keen interest in meeting the MPs and also explaining about the wage revision and Subsidiary Tower Company issues. Explaining these issues to the elected representatives of the people, will have a big impact in the settlement of the issues. CHQ salutes all the comrades who have completed this task. At the same time, submission of memorandum to the entire MPs, is our target. Hence, CHQ calls upon the comrades to expeditiously submit the memorandum to the left out MPs also.

Reports are pouring in from various parts of the country, regarding the Satyagraha struggle that has started today. The BSNL Non-Executives and Executives are expressing their deepest anger and protest against denial of Wage Revision and attempts of the government to kill BSNL.

The Circle Conference of NTR circle is being held at CTO, Sabhaghar, Eastern Court today. A large number of members, as well as pensioners attended the Conference. Com.R.S.Chauhan, circle secretary, welcomed everyone. Com.T.C.Nagar, circle president, presided over. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. In his speech, the General Secretary severely criticised the pro-private policies of the government. Further, he explained about the status of major issues like Wage Revision, subsidiary Tower Company, Pension Revision,etc. The General Secretary also explained the decisions taken in the recently held Agartala CEC meeting. The Conference was also addressed by Com.Animesh Mitra, Vice-President(CHQ) and Com.Ramesh Chand, Organising Secretary(CHQ). After lunch, the subjects committee started and is going on.

Rains and floods, that were not witnessed during the past 100 years, have devastated Kerala. Similar calamities are taking place in many parts of the world. Even a high school boy will tell that, this is happening due to Global Warming. However, S.Gurumurthy, an RSS ideologue and who is recently appointed as a Director of the Reserve Bank’s Board, has stated that Lord Ayyappa’s anger has caused the Kerala floods. The Supreme Court of India is hearing a petition, wherein the prayer is to allow women in the menstruating age group into the Sabarimala Temple. Judgment is yet to be delivered in this case. According to S.Gurumurthy, Lord Ayyappa does not want the women in the menstruating age group to enter his temple, and that he is angry because of the court case, and that is why floods are taking place in Kerala. On one side, the government raises the slogan of “beti bachao – beti padhao”. On the other side, people like S.Gurumurthy openly make statements discriminating women.

After yesterday’s discussion with Secretary, Telecom, the AUAB, in it’s review meeting, came to the conclusion that the progress made in the matter of wage revision is not satisfactory. Hence, it is decided to go ahead with the agitational programme, and to effectively organise rallies at Corporate Office, Circle and District levels on 14.11.2018. Circle and district unions are requested to closely coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB and to take maximum efforts to organise the rallies. Flex boards and placards should be prepared in sufficient numbers for the rallies, for effectively conveying our message to the public during the rallies.

Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL today and discussed the following issues.

 
(1)    Amendment to the Non-Executives’ Recognition Rules.

The Union representatives apprised the CMD BSNL that the Mysuru All India Conference of BSNLEU, has passed a resolution demanding removal of the clause of the Non-Executives’ Recognition Rules, which stipulates that no second Union would be recognised, if the first Union gets 50% or more votes. The CMD BSNL appreciated the decision of BSNLEU and assured to positively look into it.

 
(2)   Eligibility to the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000, for promotion under NEPP.

Court had already ordered that the 1st promotion under NEPP should be granted on completion of four years to the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000. However, BSNL is yet to implement this court order to all the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000. In today’s meeting, BSNLEU demanded that this court order should be implemented in respect of all the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000. The CMD BSNL assured to take the needful action.

(3)   Non-allotment of funds to the circles by the Corporate Office.

The representatives pointed out that the inordinate delay in the allotment of funds to the circles, by the Corporate Office, has resulted in suffering to the employees in various ways. They pointed out that, the EMI amount for bank loans, employee contribution of EPF, etc., deducted from the salaries of employees, are not being remitted to the concerned organisations by BSNL on time, as a result of which employees are made to pay penal interests. The CMD BSNL replied that all EMI amounts as well as employee contribution of EPF, have been remitted to the respective organisations upto December, 2018. The Union representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL to ensure that employees are not made to pay penal interest on account of delay on the part of BSNL Management.

    
(4)   Amendments to the JAO RR.

The representatives brought to the notice of the CMD BSNL that certain pressing amendments to the JAO Recruitment Rules, demanded by BSNLEU, are still not implemented by BSNL, since the same are awaiting approval of the BSNL Board. The representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL to clear these amendments in the next Board meeting. The CMD BSNL responded positively.

(5)   Non-disposal of Kerala flood relief fund.

Deductions have already been made from the salary of BSNL employees, towards Kerala flood relief fund. The unions and associations of BSNL wanted these funds to be handed over to the Kerala Chief Minister, by the CMD BSNL. The BSNL Management has sought the approval of DoT in this regard. So far the amount has not been spent for the purpose it was collected. This issue was raised in today’s meeting and the CMD BSNL replied that the DoT has referred the matter to the PMO. The Union representatives urged upon the CMD BSNL to ensure early payment of the amount to the affected people of Kerala.

It is very unfortunate that the Reliance Jio is being given the status of Government Service Provider, while the Public Sector BSNL is being neglected. Already, the mobile / landline connections of the Indian Railways have gone to Reliance Jio. Now, the government has entrusted the job of providing MPLS–VPN and SD-VAN networks in all the airports, to Reliance Jio. If things go like this, days are not far away, when the entire telephone connections of the government will be taken from Reliance Jio.

The AUAB has learnt reliably that the BSNL Board of Directors meeting is going to be held tomorrow the 21.08.2019, in which they are going to give approval for reducing the retirement age of BSNL employees from 60 to 58. We have been hearing for the past few months, about the proposal of the government to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58. This is totally against the commitment given by the Union Cabinet in the year 2000, that government rule will be applicable so far as the retirement of BSNL employees is concerned. In view of this, we have to strongly protest the move of the BSNL Board to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58. Hence, the AUAB calls upon the entire Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL to hold lunch hour demonstrations tomorrow to protest against the proposed move of the BSNL Board to reduce the retirement age from 60 to 58..

A meeting was held between the AUAB and the BSNL Management at 10:00 am today. From the Management Side, Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), Shri Sheethla Prasad, Director (CM) and Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR), were present. From the AUAB side, General Secretary / Representative of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, FNTO, BSNLMS, SNATTA, ATM BSNL, BSNL OA and TOA BSNL, participated in the meeting. In the meeting, issues contained in the charter of demands of the AUAB, for the hunger strike to be held on 18-10-2019, were discussed. The Management Side informed that, the Cabinet is likely to take a decision on the revival package of BSNL around 23rd of this month. They also expressed the hope that, once BSNL’s revival package is cleared by the Cabinet, banks will come forward to extend credit to BSNL and that will create a favourable situation for BSNL’s revival. Representatives of the AUAB expressed their extreme unhappiness over the non-payment of September, 2019, salary. Further, they also raised the issues related to the improving the quality of service, curbing expenditure and increasing the revenue collection of the Company. They emphatically told that the letters issued by the Corporate Office for the retrenchment of contract workers, as well as non-payment of their wages, are adversely affecting the operation and maintenance works. The Management Side assured that September salary would be paid on 23.10.2019 and requested to withdraw the hunger strike. The AUAB representatives told that the salary should be paid at least by 21.10.2019. Meanwhile, it was informed that the CMD would be meeting the AUAB at 03:00 pm and hence the meeting came to an end.