As per media reports, nearly 1,50,000 direct and indirect jobs are likely to be wiped out in the telecom industry. This is due to the ongoing crisis, being witnessed in the telecom sector. Each telecom company is cutting down it's tariff rates, in a bid to safeguard it's customer base. This tariff war was triggered by the entry of the Reliance Jio. According to sources, Rs. 8 lakh crore is the debt of the various telecom companies. Till some time back, telecom was considered to be one among the top five employment generators of the country. According to the Annual Report of the Department of Telecom for the year 2016-17, the telecom sector was contributing for 6.5% of the GDP, which was equivalent to 140 billion US dollars, and it was employing 40 lakh employees, directly and indirectly.

A circle level convention of West Bengal was organised on 14.03.2018, at CTO hall, Kolkata. A large number of BSNL employees, casual & contract workers and pensioners participated in this convention. It was addressed by Com. Animesh Mitra, CS, BSNLEU & Vice President (CHQ), Com. Tapas Ghosh, CS, SNEA, Com. Prakash Chandra Kar, VP, AIBSNLEA, Com. Partha Das, CS, SEWA BSNL and Com. Sameer Nandi, AIBDPA. Issues related to deterioration of BSNL services, drastic fall in revenue and retrenchment of contract workers in West Bengal circle were discussed. The convention decided to conduct a March to CGMT Office on 28.03.2018, on these issues.

Com. Moni Bose, former General Secretary of the AITEU CL-III union and our beloved leader, passed away on this day in 2010. On the day of his 8^th death anniversary, the leaders and members of BSNLEU fondly remember the contributions of Com. Moni Bose to the working class movement and resolve to march forward in the path shown by him.

A meeting of BSNLEU’s members of the Wage Revision Committee is held at New Delhi today. Elaborate discussions took place with regards to the construction of the new pay scales. The main aspect of the discussions is to avoid the stagnation problem. The proposals finalised in today’s meeting will be placed for discussion in the meeting of the Wage Revision Committee members of BSNLEU and NFTE, to be held on 03.08.2018. Finalising the new pay scales is one of the important tasks of the Joint Committee on Wage Revision. BSNLEU is taking all out efforts to complete this task at the earliest.

A meeting of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) will be held at 03:30 pm on 08.10.2018, in NFTE’s office. The meeting will take stock of the developments on crucial issues such as wage revision, pension revision, payment of pension on actual basic pay, allotment of 4G spectrum, superannuation benefits of the DR employees and other issues, and will also take decision on trade union actions for expediting the settlement of these issues.

The posts of Director (Finance) and Director (CM) of BSNL are lying vacant for a long time. The post of Director (EB) also become vacant recently. The government did not take timely action to fill up these vacant posts. As a result, the efficiency of the Corporate Management went down significantly. The AUAB, in it’s charter of demands for the 3 day strike, held from 18^th to 20^th February, 2019, had demanded that the government should take prompt action to fill up the vacant posts in the BSNL’s Board. At last, the government has appointed the Director (Finance), the Director (EB) and the Director (CM), as an interim measure. Shri Suresh Kumar Gupta, is given additional charge as Director (Finance), Shri Banwari Lal Varshney, is given the additional charge of Director (EB) and Shri Sheetla Prasad, is given additional charge as Director (CM). All these officers will hold the posts for 3 months or till the appointment of a regular Director.

Out of the results declared so far, BSNLEU has won in Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha,  Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kolkata Telephones, Assam, NE-I,  NE-II, ALTTC, Uttarakhand, Telecom Factory-Kolkata, BRBRAITT and Inspection Circle.

BPCL का निजीकरण BSNL कर्मियों के लिए चेतावनी...

नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार ने भारत पेट्रोलियम कारपोरेशन लिमिटेड (BPCL), जो कि एक बेहद मुनाफे वाला PSU है, के निजीकरण का निर्णय ले लिया है। जाहिर है, उसके निजीकरण की जरूरत नही है और उसके निजीकरण का कोई आधार भी (justification) नही है। 1971 के पूर्व  BPCL एक बहुराष्ट्रीय तेल कंपनी थी। 1971 के भारत पाकिस्तान युद्ध के बाद तत्कालीन प्रधानमंत्री श्रीमती इंदिरा गांधी द्वारा इस कंपनी का राष्ट्रीयकरण कर दिया गया था, क्योंकि भारत के पाकिस्तान के साथ युद्ध के दौरान इस कंपनी ने भारतीय एयरफोर्स के लड़ाकू जेट्स को ईंधन आपूर्ति से इंकार कर दिया था। यह दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है कि मोदी सरकार इतिहास को पलट रही है और एक विशालकाय पब्लिक सेक्टर तेल कंपनी को किसी भारतीय या बहुराष्ट्रीय कॉर्पोरेट को सौंपना चाहती है। भारत सरकार का BPCL के निजीकरण का कृत्य राष्ट्र विरोधी होने के अलावा और कुछ नही है। जो सतही तौर पर "राष्ट्रवाद" की बाते करते हैं, उन्हें आत्मावलोकन करना चाहिए और सोचना चाहिए कि किस तरह मोदी सरकार "राष्ट्रीय हितों"  के साथ समझौता कर रही है। मोदी सरकार की पब्लिक सेक्टर की निजीकरण की नीतियों के विरोध में केंद्रीय श्रम संगठन ने 8 जनवरी, 2020 को आम हड़ताल का आव्हान किया है। इस आम हड़ताल में BSNLEU ने भी शामिल होने का निर्णय लिया है। हम सभी BSNL कर्मियों से अनुरोध करते हैं कि वें समग्र रूप से इस हड़ताल में शामिल हों। यदि हम अभी भी एक मूक दर्शक बने रहेंगे तो वह दिन दूर नही जब BSNL भी अम्बानी या अडानी को सौंप दिया जाएगा। 

The right minded people are shocked at the manner in which a midnight transfer order has been issued to Justice Muralidhar, transferring him from the Delhi High Court to the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. On 26.02.2020, Justice Muralidhar severely criticised the Delhi Police for not filing FIR against the BJP leaders, including Anurag Thakur and Kapil Mishra, who had made hate speeches and had instigated riots. This has annoyed the government and the transfer order of Justice Muralidhar was issued at 11:00 in the night on 26.02.2020. The law ministry justifies that on 12.02.2020 itself, the Supreme Court collegium had recommended Justice Muralidhar’s transfer. It is ok. But, why the transfer order was issued at 11:00 in the night? The judges who praise the government and the ministers will be benefited and the judges who criticise the government will be punished. Is this the rule of the present day government?

157) Com. P M Gedam - Rs.1,500/-

158) Com. B D Mane - Rs.1,500/-

159) Com. Anil Charatkar - Rs.1,000/-

160) Com. S.T. Talpe - Rs.1,000/-

161) Com. Ajit Nilakche - Rs.1,000/-

162) Com. C P Dalal - Rs.1,000/-

163) Com. S P Chanderkar - Rs.1,000/-

164) Com.  Suvarna Kini - Rs.1,000/-

165) Com.  Barku Lande - Rs.1,000/-

166) Com. Pradip Satvekar - Rs.1,000/-

167) Com. Eknath Surve - Rs.1,000/-

168) Com. Y B Dhepe - Rs.1,000/-

169) Com. Raghunath Patil - Rs.1,000/-

In implementation of the call of the Central Trade Unions, BSNLEU has called on the circle and district unions to organise lunch hour demonstrations throughout the country today. Accepting the call of the CHQ,  lunch hour demonstrations have been organised successfully.

The letter written by BSNLEU, to the CMD BSNL, has received very good coverage in the national media. Important dailies like the Economic Times, ET Telecom, etc., have published in their e-paper,  good articles about the pathetic condition of the contract workers who are being ruthlessly retrenched by the BSNL Management. The Union's accusation that the non-launching of 4G service by BSNL is the main weakness in increasing the revenues of the Company has been received very good focus in the media.  They have also highlighted that the continuation of contract workers in BSNL has become all the more important, in the wake of the retirement of 79,000 employees under VRS. We expect that the BSNL Management would at least open it's eyes to the reality and would approach the issues of the contract workers with a proper understanding.

The Jan Ekta Jan Adhikar Andolan (JEJAA), an umbrella organisation of trade unions, kisan and other mass organisations, has given call to conduct demonstrations at state capitals and at Delhi on 23.05.2018, against the anti-people pro-rich policies of the Modi government. CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to actively take part in this programme.

Representatives of BSNLEU and NFTE met the CMD BSNL today and discussed certain important issues. Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, Com. Chandeshwar Singh, GS, NFTE, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU and Com.K.S. Sheshadri, Dy.GS, NFTE, took part in the discussion. The following issues were discussed:-

1. Inordinate delay in seeking relaxation from the Affordability Clause.

The representatives expressed their extreme unhappiness over the delay in seeking relaxation from the Affordability Clause of the recommendations of the 3rd PRC. They pointed out that despite their best efforts, neither the Hon’ble MoS(C) nor the Secretary, DoT, has cared to meet the representatives of the AUAB. Under these circumstances, they told that, they are left with no other option, but to take some hard decision for settling the demands.

2. Handing over of the Kerala Flood Relief Amount.

The AUAB has already requested the CMD BSNL that, the amount collected from BSNL employees, for Kerala Flood Relief, should be handed over to the Chief Minister of Kerala, by the CMD BSNL himself, and have pointed out that such a development will boost the image of BSNL.  In today’s meeting, the representatives enquired what decision has been taken on this issue. The CMD BSNL replied that, the matter has been referred to the DoT, together with the demand of the unions and associations that the amount should be handed over to the Kerala CM by the CMD BSNL. He has said that BSNL is waiting for the decision of the DoT.

3. Settlement of wage revision of the Non-Executives.

The representatives informed the CMD BSNL that, the agreement on new pay scales is almost reached, and that the issue of revision of allowances and perks has to be taken up for discussion shortly, by the Wage Revision Committee. The representatives strongly demanded that the allowances and perks of the employees should be revised and that, the same should not be denied, citing the financial condition of the Company. In the last meeting of the Staff Side members of the Wage Revision Committee, participated in by the representatives of BSNLEU and NFTE, it has been decided that, the issue of revision of allowances and perks should be discussed with the CMD BSNL in advance. This decision was taken, in view of the fact that, the BSNL Board has already informed the DoT that, the HRA of Executives would be frozen as on 31.12.2016.

The decisions taken by the TRAI, during the past two years, have hurt all the operators, except Reliance Jio, said Nick Read, Vodafone Group CEO. Talking on the sidelines of the Mobile World Congress at Barcelona yesterday, Nick Read accused that the new definition given by the TRAI, to identify Predatory Pricing, was helpful to Reliance Jio. Similarly, the decision of the TRAI to cut down the Inter User connect Charge (IUC) by 57% also helped Reliance Jio, said Nick Read. He further stated that the telecom tariffs in India are "artificially low". Nick Read has demanded that "Level Playing Field" should be ensured in the Indian telecom sector. The views of the Vodafone Group CEO reflect the ground reality prevailing in the Indian telecom industry. Will the government pay heed?

Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR), as well as the Chairperson of the National Council, is retiring tomorrow on superannuation. With the view to thank her for the positive role that she had played during her tenure as the Chairperson of the National Council, the Staff Side of the National Council, conducted a felicitation in the National Council meeting held today. Com.Chandeshwar Singh, Leader, National Council, presided over the meeting and addressed. Com.P.Abhimanyu, Secretary, Staff Side, recollected some of the settlements given by Ms. Sujata T. Ray, like appointment to the wards of the officials killed in accident, while on duty, mobile tariff plan to the Non-Executives, with unlimited free calls and 1 GB data per day, implementation of government of India orders on SC/ST reservation, etc. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU and Com.Islam Ahmed, President, NFTE, also felicitated. The Staff Side honoured Ms. Sujata T. Ray, by offering bouque, shawl and memento.

As has been already assured by the CMD BSNL, Corporate Office has allotted funds to the circles today, for the payment of August salary. Earlier, the CMD BSNL had assured that, funds for payment of August salary would be allotted between 18th & 20th September, 2019.