Certain miscreants in BSNL are continuously spreading obnoxious WhatsApp messages, to damage the image of BSNLEU and it’s leaders in particular and that of other unions and associations in general. BSNLEU and the AUAB are continuously fighting to protect the interests of BSNL employees and the Company. Inspite of this, certain mischievous elements continue to spread WhatsApp messages, abusing the trade unions and it’s leaders. The whole intention of spreading such messages is to weaken the trade unions and to create an anarchic situation in BSNL. Yesterday, a WhatsApp message has been sent, abusing unions and associations in an intemperate language and telling the leaders to commit suicide, by jumping into the Yamuna River in Delhi. There is a limit to tolerate such nonsense. Hence, BSNLEU has decided to take action against this obnoxious WhatsApp messages. Accordingly, Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary has lodged a complaint today, to the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Cyber Crimes Cell of the Delhi Police. Similarly, Com.J.Sampath Rao, AGS, has lodged a complaint in the Cyber Crimes Cell of Hyderabad Police. In addition to this, Com.S. Chellappa, AGS, has lodged a complaint in the Cyber Crimes Cell of Chennai Police. Hereafter, BSNLEU will teach a proper lesson to each and every miscreant who abuse BSNLEU and it’s leaders, through the social media platforms.

West Bengal and Kolkata circle unions of BSNLEU, Contract workers unions and the AIBDPA have organised a 48 hour dharna, demanding payment of 10 months’ wages to contract workers, stop retrenchment, payment of salary to employees, remittance of deductions made from employees salaries, allotment of 4G spectrum, etc. This 48 hour dharna started yesterday the 27.02.2020. Com.Animesh Mitra, CS, West Bengal & President, BSNLEU, Com.Sisir Kumar, CS, Kolkata & Org. Secretary (CHQ) and many others addressed.

We have recently reported that BSNL has rolled out a tender for the procurement of 50,000 4G sites. However, the ET Telecom dated 23.04.2020, has reported that, this tender has hit road-blocks. According to the report, “the Telecom Equipment Promotional Council (TEPC)”, a lobby group that represents home grown telecom equipment companies, has complained to the Ministry of Commerce that the tendering procedure has violated the Public Procurement Policy of 2017, by ignoring the Government of India’s “Make in India” policy. According to the report, the Ministry of Commerce has written to the DoT, calling for a report and also warning of disciplinary action against the erring officers.

The AUAB has decided to hold it’s next online meeting at 03:00 pm on 07.09.2020. The next course of action to ensure BSNL’s 4G launching, observance of the 20^th anniversary of BSNL’s foundation and other issues would be discussed in this meeting.

BSNLEU is organising a seminar on Great October Revolution at New Delhi on 23.10.2017. Com. Tapan Sen, MP & General Secretary, CITU and com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, will address the seminar. The All India Centre meeting held on 07.09.2017, has decided that the neighbouring circles should mobilise comrades for the seminar as per the following allotment:-

UP (West) – 50 ; Haryana – 50  ; Rajasthan  - 50  ; Punjab – 50 ; NTR – 50 ; UP (East) – 20 ; Corporate Office  - 20 ; Uttarakhand – 20 ; Himachal Pradesh  - 10 ; J&K – 5  ; ALTTC  - 5.

The venue of the seminar is Garhwal Bhawan, near Jhandewalan Metro Station, New Delhi – 01. The seminar will start sharply at 3:00 PM. All circle secretaries are requested to mobilise comrades and cooperate for the success of the seminar.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) has called on the BSNL employees to organise a powerful 3 day Relay Hunger Strike, starting from tomorrow. The circle and district secretaries of BSNLEU are requested to organise the Relay Hunger Strike effectively, with massive participation of the employee, by making necessary coordination with the other constituents of the AUAB. Report and photos of the programme may be sent to the CHQ on bsnleuchq@gmail.com. Demands of the programme are as follows:-

1. The Department of Telecommunications will move a Cabinet Note, seeking approval for the settlement of wage revision of BSNL employees.
2. Steps will be taken for the revision of pension of the BSNL retirees.
3. Pension contribution will be collected from BSNL, by the DoT, only as per the Government of India Rule.

BSNL will be allotted 4G spectrum, as per the terms and conditions submitted to the government, by the BSNL Management.

The All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) is continuously taking actions to settle the wage revision, pension revision and other important issues connected with the revival of BSNL. Only because of the struggles conducted by the AUAB, the Hon’ble MoS(C) has agreed to take the matter of wage revision for the approval of the Cabinet. Only because of the efforts taken by the AUAB, negotiations for wage revision of the Non-Executives have reached the final stage. The AUAB organised three day relay hunger strike in July, 2018, demanding speedy implementation of the assurances given by the Hon’ble MoS(C). The leaders of the AUAB also met the Hon’ble MoS(C) in the Parliament on 01.08.2018 and have demanded speedy action. The AUAB is meeting on 08.10.2018, to decide the future course of action. In the meanwhile, some mischief-makers are spreading lies and rumours to confuse the workers. BSNLEU is continuously updating the true status on it’s website. Circle and district secretaries are requested to take these updatings to the workers.

The 9^th All India Conference of BSNLEU came to an end jubilantly today, with unanimous elections. Com. Animesh Mitra, Com. P. Abhimanyu, Com. Swapan Chakraborty and Com. Gakul Borah are elected as President, General Secretary, Deputy General Secretary and Treasurer, respectively. The Conference undertook intensive discussions with regards to the future course of actions to settle the Wage Revision and to ensure BSNL’s revival. Many important resolutions have been passed on issues affecting the employees and the Company. CHQ heartily congratulates the Karnataka circle union and the Mysuru district union for successfully organising the Conference.

The last date for filing Income Tax returns is 31^st July, 2019. However, the Central Board for Direct Taxation has extended this time limit for a month. Accordingly, the last date for filing Income Tax returns is 31^st August, 2019. All concerned comrades are requested to take note of this and to do the needful in respect of their filing IT returns.

India's quarterly GDP growth in the October to December period of 2019-20, slowed down to a 7 year low. According to the data released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) yesterday, GDP grew by 4.7% in the October - December quarter. It is reported that the GDP growth is due to the contraction in the manufacturing and electricity sectors.

BSNLEU has issued the following press statement today, against the freezing of the DA of the Central Government employees and pensioners, for the period from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2020. BSNLEU has stated categorically in the press statement that, when the government can make available lakhs of crores of rupees to pamper the big corporates of the country, there is absolutely no justification to freeze the DA of the Central Government employees and pensioners. BSNLEU has demanded the government to immediately withdraw it’s decision to freeze the DA.

The Central Secretariat meeting of BSNLEU has decided to observe the birth centenary of Com.K.G.Bose, which falls on 07.07.2020, in a befitting manner. The meeting has decided to observe the birth centenary of Com.K.G. Bose, for one full year, by organising various programmes to educate the working class.  The CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to organise flag-hoisting in all places. The portrait of Com.K.G. Bose may also be garlanded in all the circle and district union offices on the same day. CHQ calls upon all the circle and district unions to organise this programme enthusiastically on 07.07.2020. 

Some DR JE comrades have expressed their unhappiness that, BSNLEU's demand for the relaxation for the JTO LICE, held on 26.05.2019, is not settled. Hence, BSNLEU wishes to make certain points clear. 

(i)    Full marks for questions with multiple right answers.

BSNLEU rightly demanded that, full marks should be granted to the questions with multiple correct answers. BSNLEU demanded that full mark should be granted to a candidate, who had given the correct answer. However, the review of the results was done based on the old SOP, according to which questions with multiple correct answers will be removed.  The persistent demand of BSNLEU was finally accepted in the Formal Meeting held with the Director (HR) on 28.08.2020.  However, it was told by the Director (HR) that the amended SOP, i.e., giving full marks to the questions with multiple correct answers, will be made applicable only for the future examinations. Implementing the amended SOP retrospectively for the exam held on 26.05.2019, will only lead to court cases. It is true that some one may go to court which will create unnecessary complications. Hence, the decision of the Director(HR) is accepted by BSNLEU. Certainly, the union has succeeded on this demand, since full marks will be given to the questions with multiple correct answers for the future examinations.

(ii)   Granting of relaxation.

BSNLEU has been demanding that, Management should grant relaxation to the failed candidates, if the demand for granting full marks to the multiple correct answers is not accepted. BSNLEU cited that Management has granted grace marks for the JE LICE held in 2018. For this, the Director (HR) replied that the pass percentage of the JE LICE held in 2018 is only 15%, whereas the pass percentage of the JTO LICE held on 26.05.2019 is around 35%. Management also told that, relaxation has not been given to some other LICEs, where the pass percentage is less than 35%. Hence, the Director (HR) expressed his inability to grant relaxation.

(iii)   Holding the next JTO LICE.

All are aware that BSNLEU had been trying it’s best to get either full marks for the questions with multiple correct answers or relaxation. When both could not be settled, despite our best efforts, then it is wise to demand to hold the next JTO LICE immediately. It is already one year and three months since the last JTO LICE was held. A lot of comrades are anxiously  waiting for the next JTO LICE. Under such circumstances, it is not at all advisable to drag on with the demands which are not being accepted by the Management and thereby delaying the JTO LICE. All comrades should realise that, BSNLEU tried sincerely to settle the demand. When we realise that Management is not going to accept the demand, then the best choice will be holding the next JTO LICE immediately.  Director (HR) has assured that he would personally take efforts for holding the next JTO LICE at the earliest. BSNLEU will take all out efforts to hold the next JTO LICE without further delay.

As per the call of the Central Trade Unions, a massive 3 day dharna will be held at New Delhi, from 09^th to 11^th November, 2017. The dharna is being organised, demanding settlement of the 12 point charter of demands of the Central Trade Unions, as well as to express opposition to the anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the NDA government. The All India Centre meeting held today has decided to massively mobilise our comrades from the neighbouring circles. Accordingly, the following quota has been allotted to the neighbouring circles, for mobilising our comrades for the dharna:-

UP (West) – 300 ; Haryana – 200  ; Rajasthan  - 100  ; Punjab – 100 ; UP (East) – 100 ; NTR – 75 ; Uttarakhand – 50 ; Corporate Office  - 25 ; Himachal Pradesh  - 20 ; J&K – 5  ; ALTTC  - 10.

CHQ earnestly requests the circle unions of all the above mentioned circles, to fulfil the quota allotted to their circles.