Architect of the Indian Constitution, as well as a great social crusader, Dr.B.R.Ambedkar’s birth anniversary falls on 14th April, 2018. This day is already being observed by our comrades in many parts of the country. The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Agartala recently, has called upon all the circle and district branches to observe this year’s Dr.B.R.Ambedkar Jayanti in a befitting manner. The occasion should be utilised to high light Dr.B.R.Ambedkar’s contributions to the nation and also the need to uphold the secular character of our nation. Reports and photos may be sent by email to the CHQ.

The DoT has finalised the draft Telecom Policy 2018 and uploaded the same in their website for comments. The draft policy is named as "National Digital Communications Policy- 2018". The comments are to be given online only and the last date of submission of the comments was first 25th of May, 2018, which was further extended to 1st June, 2018. BSNLEU has submitted comments online on 31st May, 2018 (see our views).

CHQ has already intimated that the next Central Executive Committee meeting will be held on 22nd and 23rd October, 2018. After consultation with certain circle unions, the All India Centre meeting held today, has decided that the Central Executive Committee meeting, to be held on 22nd and 23rd October, 2018, will be held at ALTTC (Training Centre), Ghaziabad. UP(West) circle is hosting this meeting. The members of the CEC are requested to immediately book their journey tickets.

BSNLEU, Kerala circle union, organised a circle level ‘BSNL Working Women’s Convention’, at Ernakulam on 14.03.2019. Com.K.N. Jyothilekshmi, Assistant Circle Secretary, presided. Com.V. Bhagyalekshmi, Convenor, Mahila Committee, welcomed everyone. Adv. Thulasi Teacher, inaugurated the Convention and explained about the national level issues. Com.P.Indira, Convenor, All India BSNL Working Women’s Coordination Committee, addressed the Convention and explained about the BSNL issues. The Convention was also addressed by Com.M.Vijayakumar, AGS, Com.P.R.Parameswaran, Org. Secretary CHQ, Com. C.Santhoshkumar, CS and Com. P.Manoharan, CP. Com. Sophy George proposed vote of thanks. CHQ appreciates the Kerala circle union and the Mahila Committee for organising this successful Convention.

8वां सदस्यता सत्यापन करवाने हेतु प्रबंधन द्वारा प्रारंभिक मीटिंग आयोजित की गई...
8वां सदस्यता सत्यापन करवाने हेतु आज कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस में प्रारंभिक मीटिंग आयोजित की गई। श्री ए एम गुप्ता, GM(SR) ने मीटिंग की अध्यक्षता की। कॉम पी अभिमन्यु, जीएस और कॉम स्वपन चक्रबोर्ति, डिप्टी जीएस ने BSNLEU का प्रतिनिधित्व किया। मीटिंग में 8वां सदस्यता सत्यापन पोस्टपोन करने हेतु कुछ ही यूनियन्स ने मांग की। किन्तु BSNLEU और NFTE सहित सभी प्रमुख यूनियन्स ने जोर दे कर कहा कि सदस्यता सत्यापन पोस्टपोन नही किया जाए। प्रबंधन पक्ष द्वारा 8वें सदस्यता सत्यापन हेतु संभावित समयावधि (time schedule) निर्धारित की गई। इस निर्धारित समयावधि अनुसार 8वें सदस्यता सत्यापन हेतु अधिसूचना 03.06.2019 को जारी कर दी जाएगी और परिणाम 18.09.2019 को घोषित किए जाएंगे। BSNLEU और NFTE, दोनों ही यूनियन ने मांग की कि अधिसूचना जारी होने के बाद तीन माह की अवधि में सत्यापन की प्रक्रिया प्रबंधन द्वारा पूर्ण की जानी चाहिए। प्रबंधन ने इस पर विचार करने हेतु सहमति प्रदर्शित की।

Torrential rains are battering Maharashtra and Kerala circles. It is reported that water has entered in our exchanges at Sangli and Kohlapur. Sindhudurg and Ratnagiri districts are also severely affected. 

Similarly, non-stop rains have resulted in the breakdown of electricity service in many parts of Kerala. Thus, heavy expenditure is being incurred to buy diesel, to ensure the running of our services. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, has sent WhatsApp message to the CMD BSNL, demanding immediate rushing of funds to Maharashtra and Kerala circles, to ensure that BSNL's services do not break down.

Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, addressed the nation through TV at 8:00 pm yesterday and announced that the entire nation would be locked - down for 21 days, starting from midnight of 25th March, 2020. The Prime Minister stated that this lock- down is unavoidable, to stop the spread of the dreaded Corona Virus. BSNLEU welcomes the announcement of the Prime Minister and calls upon the BSNL employees to adhere to this decision of the government, as well as to the various other instructions related to the close-down.

Com.M.K. Alam, former District Secretary, Surendranagar, Gujarat circle, has passed away yesterday the 26.07.2020. He has been affected COVID-19 and was under treatment for the past 12 days. Com.M.K. Alam is the elder brother of Com.Ataullah, the present District Secretary of Surendranagar. The CHQ pays it’s respectful homage to Com.M.K. Alam and also conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to Com.Ataullah and all other members of his family and friends.

Com.P.Ramamurty, a doyen of the Indian trade union movement, was the first general secretary of the CITU. As a long time member of the parliament, he had also effectively raised the issues of working class in the parliament. To recognise the contributions of com.P.Ramamurty, the CITU has constructed a trade union school at Saket, New Delhi, in the name "com.P.Ramamurty Trade Union Education and Research Centre". The inauguration of this trade union school is taking place on 15-12-2017. BSNLEU is invited for this inaugural function.

The two day strike taking place on 12^th and 13^th, December, 2017, called on by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, will start at 00:00 hrs. on 12-12-2017. The strike will come to an end on 24:00 hrs on 13-12-2017. This decision is taken in the meeting of All Unions and Associations of BSNL, held today.

US President Donald Trump has imposed strict immigration policy. He has banned people of 7 Muslim majority countries from entering America. The countries are, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Libya, Sudan, Somalia and Yemen. However, widespread protests have taken place in America, against Trump's mad decision. Silicon Valley's top executives, including India-born CEOs Google's Sundar Pichai and Microsoft's Satya Nadella, condemned President Donald Trump's immigration ban on people from seven Muslim-majority countries, voicing concern that the move could directly hit their own staffers and stop bringing great talent to the US.

Condemning the move, Nadella, in a post on LinkedIn, said "As an immigrant and as a CEO, I've both experienced and seen the positive impact that immigration has on our company, for the country, and for the world. We will continue to advocate on this important topic." 

The 36^th meeting of the National Council has been scheduled to be held on 16.04.2018. Notification for this meeting has already been issued. Recently, we have informed that Com.Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE, lost his elder brother. On account of this, he has informed the Management that he was not in a position to attend the meeting on 16.04.2018. In view of this, the meeting is getting postponed.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, who was in Kolkata yesterday, to address the condolence meeting of Com.Sisir Bhattacharji, also visited the family of our beloved leader Com.Moni Bose. Com.Animesh Mitra, VP(CHQ), accompanied him. The General Secretary enquired about the health condition of Com.Jyotsana Bose, the wife of Com.Moni Bose. She is 91 years old now and is in good spirit, even though some age related problems are there. She conveyed her best wishes to all the leaders and comrades of the Union. Dr. Gautam Bose, son of Com.Moni Bose and Mrs.Gautam Bose were also present during the visit, and they expressed their happiness to the leaders on their visit.

A meeting of the AUAB was held yesterday, the 08.01.2019. Com. Chandeshwar Singh, Chairman, presided over the meeting. General Secretaries / representatives of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM and TEPU participated in the meeting. Com. P. Abhimanyu, Convenor, welcomed every one and briefed on the agenda items. The meeting decided that the AUAB should immediately meet the Secretary, Telecom, and discuss about the slow implementation of the assurances given by the Hon’ble MoS(C). The meeting also decided that the Secretary, Telecom, should be requested to give adequate representation to the AUAB, in the Committee for Periodical Review (Institutional Mechanism). It is also decided to hold the next meeting of the AUAB at 11:00 am on 11.01.2019.

It is a matter of relief that payment of salary to BSNL employees, for the month of February, 2019, is made today. A section of the media has reported that the DoT has released funds for this payment. This is totally incorrect. BSNL has made payment of salary purely from it’s own revenue collections. When the representatives of the AUAB met the CMD BSNL on 13.03.2019, and discussed the non-payment of salary issue, he assured that the payment of salary would be made by 20.03.2019. Further, he told that this payment will be made purely out of the revenue collections of BSNL. In the meanwhile, BSNL has also received Rs.500 crore from the DoT on 14.03.2019. Payment of Rs.2,500 crore had already become due to BSNL, by the DoT, for the projects that BSNL is carrying out for the DoT. Out of that Rs.2,500 crore, an amount of Rs.500 crore has been released to BSNL yesterday. We are proud that BSNL has made payment of salary to it’s employees, from it’s own resources.

As has already been announced, BSNLEU and BSNLCCWF are organising March to Labour Commissioners’ offices tomorrow, demanding immediate payment of wage arrears to contract workers and also to stop their retrenchment. At the end of the rallies, a memorandum is to be submitted to the Deputy Labour Commissioner / Regional Labour Commissioner / Assistant Labour Commissioner / Labour Enforcement Officer, as the case may be. A copy of the memorandum to be submitted tomorrow is attached herewith. It is already sent to the circle secretaries and central office bearers on Whatsapp also. All circle and district secretaries are requested to organise the rallies tomorrow and submit the memorandum. Report and photos may be sent to the CHQ promptly.

A meeting of the AUAB was held today. Com.Chandeswar Singh, Chairman, presided over. Com.P.Abhimanyu, Convenor, welcomed everyone and briefed about the agenda.The meeting expressed it’s serious resentment over the non-payment of the September salary. Non-payment of contract workers’ wages for the past 8 months, non-payment of electricity bills, the misleading reports appearing in the media that, BSNL would be closed down,etc., were seriously viewed by the meeting. After in-depth discussion, it was decided to organise a one day hunger strike on 18-10-2019, to be participated in by the General Secretaries, Circle Secretaries and District Secretaries, at the Corporate Office, Circle and SSA levels respectively. Together with this, lunch hour demonstrations are to be organised at all the places on same day, involving the entire Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL. It is also decided that the unions and associations which could not attend today's meeting are to be contacted immediately and are to be requested to participate in the programme. The AUAB will again meet on 21-10-2019, to decide about the next course of action. The following are the demands:-
 

Demands:-

1. Immediate payment of the September salary. Timely payment of salary every month.
2. Payment of contract / casual labourers' wages and payment electricity bills and rentals.
3. Revival of BSNL by immediate allocation of 4G spectrum, extension of financial assistance / soft loan and approval for BSNL’s Land Monetisation proposal.
4. Settlement of 3rd Pay Revision, Pension Revision and 30% Superannuation benefits.
5. . Immediate remittance of dues towards GPF, Bank loan EMI, Society, LIC premium, etc.

वर्किंग क्लास के साथ विश्वासघात- कार्य के घंटे, 8 घंटे प्रतिदिन से बढ़ा कर 12 घंटे प्रतिदिन किए गए....
अपना खून न्यौछावर कर और अत्याधिक बलिदान कर, वर्किंग क्लास ने "8 घंटे के कार्य दिवस" के लक्ष्य को हासिल किया था। अंतर्राष्ट्रीय श्रम संगठन (ILO) ने, 1919 में आयोजित अपने सम्मेलन में एक दिन में 8 घंटे और सप्ताह में 48 घंटे कार्य की घोषणा की थी। ILO सम्मेलन के इस निर्णय का 1921 में भारत सरकार द्वारा समर्थन किया गया था।

अब, जबकि, इस वक्त भारत लॉक डाउन के दौर से गुजर रहा है, चुपके से, कार्य के घंटे, 8 घंटे प्रतिदिन से बढ़ा कर 12 घंटे प्रतिदिन किए जा चुके हैं। वास्तव में, मोदी सरकार सत्ता में आने के बाद से ही, फैक्ट्रीज एक्ट 1948 में परिवर्तन हेतु गंभीर रूप से प्रयासरत रही है, जिससे कि, कार्य के घंटों में वृद्धि की जा सके। बहरहाल, इसे रोकने के लिए सेंट्रल ट्रेड यूनियन्स द्वारा कई हड़तालें भी की गई है। हाल ही में, 13 अप्रैल, 2020 को उनके द्वारा कार्य के घंटो में वृद्धि के विरोध में केंद्रीय श्रम मंत्री को पत्र भी लिखा गया है।

इसी दौरान, CII (कन्फेडरेशन ऑफ इंडियन इंडस्ट्रीज) का प्रतिनिधित्व करते हुए भारत के कॉर्पोरेट्स आदि के द्वारा भी कार्य के घंटों में वृद्धि हेतु सरकार पर दबाव बनाया जा रहा है। परिणामस्वरूप, सेंट्रल ट्रेड यूनियन्स के प्रतिरोध के बावजूद, कई राज्य सरकारों द्वारा मोदी सरकार के मौन समर्थन से चुपचाप तरीके से कार्य के घंटे, 8 घंटे से बढ़ा कर 12 घंटे कर दिए गए हैं। इन राज्यों में, गुजरात, राजस्थान, पंजाब, हिमाचल प्रदेश व ओडिशा शामिल है।

कई और राज्यों द्वारा भी इसे शीघ्र लागू करने की संभावना है। केंद्र और राज्य सरकारें, आज देश मे व्याप्त असामान्य स्थिति का लाभ उठाते हुए, वर्किंग क्लास की पीठ में छुरा भोंक कर, कॉर्पोरेट क्लास को सहयोग कर रही है। अब, भारत के वर्किंग क्लास को, "8 घंटे के कार्य दिवस" के, संघर्षों से अर्जित अपने अधिकार की पुनर्बहाली के लिए, जवाबी कार्यवाही करना चाहिए।