The AUAB meeting held yesterday the 06.07.2020 has decided to call on the BSNL employees to organise lunch hour black flag demonstrations on 16.07.2020. It is also decided that the employees should wear black badge on that day. The following are the agitational programme and charter of demands, as decided in yesterday’s meeting.

Agitational programme.

1. All the employees are called upon to wear black badge on 16.07.2020. Black flag demonstrations are to be organised by the employees during lunch hour on 16.07.2020, against the cancellation of BSNL's 4G tender and against the road blocks being created in the rolling out of BSNL's 4G services.
2. A memorandum is to be submitted to all the MPs during the period from 13.07.2020 to 31.07.2020, urging upon them to intervene in favour of BSNL’s expeditious rolling out of 4G network, as well as the early revival of BSNL.
3. Twitter campaign is to be organised on 05.08.2020, demanding immediate rolling out of 4G network by BSNL and implementation of the assurances given in the Revival Package. 

Demands:

1. BSNL should immediately be allowed to roll out it’s 4G Services.

1. BSNL should take immediate actions to upgrade the 4G compatible BTSs.
2. Add on order for 4G equipments as per Phase VIII.4 tender should be issued immediately.
3. In the matter of procuring new equipments and upgrdation, there should not be any discrimination, between BSNL and other private telecom service providers.

2. The Government should immediately implement the decisions contained in BSNL’s Revival Package, like extension of Sovereign Guarantee for the issuing of Bonds.  
3. Urgent measures should be undertaken by the BSNL Management for immediately improving the quality of service.
4. The Management should ensure that the salary payment of the employees is made on the last working of every month.
5. The Management should immediately take steps to ensure that the employees get cashless treatment from empanelled hospitals during Covid 19 pandemic. The Management should pay Rs.10 lakh to the family of the employees who die due to COVID-19. Based on the instructions issued by the DoT, the Postal Department has already introduced such a scheme to it’s employees.

All the circle and district unions are requested to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB and to make the agitational programme a total success. Circle and district secretaries are requested to go through the AUAB circular for full details.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Punjab circle, was held online today. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.R.S. Chauhan, VP(CHQ), attended this meeting from the All India Centre. Com.Sanjiv Kumar, President, presided over the meeting. Com.H.S. Dhillon, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and placed the report on activities. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, inaugurated the meeting and spoke at length on the situation prevailing in the country, caused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis. He explained in detail about the attempts being made to deny 4G service to BSNL and also to torpedo it’s revival. While explaining the functioning of the CHQ, the GS told the need to strengthen unity and to fight against the unprecedented attacks of the government, on the public sector and on workers' right. Com.R.S. Chauhan, VP (CHQ), addressed and greeted the meeting. Thereafter, detailed deliberations by the Executive Committee members took place. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, replied to the All India level issues raised in the meeting. Finally, Com.H.S. Dhillon summed up the discussions.

The MoU with Union Bank of India has already expired. BSNLEU has already taken up this item with the Corporate Office, demanding early renewal of the MoU. However, the same is not done, as a result of which our employees are not able to get loan from Union Bank of India. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, telephonically discussed this item with Shri Yashwanth Nath Singh, GM (BFCI), today, and insisted for early renewal of the MoU. The GM (BFCI) assured to do the needful.   

A massive gathering marked the beginning of the 3 day Relay Hunger Strike at BSNL Corporate Office, demanding implementation of the assurances given by the Hon'ble Minister of State for Communications. Com.Suresh Kumar, GS, BSNL MS, presided over the hunger strike. It was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, BSNLEU, Com.Chandeswar Singh,GS, NFTE BSNL, Com.K.Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Com.Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA,  Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, Com. Sheshadri, Dy.GS, NFTE  BSNL, Com.Sivakumar, President, AIBSNLEA, Com.Rajamouli, Treasurer, NFTE BSNL, Com. Samad, Dy.GS, TEPU and Com.Rashid Khan, AGS, TEPU addressed the Relay Hunger Strike.

As per the report of the Economic Times, the US research and brokerage firm Bernstein has stated that the potential loss of Jio, for the financial year 2018-19 will be Rs.15,000 crores. This loss of Jio, is far worse than the losses being incurred by Vodafone Idea and Airtel. Bernstein has also stated that Jio is "managing" it's accounts to show a profit. For example, Jio has incurred Rs.7,500 crore as Handset Subsidies" to it's customers. Had this expenditure been shown in Jio's profit and loss account, the Company would have incurred a loss of Rs.3,800 crore, in the October to December quarter of 2018-19. But, this expenditure was shown in the accounts of Reliance Retail. As a result this, Jio is shown to have made a profit of Rs.831 crore net profit in the October to December quarter of 2018-19. The Economic Times reports that Reliance Jio did not respond to it's query, on the report of Bernstein. Economic Times has also stated, quoting market analysts, that Jio will start increasing it's tariffs, once it reaches the market share of 30%.

[ Source: Economic Times dt. 27-02-2019 ]

The CHQ of BSNLEU is saddened to know that Com.R.C.Dawka, of Assam, has passed away yesterday the 25-07-2019, at 12:45 pm. Com.R.C.Dawka was one of the pioneers who built up our movement in Assam and in the North East. He had functioned as the circle secretary of the E3 union. BSNLEU dips it's banner and pays respectful homage to Com. R.C.Dawka.

The one day strike of the Central Government employees, held on 19^th September, 1968, is an important landmark of the history of the Indian trade union movement. The 51^st anniversary of this strike was observed yesterday. Special meetings were organised in Kerala yesterday, at Tiruvananthapuram, Ernakulam, Kozhikode and Kannur, to mark this anniversary. The sacrifices made in the strike, the anti- worker measures taken by the government, etc., were high- lighted by the speakers. CHQ congratulates the Kerala comrades for observing this important landmark of the Indian trade union movement.

As per the VRS scheme implemented by the Management, the window for giving option was opened on 04.11.2019. The window was closed yesterday the 03.12.2019. It is learnt that, totally 78,569 employees have opted for VRS. As per the VRS-2019, the total number of employees eligible for going on VRS is 1,04,471. Thus, 75.2% of the employees who are eligible to go on VRS, have opted for it. It is also learnt that 5,237 employees, after submitting their option for VRS, have withdrawn the same.

BSNLEU is continuously pressing the Corporate Management to re-constitute the National Council without further delay. The matter was discussed again with the GM(SR), BSNL CO, once again yesterday. Since we have been assured that the re-constitution of the National Council will be done immediately, the Staff Side has to promptly submit the agenda items to the Management, to ensure that the National Council meeting is not delayed because of the Staff Side. Hence, all the circle secretaries and central office bearers are requested to immediately send items to the CHQ, for the submission of agenda items.

With great pleasure, we wish to announce that, a Facebook account has been started for the CHQ of BSNLEU. This account will be used to propagate the stand/decisions of BSNLEU on various issues connected with the working class. The live address to be made by the General Secretary in Hindi on 12.09.2020, on the Birth Centenary of Com.K.G.Bose, will be made on this account. The link of this account has been already sent to the CHQ office bearers and circle secretaries. 

BSNLEU has strongly demanded payment of this year's PLI to the employees. It has written letters to the CMD BSNL, as well as to the Director ( HR & Fin.). The issue is discussed twice with the CMD BSNL. However, Management is not willing to pay PLI. As usual, the Company's financial position is being cited as the reason, for the Management's inability to pay PLI. BSNLEU does not agree with this. Hence, BSNLEU calls upon the employees to conduct demonstrations on 13-10-2017, demanding payment of PLI to BSNL employees. Due to certain unavoidable reasons, the call is being given at a very short notice. CHQ requests our circle and district unions to make the programme successful and also send reports and photos to the CHQ.

BSNLEU, Madhya Pradesh circle, organised an inspiring convention of the DR JEs at Indore yesterday. Totally, 110 comrades attended the convention, including 54 DR JEs. Com. M.K. Tavrech, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Indore, welcomed everyone. Com. B.S. Raghuvanshi, Circle President, presided over. Com. Prakash Sharma, CS, BSNLEU, Madhya Pradesh, delivered the introductory speech. Thereafter, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, spoke at length on the efforts taken by BSNLEU to get justice to the 2,700 DR JE selected candidates, the role played by BSNLEU in settling important issues of the JE (erstwhile TTA) cadre, efforts being taken for the revival of BSNL, struggle against formation of Subsidiary Tower Company, anti-worker and pro-corporate policies of the government, etc. Thereafter, 15 DR JEs participated in the discussion and elucidated their views brilliantly. It was heartening to note that many of the participants gave valid suggestions to improve the quality of services. Ultimately, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, summed up the discussion and replied to the various queries raised by the DR JEs. The General Secretary also assured that their suggestions for improvement of the services would be taken up with the highest level of BSNL Management. The meeting came to an end with rousing slogans. CHQ heartily congratulates the Madhya Pradesh circle union for successfully organising a very effective convention of the DR JEs.

In it’s latest India Development update, the World Bank has stated that GST in India is the highest in the world. The World Bank has described the GST as a key reform of the government. It has also appreciated the GST Council, for it’s smooth functioning. At the same time, the World Bank has compared the GST implemented in India, with the GST implemented in 115 other countries, and has said that the tax rates in the Indian GST system is one of the highest in the world. It has also stated that the 28% slab was the second highest in the world.

[source: Times of India dt. 19-03-2018]