Airtel, India’s biggest telecom service provider, is also having a very big loan amount. As on December, 31, 2017, Airtel’s consolidated debt is Rs.91,714 crores. Singapore Telecommunications (Singtel), which is a major stake holder in Airtel, is intending to invest another Rs.2,649 crore in Airtel. With this, Singtel’s stake in Airtel will reach 48.9%.

[Source: Times of India dated 06.02.2018]

The government’s attempt to privatise Air India, by selling 76% of it’s shares had failed. There was no one to buy Air India. So, now, the government is trying to some how sell out Air India, by giving more concessions to the buyers. In tune with this, the government is proposing to sell all the 100% shares, instead of the earlier proposal to sell only 76% shares. It is needless to say that the government may come forward to give more and more concessions to the private companies, to ensure Air India’s privatisation.

[Source: Times of India dt. 12.06.2018]

BSNLEU is persistently taking up the issue of downgradation of Sr.TOAs from 7100 pay scale to 6550 pay scale. The issue was prominently discussed with the CMD BSNL in the meeting held on 10.07.2018. The CMD BSNL agreed to settle it and thereafter a series of meetings took place between the Director (HR), Sr.GM(Estt.), etc. Prior to our Mysuru All India Conference, an understanding was reached between BSNLEU and the Sr.GM(Estt.), according to which it was agreed to give one more opportunity to the affected Sr.TOAs, for exercising a fresh option under NEPP. This opportunity will help them to rectify whatever wrong option they had given earlier, as a result of which their pay scale was downgraded from 7100 to 6550. However, the Establishment Branch is unnecessarily delaying the issuing of this letter. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.) yesterday, and expressed their unhappiness over the unwarranted delay. Surprisingly, in yesterday’s meeting, the Sr.GM(Estt.) told that they are now looking into the implications in giving such a fresh option, with regards to the retired employees. The Union representatives insisted that the Corporate Office should take a speedy decision in this regard and that the letter should be issued immediately, as was agreed upon.

ग़ाज़ियाबाद में होने वाली सीईसी मीटिंग को अध्यक्ष, CITU और उप महासचिव, WFTU संबोधित करेंगे...
BSNLEU की ग़ाज़ियाबाद में 6 और 7 अप्रैल 2019 को होने जा रही सीईसी मीटिंग ऐसे समय हो रही है जब BSNL गंभीर संकट में है, जिसके गहरे असर से बीएसएनएल कर्मियों का भविष्य भी प्रभावित होगा। इसीलिए यह मीटिंग निर्धारित समयावधि के दो माह पूर्व ही की जा रही है। कॉम के हेमलता, अध्यक्ष, CITU सीईसी मीटिंग का शुभारंभ करेंगी। कॉम स्वदेश रॉय, उप महासचिव, WFTU भी संबोधित करेंगे।

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS, met Shri S.K. Gupta, Director (Finance) today and discussed about the following issues.

(1) Corporate Office letter, directing the circles to cut down the strength of contract workers.

(2) Non- Payment of wages to the contract workers, for month together.

The representatives demanded early allotment of funds to clear the wage arrears of contract workers. They also pointed out that further retrenchment of contract workers would seriously hamper maintenance works. In reply the Director (Finance) replied that the financial condition of BSNL is extremely serious, and that needful action would be taken, subject to the availability of funds. He also told that the financial condition of the company has forced the Management to take the unpleasant decision to cut down the strength of contract workers, since they are left with no other option. Still, the representatives urged upon the Director (Finance) to review the decision.  

Com.M.K. Dave, Vice President (CHQ) is touring in Rajasthan circle, together with Com.Ashok Pareek, Circle Secretary, Com.P.K. Jain, Organising Secretary (CHQ) and other senior leaders of the circle. The leaders have conducted successful meetings at Churu, Jhunjhunu and Nagaur. The financial crisis being faced by BSNL, the role of the government in weakening the Company and the demands of the AUAB for the revival of BSNL, were explained. The common workers are responding well to the addresses made by the leaders.

1) Com. Sujit Ganguly, ADS, CNTL - Rs. 5000.00
2) Com. Supriya Datta, Ex. VP, NTH - Rs. 5000.00
3) Com. Subrata Ghosh DS NTH - Rs. 5000.00
4) Com. Anjana Mitra, VP JDP - Rs. 4000.00
5) Com. Joydeb Adhikari, ADS,JDP - Rs.2000.00
6) Com. Samit Das Choudhary, ADS JDP - Rs. 1000.00
7) Com. Swati Das, Rtd JDP - Rs. 2000.00
8) Com. Subrata Mondal, ALP - Rs. 1000.00
9) Com. Rahul Pandit, ALP - Rs. 1000.00
10) Com. Asit Bose, Org. Secy - Rs. 1000.00
11) Com. Israfil Shaikh, VP - Rs. 2000.00
12) Com. Shambhunath Malakar, Org. Secy.  - Rs. 1000.00
13) Com. Amulya Halder, VP JDP - Rs. 2000.00
14) Com. Kajal Roy, Org Secy JDP - Rs. 2000.00
15) Com. Subrata Mitra, VP, JDP - Rs.1000.00
16) Com. Subhasis Saha, Org Secy JDP - Rs. 2000.00
17) Com. Dilip Bhattacharjee, ADS JDP - Rs 1500.00
18) Com. Tapan Patra, VP, JDP -  Rs. 2000.00
19) Com. Pijush Kanti Das Org Secy - Rs. 2000.00
20) Com. Biplab Biswas, ADS NTH  - Rs. 2000.00
21) Com. Debraj Ghosh ADS NTH  - Rs. 1000.00
22) Com. Sk Sahajada Treasure, NTH  - Rs. 1000.00
23) Com. Ajit Das, Org Secy NTH - Rs. 1000.00
24) Com. Sankar Kesar Nepal, Org. Secy - Rs. 2000.00
25) Com. Jayanta Ghosh, ACS - Rs. 2000.00
26) Com. Subrata Paul, DS, BDN - Rs. 2000.00
27) Com. Jayanta Mukherjee, Org. Secy - Rs. 1000.00
28) Com. Ramsundar Basu, ACS - Rs. 2000.00
29) Com. Nirmalya Ganguly, DS, JDP - Rs. 2000.00
30) Com. Sutapa Paul, DP, ALP - Rs. 2000.00
31) Com. Nirmal Paul, Ex. DS, ALP - Rs. 1000.00
32) Com. Biswajit Fouzdar, DP, JDP -  Rs. 2000.00
33) Com. Dipankar Majumdar, ADS, JDP - Rs. 1000.00

With the view to mitigate the sufferings of the contract workers during the lock-down period, the CHQ of BSNLEU gave call for raising a “Contract Workers Relief Fund. So far, 20 circle unions have collected Rs.65,62,402/-. These donations have been collected from the employees, retirees, Executives and other well-wishers. Apart from this, the SNEA, Karnataka circle union, has collected Rs.7.5 lakh. Despite the restrictions imposed in movements during this lock-down period, a major part of the donations collected have already been distributed to the contract workers as relief, in the form of food materials. The AIIEA and CITU also have distributed relief in certain parts of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka circles. The CHQ of BSNLEU salutes all the 20 circle unions, their leaders and the district unions for collecting this huge amount at a very tough time and also for making arrangements to successfully distribute the relief materials. The CHQ also expresses gratitude from the depth of it's heart, to all the employees, retirees, Executives and well wishers, who have generously donated for the Contract Workers Relief Fund. The details of circle wise donations collected are given in the list attached.

It is worrisome to note that communal clashes are increasing day by day. In 2017, totally 822 communal clashes have taken place in which 111 people were killed and 2,384 people were injured. In 2016, 703 communal clashes had taken place in which 86 people were killed and 2,321 people were injured. In 2017, the highest number of communal riots have taken place in Uttar Pradesh. 195 communal riots have taken place there, in which 44 people were killed and 542 were injured. This information was given by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, in a written reply, in the Lok Sabha yesterday.     

  [Source: Times of India dated 07.02.2018]

The AUAB has given the call for conducting the "March to Raj Bhawan" programme on 19-04-2018, demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company. In most of the circles, the call has been successfully implemented. In some states, permission was not granted due to prohibitory orders. In such places alternative programme have been conducted. In many circles, the memorandum has been directly received by the state governors. BSNLEU heartily congratulates all the comrades for successfully implementing the call.

Former Telecom Minister, Dayanidhi Maran was earlier let off by a special court, in the case of installing of an illegal telephone exchange at his residence and misusing it for the benefit of Sun TV. Now, the CBI has filed a criminal revision petition in the Chennai High Court, against the discharge of Dayanidhi Maran and his brother Kalanidhi Maran, from this case.

[Source: Times of India dt. 13.06.2018]

Due to the devastations caused by the unprecedented floods that hit Kerala recently, “Onam” festival is not being celebrated by Keralities this year. On this occasion, BSNLEU conveys it’s best wishes to the people of Kerala, for an early recovery from the tragedy. Happy Onam to all.

Com. Balbir Singh, President, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL today and handed over the invitation letter for the 9^th All India Conference of BSNLEU. The CMD BSNL assured to address the Seminar on “Revival of BSNL” to be held in the All India Conference on 17^th December, 2018.

In this meeting, the representatives once again raised the issue of holding the JE LICE. They pointed out that despite the repeated requests of BSNLEU, the Recruitment Branch of the Corporate Office is proceeding to hold the forthcoming JE LICE as an online exam. BSNLEU has already demanded that the exam should be conducted as an offline exam, and the requisite training in computer should be given to the candidates who get qualified in the JE LICE. The CMD BSNL assured to look into the issue.

The representatives once again raised the issue of BSNL’s contribution to Kerala’s flood relief. They once again insisted that the CMD BSNL should handover the amount directly to the Chief Minister of Kerala. The CMD replied that the contributions collected from the employees is still with BSNL, and that the matter has been referred the PMO.

The AUAB has already issued letter to Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications (IC), on 17.01.2019, expressing it’s extreme unhappiness over the delay in the settlement of 3^rd Pay Revision. The representatives of the AUAB met Shri Anshu Prakash, Additional Secretary, Telecom, on 17.01.2019, and informed that the AUAB would be compelled to go on strike, if the issue is not resolved expeditiously. The Additional Secretary, Telecom, assured that further discussion would take place in this week. However, so far the AUAB has not received any communication from the DoT for talks. Considering the urgency of the issue, the AUAB has decided to convene a meeting on 25.01.2019, for taking appropriate action on this issue. Accordingly, the AUAB meeting will be held at 11:00 am on 25.01.2019.

A meeting between the representatives of the AUAB and Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, was held today the 28.03.2019. Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR) was also present. Com.P. Abhimanyu, Convenor, AUAB, Com.Chandeswar Singh, Chairman, AUAB, Com.K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com. Pathak, AGS, AIGETOA, Com.Suresh Kumar, GS, BSNL MS, Com.Rewati Prasad, BSNL ATM and com.Kabeer Das, GS, BSNL OA, participated in the meeting. The following issues were discussed.

(1)    Imposition of break-in-service under FR 17 A.

The AUAB has already written to the CMD BSNL, stating that break-in-service under FR 17 A, cannot be imposed on BSNL employees, since it is not part of the CDA rules. In today’s meeting, the representatives of AUAB insisted for expeditious action by the Management, on this issue. The CMD BSNL and the Director (HR) assured to do the needful.

(2)    Wrong calculation in the wage cut.

The representatives of the AUAB pointed out that the wage cut, for participation in the 3 day strike, has been done based on wrong calculation. That is, the three day wages has been arrived, by taking 28 days as a month’s salary. Instead, a month’s salary should be calculated as 30 days. As a result, more money has been deducted from the salary of the employees. Further, three days wage cut should be calculated on basic pay and DA only. But in many places, this calculation has been done wrongly. The CMD BSNL and Director (HR) assured to do the needful on this.

(3)    March to Sanchar Bhawan – provoking instruction given by the BSNL Corporate Office.

The SR Branch of the BSNL CO., has sent an instruction to the CGMs, directing that the principle of ‘no work no pay’ should be implemented on those employees who take part in the March to Sanchar Bhawan. It was pointed out by the AUAB representatives that, as per rules, the principle of ‘no work no pay’ cannot be imposed on employees for their participation in the rallies. Responding to this, the Director (HR) said that, she was not aware of any such instruction having been issued by the Corporate Office, and assured to look into it.

The CMD BSNL informed the representatives of the AUAB that, the March salary will be paid to the employees on time and he also told that this payment of salary is being made purely from BSNL’s own earnings. 

कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स की छंटनी नही करें- वेज एरियर्स के भुगतान के लिए फण्ड जारी करें- BSNLEU का डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) से अनुरोध...

कॉम पी अभिमन्यु, GS और कॉम स्वपन चक्रबोर्ति, Dy. GS, ने आज श्री एस के गुप्ता, डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) से मुलाकात कर निम्न मुद्दों पर चर्चा की...
 
(1) कॉर्पोरेट ऑफिस का वह पत्र जिसमें सर्कल्स को कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स की संख्या कम करने हेतु निर्देशित किया गया है। 
(2) महीनों से कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स को वेजेस का भुगतान नही होना। 

प्रतिनिधियों ने कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स के वेजेस एरियर्स के भुगतान हेतु यथाशीघ्र फण्ड आवंटन की मांग की। उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स की छंटनी से मेंटेनेंस कार्य बुरी तरह से प्रभावित होगा। इसके प्रत्युत्तर में डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) ने कहा कि BSNL की वित्तीय स्थिति बेहद क्षीण है और फंड्स की उपलब्धता अनुसार आवश्यक कार्यवाही की जाएगी। उन्होंने यह भी कहा कि कंपनी की वित्तीय हालात की वजह से ही उन्हें कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स की संख्या में कटौती करने का अप्रिय निर्णय लेने के लिए बाध्य होना पड़ा है, क्योंकि इसके अलावा और कोई पर्याय नही था। फिर भी, प्रतिनिधियों ने डायरेक्टर (फाइनेंस) से इस निर्णय पर पुनर्विचार करने का अनुरोध किया।

Com. Nagesh Kumar Nalawade, Vice President (CHQ) & CS, Maharashtra Circle and Com.Sandeep Gulanjkar, Vice President, Maharashtra Circle, addressed a meeting at Solapur on 27.08.2019. Employees attended the meeting in good number and listened to the speech of leaders with rapt attention. The leaders explained about the ongoing financial crisis at BSNL and the ways and means of resolving the same.

कल की आम हड़ताल सफलतापूर्वक आयोजित करें...
नरेंद्र मोदी सरकार द्वारा अमल में लाई जा रही कॉर्पोरेट परस्त और कर्मचारी विरोधी नव उदारवादी नीतियों के खिलाफ देश के वर्किंग क्लास द्वारा 08.01.2020 को आम हड़ताल की जा रही है। देश के वर्किंग क्लास का हिस्सा होने के नाते, BSNLEU भी इस हड़ताल में शामिल हो रही है। इस हड़ताल में, पब्लिक सेक्टर का व्यापक तौर पर निजीकरण, राष्ट्र की संपदा को कॉर्पोरेट्स को सौंपना, नियोक्ताओं के हित में श्रम कानूनों में बदलाव आदि का विरोध किया जा रहा है। BSNLEU ने तृतीय वेज रिवीजन, पेंशन रिवीजन आदि मुद्दे भी इस हड़ताल में लिए हैं। सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज़ से अनुरोध है कि हड़ताल सफलतापूर्वक आयोजित करें।