A felicitation meeting was held for Com Suresh Kumar, General Secretary, BSNLMS,  in the CTO Sabhagar, Eastern Court, New Delhi, on 30th January, 2017, for his retirement on superannuation.  The meeting was presided over by com Mallikarjun,President, BTEF. Leaders and workers from BSNL and MTNL attended the meeting in a large number. The meeting was addressed by com V.A.N.Namboodiri, com Swapan Chakraborty, Dy GS and many others. On behalf of BSNLEU, com.Suresh Kumar was honoured, by offering a shawl. Com Jhon Vhargese, AGS,BSNLEU and com R.S.Chouhan,vice-president(CHQ) were also present in the meeting.

DoT has cleared the file in favour of the DR JE selected candidates. BSNLEU conveys hearty congrats to all the selected candidates. At the same time, BSNLEU also assures that it will ensure prompt processing of the case by BSNL Corporate Office, for completion of document verification, etc. BSNLEU also heartily congrats the BSNL Management because, the recruitment process done by the Corporate Office has been upheld by the enquiry conducted by the DoT.

Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and com. John Verghese, AGS met Ms. Madhu Arora, PGM (Estt.), BSNL CO., on yesterday, the 30.01.2017 and demanded that the DoP&T has issued orders to grant Child Adoption Leave on the lines of Maternity Leave admissible to natural mothers in 2006. In 2009, the DoP&T has enhanced the Child Adoption Leave from 135 days to 180 on the lines of Maternity Leave. It is informed that the BSNL C.O. has not endorsed the orders of the DoP&T issued in 2006 and 2009. Since, BSNL is following the Leave Rules of the Government of India, the Union representatives demanded that the Child Adoption Leave should be endorsed by the BSNL C.O., so that eligible women employee can avail the same. The PGM (Estt.), assured to look into the matter. 

A special CBI court in Ahmedabad has convicted a former senior BSNL official for possession of disproportionate assets (DA) and sentenced him three-year imprisonment besides slapping a fine of Rs 27 lakh. Kiran Premchand Patel, former assistant general manager, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), in Gujarat's Bhavnagar has been convicted for DA to the tune of 29.84 lakh, which was 148 per cent of his income during the check period of January 1997 to January 2004, CBI officials said here today.

Com Swapan Chakraborty Dy GS and com Jhon Varghes, AGS met shri D.Chakraborty, PGM  (Pers.) and demanded that the restructuring  of Hindi Translators, both Junior Hindi Translators and Senior Hindi Translators  to provide  them promotional avenue to the post of  Rajbhasa Adhikari (AD-OL), which is pending with the BSNL management for a long time . It was demanded that the process should be completed with out further delay. The GM (Pers.) informed that proposal was sent to the DoT, for restructuring of the Rajbhasa Adhikari post, with creation of 175 intermediary post of Asstt Rajbhasa Adhikari in E-1 pay scale, so that Hindi Translators in Non- Executive posts can get promotion through LICE to E-1 scale.100% posts of Asstt. Rajbhasha Adhikari are to be filled up through LICE. The DoT has sent back the proposal to BSNL for certain queries and the EF cell in BSNL is processing the reply of those queries. He further assured that the proposal will be re-submitted to the DoT at the earliest to get it approved by the DoT.  

The budget presented by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has not mentioned any thing about the important demand of the trade unions that, the minimum wage should be increased to Rs. 18,000 per month. 90% of the work force in India are contract workers, whose wages are abysmally low. Increasing their minimum wages to Rs. 18,000 will not only help the workers,  but will also give a boost to the economic growth,  since increase in the wages of a very large section of the workers will certainly increase the demand for goods. However, nothing is mentioned about this in the budget. 
 
 However, it is clearly mentioned in the budget that, the government will move fast, to bring the Labour Law reforms. Indian and multi national corporates have been telling the government that, Indian Labour Laws are very stringent, and have been demanding that these Labour Laws should be diluted in favour of the investors. They say that, these laws are outdated and need to be changed. However, due to the stiff opposition from the Indian working class, the government is not able to implement the so called reforms. Now, it is mentioned in the budget that government will speedily bring the Labour Law reforms.

Leading Kannada film hero, Shivraj Kumar, the son of legendary Kannada actor, Dr.Rajkumar, has become BSNL's post paid mobile customer today. The marketing to get this 'star customer' was done by the leading BSNLEU comrades of CGM office, Karnataka, com.P.Girish, district secretary, CGM Office and com.R.K.Rao, superintendent, CGM office. CHQ heartily congratulates both these comrades for their good work. This is an example that others should also emulate.

The Modi government has targeted to raise Rs. 72,500 crore through disinvestments in Public Sector companies, in the next financial year. This is almost double the target of the current financial year, fixed at Rs. 45,500 crore. This means severe attack is going to be launched on the public sector companies, including BSNL.  Already, the government has taken decision to raise Rs. 11,000 crore by way of disinvestments in general insurance companies. The working class has to unitedly stop this onslaught.

Mukesh Ambani,  the richest Indian, is using his financial muscle to finish off all other telecom companies,  including BSNL, so that he can loot the people with high tariffs, after all other telecom companies are killed. The free voice calls and data being offered by Reliance Jio, is nothing but 'predatory tariff'. First, Reliance Jio offered a promotional offer, as 'welcome offer'. However, this promotional offer can be only for a period of 90 days from 5th November. But, once again Reliance Jio implemented another offer as 'Happy new year offer', which is valid till 31st March, 2017. The Happy New year offer is nothing but the extension of the Welcome Offer, but in a different name. This is a clear violation of norms. However, the TRAI, which is supposed to guard against predatory tariffs, has said that the Happy New year offer is not the extension of the welcome offer. This decision only shows the influence that Reliance Jio is having over the government and over the Regulator.

Former Minister of Communications, Dayanidhi Maran, his brother Kalanidhi Maran and others are discharged yesterday, by the CBI court, in the Aircel Maxis case. Dayanidhi Maran was the Communications Minister from 2004 to 2007. Aircel promoter C. Sivasankaran made a complaint to the CBI that, during the above period, he was coerced by Dayanidhi Maran to sell his stakes in Aircel,  to the Malaysian company Maxis, owned by T. Ananda Krishnan. In consideration for this, Rs. 742 crore was paid to Dayanidhi Maran, by two Mauritius based companies, accused the Enforcement Directorate(ED). However, the CBI court has held that there is no prima facie evidence against the accused persons. The ED has said that it would appeal against the order of the CBI trial court. Advocate Prashant Bushan has stated that, the discharge by the CBI court, without even a trial, in a case which has strong evidence, is absurd.

[ Source : The Hindu dated 03-02-2017]

The Director (HR) had invited General Secretaries of BSNLEU and NFTE for a discussion today, in connection with the call given for Sathyagraha and indefinite Work According to Rule. Accordingly, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, and Com. Rajamouli, Treasurer, NFTE, attended the meeting. The Director (HR) appealed to the representatives not to do anything that would further deteriorate the already strained financial condition of the Company. Com.P.Abhimnayu, GS, told the Director (HR) that the employees are in a do or die situation, in view of formation of Subsidiary Tower Company and denial of wage revision to the employees. The Unions and Associations of BSNL are left with no other option, but to go ahead with the Sathyagraha and Work According to Rule struggles, as has already been announced, told the GS, BSNLEU. The Director (HR) informed that a similar meeting would be held with the Executive Associations on Monday.

In the meeting held with the Director (HR) today, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, expressed his serious concern over the non-implementation / dilution of the decisions taken in the National Council meeting. The GS pointed out that decisions taken in respect of the items like stopping the illegal recovery of employees contribution of EPF arrears, granting Group ‘B’ status and pay scale to the Senior Accountants, violation of Corporate Office orders on contract workers, etc., are cited as examples. The GS told that he would give a note to the Management in this regard. The Director (HR) felt unhappy and assured that needful remedial action would be taken.

BSNLEU extends best wishes and warm greetings to all, on the occasion of the 69^th Republic Day of our great nation. Democracy, secularism and socialism are the basic concepts of our constitution. Let us all strive to up hold these ideals.

As per the decision of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, 5 day Satyagraha and Work According to Rule struggles are to be organised from 30-01-2018, at all levels. Pandals have to be erected for the Satyagraha, and each and employee should be made to participate in the Satyagraha. Comrades should understand that this is not a normal situation. It is a "Do or Die" situation. If we are not able to create sufficient pressure on the government at this juncture, then the future of BSNL and the employees is going to be doomed for ever. Hence, do anything and everything to make the struggles a total success. CHQ may be contacted telephonically for any clarification.

The Satyagraha and Work According to Rule struggles, as called on by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL's, are to start from tomorrow the 30-01-2018. Circle and district unions are requested to ensure that maximum number of employees participate in the Satyagraha agitation, on all the five days. Similarly, "Work According to Rule" struggle should be strictly conducted from tomorrow onwards. Doing extra work should be completely stopped. For queries, circle secretaries are requested to contact the CHQ.

In 2016-17, MTNL's revenue from operations is Rs.3,070 crores. It's expenditures are Rs.6,498 crores. Net loss is Rs.2,491 crores. The net worth of MTNL has turned negative, and it stands at Rs. (-) 3,366 crores. MTNL has been classified as an Insipient Sick company. It is with this MTNL that the government wants to merge BSNL's !

Model poster for the Satyagraha and Work According to Rule struggles has been prepared. Circle and district secretaries are requested to print copies and use for organising the struggles.

 

Reports are pouring in from various parts of the country, regarding the Satyagraha struggle that has started today. The BSNL Non-Executives and Executives are expressing their deepest anger and protest against denial of Wage Revision and attempts of the government to kill BSNL.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, addressed a huge gathering at CGM office, Tamil Nadu circle today. The General Secretary is in Chennai today, on his way to Ernakulam, to attend the circle conference of BSNLEU, Kerala circle. Utilising his visit, the General Secretary was invited to address the Satyagraha, being organised in the CGM office, Tamil Nadu circle. Com. Duraiarasan, CS, AIBSNLEA, presided over the meeting. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, spoke elaborately, and explained all the details connected with the charter of demands and the struggle. He asserted that we would settle Wage Revision and also will compel the government to roll back the Subsidiary Tower Company and other retrograde anti-BSNL and anti-employee measures. The General Secretary's speech was well received by the gathering.

Satyagraha programme, called on by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, started at Corporate Office, New Delhi, from 10 am today the 30th January 2018. As is already decided earlier, the Satyagraha started with paying Sardhanjali to the Father of Nation, Mahatma Gandhi at his Samadhi at Rajghat. CHQ leaders from all unions and associations reached Gandhi Samadhi and paid Shardhanjali. There after all leaders seated in the front gate of Gandhi Samadhi with banner and raised slogans on the demands. From BSNLEU, Com Swapan Chakraborty Dy GS, Com R.S.Chauhan, Vice-president &CS, NTR, Com. Upender Singh Teotia,CS, UP (W) and com R.S. Nagar, CP, NTR, participated in the programme. As per the decision, Satyagraha will continue for five days.