The three day circle conference of  BSNLEU, Kerala circle, is starting at Ernakulam tomorrow the 01.02.2018. Kerala circle continues to be the number one profit making unit of BSNL in the whole country. BSNLEU's contribution in this is very crucial. Similarly, BSNLEU has defeated all the attempts made by vested interests, to weaken the Union, during the last few years. The three day circle conference will discuss and finalise the road-map to further strengthen the Union, as well as the Company, in the years to come. Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, will attend the Conference on all the three days, and will guide the deliberations.

Today is the second day of the Satyagraha struggle. The first day programme was an overwhelming success. In the same spirit and vigour, the second day Satyagraha is also being observed throughout the country. CHQ requests the circle and district unions to maintain the tempo till the final day of the programme. Employees should be massively mobilised on each day of the programme.

Valsad comrades (Gujarat circle) started the Satyagraha programme in a novel way. Before starting the Satyagraha, the comrades of All Unions and Associations of BSNL, went in a two wheeler procession to Dandi. All of us know that Mahatma Gandhi started his world famous "Salt Satyagraha" at Dandi, as a symbol of disobedience and challenging the authority of the brutal British imperialism. At Dandi, the Valsad SSA Comrades paid homage to the Mahatma, by garlanding his statue. Thereafter, the Satyagraha programme is started. CHQ heartily congratulates Com. M.K.Dave,AGS, BSNLEU, as well as all the Valsad Comrades, for implementing the Satyagraha programme in a lively manner. 

Leaders of All Unions and Associations of BSNL met yesterday, the 31^st January, 2018 at New Delhi and reviewed the Satyagraha, as well as the "Indefinite Work According to Rule" struggles. The meeting expressed it's satisfaction over the determined manner in which the struggles are being organised in various circles. The meeting decided that the struggles should be conducted more effectively, in the days to come. Hence, all circle and district secretaries are requested to intensify the struggles, in close coordination with the other constituents.

The three day Kerala circle conference of BSNLEU, started at Ernakulam today, with great enthusiasm. Com.A.V.Kuriakose, circle president hoisted the Union Red flag. Floral tributes were paid at the martyrs’ column. This was followed by a brief, but rich cultural programme. Thereafter, Com.K.Mohanan, CS, and Com.Peethamabaran, DS, Ernakulam, welcomed the delegates and the invitees. Com. Elamaram Kareem, General Secretary, CITU, Kerala, inaugurated the Conference. He spoke at length, explaining the national and international developments. The Conference was also addressed by Dr.P.T. Mathews, CGM, Kerala, Com..V.A.N.Namboodiri, former General Secretary of BSNLEU, Com.M.Krishnan, Secretary General of Confederation, com.Kunnikrishnan, vice-president,AIIEA, com. Nandakumar,president,BEFI, Com.Santosh Kumar, CS,SNEA and Com.Guruprasad, CS,AIBDPA. Veteran leader, Com.P.V.Chandrasekaran, Com.Pratap Kumar, AGS and Com.Vijayakumar, Organising Secretary(CHQ) were present in the dias. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, inaugurated the Subjects Committee, that started after the lunch. In his speech, the General Secretary explained in detail, the issues connected with the ongoing Satyagraha and Indefinite Work According to Rule struggles. He also spoke on the action taken by the CHQ, on various issues of the Non-Executives.

As regards the Wage Revision of the Non-Executives, both the Management and the Recognised Unions have to sign an agreement, after holding negotiations. In view of this, both the Recognised Unions are pressing the Management hard to start the wage negotiations without further delay. However, Management maintains that the wage negotiations cannot be started without the DoT issuing a clearance for it.  This issue was once again discussed in the recently held Standing Committee meeting. In this connection, the Corporate Office has written to the General Secretaries of both the Recognised Unions of the Non-Executives, giving a status on the matter.

As a part of the ongoing 9th circle conference of BSNLEU, an impressive Open Session was conducted in the Town Hall, Ernakulam, yesterday the 02-02-2018. Com.A.V.Kuriakose, circle president, presided over. Com.Mohanan, circle secretary, welcomed every one. The main speaker of the Open Session was Com.M.V.Govindan Master, Chief Editor of the Deshabimani, who spoke elaborately on the economic policies being pursued by the successive governments at the Centre. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, addressed the session and exposed the anti-BSNL policies of the Modi government, spoke on the need to maintain BSNL as a vibrant and strong Public Sector Company, to serve the common people of this country. Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, former General Secretary of BSNLEU and many others spoke in the session.

DIR(HR) called all Unions and Associations for the discussions on 02.02.2018 regarding the ongoing agitations. GS / CHQ office bearers of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, FNTO, BSNLMS, SEWA, BSNLOA etc was present in the meeting. GM(SR) also present in the meeting.
   We expressed our serious concern that the Govt is not taking any steps to resolve the issues of lakhs of employees. The Unions and Assns will intensify the agitations in the coming days. On 23^rd Feb, huge Sanchar Bhavan (DoT) March is planned in which thousands of comrades from all over India will be participating. The formation of Tower Subsidiary has to be rolled back, 3^rd PRC to be implemented with 15% fitment, Pension revision and outstanding issues of 2nd PRC are to be settled etc are the major demands.
   DIR(HR) informed that due to the competition and market condition, revenue is coming down and the financial condition of the company is not good. Any impact on the services will further affect the revenue which in turn will affect all.
   Union/Assn leaders explained that on earlier occasions, management arranged the meetings with the Secretary/DoT or the Hon Minister as the case may be and through discussions, issues are settled. However, such initiatives are not found nowadays, during agitations.
  DIR(HR) personally tried for the meeting by contacting MoSC office. Finally DIR(HR) assured to make possible efforts for meeting at DoT once CMD returns on Monday. All Unions and Associations will be meeting on 06.02.2018.

Shri Manoj Sinha, Minister of State for Communications, informed the Parliament yesterday that BSNL will roll out it’s 4G service this year. The Minister has told the Parliament that BSNL has submitted a DPR (Detailed Project Report) to the DoT in this regard. The BSNL has demanded allotment 5MHz spectrum in the 2100 MHz band from the government, for providing 4G service."BSNL has sought from the DoT Rs. 6,652 crore as equity infusion out of total spectrum cost of Rs.13,885 crore. BSNL will pay the balance Rs.7,233 crore of spectrum cost in ten annual instalments from its internal accruals," Shri Sinha said in a written statement to the Rajya Sabha. BSNL has also planned to install 10,000 mobile BTSs in all its telecom circles.

(Source : PTI - Feb 2, 2018, 06.24PM)

In Vijayawada SSA, Andhra Pradesh, no regular GMTD was posted for long time. The GMTD, Guntur SSA was given additional charge of GMTD, Vijayawada. Both the BSNLEU and SNEA circle union demanded to the CGM, Andhra Pradesh to give regular posting of GMTD, Vijayawada. Since it is the State Capital of Andhra Pradesh and one person from Guntur cannot manage such a big district. The CHQ of both BSNLEU and SNEA demanded to the Corporate Management to give regular posting of GMTD, Vijayawada. One posting order was issued 3 days before, by the Corporate Office for the post of GMTD, Vijayawada. But the CGM, AP circle was trying not to get posting of the regular GMTD at Vijayawada and wanted to continue with the arrangement of GMTD, Guntur to get additional charge for Vijayawada. Both the circle union objected to this, hence requested the CHQ to take up the issue with Corporate Management. Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU and Com. Sebastin, GS, SNEA met Director (HR), Ms. Sujata T. Ray on 2^nd February and urged to intervene. The Director (HR) after hearing both, has expressed that the Corporate Office order should be implemented. Later on, both the representatives met GM (Pers.) and demanded for implementation of the Corporate Office order. The GM (Pers.) assured to take necessary action in this regard.

BSNL employees from Uttarakhand could not get their salary for the month of January, 2018, till 2^nd February, due to Punjab National Bank problem. The circle union, BSNLEU of Uttarakhand met CGM and GM (F) of Uttarakhand on 1^st February, 2018 and it has been confirmed by the Punjab National Bank authority, Dehradun, that due to technical problems in upgradation of systems in the Bank, the salary of BSNL employees could not be transferred to their accounts. Further, it may take some more time to transfer the salary to the accounts. Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, discussed the matter with Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (Finance) and requested to ensure payment of salary to the employees. The Director (HR) instructed the GM (BFCI) to settle the problem without any loss of time.

The 5 day Satyagraha agitation, by the Non-Executives and Executives has come to an end today. The struggle has been organised throughout the country in a very dedicated manner. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the entire employees, as well as the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, for ensuring the Ghandian struggle a resounding success. It is regrettable to note that, despite the best efforts taken by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, neither the DoT, nor the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, have bothered to call the representatives for talks. This is deplorable too. Hence, now, the employees are left with no other option, but to implement the Work According to Rule (WAR) powerfully. CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to maintain close coordination with other unions and associations, for the successful implementation of the Work According to Rule (WAR).

The “All Unions and Associations of BSNL” are meeting Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications at 5:00 PM tomorrow. Wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, rolling back of the retirement age from 60 to 58 and revision of pension issues will be discussed prominently.

A meeting of the “All Unions and Associations of BSNL” has been scheduled to be held at 3:30 PM tomorrow. However, this meeting has been postponed, in view of the meeting to be held with the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications at 5:00 PM tomorrow.

The meeting of the Designations Committee has been scheduled to be held at 11:00 AM tomorrow. However, Corporate Office has intimated that the meeting is postponed due to administrative reasons.

The Steering Committee of All Unions and Associations of BSNL, in their request letter dated 10.01.2018, had sought a meeting with Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble MoS(C). Serious efforts are being made by the Steering Committee, to discuss the burning issues with him. Under these circumstances, the meeting that was expected to be held with the Hon’ble MoS(C) yesterday did not materialise.

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]

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]