A very effective convention of the Central Public Sector Trade Unions was held at Bengaluru on 29.01.2017. Wage Revision to the Central Public Sector employees w.e.f. 01-01-2017 and fighting against the attacks being launched on the Public Sector, by the Narendra Modi government, are the important issues discussed in the Convention. BSNLEU is represented in the Convention by it's President, com. Balbir Singh.  On the previous day, i.e., on 28-02-2017, a massive rally of the Central Public Sector employees, numbering around 20,000, took place in Bengaluru, demanding to stop the attacks on the Public Sector, and demanding immediate settlement of wage revision to the employees.

The 16^th All India Conference of the All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF) is being held at Chennai since yesterday. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, has been invited to address the Inaugural Session of this Conference yesterday. Since the General Secretary was in the CEC meeting of BSNLEU yesterday, he greeted the AISGEF Conference today. The General Secretary called on the State Government employees to join shoulder to shoulder with the working class of India, to fight against the pro-rich policies of the government, and also to strengthen communal harmony in the country.

The Narendra Modi government's most ambitious privatisation plan, ie., to sell off the  Air India, has hit roadblocks. It is a very bad news for the so -called  economic experts, sitting in the NITI Ayog that, there is no one to buy the Maharaja. Yesterday, the 31-05-2018 was the last date for the prospective buyers to submit their Expression of Interest (EoI). The government had announced it's plan of selling 76% of Air India's shares. Together with that,  the government had stipulated that, the buyer should take over Rs.33,392 crores of Air India's debt also. May be, the corporates want to take over Air India, without the pains of taking over of it's debt. To oblige them, the government may change it's conditions also. However, according to political and economic observers, there is little chance for the Modi government to complete the privatisation of Air India, within the remaining 10 months of it's tenure. This is a great news for the forces which are fighting against the government's privatisation moves.

In the meeting held between the AUAB and the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, on 24.02.2018, it was assured by the latter that, a Cabinet Note would be prepared for the consideration of the Cabinet, seeking exemption for the BSNL employees, from the affordability clause of the 3rd PRC. However, the Cabinet Note has not yet been prepared by the DoT, even after the lapse of 5 months. Under these circumstances, the AUAB has organised demonstrations and 3 day relay hunger strike last month throughout the country. A meeting between the Hon’ble MoS (C) and the AUAB was also held on 01.08.2018. In this backdrop, it is reliably learnt that, the DoT is now on the job of preparing the Cabinet Note.

Press release of the AUAB, to be issued to the media, in the "Press Meets" to be conducted on 29.10.2018. Circle Secretaries are requested to issue this press release to the media in the regional language.

The attitude of the government, towards the public sector Hindustan Aeronautic Ltd. (HAL) has got exposed. In the debate that took place in the Parliament, Rahul Gandhi accused that the government has left the HAL high and dry in the Rafale deal. He accused that instead of making the HAL as the offset partner in the Rafale deal, the Modi government has selected Anil Ambani’s company. In reply to this, Nirmala Sitharaman, Defence Minister, told the Parliament that the government has given projects worth Rs.1 lakh crores to the HAL. Incidentally, news came in the media that, the HAL is struggling to pay salary to it’s employees, and that it has taken Rs.1,000 crore as bank loan, for payment of the salary. Again Rahul Gandhi accused that, the government has not given any project to the HAL as of now. Nirmala Sitharaman, tried to substantiate her earlier statement by saying that, the projects for HAL are in the pipeline (being processed). This time Rahul Gandhi asked as to how the government has paid Rs.22,000 crores to the Dassault Aviations (supplier of Rafale jets), even though not even a single Rafale jet has been delivered so far. At the same time, he also questioned why the government has not paid Rs.15,700 crores to the HAL, for the projects it has already completed for the Indian Air Force. From the above debate it is becoming very clear that the government is interested only to take care of the Indian corporates and multinational companies, and that it is leased bothered about our Public Sector Companies..

The government is taking calculated steps to kill BSNL, to facilitate Reliance Jio to capture the entire telecom market. The DoT, which is the Administrative Ministry of BSNL, is meticulously implementing the government decisions to finish off BSNL. The steps being taken by the government and the DoT have placed BSNL in such a critical condition, that the employees are unable to get their salary today. The DoT is not allowing BSNL to take bank loan for it’s operational expenditures (OPEX). The DoT is deliberately not making payment of Rs.2,500 crore to BSNL, for the works that the latter has executed for the government. Due to shortage of funds, BSNL is not even able to pay electricity bills, which has resulted in disconnection of EB connections to BTSs and Exchanges. This in turn is seriously affecting the services. The AUAB discussed all these issues during the last 3 days and has firmly decided to expose the conspiracies of the government and the DoT, to the people of this country. Hence, the AUAB has decided to organise a massive March to Sanchar Bhawan on 05.04.2019. It has decided to invite the leaders of all political parties to address this rally. All the circle and district unions are requested to mobilise the maximum number of employees for the rally, and to make it an historic event.

The Meghalaya High Court Division Bench has set aside yesterday, a controversial judgement delivered in December, 2018, by justice S.R. Sen of the same court, stating that India should have been “declared as a Hindu country”, after Partition. In an appeal filed by the Meghalaya government, the Division Bench of the High Court has said that, the judgement was flawed and is inconsistent with the constitutional principles.

The Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Assam circle, was held at Guwahati today the 09.08.2019. Apart from circle executive committee members, a large number of branch secretaries, from all over Assam, attended the meeting. The meeting was presided over by Com.Gakul Borah, Circle President. Com.M.R. Das, President, Reception Committee welcomed everyone. Com.Bijoy Deka, Circle Secretary, initiated the discussion. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and spoke elaborately about the present financial condition of BSNL and also about the ways and means to come out of it. He also explained about the decisions of the AUAB in respect of the revival of BSNL. Quoting today's ET Telecom report, based on BSNLEU's press release, the General Secretary demanded that BSNL's lands should not be undervalued, while transferring to the SPV.

BSNLEU is holding it’s Central Executive Committee meeting at Ghaziabad on 12^th & 13^th instant. The meeting will review the just concluded 8^th Membership Verification, most importantly about the roadmap for revival of BSNL. Com.A.K.Padmanabhan, Vice President of CITU, has kindly consented to inaugurate this CEC meeting. 

Decision has already been taken for holding the next CEC meeting in Gujarat circle. The All India Centre meeting held today, decided that the CEC meeting will be held at Vadodara (Baroda) on 06^th & 07^th March, 2020. All the circle secretaries and central office bearers are requested to book their tickets early. As usual, no visitor will be entertained in the CEC meeting.

Com. George Mavricos, General Secretary of the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has issued the following statement, on the Corona Virus Disease - 2019 (COVID-2019). While congratulating all the workers of Health sectors, who are waging a heroic struggle to treat the patients, at the risk of their own lives, the General Secretary, WFTU, exposes the thirst for profit of the capitalists, utilising this human tragedy.

The employees of Aurangabad, Maharashtra circle, under the leadership of Com.John Verghese, AGS, BSNLEU, Com. Ranjan Dani, CS, NFTE, Com.Datta Dubile, DS, SNEA, Shri Dinesh Satdive, DGM, Shri Arvind Newre, AGM, Shri Sunil Chandorikar, AGM, Shri R.S. Gaikwad, AGM, and many others, took the initiative through the Whatsapp Group to collect donations from employees, both working and retired, to financially help the contract workers, who are suffering due to non-payment of wages. An amount of Rs.1.75 lakh has been collected from 51 persons. Out of this, Rs.1,000/- is being distributed to 141 identified persons. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates the leaders and officers who played the leadership role, as well as the employees who have donated for this noble cause.

सर्किल और लोकल कॉउंसिल्स का गठन- सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज कृपया संज्ञान लें...

यह देखा गया है कि अभी तक कुछ सर्किल कॉउंसिल्स और बड़ी संख्या में लोकल कॉउंसिल्स का गठन नही किया गया है। यह सही है कि कोविड-19 के दौरान सर्किल और लोकल कॉउंसिल्स की मीटिंग करना कठिन है। फिर भी, यह सुनिश्चित करना हमारी जिम्मेदारी है कि मैनेजमेंट अविलंब सर्किल और लोकल कॉउंसिल्स का गठन करे, जिससे कि स्थिति सामान्य होते ही शीघ्रता से मीटिंग की जा सके। मैनेजमेंट द्वारा सर्किल और लोकल कॉउंसिल्स का गठन सुनिश्चित हो इस हेतु CHQ को नॉमिनेशन्स भेजना होंगे। अतः, सभी शेष सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज से अनुरोध है कि वें यथाशीघ्र, सर्किल/ लोकल कॉउंसिल्स के नॉमिनेशन्स CHQ को ई मेल या व्हाट्सएप के माध्यम से प्रेषित करें। CHQ द्वारा नॉमिनेशन्स तत्काल अनुमोदित कर  वापस प्रेषित कर दिए जाएंगे। यह भी निवेदन किया जाता है कि सर्किल सेक्रेटरीज, लोकल कॉउंसिल्स के नॉमिनेशन्स डिस्ट्रिक्ट यूनियन्स से प्राप्त होते ही शीघ्रता के साथ CHQ को भेजें और इस संबंध में किसी भी प्रकार का विलंब नही किया जाए।

Earlier, BSNLEU was having a quarters at Gole Market. Since it was taken over by the government, we were allotted two small quarters at Atul Grove road. We told the Management that BSNLEU being the Major Recognised Union, it should be allotted with a Type IV quarters. Management accepted our demand, but there was delay in re-allotment. Today, CHQ received letter from the Management, stating that BSNLEU is allotted with a Type IV quarters in Kalibari Marg. We thank the Management.

BSNLEU strongly condemns the steps reportedly being taken by the government to gradually privatise the Indian railways. This measure is reportedly being started by handing over the running of the prestigious and heritage trains linking the hill stations. Quoting railway officials, ‘Economic Times’ has reported that the routes linking Kalka and Shimla, Siliguri and Darjeeling and the Nilgiri mountains with the plains, Neral and Matheran and the Kangra valley railways would be among the first to be handed over to the private operators including foreign companies. It has reported that the private companies, including the foreign corporates will not only run the trains but also maintain the lines and the stations and also own the station on these lines. They will reportedly be allowed to decide the fares after the approval of the Rail Development Authority of India that is going to be constituted. 

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Agartala, has made serious deliberations on various important issues, and has taken decisions.  All the Circle and District Unions are requested to implement these decisions, within the time frame, as set by the CEC meeting.

The CHQ has already announced it's decision to join the "Worker - Peasant Rally", ( Mazdoor - Kisan Sangarsh Rally) to be held at New Delhi on 05-09-2018. Trade unions and peasant's organisations, which are fighting against the Neo-Liberal Policies of the government, are organising this massive rally. The All India Centre meeting of the Union, held yesterday, has fixed the quota for each circle union, for mobilising workers to the Rally. Nearby circles are given the major share for the mobilisation. At the same time, all the circle unions have to fulfill their quota. CHQ is sending  letters to all the circle unions, informing about their quota. Let us make the Worker - Peasant Rally a historic success.

BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, demanding re-engagement of the contract workers, who were recently retrenched as per the directive of the BSNL Corporate Office. The Union has suggested that on re-engagement, these contract workers can be redeployed in the sales and marketing area. The Union has also suggested that this will be a win-win situation both for the retrenched contract workers and the Company. BSNLEU has discussed this issue with the CMD BSNL and the Director (HR). In today’s meeting held with the  CMD BSNL, the representatives of BSNLEU enquired about the status of this issue. The CMD BSNL informed that the suggestion of the Union is being looked into, and that a decision in this regard would be taken soon.