We have already intimidated about the postponement of the National Council meeting, scheduled to be held on 16-04-2018. The Corporate Office has issued letter for the postponement.

The AUAB is conducting dharna programme throughout the country, demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company. The CHQ of BSNLEU has already called on the circle and the district unions of BSNLEU to take the initiative to conduct the programme very effectively. Serious mobilisations among the public, against the Subsidiary Tower Company will certainly create compulsions on the government. Hence, all units of BSNLEU are requested to conduct this programme very effectively tomorrow.  

The CITU has constructed a trade union school at Saket, New Delhi, called Com. P. Ramamurti Bhawan. BSNLEU has collected advertisements from the circle unions, to financially help the construction of Com. P. Ramamurti Bhawan. The CITU has printed and released the souvenir, to commemorate the inauguration of Com. P. Ramamurti Bhawan. The funding by CHQ and circle unions, through advertisements, for the construction of the trade union school, are as follows:-   

CHQ                                        - Rs.1,00,000/-

Maharashtra                            - Rs.75,000/-

Andhra Pradesh                      - Rs.25,000/-

Telengana                                - Rs.25,000/-

Gujarat                                    - Rs.25,000/-

Kerala                                      - Rs.25,000/

Karnataka                                - Rs.25,000/-

                                                -------------------                       

Total =                                    - Rs.3,00,000/-         

Copies of the souvenir are being despatched to the circle unions which have given the advertisements.

As per the call of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, dharna programme is being conducted throughout the country, demanding the rolling back of the Subsidiary Tower Company. At Corporate Office, dharna programme is organised at the Eastern Court. Report is coming from various circles, about the successful conducting of the programme.

The CEC meeting, held at Agartala, has decided to give a detailed note to the Management, on curtailing of wasteful expenditures. It is also decided that, all Circle Secretaries and Central Office-bearers should give their suggestions in this regard to the CHQ. Those CEC members who have not sent the note to the CHQ so far, are requested to immediately send the same. Within a day or two, CHQ will be submitting this note to the Management.

BSNLEU conveys it’s best wishes and warm greetings to all, on the occasion of Vaisakhi / Vishu /Tamil New Year / Mesadi / Vaisakhadi / Bahag Bihu. May the new year bring peace and prosperity to all the people.

Tomorrow is the birth anniversary of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of Indian Constitution, as well as a great crusader for social justice to the downtrodden people. BSNLEU salutes and pays its respectful homage of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The secularism, embodied in the Indian Constitution, is under attack now from divisive forces. On this occasion, BSNLEU reaffirms it’s resolve to defend the secular fabric of the nation.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM(Restg.) today and demanded implementation of the decisions taken in the last meeting of the Designations Committee, held on 15-02-2018. Eventhough unanimous decisions were taken in that meeting, with regards to the Change of Designations of the left out cadres, they are not implemented till today. The GM (Restg.) replied that the new designations have got to be approved by the Management Committee. File has already been put up for the Management Committee, and these new designations are likely to be approved in the next meeting of the Management Committee, said the GM (Restg.).

A Joint Committee on PLI has already been formed to decide about the quantum of PLI to be paid to the employees for the year 2015-16. The last meeting of this Committee was held on 16.10.2017. Thereafter, no meeting has been called on. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this with Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM(Restg.), today, and urged upon him to hold a meeting of the Joint Committee on PLI without further delay. The GM (Restg.) agreed to call on the meeting soon.

The Corporate Office has already announced the formation of an Internal Committee , to decide about extending the facility of immunity from transfers, at the time of bifurcation. BSNLEU has already submitted a note to the members of the Internal Committee, on this matter. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri A.M. Gupta, GM(SR) today, and enquired about the status on this issue. It was replied that the Internal Committee is yet to take the final decision. The GS, BSNLEU, once again strongly insisted that immunity from transfers should be extended to the circle and district secretaries, at the time of bifurcation. The GM (SR) assured to take an expeditious decision.

The 36th meeting of the National Council, scheduled to be held on 16.04.2018, has been unavoidably postponed. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri A.M. Gupta, GM (SR) today, and urged upon him to hold the postponed meeting at the earliest. In reply to this, the GM (SR) expressed the view that, holding the meeting by the end of April, might not be possible.

The Circle Conference of NTR circle is being held at CTO, Sabhaghar, Eastern Court today. A large number of members, as well as pensioners attended the Conference. Com.R.S.Chauhan, circle secretary, welcomed everyone. Com.T.C.Nagar, circle president, presided over. The Conference was inaugurated by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. In his speech, the General Secretary severely criticised the pro-private policies of the government. Further, he explained about the status of major issues like Wage Revision, subsidiary Tower Company, Pension Revision,etc. The General Secretary also explained the decisions taken in the recently held Agartala CEC meeting. The Conference was also addressed by Com.Animesh Mitra, Vice-President(CHQ) and Com.Ramesh Chand, Organising Secretary(CHQ). After lunch, the subjects committee started and is going on.

The AUAB has already given call to organise “March to Rajbhawan” in all circles on 19.04.2018. Circle and district secretaries are requested to take all out efforts to make the programme successful. The intension of this programme is to inform the general public about the evil designs of the government to break BSNL into pieces, and also to rob the company of it’s 70,000 mobile towers. Flex boards may be carried prominently in the procession, to effectively convey the message to the general public. Pamphlets may be printed in local languages and be distributed during the procession, so that the message is effectively conveyed to the general public. Circle and district unions are requested to coordinate with other constituents of the AUAB to organise the programme effectively.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Saurabh Tyagi, GM (Estt.) today, and discussed the following issues. Shri Sheo Sankar Prasad, DGM and Shri A.K. Sing, DGM were present in the discussion.

(1)   Stopping illegal recovery of the arrears of employees’ contribution of EPF.

This issue relates to the employees who are recruited prior to 01.10.2000 and appointed after 01.10.2000. Initially GPF was implemented for them and subsequently they were shifted to EPF scheme. Management has started recovering the arrears of the employee contribution of EPF, from the date of their appointment. BSNLEU objected to this, since it is against the Act. This issue was discussed in the 35th meeting of the National Council. However, it is still lingering on. The issue was discussed in detail in today’s meeting.  The Management Side explained about the action taken in the case of Madhya Pradesh circle, where the Act is partially implemented. The GS demanded total implementation of the Act in MP circle. They also reported that no information is available with regards to Telangana circle. The GS, BSNLEU, assured to give the details regarding Telangana circle.

(2)   Anomalies.

The Management Side informed that the necessary inputs have already been sent to the DoT, for the implementation BSNL’s proposal, to settle the anomalies issue. BSNLEU will further pursue the case with the DoT.

(3)   Group ‘B’ status to Senior Accountants.

Management Side informed that the Establishment Branch has already recommended the granting of Rs. 7830 pay scale (equivalent to 5500 pay scale) to the EF Branch. Further action in this regard would be taken by the EF Branch, it was told. However, it was also informed that the Corporate Office would take a final decision on this issue, only after the court stay is vacated.

(4)   TT LDCE – one time relaxation to the 10th std. qualification.

BSNLEU has long been demanding that a one time relaxation should be given for appearing the TT LDCE, to those officials who are not possessing 10th std. qualification. From today’s discussion, it is understood that Management is reluctant to accept our demand. The issue will be further discussed with the Director (HR).

(5)   Settlement of downgradation of Sr.TOA cadre from 7100 to 6550.

This issue was discussed very elaborately today. The GM (Estt.) told that they were very sympathetic to the affected employees. At the same time, they opined that to settle this issue, the NEPP scheme needed to be modified, for which the approval of BSNL Board was needed, and the same was not possible in the present circumstances. However, the GS, BSNLEU, urged upon them to take this issue for the approval of the BSNL Board to settle the grievances of the affected employees.

A meeting of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL was held today. Com. Prahalad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, presided over. The meeting reviewed the implementation of the earlier decisions taken, on the issue of Subsidiary Tower Company. It called upon the employees to powerfully organise the “March to Raj Bhawan” programme, to be held on 19-04-2018. It requested the employees to utilise this opportunity to effectively make a campaign among the general public, exposing the ill effects of the Subsidiary Tower Company. The meeting also decided that a final decision on filing a court case against the Subsidiary Tower Company, will be taken in the next meeting, to be held at 11:00 hrs on 24-04-2018.

The following is the copy of the memorandum, to be submitted to the Governor, on 19-04-2018. The memorandum is to be duly signed by the circle secretaries of the AUAB, and to be submitted to the Governor.