Former Chief Justice of India, justice Ranjan Gogoi, has been nominated to the Rajya Sabha, by President, Ramnath Kovind. This has raised the eyebrows of many. It is being pointed out that, if such high positions are offered to judges after their retirement, then it will lead to favouritism and nepotism in the judiciary. The judiciary will lose it’s independence and will become subordinate to the government. Recently, justice Muralidhar, who criticised the BJP leaders for the Delhi riots, was transferred in the midnight. A message is being sent that, those judges criticise the government and the ruling party will be punished and those judges who favour them will be rewarded. This is not good for Indian democracy.

As we have already reported, the AUAB’s letter addressed to the Prime Minister seeking his intervention to remove the hurdles in BSNL’s 4G equipment procurement, has got wide coverage in the media. The Economic Times Telecom (ET Telecom) has written a good article in this connection today, which we are reproducing herewith.

BSNLEU wishes to make it very clear that 'Land Monetisation' was not a demand of the BSNLEU / AUAB at all. The AUAB only demanded that the DoT should give approval for BSNL’s “Land Management Policy”, which is for leasing out and renting out BSNL’s vacant lands and buildings. However, in it’s Revival Package, announced on 23.10.2019, the government decided to monetise BSNL’s assets.

 In this matter, every employee of BSNL as well as unions and associations have to be very cautious. It is because, every effort will be made by the government to grab BSNL’s lands at a throw away price and to hand it over to the corporates. We must not forget that, after coming to power in 2014, the BJP government passed 3 ordinances to grab lands of the poor peasants  and to hand over them to corporates. However, only through  nationwide militant struggles of the Kisans and democratic forces, the attempts of the Modi government were defeated. Hence, similar land grabbing attempts may be made in BSNL also. 

Hence, we  have to ensure that the transactions are transparent. Each and every employee, union, association has to remain vigilant to ensure that BSNL gets market price, and not a throw away price, in the land monetisation. The All India Centre of BSNLEU, which met yesterday, called upon every employee, union, association to remain vigilant to ensure this.

An impressive convention is conducted in the CGM Office premises, Thiruvananthapuram, today. The purpose of the convention is to explain the decisions of the recently concluded All India Conference of BSNL Employees Union, and also to celebrate the victory of the struggle, conducted by the BSNLEU and SNEA comrades of Kerala circle, against the corrupt and arrogant M.S.S. Rao, the then CGM of Kerala circle. The convention was presided over by Com. A.V. Kuriakose, Circle President. Com. K. Mohanan, CS, welcomed everyone and delivered the introductory speech. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the convention, congratulating the Kerala comrades for their heroic struggle against the tyranny of M.S.S. Rao, and demanding justice to the Casual and Contract Workers. He also explained in detail, the decisions of the recently concluded All India Conference of BSNLEU. Com. M. Krishnan, SG, Confederation, com. K.G. Jayaraj, GS, AIBDPA, com. S. Pratap Kumar, AGS, com. George Verghese, Circle President, SNEA, com. P.K. Muraleedharan, CS, P-III, com. Muraleedharan Nair, former AGS, com. Somasekaran Nair, CS, BSNLCCWF and com.Jacob Thomas, circle president, P-lll also addressed the seminar. A large number of comrades from the CGM office and Trivandrum district attended the convention. Finally, com. K. Mohanan, CS, proposed the vote of thanks.

It is a very sad development that, after 65 years of it’s nationalisation, the Air India is all set to be privatised. The government has finalised the terms and conditions for it’s privatisation. Accordingly, 76% shares of Air India, Air India-Express and Air India-SATS will be sold to the potential buyer. The buyer has to take over Rs.24,576 crore of Air India’s total debt of Rs.50,000 crore and the entire Rs.8,816 crore of current liabilities. The Air India is having 11,214 permanent employees ; 7,486 casual workers and 2,913 contract workers. According to the road-map of the government the successful bidder will be chosen in the month of September, 2018.

[Source: Times of India dated 29.03.2018]

Condolence meeting for Com. Sisir Bhattacharjee

is being organised at Kolkata on 1^st June, 2018.

A condolence meeting is being organised at Kolkata, for Com. Sisir Bhattacharjee. West Bengal, Kolkata Telephons, Telecom Factory and Telecom Stores circles are jointly organising this meeting which will take place at 01:00 pm on 1^st June, 2018, at Telecom Factory, Kolkata. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and other Leaders are addressing this meeting.  

The 7^th Membership Verification, for granting recognition to the Non-Executive Unions, was conducted on 10.05.2016. Based on the results of this Membership Verification, BSNLEU was recognised as the Main Recognised Representative Union and NFTE BSNL was recognised as the Second Recognised Representative Union, for a period of 3 years from 19^th May, 2016, vide BSNL CO., letter no.BSNL letter no.5-1/SR/2015/Vol.II(i) dated 19.05.2016. According to this order, the recognition of BSNLEU and NFTE expires on 18^th May, 2019. The process for the 8^th Membership Verification has not started, in view of the ongoing Parliament elections. Meanwhile, the BSNL Management thought of postponing the 8^th Membership Verification by 6 months. However, this was stoutly opposed by both BSNLEU and NFTE. Serious efforts are being taken to hold the 8^th Membership Verification at the earliest.

AUAB का 07.08.2019 को भोजन अवकाश के दौरान प्रदर्शन और गेट मीटिंग आयोजित करने का आव्हान....
नई दिल्ली में दिनांक 01.08.2019 को NFTE के कार्यालय में AUAB की मीटिंग सम्पन्न हुई। मीटिंग की अध्यक्षता कॉम एस सिवकुमार, महासचिव, AIBSNLEA ने की। मीटिंग में BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM, TEPU और BSNLOA के महासचिव/ प्रतिनिधि उपस्थित रहे। मीटिंग में , BSNL के तथाकथित रिवाइवल पैकेज के संबंध में BSNL की यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स को पूर्ण रूप से अंधकार में रखे जाने पर गहरा असंतोष व्यक्त किया गया। मीटिंग में कार्यशील पूंजी के अभाव में BSNL की सेवाओं में आ रही गिरावट को ले कर भी गंभीर चिंता व्यक्त की गई। मीटिंग में, BSNL में न्याय सम्मत ट्रेड यूनियन गतिविधियों पर रोक लगाने हेतु  BSNL मैनेजमेंट द्वारा दमनात्मक कार्यवाही किए जाने के प्रयासों पर भी गंभीरता पूर्ण ऐतराज दर्ज किया गया। गहन चर्चा उपरांत मीटिंग में निम्न मांगों को ले कर 07.08.2019 को भोजन अवकाश में प्रदर्शन और गेट मीटिंग आयोजित करने का निर्णय लिया गया।

डिमांड्स:

 1. BSNL की वित्तीय जीवंतता की सुनिश्चितता के लिए सन 2000 में यूनियन कैबिनेट द्वारा किए गए वादों का सम्मान करें।

(a) सेवाओं के रखरखाव के लिए BSNL को त्वरित वित्तीय सहयोग प्रदान करें।
(b) कैपिटल एक्सपेंडिचर के लिए BSNL को सॉफ्ट लोन उपलब्ध करवाएं।

2. BSNL द्वारा कैपिटल एक्सपेंडिचर पर लगाया गया  प्रतिबंध पूर्ण रूप से हटाया जाए। जहां राजस्व प्राप्ति सुनिश्चित है, फील्ड यूनिट्स को कैपिटल एक्सपेंडिचर की अनुमति दी जाए।

3. छंटनी न की जाए। BSNL के गठन के समय  की गई नौकरी की सुरक्षितता (जॉब सिक्योरिटी) की वचनबद्धता का सम्मान करें।

4. न्याय सम्मत ट्रेड यूनियन गतिविधियों पर प्रताड़नात्मक कार्यवाही पर रोक लगावें।

सभी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट यूनियन्स से अनुरोध है कि, AUAB के सभी घटकों से संपर्क कर, भोजन अवकाश के दौरान प्रदर्शन और गेट मीटिंग प्रभावी रूप से आयोजित करें।

A group of comrades came to participate in the AIBDPA rally at Delhi, which was to be held on 12.03.2020. They went to Agra for sight seeing. Among them a 75 year old comrade, by name N.M. Ganesan, went missing. This happened at Agra on 11.03.2020. The CHQ of BSNLEU was informed about this only on 15.03.2020. CHQ immediately contacted the UP (West) comrades for tracing out the missing comrade. On 16.03.2020, it was informed by the local people that, the missing comrade is in a village near Haathras, which comes under Aligarh district. Immediately CHQ directed Com.S.P.Singh, Vice President (CHQ), BSNLEU, as well as Com.Nabi Ahmed, District Secretary, BSNLEU, Aligarh, to bring the comrade to Delhi. Com.Bhoob Singh of Haathras went to the spot and took custody of the comrade. Thereafter, he was taken to Aligarh and from there he was brought to Delhi by Com.Durgesh Kumar, Assistant District Secretary, BSNLEU, Aligarh. Com.N.M. Ganesan is in good health, but seems exhausted and stressed. Arrangements are being made by AIBDPA, Vellore, to take him back to Vellore. CHQ heartily congratulates Com.S.P.Singh, Vice President (CHQ), Com.Nabi Ahmed, District Secretary, Aligarh, Com.Bhoob Singh of Haathras and Com.Durgesh Kumar, Assistant District Secretary, Aligarh for acting swiftly and rescuing Com. N.M. Ganesan.

As has already been informed, the CHQ of BSNLEU is organising a seminar on the Centenary of Great October Revolution at New Delhi on 23-10-2017. Comrades from UP(West), Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, UP(East), Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, J&K, NTR circle, Corporate Office and ALTTC, Gazhiabad are participating in this seminar. Com. Balbir Singh, President, will be presiding over and com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. General Secretary, will welcoming. Com. Tapan Sen, MP & General Secretary, CITU and com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary are addressing the seminar. Com. R.S.Chauhan, Vice-president(CHQ) & circle secretary, NTR circle will be proposing vote of thanks. Garhwlal Bhawan, near Jandewalan metro station is the venue. The CHQ is making elaborate arrangements for the success of this seminar.

Six leaders, who were suspended, charge-sheeted and transferred to far off places in Kerala circle, by the corrupt and arrogant M.S.S.Rao, at the time of the Kerala struggle, are honoured by com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, in the convention held at Tiruvanantapuram today. Despite severe victimisations, these comrades remained in the fore front and led the struggle.

As it has been already announced, Vodafone, India’s second biggest telecom company and Idea India’s third biggest mobile company are getting merged. According to the information given by Ms. Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary, DoT, the Idea – Vodafone merger is in the final stages of approval. After merger, the merged entity will become the biggest telecom company of India with 42% customer market share (410 million customers) and with 37% of revenue market share.

The two day Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, came to a successful conclusion today. All the Circle Secretaries and Central Office Bearers deliberated on the report on activities submitted by the General Secretary. At the end of the meeting today, Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, summed up the discussions. In this meeting it is decided to participate in the two day general strike, scheduled to be held on 08th & 9th January, 2019. The meeting also decided to organise all the calls of AUAB successfully, including the strike call, if any. The detailed note on the decisions taken will be uploaded on the website tomorrow.

In the meeting held with Hon’ble MoS(C) on 03.12.2018, the AUAB was assured that an Institutional Mechanism would be put in place to monitor the implementation of the decisions taken. Accordingly, the AUAB was informed late in the evening yesterday that, a meeting would be held today. Since, the General Secretaries of BSNLEU, NFTE and AIBSNLEA are out of Delhi, the AUAB has requested the DoT to hold the meeting next week. Accordingly, the first meeting of the Institutional Mechanism is expected to be held next week.