The All India Convention of Public Sector employees will be held at New Delhi Tomorrow. The Convention will start at 01.00 pm. The venue of the Convention Ghalib Institute, Opp. Matha Sundari College, ITO. Arrangements for staying / freshening-up, are made in Garhwal Bhawan, (Near Jandewalan Metro Station) for those comrades coming from outstations.

Non-implementation of the assurances of the Hon’ble MoS(C), on wage revision, allotment of 4G spectrum, pension revision and payment of pension contribution on actual basic pay, was seriously discussed in the CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Ghaziabad on 22^nd & 23^rd October, 2018. Since Parliament elections are approaching fast, time left with us for the settlement of wage revision, is running out. In view of this the CEC meeting has called upon the BSNL employees to massively organise the agitational programme called on by the AUAB, and also prepare the employees for strike action, including an indefinite strike.

620 km की मानव दीवार (Human Wall) बना कर केरल की महिलाओं ने इतिहास रचा.
महिलाओं के साथ भेदभाव के विरोध में 01.01.2019 को केरल की महिलाओं ने 620 km लंबी ऐतिहासिक मानव दीवार बनाई। यह मानव दीवार उत्तर में स्थित कासरगोड से दक्षिण में स्थित तिरुअनंतपुरम तक बनाई गई। महिलाओं के लिए समानता की मांग करते हुए बनाई गई इस दीवार की निर्मिति में कई संगठन सहभागी हुए। इस मानव दीवार हेतु, एक रिपोर्ट के अनुसार, 50 लाख महिलाएं शामिल हुईं। ऐसे समय में, जब कट्टरपंथी ताकतें केरल को तमोयुग (dark age) की ओर ले जाने हेतु प्रयासरत हैं, वहीं केरल की महिलाओं का यह आंदोलन निःसंदेह प्रशंसनीय है। बीएसएनएल एम्प्लॉईज यूनियन उन सभी महिलाओं को और उनके संगठन को सैल्यूट करती है जिन्होंने इस ऐतिहासिक आंदोलन में शिरकत की।

The Department of Pension and Pensioners Welfare (DoP&PW) has rejected the proposal for making ex-gratia payment for the BSNL employees who opt for VRS. The DoP&PW has stated that the BSNL employees are eligible for payment of government pension after retirement. As such, payment of ex-gratia for those who go on VRS is not permissible, said the DoP&PW. It has also stated that payment of ex-gratia under VRS is eligible only for the Public Sector employees who are not eligible for government pension. An important observation of the DoP&PW is that, surplus employees in BSNL if any, can be taken back by the DoT.

The Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting of Kerala was held at Trichur on 03.08.2019. Nearly 400 comrades participated in this meeting from all over the circle. Com.Manoharan, CP, Presided over and Com.Santhosh KumarCS, welcomed everyone. Com. M. Vijayakumar, AGS, Com.P.R. Parameswaran, Organising Secretary (CHQ), and Com.Baghyalakshmi, Joint Convenor, BSNLWWCC, were present on the dias. Com. V.A.N.Namboodiri, former General Secretary of BSNLEU, Com. Mohanan, former Kerala Circle Secretary, addressed the meeting. Finally, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and explained about the issues related to BSNL’s revival. He also explained the demands placed by the AUAB, demanding actions by the government, for the financial revival of BSNL.

A lot of queries are being raised by our comrades, regarding payment of September salary. This issue was already discussed by BSNLEU, with the CMD BSNL on 23.09.2019 itself. In that meeting, the CMD BSNL told that it would not be possible to make payment of salary in the month of October. Thereafter, on 24.09.2019, BSNLEU wrote to the CMD BSNL. It was pointed out that, important festivals like Pooja, Dusshera and Deepawali are coming in the month of October and it was strongly demanded that salary payment should be made on time. Despite all these efforts, Management has not made payment of salary. It was under these circumstances that, BSNLEU, together with SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM and BSNL OA, has organised protest lunch hour demonstrations on 01.10.2019. One of the most important demands is immediate payment of September salary. All out efforts are now being taken for intensifying the struggle further, by uniting all the unions and associations.

In their meeting with the CMD BSNL held today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, raised the issue of granting relaxation to the failed candidates of the JTO LICE held on 26.05.2019. BSNLEU pointed out that, out of the 1030 candidates appeared in this JTO LICE, only 154 candidates have got qualified. They also highlighted that, no candidate has got qualified from six circles, including the educationally advanced Andhra Pradesh circle, which shows that something is wrong with the question paper. The Union bitterly complained that, it’s representation for granting full marks to wrong questions and questions with wrong, ambiguous and multiple answers, was not duly considered by the Recruitment Branch of the Corporate Office. The Union appealed to the CMD BSNL that, considering the fact that, most of the candidates appeared in this JTO LICE are young engineering graduates, granting of relaxation to the failed candidates will be gainful, both to the Company, as well as to the candidates. The Union also handed over it’s letter to the CMD BSNL, demanding relaxation to the failed candidates. The CMD BSNL gave a patient hearing and assured that the matter would be looked into appropriately. BSNLEU will further pursue this case.

A meeting between the BSNL Management and the Recognised Unions & Associations was held yesterday. Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR) and Shri Manish Kumar, GM(Restg.) were present from the Management Side. BSNLEU is represented by Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary. Representatives of NFTE, SNEA and AIBSNLEA attended. The following were briefed by the CMD BSNL:-

Performance of BSNL.

BSNL has given 21 lakh new mobile connections in January, 2020 and 18 lakh new mobile connections in February, 2020. BSNL’s market share has increased marginally. Disconnections in broadband is significant. 6% to 8% revenue increase is there in the EB segment. Presently, 6,000 OLTs are there in our FTTH segment. Bharat Air Fibre is introduced to give FTTH connections in isolated places. Hereafter, BSNL will purchase Armoured Optic Fibre Cables to trace out faults.

VRS.   

78,569 employees opted for VRS, out of which 199 have died. 1,767 cases are pending with BSNL and all other cases are already sent to the DoT. 76,929 VRS optees are getting provisional pension. 26,370 PPOs are issued. Rs.5,200 crore is the expenditure on account of Leave Encashment. First instalment of Ex-gratia and Leave Encashment will be paid to the VRS optees on 30^th or 31^st March, 2020.

BSNL’s 4G service.

In the budget for 2020-21, Government has made provision for allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and the same can be allotted to BSNL in May,2020. However, BSNL will not take the 4G spectrum immediately, since equipments will be ready for launching 4G service only after March, 2021. For 4G spectrum, BSNL has to pay Rs.5.5 crore, per day, as licence fee, even if BSNL does not use it. Hence, it is not wise to take the 4G spectrum, before the equipments are ready.

BSNL is already having 40,000 3G BTSs, which are 4G compatible. All these 40,000 BTSs can be upgraded to 4G BTSs, by which BSNL can immediately launch it’s 4G service. However, BSNL is experiencing certain difficulties in this regard. BSNL has to pay around Rs.2,000 crore as outstanding dues to the vendors of these BTSs, viz., Nokia, ZTE and Erricsson. Apart from that, Nokia is demanding a sum of Rs.3.5 lakh to Rs.7 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 13,000 BTSs supplied by them. Whereas, ZTE is demanding a sum of Rs.7 lakh to Rs.10 lakh per BTS, for the upgradation of the 24,000 BTSs supplied by them. Since the rates are extremely high, BSNL is presently not in a position to upgrade these BTSs, for providing 4G service.

Monetisation of assets.

BSNL has already identified 14 assets for sale. In these, 11 are accepted by the DIPAM (Department of Investment and Public Assets Management). Value of these 11 assets comes to Rs.18,200 crore. Three MNCs are identified for effecting the sale of these assets. Monetisation of assets is very essential. BSNL’s liability as of now is Rs.40,000 crore. If these assets are not sold immediately, then BSNL will fall into a debt-trap.

Sovereign Guarantee.

Government is expected to give the sovereign guarantee in April, 2020, which will enable BSNL to raise funds to the tune of Rs.8,500 crore from the market, by issuing bonds. The rate of interest for these bonds will be around 7.5%.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL.

Merger of BSNL and MTNL will happen soon. The government is taking steps to ensure this merger expeditiously.

Views expressed by the Unions and Associations.

Deep anguish was expressed over the delay in launching BSNL’s 4G service. At any cost, BSNL’s 4G service has to be launched without further delay. The maintenance of networks / attending of faults is not being done satisfactorily through outsourcing. The amount being offered by BSNL for outsourcing the maintenance of landline / broadband is quite handsome. Hence, this should include the maintenance of Primary Cables also. CGMs have ordered closing of the faults of more than 3 days’ duration, without restoration of the same. This manipulation should stop. The functioning of CSCs should be reviewed. The views of the Unions and Associations should be duly considered, before a final call is taken by the government on the merger of BSNL and MTNL. The IIM, Ahmedabad, report on the Revival of BSNL was never discussed with the Unions and Associations. However, it was replied in the floor of the Parliament that the same was discussed with the Unions and Associations. Management has taken decisions on the merger of Project and Maintenance Circles, merger of Telecom Factories with territorial circles and formation of Zonal Training Centres, without consulting the Unions and Associations. All restructurings / reorganisation must be discussed with the Unions and Associations. BSNLEU demanded that a separate discussion should be held to discuss the issues of the contract workers. CMD BSNL agreed for the same.

Due to paucity of time, restructuring / reorganisation plan was not discussed. CMD BSNL assured that this issue would be discussed within a day or two.

Many comrades among us are of the opinion that, it will be difficult to organise struggles after the massive retrenchment of employees, done through the VRS-2019. Further, it is also being generally felt that, agitations cannot be organised during the lock-down period, due to severe restrictions. But, the Azamgarh district union of BSNLEU, in UP(East) circle, has proved that the working class can organise struggles under any circumstance. Today, the Azamgarh district union has organised dharna programme, by maintaining social distance, against violation of Corporate Office instruction on outsourcing CSCs. CHQ heartily congratulates the Azamgarh district union.

The AUAB has already given a call to submit memorandum to all the MPs, requesting for their intervention in rolling out BSNL’s 4G service, as well as implementation of the assurances given in the Revival Package. In accordance with this, the AUAB, Tirupur, Tamil Nadu circle, has submitted memorandum to Com.K. Subbarayan, Lok Sabha member of Tirupur, belonging to the CPI. Com.Subbarayan has assured to take necessary steps in this connection. CHQ heartily congratulates all the comrades of the AUAB, Tirupur, Coimbatore district.

Kudos to the Tamil Nadu circle. In the month of March,2018, alone, the Tamil Nadu BSNL has activated more than 10 lakh SIMs. Tamil Nadu BSNL has did a marvellous job of catching a good number of customers from Aircel, which has become bankrupt recently. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the Management, officers and the employees of Tamil Nadu BSNL.

As regards outsourcing of the Customer Service Centres, a meeting between Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and shri A.K. Jain, CGM, NC NGN, was held today. This meeting is in continuation of the earlier meeting, wherein the Union opposed the outsourcing of the CSCs. Thereafter, the issue was discussed in the CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Agartala, wherein it was decided to reject the Management’s move for outsourcing. In today’s meeting Com. P. Ahimanyu, GS, firmly conveyed to the CGM NC NGN that the outsourcing of CSCs is not acceptable and requested to drop the move.

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Ghaziabad, on 22^nd & 23^rd October, 2018, seriously discussed about the stand of the Management, on denial of HRA revision. The meeting did not accept the denial of HRA revision to BSNL employees, citing the company’s financial position. The meeting has demanded that the Management should settle the wage revision, with HRA revision.

बीएसएनएल कर्मियों के वेतन भुगतान मुद्दे पर कॉम तपन सेन, महासचिव, सीटू ने माननीय संचार राज्य मंत्री श्री मनोज सिन्हा को पत्र लिखा...
कॉम तपन सेन, महासचिव, सीटू ने  बीएसएनएल कर्मियों के वेतन भुगतान मुद्दे की ओर ध्यान आकर्षित करते हुए माननीय संचार राज्य मंत्री श्री मनोज सिन्हा को पत्र लिखा है। उन्होंने बीएसएनएल को वर्तमान वित्तीय संकट से उबारने के लिए बीएसएनएल के लिए सरकार द्वारा वित्तीय सहायता दिए जाने और ऑपरेशनल एक्सपेंडिचर के लिए बैंक लोन हेतु अनुमति देने का अनुरोध किया है। संकट की इस घड़ी में CITU द्वारा बीएसएनएल कर्मियों को प्रदत्त सहयोग के लिए बीएसएनएल ईयू आभार व्यक्त करती है।

Shri S.K. Gupta, who has taken over as the interim Director Finance of BSNL has sent a letter yesterday (letter no.F.No.16-4/2019-RB/(P) dated 16.05.2019). The letter is addressed to the other Board of Directors and to the CGMs, wherein he has mentioned that the liquidity problem (shortage of cash) being faced by BSNL will become normal soon. He has stated that normalcy in liquidity position will be restored by the next quarter (the period from July to September, 2019) of the financial year. He has also requested to convey this message to all the stake-holders.

The Tamil Nadu circle SEWA BSNL has issued a defamation notice to the General Secretary, BSNLEU, as well as to the Circle Secretary and Circle President of BSNLEU, Tamil Nadu circle. It is mentioned in the notice that, a write-up has been published on the website of BSNLEU, Tamil Nadu circle, defaming SEWA BSNL. It is also stated in the notice that a compensation of Rs.10 lakh should be paid to SEWA BSNL. CHQ wishes to state that, the accusations made in this notice are totally baseless and that BSNLEU would handle this case legally and in the appropriate manner.