In the meeting held with the CMD BSNL yesterday, the Unions and Associations enquired him about the salary payment. The CMD BSNL told that the payment would be made either before 31^st March or in the first week of April. He further stated that, by May / June, 2020, salary payment will become regular. The representatives of the Unions and Associations insisted that salary payment should be made on 31.03.2020 itself.

CHQ has already written to the BSNL Corporate Office demanding that ‘Y’ class HRA should be paid to the employees working in the newly formed Mathura-Vrindavan Municipal Corporation. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, discussed this case today with Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.), in the Corporate Office. The General Secretary insisted for the early settlement of the case. However, the Sr.GM(Estt.) replied that no proposal has formally come in this regard, from the CGM, UP(West), and assured that the issue would be settled soon after receiving proposal from the CGM.

As per the decision of the last All India Conference, the Tami Nadu circle union of BSNLEU conducted a very inspiring seminar on the Centenary of the Great October Revolution at Madurai on 21.10.2017. Com.S.Chellappa,CP & AGS presided over the seminar. Com.Babu Radhakrishnan, CS, welcomed all. The seminar was addressed by com.A.K.Padmanabhan, vice-president,CITU and com.P.Abhimanyu,GS. Both the leaders explained at length, the achievements made under the leadership of working class, in the Soviet Union, after the Great October Revolution. They also explained how the working masses are being exploited today, under the capitalist system, and said that Socialism is the only alternative to put an end to the exploitation of man by man. A large number of comrades attended the seminar and the Madurai district union had made excellent arrangements.

A very enthusiastic meeting of All Unions Associations Madhya Pradesh Circle held at Bhopal on 07-12-2014. Leader's and workers from across the Madhya Pradesh attended the meeting.Com.Dutta Mazumdar, CS, SNEA, conducted the proceedings. Com. Balbir Singh President BSNLEU, Padmanabha Rao, AGS, SNEA, K.S Kulkarni Secretary, chq, NFTE, N.D. Ram, GS, SEWA BSNL, Parvez Khan, Advisor chq, AIBSNEA, Pawan Akhand, AGS, AIGETOA, Jagdish Nanahat, Dy.GS, BMS BSNL, Prakash Sharma, CS, BSNLEU, Jagan Boria, CS, SEWA BSNL, K.S. Thakur, ACS, NFTE BSNL, Anil Khosle,DS , AIGETOA addressed the meeting and explained the strike issues in detail and called upon the workers to make the strike a grand success.

Palestinians are waging prolonged struggles against the aggression of Israel. Hundreds of Palestinians are being killed by Israeli armed forces. The US, the so called “champion of human rights”, is completely supporting Israel, in violation of all the resolutions passed by the United Nations. In this back drop, Palestinians have organised a novel protest in front of the European Parliament, at Brussels. 4,500 pairs of shoes are placed before the European Parliament. Each pair of shoes symbolises one Palestinian Killed by the Israeli forces.

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, seriously discussed the call given by the National Convention of Workers, held at New Delhi on 28.09.2018, for a two day strike to be held on 08th & 9th January, 2019. At a time when serious attempts are being made by the government, to finish off the Public Sector Undertakings, a united struggle of the Indian working class against the anti-PSU and pro-private policies of the government has to be organised successfully. The CEC meeting has called on the employees to participate enmasse in the two day general strike.

A meeting of the Extended Circle Executive Committee of Tamil Nadu circle was held at Cuddalore yesterday the 05.08.2019. Com.S.Chellappa, Circle President, delivered the presidential address. Com.Babu Radhakrishnan, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and made a presentation on the revival of BSNL and on the forthcoming Membership Verification. More than 300 comrades including the circle office bearers, district secretaries and branch secretaries attended the meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and spoke at length. He exposed the so called revival package of the government and accused that large scale retrenchment of the employees is in the offing. Further, he accused that the landed properties of BSNL are being taken away at throw away price, in the name of making BSNL a debt free Company. He lamented that the 63 land parcels, have already been identified for handing over to the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). These 63 land parcels are being grossly undervalued, which is going to result in a huge loss to BSNL. He called upon the employees to popularise the alternative charter of demands of the AUAB, for the financial revival of BSNL. A good number of the branch secretaries participated the deliberations and assured, they would take all out efforts to make BSNLEU victorious in the forthcoming Membership Verification.

सितंबर 2019 की सैलरी का भुगतान...
सितंबर 2019 की सैलरी के भुगतान बाबद साथियों द्वारा कई प्रकार की क्वेरीज की जा रही है। इस संबंध में 23.09.2019 को ही  BSNLEU द्वारा CMD BSNL से चर्चा की जा चुकी है।CMD BSNL द्वारा बताया गया था कि अक्टूबर माह में सैलरी का भुगतान करना संभव नही होगा। तत्पश्चात 24.09.2019 को BSNLEU द्वारा  CMD BSNL को पत्र लिखा गया। यह उल्लेखित किया गया कि अक्टूबर माह में पूजा, दशहरा, दीपावली जैसे प्रमुख त्योंहार है और पुरजोर तरीके से यह मांग की गई कि सैलरी का भुगतान समय पर किया जाना चाहिए। इन सब प्रयासों के बावजूद मैनेजमेंट ने सैलरी का भुगतान नही किया है। इन परिस्थितियों में  BSNLEU ने  SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS, BSNL ATM और BSNL OA के साथ 01.10.2019 को विरोध प्रदर्शन किया। अन्य मांगों के साथ, सितम्बर माह की सैलरी के त्वरित भुगतान की मांग प्रमुख रूप से शामिल थी। आंदोलन को और अधिक तीव्रता से करने के लिए यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स को साथ ले कर हर संभव प्रयास किए जा रहे हैं।

The CVO has informed BSNL Management that it has been decided to with hold vigilance clearance of VRS optees, against whom personal court cases (other than Departmental) are pending.

The All India Centre of BSNLEU met today and reviewed the decision to hold “badge wearing and gate meeting”, programme to be held on 23.03.2020, against CAA, NPR and NRC. Considering the extraordinary situation prevailing in the country, due to the spread of Corona Virus, the meeting has decided to defer this programme.

As per the call given by the CHQ, relief materials worth Rs.1,700/-  were distributed to each of the 32 contract workers on 02.05.2020, at Ranipet and Ambur SDCAs of Vellore SSA, in Tamilnadu Circle.  Com.Velayudham, BS, BSNLEU, Com.Sivaraj, BS, TNTCWU and  Com. Raja, BS, AIBDPA and other office bearers participated in Ranipet. Com.M.Dhamodharan, ADS, BSNLEU, Com.D.Rajendran, AIBDPA and other comrades participated in Ambur.

BSNLEU is continuously pressing the Management hard to settle this issue. BSNLEU is demanding that full marks should be given to all the questions with multiple right answers. Today also, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke to Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR) and requested for an early solution of this case. Alternatively, the General Secretary demanded that, what was suggested by the Director(HR), in the meeting held with BSNLEU in January, 2020, should be implemented. The Director (HR) responded positively and assured to look into it.

A National workshop, on wage revision in the Central Public Sector Undertakings, was held in the Sundaraiya Vigyan Kendra at Hyderabad, on 22-10-2017. It was jointly organised by INTUC, AITUC, HMS, CITU, LPF, JAF of the Bengaluru based Public Sector trade unions and the Coordination Committee of the Hyderabad based Public Sector trade unions. Independent trade unions / federations of various sectors, including BSNLEU, also participated. Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy, president, INTUC, inaugurated the Seminar. Com.Tapan Sen, MP, General Secretary, CITU, com.H.Mahadevan(AITUC), com. Ellaiah(HMS) and com. Shanmugam(LPF) addressed. This was followed by deliberations by the delegates.

The main focus of the discussion was wage revision. However, serious concerns were expressed about the mad drive of the Narendra Modi government, for disinvestment and privatisation of the Public Sector, increasing contractualisation of permanent jobs, need for fresh recruitment, wage revision of the contract workers, etc. It was also strongly insisted that the trade unions should not accept 10 year wage agreement and should fight for 5 year settlement.

Participating in the debate, com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, highlighted the one day strike held in BSNL on 27-07-2017, on wage revision issue and the decision of the entire unions and associations of BSNL to go on a two day strike in December, demanding wage settlement and opposing formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company. He also explained how successfully the BSNL employees are facing the cut throat competition of Reliance Jio. Com.Ramanandan, Secretary, CITU, explained the wage settlement reached in the Coal India Ltd. The Seminar decided that the Public Sector trade unions should closely coordinate among themselves to successfully settle the wage revision and against disinvestment and privatisation.

The BSNL Working Women's Coordination Committee, West Bengal circle, organised a women's convention at the CTO, Building, Kolkata, on 12th & 13th December, 2017, to make mobilisation for the two day strike. Com.Shibani Das presided over. Com. Banani Chottopadhyay, National Joint Convener of the Committee, Com Jhumur Bandyopadhyay and Com. Animesh Mitra, CS, BSNLEU, WB, addressed the Convention and appealed to the workers to make the strike a grand success. Com. Banani also reported on decisions of the recently held, BSNL Working Women's Coordination Committee, held at New Delhi.

The first meeting of the Standing Committee was held today, chaired by Shri A.M.Gupta, GM(SR). Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, Com.Balbir Singh, President and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS represented BSNLEU in the meeting. Implementation of all the decisions taken in the 35^th meeting of the National Council were reviewed in the meeting.

The CEC meeting of BSNLEU discussed in depth, and passed a resolution about the ways and means for the financial revival of BSNL, in a scenario wherein the technology is changing fast.

The AUAB, Karnataka circle organised a huge joint GB meeting at Bengaluru on 2^nd January 2019. Around 300 comrades attended. Com.A.C.Krishna Reddy, Chairman, AUAB, presided. Com.C.K. Gundanna, Convenor, welcomed all and briefed about the importance and necessity of holding the General Body meeting of AUAB. Com.K.S. Sheshadri, Dy.Gen.Secretary, NFTE BSNL, Com.H.V. Sudharshan, Dist.Secretary, BSNLEU, BGTD, Com. S.P. Jagadale, CS, SNEA, Com. S.K. Hiremath, CS, AIBSNLEA, Com.S.S. Prasad, CS BSNL MS, Com. Chandan, ACS AIGETOA and Com.Raghu, All India Org.Secretary, ATM, addressed the house and explained in detail about the decisions taken in the meeting held between the Hon'ble MoS(C) and the AUAB on 03-12-2018, based on which the Indefinite Strike has been deferred.

As per the ‘State of Working India 2018’ report’, the country has the highest rate of unemployment in 20 years. According to the report released by the Centre for Sustainable Employment of the Azim Premji University, shockingly, 82% of male and 92% per cent of female workers earn less than ₹10,000 a month. It is very important to note that, ₹18,000 per month is the minimum salary recommended by the Seventh Central Pay Commission. This suggests that a large majority of Indians are not being paid, what may be termed as living wage. In the 1970s and 1980s, when GDP growth was around 3-4%, employment growth was around 2% per annum. Since the 1990s, and particularly in the 2000s, GDP growth has accelerated to 7% but employment growth has slowed to 1% or even less. 

[Source: Times of India.com dt. 01-02-2019]