Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice- President (CHQ) met Shri S.K. Sinha, GM (Admn.) today and discussed about the Management’s proposal to curtail the existing medical facilities. The Union strongly demanded that the Corporate Office should immediately issue letter, to extend the payment of cash without voucher to the retired employees beyond the initial 6 month period. The GM (Admn.) agreed to look into it. The Union also demanded that the ceiling for outdoor treatment should be restored from 23 days to the earlier limit of 25 days. The GM (Admn.) replied that this issue needs to be discussed with the top management.

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 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.

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.

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 acute shortage in equipments, for providing FTTH connections, is being raised by our comrades time and again. BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL in this regard, and has discussed also. Today, com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, raised this issue with shri A.K. Jain, CGM NC NGN. He replied that the BSNL Management has already taken action to overcome short supply of equipments. He told 1.7 lakh FTTH connections were provided in 2017-18 and Management has fixed 36 lakh as the target for 2018-19. The ARPU of FTTH is Rs.1,600, which is a significant amount. For providing 36 lakh FTTH connections, Management has taken many steps. For example, action is being taken for the procurement of OLT and ONT equipments, by the CGMs, without tenders, based on the rates prescribed in GEM portal. Further, for the last mile, cable operators are being roped in. All circle and district unions are requested to take all steps, to ensure that the target of giving 36 lakh FTTH lines are achieved in 2018-19.

Com.R.S.Chauhan, Vice-President (CHQ), is retiring from service on superannuation tomorrow the 31-05-2018. A function was organised by the NTR circle union today, in the CTO sabhagarh, Eastern Court, to felicitate Com.R.S Chauhan. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, Com.V.A.N.Namboodiri, former GS, Com.Balbir Singh, President, Com. K.G.Jayaraj, GS, AIBDPA, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice-president (CHQ) attended the function and felicitated Com.R.S.Chauhan. A shawl and memento were presented to him, on behalf of the CHQ.

BSNLEU is the biggest contingent which participated in the yesterday’s All India Convention of Central Public Sector Workers, held New Delhi. Apart from the CHQ leaders, circle secretaries of Jammu &Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, UP(West), UP(East), Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chennai, Odisha, West Bengal, Kolkata, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, NE I and  NE II took part in the Convention. Many Central Office bearers also attended the Convention. Apart from this UP(West), Haryana, Rajasthan and Punjab circles mobilised a good number of active comrades. CHQ heartily congratulates all the comrades, who tremendously participated to the call of the CHQ. After, the Convention was over, a group photo of the participants was taken, even though a good number of comrades have already left by that time.

The All India convention of Central Public Sector Employees was held at New Delhi, yesterday the 30.05.2018. A presedium, consisting of the leaders of the Central Trade Union, presided over the Convention. Leaders, including com. Ashok Singh, National Vice- President, INTUC, com. Tapan Sen, GS, CITU, com. H. Mahadevan, Working President, AITUC, com. Shanmugam, GS, LPF, com. Swadesh Dev Roye, Secretary, CITU, com. Mahendar Sharma, HMS, com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, com. Subhash Lamba, (Electricity) and many others addressed. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, briefly explained about the struggles going on in BSNL, on the issues of Subsidiary Tower Company, Wage Revision, etc. The Convention unanimously adopted a declaration, which calls for a one day strike against disinvestment / privatisation, fixed Term Employment, demanding Wage Revision to all PSU employees, without affordability condition. Date of the strike will be announced shortly.  

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.

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.

The DoT has finalised the draft Telecom Policy 2018 and uploaded the same in their website for comments. The draft policy is named as "National Digital Communications Policy- 2018". The comments are to be given online only and the last date of submission of the comments was first 25th of May, 2018, which was further extended to 1st June, 2018. BSNLEU has submitted comments online on 31st May, 2018 (see our views).

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, who was in Kolkata yesterday, to address the condolence meeting of Com.Sisir Bhattacharji, also visited the family of our beloved leader Com.Moni Bose. Com.Animesh Mitra, VP(CHQ), accompanied him. The General Secretary enquired about the health condition of Com.Jyotsana Bose, the wife of Com.Moni Bose. She is 91 years old now and is in good spirit, even though some age related problems are there. She conveyed her best wishes to all the leaders and comrades of the Union. Dr. Gautam Bose, son of Com.Moni Bose and Mrs.Gautam Bose were also present during the visit, and they expressed their happiness to the leaders on their visit.

The circle Unions of West Bengal, Kolkata Telephones, Telecom Factory and Telecom Stores organised a memorable condolence meeting yesterday, for the late veteran leader, Com. Sisir Bhattacharji. The meeting was organised in the Alipore Telecom Factory and Com.Shekar Bhattacharya,President,Telecom Factory, presided over the meeting. A large number of comrades attended the meeting. At the outset, the leaders paid floral tributes to Com. Sisir Bhattacharji .Thereafter, the house stood in silence for a minute and paid homage.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and paid glowing tributes to Com.Sisir Bhattacharji and explained how the path shown by him is guiding BSNLEU in facing the present day challenges. Com. Pabitra Chakraborty, former General Secretary of the Administrative Union, as well as former Vice-President(CHQ), BSNLEU, Com.Animesh Mitra,Vice-President(CHQ) & circle secretary, West Bengal, Com.Sisir Roy, circle secretary,Kolkata Telephones, Com.Om Prakash Singh, Organising Secretary(CHQ) & circle secretary, Telecom Factory, Com.Alok Mitra, circle secretary,Telecom Stores, Com.S.D.Choudhary circle secretary, Telecom Factory, Mumbai and Ms.Moushmi Bhattacharya, niece of Com. Sisir Bhattacharji addressed the meeting and recollected the contributions of Com.Sisir Bhattacharji. A galaxy of leaders, including Com.Saibal Sengupta,AGS, Com.Dilip Das, former AGS, Com.Mihir Das, former AGS, Com.Siddiqi, former circle secretary, Telecom Factory,Kolkata, Com.Biplab Das, Secreatary, Coordination Committee, Com.Tapas Ghosh, Working President, BSNL CCWF, Com. Sunil Patel, circle Secretay, Telecom Factory,Jabalpur and Com.Sanjib Bannerji, AIBDPA graced the function with their presence. CHQ heartily congratulates the four circle unions for organising a befitting and memorable condolence meeting for Com.Sisir Bhattacharji.

Due to the ongoing crisis in the Indian telecom industry, created by the predatory pricing of Reliance Jio, Vodafone India, India's second largest telecom company, has already decided to merge with Idea Cellular, which is India's third largest telecom company. After merger, the name of the new entity will be "Vodafone Idea Limited". This new company will become India's largest telecom company, with 42% customer market share and 37% revenue market share. Media reports say that the merger process is in the last leg of getting the regulatory approval. In the meanwhile, Vodafone has lost 6.4 lakh subscribers in April, 2018, according to data provided by the COAI.

[ Source : ET Telecom dt. 01-06-2018 ]

The 36th meeting of the National Council is being held on 12-06-2018. As a prelude to this, a meeting of the Staff Side is taking place on 11-06-2018. The meeting will start at 15:00 hrs and the venue is Dada Ghosh Bhawan. Staff Side members are requested to attend the meeting without fail.

After getting the clearance of the DPE,  the DoT has to prepare the Cabinet Note, for getting the Cabinet's approval, for the Wage Revision of BSNL employees. This issue was discussed by BSNLEU, with the DoT, on 31-05-2018. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice-President (CHQ) met Shri Pawan Gupta, Director (PSU-1) and enquired about the status of the Wage Revision. The Director (PSU-1) replied that the DoT is working on the preparation of the Cabinet Note. The Union requested the Director (PSU-1) to expedite the same.

The All India Convention of Central Public Sector Workers, held at New Delhi on 30-05-2018,  has unanimously passed a declaration. It calls upon the Public Sector workers to uncompromisingly fight against the anti-Public Sector policies of the Narendra Modi government. It also demands that the Modi government should give up it's decision to introduce Fixed Term Employment, as well as to immediately settle the Wage Revision of the Central Public Sector workers. All circle and district secretaries are requested to give widest publicity to this Declaration.

The All India BSNL Working Women's Coordination Committee is being held at Bengaluru on 30-06-2018. The venue of the meeting is:-

BSNL Employees Union Office

CTO Building Telephone House,

Rajbhavan Road, Minsk Square,

Bengaluru 560 001.

(Land Mark: Next to Cubbon Park Metro Station)

Together with the Committee meeting, a seminar is also being organised. Com.Sudha Sundararaman, AIDWA, is addressing the seminar.