The Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Chennai Circle, was held at Chennai yesterday the 06.08.2019. Com.E.Natarajan, President, presided over the meeting. Com.S. Lakshmanan, Circle Organising Secretary, delivered the welcome address. Com.M. Kanniappan, Circle Secretary, submitted his report on activities and initiated the discussion. Com.S. Chellppa, AGS, briefly addressed the meeting and explained about the lootings of workers' money, that is taking place in the Chennai Telecom Employees Co-operative Society. Addressing the meeting, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke elaborately about the crisis being faced by BSNL today, the root causes for the crisis, as well as the alternative road map for the revival of BSNL. In this regard, Com.P. Abhimanyu, also explained about the decision taken in the AUAB meeting held on 01.08.2019. He declared with confidence that the unions and associations will ensure the financial revival of BSNL through mass movements.

BSNLEU and the BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNL CCWF) are continuously fighting for the payment of wage arrears of the contract workers. Of late, the unions and associations of BSNL have also taken up this issue. This was an important demand in the protest day demonstrations held on 01^st October, 2019. Despite all these, the BSNL Management has not paid the wage arrears of the contract workers. Now, the payment of wages to the contract workers is being taken up in the Parliament. A Parliament Question has been raised about the payment of wages of contract workers. Undoubtedly, BSNL is in a severe financial crisis. However, no Management can close it’s eyes and remain silent, without paying wages to the contract workers for 8 months.

With as many as 78,569 of its employees opting for the voluntary retirement scheme (VRS), State-run telco BSNL expects to save about ₹1,300 crore in wage bills during the current financial year.

    “Our goal is that people who have applied for VRS, their application should be considered and approved… VRS will take place from January 31, 2020. So, there will be two months — February and March, where the savings will come to us… BSNL is likely to save ₹1,300 crore in this financial year,” Chairman and Managing Director P.K. Purwar said on Tuesday. He added that about 70,000 employees would still remain with the telco, “which is a reasonable number.” “As on date, BSNL will not make any recruitment, except where it is required as per current policy,” he said.

   Asked about the headway made in merger of BSNL and MTNL, Mr. Purwar said, “The discussion for merger has started. Both the boards have met on a common platform to take stock on how to move forward”.

[Courtesy: The Hindu dated 18.12.2019]

BSNL always remains in the forefront, to serve the people, when the nation is faced natural calamities. When cyclones, floods, etc. occurred, BSNL and it’s employees have selflessly served the people. In line with this, presently, when the nation is faced with the threat of Corona Virus and when professionals and employees are compelled to work from home, BSNL has come forward to offer free broadband connection for a month. Under this scheme, 5 GB data every day, with 10mbps speed, is offered free of cost. With this scheme, BSNL is contributing it's mite, to curtail the spread of corona virus infection, which spreads through social interaction.

CHQ is getting a lot of queries from comrades, regarding the payment of salary for the month of June, 2020. In the countrywide black-flag demonstrations organised on 16^th July, 2020, payment of salary on the due date was one of the import demands. Despite united agitation on this vital issue, by the employees, the BSNL Management does not bother to pay the salary on time. 

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke to Shri S.K. Gupta, Director (Finance) today and discussed this issue. It was replied by the Director (Finance) that, even though around Rs.1,300 crore is being collected by the Company every month, the monthly expenditure of the Company is much more, due to which salary is not being paid on time.  The General Secretary expressed his deep anguish that, the Management does not care to take the unions and associations into confidence, so far as increasing the revenue, through stepping up marketing activities. At the end of the discussion, the Director (Finance) told that they would try to pay the salary in the next week. 

Shri Bharat Singh Kadian, father of com. M.S.Kadian, circle secretary, BSNLEU, Haryana, passed away yesterday. He was 95 years old, and had been unwell for some time. CHQ conveys it's heartfelt condolences to com.M.S.Kadian, as well as to all his family members.

The 3 day CEC meeting of BSNLEU starts at Agartala tomorrow. The meeting is being inaugurated by Com.K.Hemalata, President, CITU. Wage Revision, fight against the Subsidiary Tower Company issues will be key issues to be discussed in this CEC meeting. Besides, the meeting will also make a mid-term review of the functioning of the Union. Venue of the CEC meeting is Shaheed Bhagat Singh Yuva Awas, Kehjurbagan, Agartala.

Shri Vivek Banzal has joined as the new Director (CFA) of BSNL. The Corporate Office has mentioned in his posting order that, his appointment is subject to the outcome of the case filed in the Hon’ble CAT, Jabalpur Bench, by Dr.Mahesh Shukla, CGM, Madhya Pradesh. BSNLEU heartily welcomes Shri Vivek Banzal, the new Director (CFA) and wishes him all success.

With the view to mobilise the employees for the two day General Strike to be organised on 08^th & 09^th January, 2019, BSNLEU, NFTE, BSNL MS and TEPU had given call for organising lunch hour demonstrations and gate meetings today. Accordingly, the programme is observed throughout the country today. CHQ requests the circle and district unions to continue to campaign among the employees, for making the two day General Strike successful.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU and Com.Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE, tried to meet the CMD BSNL yesterday, regarding the issues of non-payment of salary to the employees. It was told that the CMD BSNL was indisposed and hence, they could not meet him. However, both the General Secretaries met Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR) and discussed the issue in detail. During the discussion, the Director (HR) informed the leaders that an emergent meeting of the BSNL Board is taking place today. However, from the discussion that took place, it is understood that chances for immediate payment of salary to the employees, for the month of February, 2019, is very less. In view of this an emergent meeting of the AUAB is convened at 14:00 hrs. today.

Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, who was in Chennai to attend the Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting, visited the Harbour Telecom Exchange today. The exchange was burnt down in a massive fire, in the intervening night of 31.07.2019, and 01.08.2019. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, was accompanied by Com.M.Kanniappan, Circle Secretary, Com.Ramachandran, District Secretary, North East, Com.Bharathy, District Secretary, Development, Com.Sri Ganesh, District Secretary, South East, Com.Madhivanan, Circle Organising Secretary, Com.Thulukkanam, Assistant Circle Secretary and Com.Murali, Branch Secretary, Flower Bazaar. The delegation visited the affected areas of the Harbour Telephone Exchange building and enquired about the restoration work being carried out. It is a matter of pride that within a short time, services have been restored to a great extent by the BSNL team.

The Hindu Business Line has published an article today, demanding the government to take immediate steps for the revival of BSNL. One or two points raised in this article are not agreeable to us. However, the article has demanded that BSNL should remain as a strong PSU, to counter the tariff manipulations by the private operators. The write-up has criticised many decisions taken by the government, which have weakened BSNL. It has demanded that BSNL should be freed from the tendering process, for effectively competing with the private companies. The article has also underscored the need for a strong BSNL, which is very much required to cater the needs of the rural and far-flung areas. Further, it has also emphasised the need for BSNL to remain as a strong government owned Company, at a time when cyber crimes and data espionage are feared. Will the Narendra Modi government open it’s eyes ?

The Formal meeting sought by BSNLEU, to discuss certain important staff issues, is being delayed, since the Director (HR) is on leave and is expected to join only on 26.12.2019. Discussion on some other important issues can also take place only after the Director (HR) returns. 

Dear comrades, the threat of Corona Virus is spreading fast. The massive infection and large scale deaths, being witnessed in countries like Italy, China, France, Spain, etc., are highly disturbing. We wish, the same should not happen in India also. Hence, the CHQ of BSNLEU calls upon the entire BSNL employees in general and the functionaries and leaders of BSNLEU in particular, to take all precautionary measures to avoid getting infected and also to strictly follow the instructions of the health department authorities. All meetings, where gatherings take place, must be avoided for the time being. All conferences, circle, district and branch, may be postponed, till the situation improves.

BSNLEU Tamil Nadu circle union and Tamil Nadu Telecom Contract Workers Union (TNTCWU) organised dharna in 40 places of Tamil Nadu on 08-05-2020, by maintaining social distancing, demanding settlement of the issues of the contract workers. The demands are:-

1) Stop the new tender system. 

2) No retrenchment of Contract workers.

3) Immediate payment of Contract workers wage arrears.

The dharna successfully took place in 40 places in 14 SSAs. 

A meeting of the AUAB will be held online at 15:00 hrs on 25-07-2020. The agenda for the meeting will be the following:-

1) Government's proposal to monetise BSNL’s towers and fibre. 

2) Review of the government's decision to monetise BSNL's lands. 

3) Review of the Black Flag demonstration, held on 16-07-2020.

4) Review of the ongoing programme of submitting memorandum to the MPs. 

5) Planning of the Twitter campaign to be held on 05^th August, 2020. 

6) Any other item with the permission of the chair. 

The meeting was held at Hyderabad and 350 have attended from Hyderabad & all Districts in Telangana. The Circle Secretaries of All Unions & Associations have presided & CHQ Office bearers of Al Unions & Associations have addressed. From BSNLEU, Com J.Sampath Rao CS was in the presidium and Com P.Asokababu Vice President (CHQ) has addressed. The meeting resolved to make the two days strike a grand success.

The BJP government, which is taking all out efforts to kill the public sector, has now taken decision to induct 10 of it’s party people, as the independent directors on the boards of top public sector companies. The NDA’s Appointments Committee of the Cabinet (ACC), has taken decision to this effect.

These include, party’s Delhi unit Vice President Shazia Ilmi; Gujarat IT cell convenor Rajika Kacheria; minority face of the BJP in Gujarat Asifa Khan; former BJP MLA candidate from Odisha Surama Padhy and former Bihar MLC Kiran Ghai Sinha.

They are to be inducted as independent directors of Navaratna PSUs that include Engineers India Ltd (EIL), Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL), Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) and the National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO). 

[Source: The Indian Express dated 27.01.2017]

Diesel price is increased to a record high in our country. The reason cited is, the increase in the price of crude oil in the international market. Diesel price in Delhi presently is Rs.64.58 per litre and the price of petrol is Rs.73.73 per litre. The price of crude oil in the international market is only $70 per barrel at present. It may be recollected that crude oil was sold at $100 per barrel some years ago. Even in those days diesel price was not so high in India. The real fact of the matter is that, government of India is minting money, by raising taxes on petrol and diesel, citing the slight price rise of crude oil in the international market. This is nothing but looting the working masses of this country, for showering benefits to the corporates.