Praful Patel was the Civil Aviation Minister during the UPA Rule. Many questionable decisions were taken during his tenure, including the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, which have led to the down fall of the Air India. Air India is a loss making company today, and the government has decided to privatise it. Complaints are there that Rs.272 crore was taken as bribe, to reallocate very profitable international routes to foreign airways companies, viz., Emirates, Air Arabia and Qatar Airways. Further, the decision to buy 111 aircraft’s in one go, for Air India, for Rs.70,000 crore is also being questioned.

CMD BSNL से मीटिंग पश्चात AUAB का कल की भूख हड़ताल स्थगित (defer) करने का निर्णय..
AUAB और CMD BSNL के बीच आज 03:00 pm पर मीटिंग हुई। डायरेक्टर (HR) और डायरेक्टर (CM) भी उपस्थित थे। CMD BSNL ने आश्वासित किया कि वेतन का भुगतान 23.10.2019 तक कर दिया जाएगा। साथ ही उन्होंने बताया कि कि BSNL के रिवाइवल पैकेज पर कैबिनेट द्वारा निर्णय लिए जाने की संभावना है। उन्होंने AUAB से 18.10.2019 को होने वाली भूख हड़ताल स्थगित करने की अपील की। इस मीटिंग के पश्चात AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने भूख हड़ताल फिलहाल स्थगित करने का निर्णय लिया। स्थिति की समीक्षा करने और आगामी रणनीति तय करने हेतु उचित निर्णय लेने के लिए AUAB की आगामी मीटिंग  30.10.2019 को करने का भी निर्णय लिया गया। 

The government has decided that all the telecom equipments suppliers could participate in the 5G spectrum trial. This includes, The Chinese companies, viz., Huawei and ZTE. However, the Swadeshi Jagaran Manch, the economic wing of the RSS, has opposed this. It has written to the government, expressing it’s opposition to the admission of Huawei and ZTE for the 5G spectrum trials. It has told that, the participation of the Chinese companies in the 5G technology roll out would compromise the security of the nation. The opposition of the RSS is nothing but the echo of Donald Trump’s voice. The US President has told that all countries should boycott the Chinese Companies in the rolling out of 5G networks. On the other hand, it is an open secret that, the US imperialism is utilising it’s companies, viz., Google, Facebook, etc., to spy all other nations, including India. The RSS has never raised it’s voice against the US’s spying activities. This only shows the biased world view of the RSS and it’s outfits.

[Source: The Economic Times dated 01.01.2020]

1) Mysore district union – Rs.10,000/-
2) Telecom Central Govt. Information Technology Housing Society, Bengaluru, (President: Com. H. V. Sudharshan) - Rs.10,000/-
3) Com. Gnana Prakash, Ex.ACS( VRS)  - Rs.5,000/-
4) Com. C. P. Vijaykumar Dist treasurer. BGTD - Rs.5,000/-
5) Com.Md. Ali Khan, DOB BGTD - Rs.3,000/-
6) Com. B. V. Murthy, BP, Vijayanagar, BGTD - Rs.2,000/-
7) Com.Shinde, VP, BGTD - Rs.2,000/-

Donations from Civil Division, Karnataka circle :-

1) Com. Ganesh, SE(C), DGM - Rs.5,000/-
2) Com.Chitravathi, JTO(C) - Rs.5,000/-
3) Com.Parvathamma, JE(C) - Rs.5,000/-
4) Com.Mohan, JE(C) - Rs.2,000/-
5) Com.D.M Farooq, AOS   - Rs.3,000/-
6) Com.Selvamani, JE(C)   - Rs.3,000/-
7) Com.Channaveraiah, JE(C) - Rs.1,000/-
8) Com.Nirmala, JE(C)  - Rs.1,000/-
9) Com.Bhujang Bhushan, DGM, HR Admn. - Rs.2,000/-
10) Com.Narayan, EE(HQ)  - Rs.2,000/-
11) Com.Malliga N, OS      - Rs.2,000/-
12) Com.Seethalakshmi M, P.Secy to CE(C) - Rs.5,000/-
13) Com.Kusuma, P Secy. to CE(C) - Rs.3,000/-

CHQ conveys it's hearty thanks to all the comrades. 

BSNLEU is continuously pursuing all the important staff issues with the Management and is taking efforts to find a solution to those issues. Today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, telephonically discussed the following issues with Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR).

(1)    Relaxation in qualifying marks of the JTO LICE held on 26.05.2019.

Only a very few candidates got qualified in this exam, because of various problems in the question paper. 10 questions were asked with multiple correct answers. BSNLEU demanded that, the candidates should be given full marks for all these 10 questions. However, the Recruitment Branch stated that, as per the existing SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), all these questions have been removed. Thereafter, the issue was discussed with the Director (HR) and the CMD BSNL on various occasions and relaxation was demanded to the qualifying marks. Even though the Director (HR) is sympathetic, no improvement has come so far. This issue was once again discussed in detail with the Director (HR) today, who has assured to look into the case afresh.

(2)   Holding JE LICE as offline exam.

BSNLEU has consistently been demanding that the JE LICE should be held immediately. The Union is also demanding that the exam should be held as an “off-line” exam. The issue is already discussed several time with the Director (HR) and the GM(Rectt.). In today’s discussion, the General Secretary urged upon the Director (HR) to hold the JE LICE as an "off-line" exam without further delay. He pointed out that the aspirant candidates are frustrated, since they are waiting for the past couple of years to appear in the exam. The Director (HR) assured to do the needful.

(3)   Payment of Rs.10 lakh as compensation to the employees who die due to COVID-19.

As per the Hon'ble Delhi High Court order, the DoT has already issued letter, as per which the employees who die in accident, while on duty, should be paid a compensation of Rs.10 lakh. The Postal department has already extended this to the postal employees. Accordingly, the postal employees who die due to COVID-19, will be paid a compensation of Rs.10 lakh. BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, demanding implementation of this scheme to the BSNL employees. In today’s discussion, the General Secretary insisted immediate implementation of this scheme, in view of the fact that, the BSNL employees working at the field level, have become vulnerable to COVID-19. The Director (HR) replied that he had already directed the SR Branch to look into this matter. He also assured that the matter would be expeditiously looked into.

The three day circle conference of  BSNLEU, Kerala circle, is starting at Ernakulam tomorrow the 01.02.2018. Kerala circle continues to be the number one profit making unit of BSNL in the whole country. BSNLEU's contribution in this is very crucial. Similarly, BSNLEU has defeated all the attempts made by vested interests, to weaken the Union, during the last few years. The three day circle conference will discuss and finalise the road-map to further strengthen the Union, as well as the Company, in the years to come. Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, will attend the Conference on all the three days, and will guide the deliberations.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Saurabh Tyagi, GM (Estt.) today, and discussed the following issues. Shri Sheo Sankar Prasad, DGM and Shri A.K. Sing, DGM were present in the discussion.

(1)   Stopping illegal recovery of the arrears of employees’ contribution of EPF.

This issue relates to the employees who are recruited prior to 01.10.2000 and appointed after 01.10.2000. Initially GPF was implemented for them and subsequently they were shifted to EPF scheme. Management has started recovering the arrears of the employee contribution of EPF, from the date of their appointment. BSNLEU objected to this, since it is against the Act. This issue was discussed in the 35th meeting of the National Council. However, it is still lingering on. The issue was discussed in detail in today’s meeting.  The Management Side explained about the action taken in the case of Madhya Pradesh circle, where the Act is partially implemented. The GS demanded total implementation of the Act in MP circle. They also reported that no information is available with regards to Telangana circle. The GS, BSNLEU, assured to give the details regarding Telangana circle.

(2)   Anomalies.

The Management Side informed that the necessary inputs have already been sent to the DoT, for the implementation BSNL’s proposal, to settle the anomalies issue. BSNLEU will further pursue the case with the DoT.

(3)   Group ‘B’ status to Senior Accountants.

Management Side informed that the Establishment Branch has already recommended the granting of Rs. 7830 pay scale (equivalent to 5500 pay scale) to the EF Branch. Further action in this regard would be taken by the EF Branch, it was told. However, it was also informed that the Corporate Office would take a final decision on this issue, only after the court stay is vacated.

(4)   TT LDCE – one time relaxation to the 10th std. qualification.

BSNLEU has long been demanding that a one time relaxation should be given for appearing the TT LDCE, to those officials who are not possessing 10th std. qualification. From today’s discussion, it is understood that Management is reluctant to accept our demand. The issue will be further discussed with the Director (HR).

(5)   Settlement of downgradation of Sr.TOA cadre from 7100 to 6550.

This issue was discussed very elaborately today. The GM (Estt.) told that they were very sympathetic to the affected employees. At the same time, they opined that to settle this issue, the NEPP scheme needed to be modified, for which the approval of BSNL Board was needed, and the same was not possible in the present circumstances. However, the GS, BSNLEU, urged upon them to take this issue for the approval of the BSNL Board to settle the grievances of the affected employees.

BSNLEU once again writes to the Director (HR) on 14-05-2018, demanding implementation of a tailor-made mobile plan to the Non-Executives of BSNL, equivalent to the Rs.429 mobile plan. BSNLEU also exposes the lame excuses of the Admn. Branch of the Corporate Office, for denying the Rs.429 plan to Non-Executives. BSNLEU also questions the denial of the Rs.429 plan to the Non-Executives, even though the Company will not be incurring any extra expenditure to implement the same.

AUAB द्वारा CMD BSNL से नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव कर्मियों की वेज रिवीजन वार्ता में उत्पन्न गतिरोध को खत्म करने हेतु हस्तक्षेप की मांग

02.11.2018 को सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम से हुई चर्चाओं के खत्म होने के पश्चात GS, BSNLEU एवं GS, NFTE BSNL द्वारा CMD BSNL को बताया गया कि नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव कर्मियों की वेज रिवीजन वार्ता में  गतिरोध उत्पन्न हो गया है क्योंकि मैनेजमेंट साइड HRA रिवीजन देने के पक्ष में नही है। उन्होंने यह भी स्पष्ट किया कि मैनेजमेंट साइड के 31.12.2006 के अनुसार देय HRA फ्रीज करने के प्रस्ताव को स्टाफ साइड स्वीकार नही कर सकती है। दोनों ही जनरल सेक्रेटरीज ने CMD BSNL से इस प्रकरण में  हस्तक्षेप कर मैनेजमेंट साइड को उचित निर्देश देने का अनुरोध किया जिससे कि वेज रिवीजन एग्रीमेंट पर अविलंब हस्ताक्षर किए जा सके। CMD BSNL ने स्टाफ साइड के अनुरोध को सुनने के बाद कहा कि वें इस प्रकरण को देखेंगे।

In today’s meeting between the CMD BSNL and the AUAB, it was pointed out that the BSNL Management has not issued any Record of Discussion, for the meeting held between the CMD BSNL and the AUAB on 02.12.2018. The AUAB demanded that the assurance given by the CMD BSNL, in respect of the Superannuation Benefits of the DR employees, should be reflected in the Record of Discussion. The CMD BSNL agreed for the same and told that the needful would be done.

The AUAB is seriously taking up the issues of non-payment of wages to the contract workers for the past 8 months, as well as their large scale retrenchment. This is because due to the above mentioned problems, the maintenance of BSNL’s services at the field level are severely affected and thereby the Company’s revenue collections are also impacted. In yesterday’s meeting with the Director (HR) and the Director (CM), this issue was discussed seriously. It was demanded that the wage arrears of the contract workers should be paid without further delay and also the retrenchment of contract workers should be stopped. The Director (HR) told that despite severe financial crisis, the Corporate Office has released funds in October, 2019, as per the following details.

Kerala – Rs.6.75 crore, West Bengal – Rs.6.5 crore, Kolkata – Rs.14.5 crore and ETR – Rs.1 crore.

The representatives demanded that the Management should take steps to clear the wage arrears of all the circles. They also pleaded that the letters issued to retrench the contract workers should be reviewed.

“The Hindu” news paper has published the above cartoon on the New Year Day. The cartoon vividly portrays the present day India. The communal forces try to divide the country on the basis of religion and take it back to the Dark Age. At the same time, the progressive Forces try to stop this and take the country forward to the future. Communal forces weaken the unity of the people, most importantly, the unity of the working people. BSNLEU, being an organisation of the working class, will remain with the progressive forces and will oppose the communal forces from dividing the people. 

1) Com.S.R.Das, CS, Odisha - Rs.5,000/-

2) Com.Chittaranjan, ACS - Rs.5,000/-

CHQ heartily thanks these comrades.

The United States is spearheading a campaign against Huawei that, the Chinese company is involving in spying and causing threat to national security. Under this circumstance, the South Korean Telecom giant, LG Uplus has stressed that Huawei does not pose any security risk. It is very important to note that South Korea is an important and close ally of the United States.

[Courtesy: ET Telecom dated 26.07.2020]

With the view to strengthen the functioning of the CHQ, the General Secretary has requested the Assistant General Secretaries to come over to the CHQ and work there in rotation. Accordingly, com.M.K.Dave, AGS, has joined the CHQ on 18.12.2017. We cordially welcome com.M.K.Dave to the CHQ.

Today is the second day of the Satyagraha struggle. The first day programme was an overwhelming success. In the same spirit and vigour, the second day Satyagraha is also being observed throughout the country. CHQ requests the circle and district unions to maintain the tempo till the final day of the programme. Employees should be massively mobilised on each day of the programme.