Only yesterday the AUAB came to know that the BSNL Board of Directors are moving in the direction of passing resolution, approving reduction of the retirement age of BSNL employees, from 60 to 58. Immediately the AUAB gave call for lunch hour demonstrations today. Even though, the call was given at a very short notice, the demonstrations were organised in a big way throughout the country. BSNL Executives and Non-Executives have spontaneously participated in the demonstrations in huge number. Today’s demonstrations are a warning signal to the BSNL Management and the DoT who want to kill BSNL by implementing Compulsory Retirement Scheme (CRS), through reducing the retirement age from 60 to 58. If the Management and the DoT do not read the writing on the wall, they will have to face militant struggles in the near future.

India is ranked 102, out of the 117 countries in the Global Hunger Index 2019. It is a matter of shame that our neighbouring countries, Nepal, Pakistan and Bangladesh are all placed above India, in the Global Hunger Index 2019.  In 2000, India was ranked 83 out of the 113 countries.

[Source: The Hindu dated 17.10.2019]

Com.Animesh Mitra, President (CHQ)  - Rs.10,000/-.

Airtel has lost 5.26 million customers in April, 2020. Vodafone Idea Ltd., has lost 4.51 million customers in the same month. Reliance Jio has added 1.57 million customers in April, 2020, whereas it had added 4.7 million customers in March, 2020.

[Courtesy : ET Telecom dt. 24-07-2020]

There are around 40 lakh employees working in the IT sector throughout the country. Like the workers of other sectors, the workers of IT sector are also facing serious problems like, heavy work load, insecurity of job, etc. However, forming of trade union has been totally prohibited in the IT sector. Under these circumstances, the IT employees of Karnataka State have finally succeeded in forming a trade union, and also getting certificate from the Labour Commission. Karnataka State IT / ITES Employees Union has got the certificate from the Labour Commission of Karnataka, under the Trade Union Act 1926, and Karnataka Trade Unions Regulations, 1958. It is significant to note that, Karnataka State is the largest IT hub of the country, with 15 lakh employees. The KITU is presently having only 250 members. But it is for sure that, in future, the trade union movement in the IT sector will grow from strength to strength, because of the existence of high a degree of exploitation in the IT sector. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the KITU.

[Inputs from the Economic Times]

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and com. M.K. Dave, AGS, met shri Y.N. Singh, GM (BFCI), and pointed out that funds are so far not allotted for payment of wages of contract workers in Tamil Nadu circle. The GM (BFCI) assured that the funds would be released shortly.

BSNLEU is saddened to know that Com.G.L.Dhar has passed away. He had been one of the dedicated leaders of the Central Government employees trade union movement. Subsequently, Com.G.L.Dhar got elected as the Secretary of the AITUC and served the working class movement. In the death of Com.G.L.Dhar, the trade union movement has lost a dedicated leader. BSNLEU pays it's respectful homage to Com.G.L.Dhar, and conveys it's heartfelt condolences to his family members.

The BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation has given call to organise hunger strike programme throughout the country on 20th November, 2018, on the issues of implementation of Rs.18,000/- as the minimum wage ; non-implementation of minimum wages, belated payment of wages, non-implementation of EPF, ESI and retrenchment of contract workers. The Ghaziabad CEC meeting of BSNLEU has called on the circle and district unions of BSNLEU to actively support and participate in this programme. CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to actively involve BSNLEU members in this programme.

Com.M.Murugaiah's funeral is taking place in his native village near Saathur ( near Madurai ). The departed leader had worked shoulder to shoulder with Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, for nearly 35 years. The General Secretary is participating in Com.M.Murugaiah's funeral, to pay his last respects.

BSNLEU conveys best wishes and warm greetings to all, on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr. Let the

festival bring peace and prosperity to all.

Chennai circle union of BSNLEU organised a huge election campaign meeting in  Chennai Telephones yesterday. The meeting was held in  the flower Bazar BSNL complex. Com. E. Natarajan, president, presided over. Com. M. Kanniappan, circle secretary, briefly addressed and explained about the issues. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and spoke at length. He explained about the attacks being made on  BSNL, the so called revival package of the government, the united struggles and alternative proposals of the AUAB for the revival of BSNL and the achievements of BSNLEU after the 7th Membership Verification and other issues. A big upsurge is observed among the employees and this will certainly reflected in the result of the 7th Membership Verification.

The Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, has thundered that the government is probing the predatory pricing of Amazon and Flipkart and that, appropriate action would be taken on violation if any. Piyush Goyal has added that, his ministry has received complaints from CAIT, a traders’ body. Well and good. However, when the Commerce Minister says that predatory pricing would not be allowed in the e-commerce segment, how is that predatory pricing was allowed in the telecom sector? Many private operators including Airtel, Idea and Vodafone had complained that Reliance Jio was practising predatory pricing. But, the Modi government did not listen to all these complaints. At the same time, the government unceremoniously sacked J.S. Deepak from the post of Secretary, Telecom, when he wrote letter to the TRAI, demanding action against the predatory pricing of Reliance Jio. How is that the government says that it would not allow predatory pricing in the e-commerce segment while allowing it in the telecom sector. Is this not a double standard of Modi government?

[Inputs from Economic Times dated 18.10.2019]

The call of the CHQ, BSNLEU, to organise lunch hour demonstrations today the 21-05-2020, has been successfully implemented throughout the country. The demonstrations have been called on, to oppose the increasing of working hours beyond 8 hours a day, demanding on time payment of salary to the employees, payment of wage arrears to the contract workers, as well as stopping their retrenchment and withdrawal of the Corporate Office letter, curtailing the existing medical facilities, are the issues for today’s demonstrations. Despite the lock-down and restrictions imposed on the movements of the citizens, call of BSNLEU has been implemented in a very successful manner. Comrades have participated in the demonstrations wearing masks and maintaining social distance. CHQ heartily congratulates all the comrades who have taken steps to make the programme successful. 

The AUAB leaders of Solapur, presented a memorandum to Dr. Jai Sidheshwar Shivacharya, Member of Parliament of Solapur, Maharashtra circle on 29.07.2020. The AUAB representatives apprised the Member of Parliament, how BSNL is being deprived of the 4G service and also non-implementation of the assurances contained in the Revival Package. The MP assured to take needful action.

BSNLEU has launched a new website, on in the CEC meeting held on 09.11.2017. The web address of the new website is bsnleu.in. CHQ has already informed that, both the existing website (bsnleuchq.com) and the new website (bsnleu.in) will be operated for some time. However, it is observed that the new website (bsnleu.in) is having some teething problem. The same would be rectified soon.      

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and com. M.K. Dave, AGS, met shri A.M. Gupta, GM (SR) and discussed the following issues.

Extension of Rs.429/- mobile plan to the Non-Executives.

In the National Council meeting held on 13.11.2017, the  Secretary, Staff Side, demanded that the mobile plan Rs.429/-, with 3 months validity, should be extended to the Non-Executives, who are presently provided with Rs.200/- SIM. The Chairperson of the National Council accepted this demand. However, the same is yet to be implemented. The GM (SR) assured to do the needful.<>

Inordinate delay in the formation of the Standing Committee of the National Council.

The Standing Committee of the National Council, which is supposed to monitor the implementation of the decisions taken in the National Council, is yet to be reconstituted. The Union representatives urged upon the GM (SR) for early reconstitution of the Standing Committee. The GM (SR) assured that the Standing Committee would be reconstituted immediately.

Inordinate delay in the formation of the Joint Committee on PLI.

In the meeting between the Director (HR) and the Recognised Unions, held on 16.10.2017, it was agreed to form a Joint Committee, to decide about the quantum to be paid. However, so far this Joint Committee is not formed. The Union representatives urged upon the GM (SR) to ensure formation of the Joint Committee without further delay. The GM (SR) assured to do the needful.

Allotment of funds for payment of wages of contract workers in Tamil Nadu circle.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and com. M.K. Dave, AGS, met shri Y.N. Singh, GM (BFCI), and pointed out that funds are so far not allotted for payment of wages of contract workers in Tamil Nadu circle. The GM (BFCI) assured that the funds would be released shortly.

Due to the total strike organised by the organisations of the Grameen Dak Sewaks (GDS), the Central Government has been compelled to accept the recommendations of the Kamalesh Chandra Committee, regarding the pay revision of the GDS. The Union Cabinet meeting, which took place under the chairmanship of Prime Minster Narendra Modi, has taken the decision for this. Consequent to this, the indefinite strike of the GDS has been called off. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the Grameen Dak Sewaks. BSNLEU also congratulates the leadership of the GDS unions for their united struggle.

BSNLEU ने CMD BSNL को पत्र लिख कर शेष नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज, जिन्हें वेतन का नुकसान हुआ है, को एक अतिरिक्त इन्क्रीमेंट देने की मांग की...

BSNL मैनेजमेंट ने पत्र दिनांक 08.01.2019 द्वारा उन शेष नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज को राहत प्रदान की है, जिनकी नियुक्ति 01.01.2007 और 07.05.2010 के बीच हुई है और जिन्हें वेतन का नुकसान हुआ है। इस पत्र के अनुसार कर्मचारियों को हुए वास्तविक वेतन नुकसान की क्षतिपूर्ति की जाएगी। जबकि इसी मैनेजमेंट द्वारा उन TTAs को एक अतिरिक्त इन्क्रीमेंट दिया गया था जिनकी नियुक्ति 01.01.2007 और 07.05.2010 के बीच हुई थी और जिन्हें वेतन का नुकसान हुआ था। इस तरह BSNL मैनेजमेंट ने शेष रहे नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज के साथ पक्षपातपूर्ण रवैया अपनाया है। BSNLEU ने CMD BSNL को पत्र लिख कर शेष नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज को भी एक अतिरिक्त इन्क्रीमेंट दे कर इस पक्षपात को खत्म करने की मांग की है।