As has already been informed through our website yesterday, the employees of the 41 Defence Production Units (ordnance factories) are on a massive 30 day strike from 20^th August, 2019. They are not on strike for any economic demand. Rather, they are opposing the decision of the Narendra Modi government to corporatise all the 41 ordnance factories. Everyone knows that corporatisation is the major step towards privatisation of the ordnance factories. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the brave comrades of the ordnance factories. The Central Trade Unions have called upon the working class of the nation to extend their support to the strike of the Defence employees, by way of organising demonstrations on 27.08.2019. CHQ calls upon circle and district unions to effectively organise demonstrations on 27.08.2019, supporting the strike of the Defence employees.

Abhijit Banerjee, who has been conferred with the Noble Prize for economics, has questioned the recent step taken by the Narendra Modi government, to cut down the corporate tax from 30% to 22% and 15%. He has told that the concession given to the big corporates, through the cut in the corporate tax, is a huge burden on the economy. He has demanded that it should be withdrawn. Abhijit Banerjee has also stated that the amount given as concession to the corporates, should be spent for improving the NREGA and for the kisans.

[Source: The Hindu dated 21.10.2019]

Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met the DoT officers of the Establishment Section on 3rd January, 2020. The details of the discussion are as follows.

1. Granting 1st promotion under NEPP on completion of 4 years, to the TSMs  regularised on or after 01.10.2000.

The DoT informed the union representatives that in the particular issue, Member (Services), DoT has given reply on 06.02.2019 to BSNL, wherein it is mentioned that DoT has issued orders on pension to this particular officials who were TSM upto 29.09.2000 and who have been regularised on or after 01.10.2000 is treated as DoT recruitees. Regarding giving promotion under NEPP, it is BSNL who has formed the promotion policy. If the PSU (BSNL) wanted to extend the benefits to such employees, they may go for modification / amendments in their promotion policy, for which DoT has nothing to do. Further, BSNL has made another correspondence on 04.09.2019 in the same matter, for which DoT has given it’s reply on 17.09.2019, mentioning the stand of DoT. It is also mentioned that several CAT, High Courts have given judgements in the above issue and the SLP of BSNL has been rejected by the Hon’ble Supreme Court, hence, DoT feels that BSNL may go for a settlement on the basis of the earlier letters from DoT to avoid further court cases.

2. Issuing of Presidential Orders to the TSMs directly promoted as Telephone Mechanics after 01.10.2000.
   The DoT officers informed that the BSNL is asked to clarify certain points on the above issue in 2017. No information is provided by the BSNL to the DoT. On receipt of  information from BSNL, the DoT will take decision in the matter.

3. Employees recruited by the DoT prior to 01.10.2000 and who joined duty after the formation of BSNL – to treat them as DoT recruitees absorbed in BSNL, based on the order of the Hon’ble Kerala High Court.

The DoT officers informed that, the matter is sub-judice since 2012. In one case of Shri Bhawan Kumar, Rajasthan, a Civil Leave Petition is pending in the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide No.CL 51/2016. The Hon’ble Supreme Court is to form a 3 judges bench to hear the case, which is not yet decided.

BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA and AIBSNLEA, Tamil Nadu circle unions, are organising demonstrations throughout Tamil Nadu circle on 03-08-2020. They are demanding action on the massive corruptions that have taken place in the Tamil Nadu Telecom Employees Co-operative Credit Society, dissolution of the Board of Directors and on other demands to protect the interests of the Society members. 

• Hundreds of crores of rupees have been swindled by the Society Directors, through illicit sale of society's lands.
• The Society has become bankrupt due to the corrupt practices of the Society Directors. 
• Dividend has not been paid to the members for the past three years. 
• Audited accounts of the Society has not been made available to the members for the past 3 years. 
• The tenure of the Board of Directors of the Society has already expired. 

The CHQ of BSNLEU extends it's whole hearted support and solidarity to the 3rd August demonstrations, being organised by BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA and AIBSNLEA. 

A meeting of the "All Unions and Associations of BSNL" will be held on 14-11-2017. The meeting will be held at 11:00 hrs, in SEWA BSNL office, near CTO Sabhagarh, at Eastern Court. The forthcoming human chain, two day strike on 12th and 13th, December, and other issues will be discussed.

A Delhi court on Thursday acquitted all accused, including former Telecom Minister A. Raja and DMK Rajya Sabha member Kanimozhi in the 2G spectrum allocation case. The CBI had chargesheeted Mr. Raja, Ms. Kanimozhi, the then Telecom Secretary Siddhartha Behura, Mr. Raja's former private secretary R.K. Chandolia, Unitech Wireless Managing Director Sanjay Chandra, Swan Telecom Director and DB Realty MD Vinod Goenka, and Reliance-Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group's (R-ADAG) Gautam Doshi, Hari Nair and Surendra Pipara, Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Usman Balwa and Vinod Goenka, directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt. Ltd. Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal, Bollywood producer Karim Morani, Kalaignar TV director Sharad Kumar. The accused also include Swan Telecom (now Etisalat DB), Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Pvt Ltd and Reliance Telecom Ltd.

[Courtesy - The Hindu]

DIR(HR) called all Unions and Associations for the discussions on 02.02.2018 regarding the ongoing agitations. GS / CHQ office bearers of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, AIGETOA, FNTO, BSNLMS, SEWA, BSNLOA etc was present in the meeting. GM(SR) also present in the meeting.
   We expressed our serious concern that the Govt is not taking any steps to resolve the issues of lakhs of employees. The Unions and Assns will intensify the agitations in the coming days. On 23^rd Feb, huge Sanchar Bhavan (DoT) March is planned in which thousands of comrades from all over India will be participating. The formation of Tower Subsidiary has to be rolled back, 3^rd PRC to be implemented with 15% fitment, Pension revision and outstanding issues of 2nd PRC are to be settled etc are the major demands.
   DIR(HR) informed that due to the competition and market condition, revenue is coming down and the financial condition of the company is not good. Any impact on the services will further affect the revenue which in turn will affect all.
   Union/Assn leaders explained that on earlier occasions, management arranged the meetings with the Secretary/DoT or the Hon Minister as the case may be and through discussions, issues are settled. However, such initiatives are not found nowadays, during agitations.
  DIR(HR) personally tried for the meeting by contacting MoSC office. Finally DIR(HR) assured to make possible efforts for meeting at DoT once CMD returns on Monday. All Unions and Associations will be meeting on 06.02.2018.

As per the call of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, a procession was conducted at Vijayawada, and memorandum was submitted to the Sub Collector. There is no Rajbhavan in Vijayawada. The governor of Andhra Pradesh is stationed at Hyderabad. Hence, the AUAB of Andhra Pradesh circle, conducted March to Sub-collector's office, and memorandum was submitted to the Sub Collector, with a request for onward transmission to the Governor.

A meeting between the CMD BSNL and the Core Committee, consisting of the General Secretaries of BSNLEU, NFTE, SNEA and AIBSNLEA, is taking place at 11:00 hrs on 11.06.2018. Issues connected with the developmental activities of BSNL will be discussed in this meeting.

The BSNLEU representatives, who met Shri Y.N. Singh, GM(BFCI), today, demanded immediate allotment of funds, as sought by West Bengal and Tamil Nadu circle administrations, for the payment of contract workers wages. The GM(BFCI) assured to take the needful action.

AUAB हड़ताल का सहारा लेने के लिए बाध्य होगी - AUAB ने एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम  को चेताया....

कल हुई AUAB की मीटिंग में लिए गए निर्णय के अनुसार आज AUAB के प्रतिनिधि कॉम पी अभिमन्यु, GS, BSNLEU व Convenor, कॉम चंदेश्वर सिंह, GS, NFTE व Chairman, कॉम के सेबेस्टिन, GS, SNEA और कॉम प्रह्लाद राय, GS, AIBSNLEA, श्री अंशु प्रकाश, एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम से मिले। प्रतिनिधियों ने उन्हें कल AUAB की मीटिंग में लिए गए निर्णय से अवगत कराया। उन्होंने एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम को स्पष्ट रूप से बताया कि 3rd पे रिवीजन के मुद्दे पर किसी भी प्रकार की प्रगति न होने से कर्मचारियों में बेहद नाराजगी है। उन्होंने यह भी सूचित किया कि पार्लियामेंट इलेक्शन्स में ज्यादा समय शेष नही है और ऐसे में AUAB हड़ताल पर जाने के लिए बाध्य होगी। एडिशनल सेक्रेटरी, टेलीकॉम ने कहा कि वे अगले सप्ताह AUAB के साथ मीटिंग करेंगे और 3rd पे रिवीजन के मुद्दे पर महत्वपूर्ण चर्चा करेंगे।

The AUAB has given call to conduct a March to Sanchar Bhawan on 05.04.2019. At this juncture, some mischief mongers are trying to confuse the employees. They are asking what is the use of conducting a March at Delhi, when the Code of Conduct has already been put in place ? It is true that government cannot not take any policy decision after the Code of Conduct came into force. At the same time, a lot of works has to be done by the DoT, for the financial revival of BSNL, even while the Code of Conduct is in force. For example, the issue of implementation of Government Rule on payment of pension contribution, does not attract the Code of Conduct. It is only implementation of the already existing government order, in respect of BSNL. Similarly, giving approval for BSNL’s Land Management Policy, by the DoT, can be done even when the Code of Conduct is imposed. This will help BSNL to immediately monetise it’s vacant lands and to generate huge revenue. Giving approval for BSNL to take bank loans for it’s operational expenditures, is another important issue, which does not attract the Code of Conduct. Even on the 3rd Pay Revision issue, the DoT should complete it’s groundwork now itself, so that the new government can take a final call immediately after the Parliament elections. And why the DoT is not doing all these, is the most important question. It is because of DoT’s anti-BSNL mindset. Hence, the March to Sanchar Bhawan is very much required at this point of time.

The NITI Aayog has been reconstituted. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Agriculture Minister Narendra Singh Tomar have become ex officio members. Rajiv Kumar continues to be the Vice- Chairman. Soon after the reconstitution of the NITI Aayog, Rajiv Kumar has given an outline of it's action programme. He has stated that 46 PSUs may be privatised or shut down. He has further stated that the 44 Indian Labour Laws, which are complicated, will be amended and will be categorised into 4 Labour Codes. The Vice-Chairman has also stated that a land bank would be created from the unutilised lands of the Public Sector Enterprises, and would be offered to foreign investors. Finally, Rajiv Kumar has stated that the actions of the NITI Aayog will make the foreign investors happy.

Shri Arun Jaitley, former Finance Minister and one of the senior most leaders of the Bharatiya Janata Party, passed away today. He had undergone kidney transplantation earlier, and had not been keeping well for some time. Due to his deteriorating health condition, Shri Jaitley declined to contest in the recent Parliament elections. In the death of Shri Arun Jaitley, the nation has lost a seasoned politician. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to Shri Arun Jaitley and also conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to his family members.

Qassim Soleimani, the top Army General of Iran was killed yesterday, while he was in the Baghdad Airport. He was killed in a sophisticated air attack by the United States. An MQ-9 Reaper drone of the US, fired missiles at the Baghdad Airport, killing Suleiman on the spot. Killing the top Army General of Iran is nothing but openly declaring a war on that country by the United States. Undoubtedly, this is a terrorist act. This killing has triggered tension around the world. Many countries including France, China and Russia have condemned this provocative action of the United States.

(1) Com.Tarun Kunar Nayak, Branch Secretary, Udala – Rs.5,000/-

(2) Com. Sarat Mohanty, DS, Bhubaneswar - Rs.2,000/-

(3) Com. Panchnan Mohanty, DS, ETP – Rs.1,100/-

BSNLEU ने यह कर दिखाया- लॉकडाउन पीरियड के दौरान सफलतापूर्वक राष्ट्रव्यापी प्रदर्शन आयोजित किए गए...
किसी भी प्रकार की ट्रेड यूनियन कार्यवाही करने के लिए यह अत्यंत कठिन समय है। कोविड-19 की रोकथाम के लिए देश भर में लॉकडाउन किया गया है। नागरिकों की स्वतंत्रता पूर्वक आवाजाही पर कड़े प्रतिबंध है। इसके बावजूद, BSNLEU के CHQ ने यह सीखा दिया कि कुछ राज्य सरकारों द्वारा दमनपूर्वक कार्य के घंटों में वृद्धि करने, कॉन्ट्रैक्ट वर्कर्स के साथ की जा रही नाइंसाफी और साथ ही वेतन भुगतान में विलंब और मेडिकल सुविधाओं में की गई कटौती के खिलाफ राष्ट्रव्यापी विरोध करने का ये उपयुक्त समय है। यह अत्यंत सुखद है कि BSNLEU के सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट लेवल के लीडर्स ने स्थिति की गंभीरता को महसूस करते हुए, सोशल डिस्टनसिंग का पालन करते हुए, बेहद सफलतापूर्वक  भोजन अवकाश में प्रदर्शन आयोजित किए हैं। अधिकांश सर्कल्स में कार्यक्रम अत्यंत प्रभावी रुप से आयोजित किया गया है। BSNLEU ने एक बार पुनः यह साबित कर दिया है कि वह एक संघर्षशील संगठन है। CHQ, सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट लेवल के उन सभी लीडर्स को बधाई देता है, जिन्होंने सफलतापूर्वक कार्यक्रम आयोजित किया। CHQ, लॉकडाउन के प्रभावी होने के बावजूद प्रदर्शन में शिरकत करने वाले सभी कॉमरेड्स को भी सलाम करता है।

The AUAB leaders of Amritsar district, Punjab circle, met Shri Shwait Malik , at his residence in Amritsar today and submitted the memorandum. The AUAB delegation explained the problems being faced by BSNL in starting 4G service and also matters related to the revival of the Company. The Member of Parliament gave a patient hearing and assured to do the needful.

The Mahapadav (relay dharna), called on by the Central Trade Unions, as well as by the Independent Federations and Unions, successfully came to an end today. Today’s participation in the Mahapadav, by the workers, is more than the first day and the second day. Especially, women workers massively participated in today’s programme. Around 1,000 members of BSNLEU participated today. CHQ heartily congratulates the various circle unions of BSNLEU, for massively mobilising the workers in the Mahapadav.