The representatives of the AUAB once again met Shri Anshu Prakash, Additional Secretary, Telecom, yesterday. They expressed their disappointment and agony over the non-implementation of the assurances given by the Hon’ble MoS(C) on 3^rd Pay Revision, allotment of 4G spectrum, payment of pension contribution of actual basic pay and pension revision. They pointed out how hurdles and road-blocks are being created by the DoT, in the settlement of 3^rd Pay Revision and other demands of the employees, as well as in the issues related to the financial revival of BSNL. They expressed their serious disappointment that the DoT has still not sent the Cabinet Note, for getting relaxation from the Affordability Clause of 3^rd PRC, on the issue of pay revision of the employees. On the important issue of Pay Revision, the AS(T) avoided stating anything. However, on the issue of allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, he stated that it came up for discussion in the Digital Commission meeting held on 05.02.2019, and that the Commission has decided to refer the matter to the TRAI.

VRS का विरोध कीजिए- 12-04-2019 को प्रभावशाली प्रदर्शन आयोजित करें...
BSNL के रिवाइवल के नाम पर सरकार BSNL में VRS क्रियान्वित करने की दिशा में तीव्र गति से बढ़ रही है। DoT ने  BSNL के तथाकथित रिवाइवल के प्लान पर यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स, जो BSNL के प्रमुख हित धारक (stake holders) हैं, से चर्चा करना भी उचित नही समझा है। साथ ही, सरकार द्वारा एकतरफा निर्णय लेते हुए BSNL की रिक्त जमीन के मुद्रीकरण (monetisation) से प्राप्त राशि, VRS हेतु फण्ड उपलब्ध कराने हेतु डाइवर्ट करने का निर्णय लिया जा रहा है। यह और कुछ नही, बल्कि, BSNL के विकास और वित्तीय उन्नयन के लिए आवश्यक फंड्स प्राप्ति से BSNL को वंचित करने की सरकार एक सोची समझी योजना है। साथ ही, VRS, सरकार की BSNL कर्मचारियों की संख्या कम करने की रणनीति है, जिससे कि इसे निजीकरण के लिए आकर्षक बनाया जा सके। VRS का विरोध कर रही यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स ने 12.04.2019 को देश भर में कर्मचारियों को प्रदर्शन करने का आव्हान किया है। हमारा सभी सर्किल और जिला यूनियन्स से अनुरोध है कि अधिक से अधिक कर्मचारियों को संगठित कर प्रदर्शन सफल बनावें।

The long selloff list of PSUs, reported in the media include all best performers in the strategic sectors – both physically and financially viz., Indian Oil Corporation, NTPC, Powergrid, Oil India Limited , GAIL, NALCO, BPCL, EIL, BEML etc. As a consequence of previous tranches of divestment, presently, government equity holding in these CPSUs are around 52% plus or little less. Therefore the ugly game plan is convert these CPSUs into private enterprises only by way of transfer of very small dose of shares to private hands. Country’s wealth will be transferred for private gains on a platter.

CHQ is receiving a lot of queries with regards to the strong rumours going on in the social media, about the reduction of the retirement age. According to these rumours, the Central Government is planning to retire Central Government officials after completion of 33 years of service or at 60 years, whichever is earlier. These rumours are undoubtedly being created by vested interests to create panic among the employees, at a time when BSNL Management is implementing the VRS scheme. These rumours are not only false, but are totally baseless. In this connection, the Times of India, dated 24^th September, 2019, has published news, wherein it is clarified that, the Central Government is not having any such proposal to reduce the retirement age. We are reproducing the news, for the benefit of our comrades.

Due to the implementation of VRS, a very chaotic situation has been created in BSNL. Utilising this situation, some self-seekers are trying to project themselves as heroes. We don’t have any issue in it. However, these self-seekers are trying to damage the trade union movement. A person, who has already been given farewell from the trade union movement, has sent a very militant (???) message in the social media. The crux of the message is that, the unions and associations have not even moved their little finger, against the government. Is it correct?

• The last 5 years have seen militant struggles organised by the unions and associations of BSNL and massively participated in by the Executives and Non-Executives. The two day strike organised on 21^st & 22^nd April, 2015, demolished the government’s 60% ceiling, intended to deny payment of pension to BSNL employees. This struggle guaranteed payment of government pension to all BSNL retirees without any limitation. 

• The one day strike organised on 15.12.2016, exclusively against formation of Subsidiary Tower Company, gave a blow to the government's plan to fragment BSNL into pieces. 

• The two day strike held on 12th & 13th December, 2017, the indefinite strike, that was to start from 03.12.2018, but was deferred based on talks held with the Hon’ble MoS(C) and the assurances given by him, the three day strike organised on 18th, 19th & 20th February, 2019, demanded not only pay revision and pension revision, but also raised important demands for the revival of BSNL. 

• Together with the above mentioned three strikes, the unions and associations also organised two massive rallies at New Delhi on 19^th April, 2018 and 05^th April, 2019 and told the government in no uncertain terms that BSNL cannot be written off. 

• During the past 5 years, the unions and associations massively mobilised public opinion in favour of the revival of BSNL, by organising massive movements, viz., Human Chain, March to Rajbawan, Submitting memorandum to the MPs, Street Corner Meetings, etc.

• As a result of the above mentioned militant struggles and massive movements, organised by the unions and associations, and massively participated in by the Executives and Non-Executives, the government shelved it’s proposal to form the Subsidiary Tower Company. This is a Himalayan achievement.

• Due to the continuous struggles launched by the BSNL unions and associations, the government has been compelled to allot 4G spectrum to BSNL without any payment. This is a historic achievement, since it has also set a precedence for the allotment of 5G spectrum to BSNL in future.

• When the unions and associations of BSNL have achieved so much through their relentless struggles, it is ridiculous that self-seekers say that the unions and associations have not even moved their little finger against the government.

At a time when the BSNL contract workers are suffering from non-payment wages, as well as from the difficult situation created by the COVID-19, the All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA), Salem Division, Tamil Nadu, has extended it's helping hand. In a function held in the AIIEA office at Salem, food materials worth Rs.1,500/- has been provided to each of the 40 contract workers of BSNL.  Com.Narasimhan, Divisional President, AIIEA, Com. Dharmalingam, Divisional Secretary, AIIEA, Com.E.Gopal, District Secretary, BSNLEU and many other leaders were present during the occasion. BSNLEU heartily thanks the AIIEA comrades of Salem Division.

It is already 11th June, today. However, there is no indication about the payment of salary for the month of May, 2020. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, telephonically spoke to Shri S.K.Gupta, Director (Finance) today and enquired about the status of the payment of salary for the month of May. The Director (Finance) could not give any definite information in this regard. He stated that there is no cash flow and that all efforts are being made to pay the salary. It may be remembered that the April salary was also not paid on time and BSNLEU organised lunch hour demonstrations on 21.05.2020, demanding payment of salary, among other issues.

Maharashtra circle Executive Committee meeting was held online today. Com.Appa Saheb Gagre, CP, presided over the meeting. Com. Nagesh Kumar Nalawade, CS, welcomed everyone and presented a report on the activities. Com.John Verghese, AGS, addressed the meeting and explained about the functioning of the CHQ. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and explained about the issues taken up by the CHQ, agitations organised by the CHQ and on the functioning of the AUAB. Further he explained how BSNL is being systemically weakened by the government, which is a part of the larger attack on the public sector of the country. He urged upon the Maharashtra comrades to successfully organise all the campaigns / struggles being called on by BSNLEU, AUAB and the Central Trade Unions. 32 comrades participated in this meeting. Detailed discussions took place regarding improving the quality of service, as well as the issues of the employees. Finally, both Com.Nalawade, CS and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, summed up the discussions.

BSNLEU has sought for a formal meeting with the Director (HR), for which letter was given in the last week of December. Since, no date was fixed, Com. P. Abihmanyu, GS, met the Director (HR) on 03.01.2018, and discussed about the delay. Consequently, the date for the formal meeting has been fixed as 08.01.2018.

The thousands of BSNL employees who participated in the March to Sanchar Bhawan, were stopped near the Parliament Street Police Station. Barricades were placed by the police across the Parliament Street, to stop the participants. When comrades attempted to cross the barricades, the police pushed back our comrades. There where pushes and pulls from both sides, for some time. Finally, the leaders intervened. They negotiated with the police, who agreed to arrange a meeting between the Secretary, DoT, and the leaders of All Unions and Associations of BSNL. Thus, the situation was brought under control and untoward incidents were avoided.

1. Since Com.P. Indira, Convenor, BSNL WWCC, is going abroad for 6 months, it is decided that Com.V.Bhagyalakshmi, Joint Convenor, will look after the responsibilities of the Convenor during this period.
2. Com. Revati Sham Adhav from Maharashtra, is coopted as a member of the BSNL WWCC, in the place of Com.Jyotsana Mokashi, who passed away recently.
3. It is decided that serious efforts are to be made to form circle and district level committees of the BSNL WWCC.
4. Immediate intervention is to be made with the help of BSNLEU, in the cases of sexual harassment in work places.
5. Best efforts are to be made to redress the issues of women contract workers and Directly Recruited women employees.
6. Serious mobilisation is to be made for the success of the Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally, to be conducted at New Delhi, on 5^th September, 2018.
7. All out efforts are to be made to mobilise the women employees for the successful implementation of the struggles, called on by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB), on the issues of wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, revival of BSNL, etc.
8. Issues of the women employees like basic amenities in all work places, grant of special leave for women employees who cross the age of 50 years, and other issues are to be actively taken up with the Management, through BSNLEU.
9. At least once in three months, the Committee members are to send report on activities, to the Convenor.

The Staff Side members of the Joint Committee on wage revision for the Non-Executives met today and analysed the pay scales offered by the Management Side in the Joint Committee meeting held yesterday. Caution was taken to ensure to ensure that, the problem of stagnation does not arise to any Non- Executive, after implementation of the new pay scales. Whatever live cases that have come to the notice of the Staff Side members, were analysed in today’s meeting. Next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held on 14.09.2018. Based on the new scales already proposed by the Management Side, details of the cases which may involve the problem of stagnation, may be send to the CHQ, by the circle and district secretaries, as well as the active comrades.

BSNLEU has already urged upon the Director (HR) to ensure that expeditious action is taken by the Corporate Office, on the issue of downgradation of Sr.TOAs from 7100 pay scale to 6550 pay scale. Today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.) and enquired about the development. It is was replied by the Sr.GM(Estt.) that the Establishment Branch could not issue the letter, providing one more opportunity to exercise option for promotion under NEPP, since it is completely busy with the job of preparing various statements for the DoT, on issues connected with the demands of the AUAB. However, he assured that needful action on this issue would be taken early.

Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, Com.John Verghese, AGS and Com.Biju, CHQ Office Secretary, greeted Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, today, on account of his retirement on superannuation. A bouquet and a memento were offered to the CMD BSNL on behalf of BSNLEU.

Circle Executive Committee meeting of Telecom Factory Jabalpur was held today at Jabalpur. Com.Surybhan Namdeo, Circle President presided over. Com.Sunil Patel, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and addressed the meeting. Com.Prakash Sharma, Assistant General Secretary, congratulated all for 7th consecutive victory of BSNLEU, amidst a very adverse situation. He explained in detail, about the need to participate in the 8th January, 2020 General Strike. He also elaborated on pros and cons of VRS and threw light on the anti-worker and anti-PSU policies of the government. Com.Sharma also highlighted other points mentioned in BSNL Revival Package and informed the comrades that BSNLEU, in coordination with AUAB, will ensure implementation of Revival Package in toto. Members present in the meeting also participated in the discussions and decided to implement decisions taken in Ghaziabad Central Executive Committee meeting.

यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ऑफ बीएसएनएल के शानदार संघर्ष और उपलब्धियां...
VRS के अमल में आने के पश्चात बीएसएनएल में बेहद अराजकता की स्थिति निर्मित हो गई है। इस स्थिति का लाभ उठाते हुए, कुछ अवसरवादी तत्व अपने आपको हीरो के रूप में प्रस्तुत करने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं। हमें इस पर कोई ऐतराज भी नही है। किंतु ये अवसरवादी तत्व ट्रेड यूनियन मूवमेंट को ही आहत करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं। एक सज्जन, जिन्हें ट्रेड यूनियन मूवमेंट से बिदाई दे दी गई है, वें सोशल मीडिया में बड़े ही आक्रामक (???) संदेश भेज रहे हैं। इस संदेश का लब्बोलुआब यह है कि यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स ने सरकार के खिलाफ एक उंगली भी नही उठाई है। क्या यह सही है ?
 

• विगत 5 वर्षों में यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ऑफ बीएसएनएल द्वारा कई आक्रामक संघर्ष किए गए हैं जिसमें एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज व नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज ने व्यापक तौर पर शिरकत की है। 21 और 22 अप्रैल, 2015 को आयोजित हड़ताल की वजह से सरकार की 60% सीलिंग को खत्म किया गया, जिसका उद्देश्य बीएसएनएल कर्मियों को पेंशन से वंचित करना था। इस संघर्ष की वजह से ही बीएसएनएल के रिटायर्ड कर्मियों को बगैर किसी सीमा के सरकारी पेंशन का भुगतान सुनिश्चित किया जा सका।

• 15.12.2016 को विशेष रूप से सब्सिडीएरी टॉवर कंपनी के गठन के खिलाफ आयोजित की गई हड़ताल ने बीएसएनएल को टुकड़ों टुकड़ों में छिन्न भिन्न करने के सरकार के इरादों को ध्वस्त किया।

• 12 और 13 दिसंबर, 2017 की दो दिवसीय हड़ताल, 03.12.2018 से प्रस्तावित अनिश्चितकालीन हड़ताल, जो कि माननीय संचार राज्य मंत्री से हुई चर्चा के आधार पर मुल्तवी की गई, 18, 19, 20 फरवरी, 2019 को हुई तीन दिवसीय हड़ताल के द्वारा न केवल पे और पेंशन रिवीजन की मांग की गई, वरन बीएसएनएल के रिवाइवल हेतु अन्य कई प्रमुख मांग भी रखी गई।

• ऊपर उल्लेखित तीन हड़तालों के साथ साथ यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ने 19 अप्रैल, 2018 और  05 अप्रैल, 2019 को नई दिल्ली में विशाल रैलीज भी आयोजित की और सरकार को चेताया कि बीएसएनएल को आसानी से खत्म नही किया सकता।

• विगत 5 वर्षों में,  यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स  ने व्यापक आन्दोलनों, जैसे मानव श्रृंखला, मार्च टू राजभवन, सांसदों को ज्ञापन देना, नुक्कड़ सभाएं आदि के माध्यम से बीएसएनएल के रिवाइवल के लिए आम जन का ध्यान भी आकर्षित किया।

• यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स द्वारा आयोजित ऊपर उल्लेखित आक्रामक संघर्षों और व्यापक आंदोलनों, जिसमें एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज व नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज ने बड़े पैमाने पर हिस्सा लिया, की वजह से सरकार को सब्सिडीएरी टॉवर कंपनी का अपना प्रस्ताव ठंडे बस्ते में डालना पड़ा। यह एक भव्यतम उपलब्धि है।

• यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स द्वारा किए गए निरंतर संघर्षों की वजह से ही सरकार को बीएसएनएल को बगैर किसी भुगतान के 4G स्पेक्ट्रम देने के लिए बाध्य होना पड़ा है। यह एक ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धि है, जिसके चलते बीएसएनएल को निकट भविष्य में 5G स्पेक्ट्रम आवंटित करने की आधारशिला भी रख दी गई है।

• यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ऑफ बीएसएनएल द्वारा अपने निरंतर संघर्षों से जब इतना कुछ हासिल किया गया हो, तब अवसरवादी तत्वों का यह कहना कि यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ने सरकार के विरोध में उंगली तक नही उठाई है, हास्यास्पद ही है।

Only in February this year, Rs.100 crore was spent for a 3 hour programme in Ahmedabad, to give a "rousing and affectionate" reception to the US President, Donald Trump. Both, US President, Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, hugged each other many times in the Ahmedabad programme, to show-case their close friendship to the world. However, the same Donald Trump threatened his best friend Prime Minister, Narendra Modi a few days back, with “retaliation", if India does not export Hydroxychloroquine to the US. At a time, when the world is facing serious threat from COVID-19, the Indian government took the right decision to ban the export of certain medicines, including Hydroxychloroquine. This decision is taken in the best interest of the Indian people. Indian government has got every right to do so. Donald Trump has no business to threaten a country like India, demanding to supply medicines. But this is the real face of the US imperialism. The people of India should not fail to see this real face of the US imperialism.