An enthusiastic & very impressive convention of Madhya Pradesh BSNL Working Women was conducted by the circle union of BSNLEU at Indore on 26.06.2018. Com.B.S. Raghuwanshi, Circle President, presided over. Com.Prakash Sharma, Circle Secretary, presented the report elaborating on women's issues and active participation of Working Women in union activities in MP circle. Com. P. Indira,  Convenor,  AIC,  BSNL WWCC,  presented keynote address in the seminar on "Role of women power in strengthening BSNL". She also presented a note on working women activities and anti people, anti worker, anti-PSU policies in the post lunch session. Chief Guest of the seminar Dr.  Mahesh Shukla, CGMT, delivered special address. PGMs Indore Shri M.R. Rawat and Shri Suresh Babu Prajapati, AIC member Com. Meena Choradia, COS, Com. Chitra greeted the convention. Besides this Young lady JEs and other Comrades participated in deliberations. 11 member committee with 5 joint convenors and Com.Mamta Bhavsar as convenor elected as WWCC MP Circle. With this, MP Circle became the 5th circle to form WWCC. Despite incessant rain 180 women and 40 male Comrades enthusiastically participated.  Convention was a big success with very fine arrangements made by reception committee led by Com. Hemant Dube. CHQ heartily congratulates the MP circle union and the newly elected BSNL WWCC, MP circle.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President (CHQ), met Shri Saurabh Tyagi,Sr.GM(Estt.), yesterday and discussed the following issues.
 

1. Issuing notification for holding JTO LICE.

BSNLEU is insisting the Management, for the past several months, to hold the JTO LICE. A decision in this regard is yet to be taken by the Establishment Branch of the Corporate Office. In view of the impending implementation of the CPSU hierarchy, the Establishment Branch has sought some clarification from the Personnel Branch of the Corporate Office on the matter. However, it is understood that, no clarification has come from the Personnel Branch. The BSNLEU representatives who met the Sr.GM(Estt.) yesterday, expressed their serious concern on the inordinate delay in holding the JTO LICE, and insisted that the Establishment Branch should issue the necessary notification without further delay. The Sr.GM(Estt.) shared the concern of the representatives and assured that needful action would be taken immediately.

2. Settlement of the issue of downgradation of Sr.TOAs from 7100 pay scale to 6550 pay scale.

This issue was once again discussed yesterday by the representatives of BSNLEU. They pointed out that the settlement of this issue is getting delayed. The Sr.GM(Estt.) has replied that, certain clarifications issued by the Corporate Office  on this subject earlier, need to be scrutinised, before taking a final decision. He replied that the Establishment Brach is on the job and that necessary action would be taken expeditiously.

3. One time relaxation for appearing in the TT LIDCE.

BSNLEU is pressuring the Corporate Management for a very long time, to give one time relaxation to the non-10th standard  candidates for appearing in the Telecom Technician LDCE. The Corporate Office has called for certain inputs from the circle on the subject. It seems response has not come from any circles. Under this circumstance, the representatives of BSNLEU insisted upon the Sr.GM(Estt.) to send the proposal for the approval of the BSNL Board without further delay. The Sr.GM(Estt.) assured to do the needful.

01.12.2018 से नुक्कड़ सभाएं आयोजित कीजिए- अनिश्चितकालीन हड़ताल को आम नागरिकों से व्यापक सहयोग मिले, यह जरूरी है।

AUAB की 20.11.2018 को सम्पन्न मीटिंग ने सभी यूनियन्स व एसोसिएशन्स को हमारी डिमांड्स और अनिश्चितकालीन हड़ताल के समर्थन में आम नागरिकों से व्यापक सहयोग प्राप्त करने का आव्हान किया है। मीटिंग ने निर्णय लिया कि इस हेतु 01.12.2018 से हड़ताल खत्म होने तक लगातार नुक्कड़ सभाएं आयोजित की जाए। विशेष रूप से, मीटिंग में यह निर्णय लिया गया कि 03.12.2018 से नुक्कड़ सभाओं में सभी एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज व नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज बड़े पैमाने पर शामिल हों। आम नागरिकों के बीच हमें यह अभियान प्रभावी रूप से चलाना है कि बीएसएनएल का पब्लिक सेक्टर कंपनी के रूप में अस्तित्व इस देश के नागरिकों के लिए कितना जरूरी है। सरकार की बीएसएनएल विरोधी और निजी समर्थक नीतियां, विशेष रूप से रिलायंस जियो के समर्थन में सरकार का सहयोग, प्रभावशाली तरीके से आम जन के बीच रखना चाहिए। बीएसएनएल ईयू के सभी सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट सेक्रेटरीज से अनुरोध है कि वें AUAB के अन्य घटकों से सामंजस्य कर इस अभियान को जनता के बीच ले जाने की पहल करे।

VRS is not a panacea for the financial crisis of BSNL. VRS is already implemented twice in MTNL. Still, MTNL is neck-deep in crisis. Why VRS has not helped MTNL to come out of the crisis? Can the government give answer to this question? The whole idea of the government in implementing VRS in BSNL, is to cut down the size of the workforce, to make it attractive for future privatisation. Implementation of VRS is nothing but the road map for the privatisation of BSNL. Those young employees who think of supporting VRS should understand this.

It is known to everyone that the present corporate management is devoting more energy, money and time to crush the trade union rights in BSNL, rather than managing other affairs of the Company. Ever since, the unions and associations of BSNL started to collectively struggle for the settlement of 3rd Pay Revision, the BSNL Management started taking every step to crush the struggles. In pursuit of this design, the BSNL Management has now banned even demonstrations and dharnas. The AUAB, in it's countrywide demonstrations held on 07.08.2019, has raised it’s voice against the autocratic steps being taken by the BSNL Management to curb trade union rights in BSNL. Ultimately, when the BSNL Management directed the participating unions not to organise even demonstrations and dharnas, till the completion of the 8th Membership Verification, BSNLEU was compelled to seek legal remedy. Based on BSNLEU’s write petition, the Hon’ble Madras High Court has stayed the BSNL Corporate Office’s letter dated 02nd July, 2019, which has banned even demonstrations and dharnas in BSNL. This article of Telecrusader, September, 2019, has dealt with these developments.

VRS का मतलब नियोक्ता और कर्मचारी के बीच संबंधों की पूर्ण इतिश्री (समाप्ति) है....इस अनुसार, जो कर्मचारी VRS पर जाएंगे उन्हें पूर्व प्रभाव से देय पे रिवीजन की पात्रता नही होगी...

कुछ कर्मचारी आशंका व्यक्त कर रहें हैं कि जो कर्मचारी VRS पर जाएंगे, क्या उन्हें पे रिवीजन की पात्रता होगी। दिल्ली हाइकोर्ट द्वारा 26 फरवरी 2017 को संजय बिहारी विरुद्ध IFCI लिमिटेड के प्रकरण में दिए गए जजमेंट के अनुसार जो कर्मचारी VRS पर जाएंगे उन्हें उनके सेवाकाल की अवधि के लिए पूर्व प्रभाव से देय पे रिवीजन की पात्रता नही होगी। इससे संबंधित जजमेंट निम्नानुसार है:-

यह (VRS) आदान प्रदान हेतु एक पैकेज डील है। इसी लिए व्यावसायिक क्षेत्र (business world) में इसे "गोल्डन हैंडशेक" के नाम से जाना जाता है। इस राशि के भुगतान का आशय ही नियोक्ता और कर्मचारी के बीच विधिक संबंधों की पूर्ण समाप्ति है। एक बार भुगतान हो जाने पर एवं कर्मचारी के कंपनी या उपक्रम के अधीन कार्यरत न रहने पर , वह अपने पूर्व नियोक्ता से अपने सभी अधिकारों का परित्याग कर देता है, और उसके पूर्व के अधिकारों की प्राप्ति हेतु उसे किसी भी प्रकार से उद्वेलित (agitating) होने का प्रश्न ही नही है, जिसमें पूर्व समयावधि के पे स्केल में वृद्धि की मांग करना भी शामिल है।

Utilising the visit of Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, to Chennai, to attend the All India Conference of the CITU, a lunch hour meeting was organised by the District Union of BSNLEU, at the CGM, STP office. Almost the entire Executives and Non-Executives of that office attended the meeting. Com.Valayapathi, District President, BSNLEU, presided over. Com. Purushothaman, DS, welcomed everyone. In his brief speech, the General Secretary explained how the shifting of the CGM office of the Core Network, South, to Bengaluru is totally unjustified and also about the details his discussion of this issue with the CMD BSNL. He assured that BSNLEU would try it's best to retain the headquarters at Chennai itself. The General Secretary also briefly dwelt on the issues of  VRS, structural changes in the Company consequent to the implementation of the VRS, reduction of the retirement age from 60 to 58, 3rd PRC, etc. The details of the Formal Meeting held by BSNLEU with the Director (HR), on apprehensions regarding  transfers and increased workload, were also explained by the General Secretary. The meeting was also addressed by Com.S.Chellappa, AGS.

The whole world was horrified to watch the brutal killing of George Floyd, an African American, at Minneapolis, United States, on 25th May, 2020. Floyd's brutal killing by Derek Chauhin, a White police man, is the testimony for the raging racism in the United States. Protest actions are going on throughout the United States and in other countries, demanding justice for Floyd and also demanding an end to racism. A rally was organised at Kolkata today, demanding justice to George Floyd. Central Trade Unions and Independent Federations had given call for this rally. Members of BSNLEU from West Bengal and Kolkata Telephones circles participated in this rally, under the leadership of Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.Sisir Roy, Organising Secretary(CHQ) and Com.Om Prakash Singh, Circle Secretary, Telecom Factory.

A massive state level joint meeting of the BSNL Unions and Associations of West Bengal was held at Kolkata yesterday the 22nd November, in the Institute Hall, CTO, Kolkata. Very good mobilisation has been made by all unions and associations. A presidium of circle secretaries of all major unions and associations in Kolkata Telephones circle conducted the meeting. It was addressed by Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS,BSNLEU, Com. C.Singh, GS,NFTE- BSNL, Com.Tapas Ghosh, CS, SNEA,West Bengal, Com.Prasun Mukherjee, Organising Secretary, AIBSNEA, Com. Alok Nandi,Dy.GS, FNTO,Com.Ashok Acharaya,Jt.Secretary, AIGETOA, Com.Ajay Singh, President, BSNLMS, Com.Jitendra Balmiki,CS,SEWA BSNL, Com.Praveen Kumar,SNATTA and Com. Soumya Basak, CS,AIBSNLOA addressed the convention. Com. Animesh Mitra,VP(CHQ) BSNLEU proposed vote of thanks.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, met Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR) today, and expressed that BSNLEU is experiencing undue delay in getting appointments with her, for the discussion of staff issues. The GS explained about the details of such delays experienced so far. After discussion, the Director (HR) gave instruction to the PS that, meeting should be normally arranged within three days of receiving the requisition letter, in respect of issues which are already discussed. However, in case of emergency issues, no such procedure would be required, assured the Director (HR).  

A meeting of the All Unions and Associations of BSNL was held today. Com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, presided over. Details connected with the March to Sanchar Bhawan, to be held on 23.02.2018, were discussed. After discussion it is decided that March to Sanchar Bhawan will start from Eastern Court, Janpath, at 11:00 AM. It is also decided to invite leaders of the Central Trade Union, to address the rally.

The circle executive committee meeting of BSNLEU, West Bengal circle was held on 30^th April 2018, in K.G.Bose Smriti Bhawan at Kolkata. The meeting was presided over by com Nazesh Nouroz, Circle President. Com. Animesh Mitra, CS of West Bengal circle and vice president of CHQ presented the draft report on activities. Com Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, in his inaugural address, reported on the decisions of the Agartala CEC meeting. He also addressed the house on important issues such as the subsidiary tower company, wage revision, fight against neo liberal policies, communal harmony, etc. The meeting was also addressed by Com.Om Prakash Singh, Organising Secretary(CHQ) and Com.Biplab Das, Convenor, Coordination Committee. After detailed discussion, decisions were taken to successfully implement the Call Attention Day on 03-05-2018 and Street Corner meetings from 7th to 11th May, 2018.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President (CHQ), met Shri H.C. Pant, CGM(Legal) & Chairman of the Joint Committee on Wage Negotiations of the Non-Executives yesterday. The representatives expressed their unhappiness at the slow phase in which the wage negotiations are proceeding. They pointed out that in view of the impending Lok Sabha election, there is an urgent need to conclude the Wage Revision within the shortest possible time. The Chairman gave a patient hearing to the views of the Union representatives and assured to expedite the talks on wage revision.

In the name of revival of BSNL, the government is moving fast to implement VRS in BSNL. The DoT has not bothered to discuss it's so called revival plan of BSNL with the unions and associations, which are important stake-holders of BSNL. Further, the government has unilaterally decided to divert the income to be generated through the monetisation of BSNL's lands, to fund the VRS. This is nothing, but a well thought of plan, to deprive BSNL of the funds needed for it’s development and financial revival. Further, VRS is the government's strategy to cut down the size of BSNL's employees, so as to make it attractive for privatisation. The unions and associations which are opposing VRS have called on the employees to organise protest demonstrations throughout the country on 12-04-2019. We request all the circle and district unions to mobilise maximum number of employees and to make the demonstration a huge success.

The BSNL Working Women’s Coordination Committee meeting, Kerala circle, was held on 22.06.2019, at Trivandrum. Com.K.N. Jyothilakshmi presided. Com. V. Bhagyalakshmi, Convenor, presented the report on activities.  Com. C. Santhoshkumar CS, Com.M.Vijayakumar, AGS, Com. P.R Parameswaran, Organising Secretary (CHQ), Com. P. Manoharan, CP, addressed on important Issues. The meeting decided to organise district level women’s conventions and to campaign for the Membership verification.

A well attended election campaign meeting was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, today, at the CGM Office, Tamil Nadu circle at Chennai. Com.A Babu Radhakrishnan, CS, Tamil Nadu circle, presided over. Com. D.Ramalingam, DS, welcomed everyone. Com. M.Kanniappan, CS, Chennai, was on the dias. The meeting was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.S. Chellappa, AGS. Various doubts and confusions prevailing in the minds of the employees, in respect of BSNL’s future, were amply explained by the speakers. They asserted that BSNL would come out of the crisis and would emerge as a viable PSU in the days to come. Apart from members of BSNLEU, a good number of employees belonging to other organisations also attended the meeting.

Kerala state organised a massive 620 kilometre long human chain yesterday, against the CAA(Citizenship Amendment Act). The Left and Democratic Front organised this human chain. According to media reports, 60 to 70 lakh people participated in this historic event. The human chain was formed from Kasargod in North Kerala and up to Kaliyakkavilai in the southernmost part of the state. Chief Minister of Kerala, Com.Pinarayi Vijayan and many prominent personalities from all walks of life took part in the human chain. The preamble of the Constitution was read out at the beginning and later on oath was taken to protect the Constitution from the "attempts of the Central government" to destroy it.