Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS,BSNLEU addressed a largely attended meeting of BSNL employees at Guwahati  on 9th July 2018. The meeting was organised by the Local Co-Ordination Committee of BSNLEU, Guwahati infront of CGMT,Assam office during lunch hour for the preparation of incoming agitational programme called by All Unions and Associations of BSNL  (AUAB) on 11th July demonstrations infront of CCA office,  Relay Hunger Strike on 24th to 26th July demanding settlement of 3rd PRC, pension contributions on actual basis, allotment of 4G spectrum etc. As assured by the Hon'ble MoS(C) and also to start the programme "BSNL at your door step" called by AUAB. The meeting was presided over by com Subrata Nath, president, LCC. Com Bijoy Deka,CS,BSNLEU, Assam gave introductory speech. Com Sailen Sharma,CS, AIBDPA spoken. Addressing the meeting com Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, narrated in details on the background of taking agitational programmes by the AUAB on Wage Revision, pension contributions on actual basis, pension revision, allotment of 4G spectrum etc. He appealed to all employees to participate in the marketing programme called by the AUAB considering present financial crisis of the company to ensure payments of wage revision benefits to each and every employee. Vote of thanks given by com Prasanta Baruah,DS,BSNLEU, CGM office. A large number of Non-Executives and Executives attended the meeting.

The price of petrol in Mumbai crossed Rs.90/- per litre yesterday. It was sold at Rs.90.08. At Nanded in Maharashtra, petrol was sold at Rs.91.66. No doubt, soon the price of petrol is going to touch Rs.100/- per litre. The price of crude oil in the international market, is being sold at $80 per barrel. It is interesting to note that in 2012, the price of crude oil in international market was $120, whereas the price of petrol in India at that time was only Rs.65/- per litre. This shows the price of crude oil in the international market has got nothing to do with the steep increase in the price of petrol and diesel in India. The government has levied hefty taxes on petrol and diesel. Both the Central and State governments should immediately reduce their taxes to ensure that the common man does not suffer.

The AUAB, in it’s meeting held yesterday, decided to give exemption to the J&K circle from the 3 day strike starting from 18.02.2019. This decision has been taken in view of the terror attack on security personnel at Pulwama, wherein 40 CRPF jawans have laid down their lives.  In the letter addressed to the Director (HR) the AUAB has also assured that all the Executive and Non-Executives of Jammu & Kashmir circle will do their best to ensure maintenance of services in J&K circle. The decision of the AUAB has been communicated to the Management in writing..

Prices of telecom services in India are likely to rise in the second half of the current financial year (2019-20), an Edelweiss report said today. The report says that  the price hike is likely to take place due to the fact that, the penetration in mobile broadband services has increased significantly and is nearing a saturation point. This is a good news for BSNL. It may be recollected that due to the implementation of predatory pricing by Reliance Jio, BSNL's revenue collections fell drastically, and the Company went deeper into financial crisis. If tariffs increase, BSNL's financial condition will also improve.

[ Source : ET Telecom dt. 16-04-2019 ]

BSNLEU and the BSNLCCWF have given call to organise dharna at Corporate Office and at all CGM offices, demanding immediate payment of the wage arrears of the contract workers and also demanding to stop the retrenchment. All circle secretaries are requested to download this poster and get it printed for organising the strike.

Despite it was raining, Surat district union organised a very effective election campaign meeting on 09.09.2019, addressed by the General Secretary. The meeting was presided over by Com.Salim Hafeji, District President. Com.Dubey, District Secretary, welcomed everyone. The meeting was also addressed by Com.M.K. Dave, Vice President (CHQ) and Com.D.K. Bakutra, Circle Secretary. In his address, the General Secretary explained about all the aspects related to the revival of BSNL, which is possible through united struggles, and by mobilising public opinion in favour of BSNL. He also explained about the issues taken up / settled by BSNLEU in the last three years. The General Secretary also replied to various rumours being raised by mischievous elements.

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Haryana Circle, was held at Rohtak on 18^th November, 2019. Com.Naresh Kumar, Circle President presided over the meeting. Com.M.S. Kadian, Circle Secretary, welcomed all and presented a brief report. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, explained in detail the decisions of Ghaziabad CEC meeting held on 12^th & 13^th October, 2019, for participating the 8^th January, 2020 General Strike. He also dealt with the issue of BSNL’s Revival Package and VRS related issues. Com.Ramesh Chand Sharma, Organising Secretary (CHQ), BSNLEU and Com.Kuldeep Singh, CS, AIBDPA, also addressed the meeting. District Secretaries and Circle Union Office bearers participated in the discussion.

The Aurangabad Bench of the Bombay High Court has given a landmark judgement, wherein it has stated that, people wanting to agitate in a peaceful way cannot be called traitors, anti-nationals only because they want to oppose one law. The court has stated, “this court wants to express that such persons cannot be called as traitors, anti-nationals only because they want to oppose one law. It will be an act of protest only against the government for the reason of CAA.”

Regarding the right of the citizens to conduct peaceful agitations, the court has also stated as follows:-

“India got freedom due to agitations which were non-violent and this path of non-violence is followed by the people of this country till this date… Unfortunately, many laws which ought to have been scrapped after getting freedom are continued and the bureaucracy is exercising powers under them against citizens of free India.”

[Courtesy: Times of India dated 15.02.2020]

BSNLEU is organising a countrywide dharna programme tomorrow the, 26.06.2020. In this connection, the CHQ of BSNLEU has issued the following press statement. The circle secretaries are requested to translate this press statement in their Regional Languages and to distribute the same to the media at the circle and district levels. CHQ will soon send the Hindi translation of this press statement to the circle secretaries of Hindi speaking circles.

BSNLEU conveys it’s Best Wishes and Warm Greetings to all women comrades, on the occasion of International Women’s Day, which falls tomorrow. Women constitute 50% of the population. However, the same is not reflected, so far as their role in the society is concerned. Gender discrimination and atrocities against women are increasing day by day. BSNLEU calls upon it’s leaders and cadres to fight against all forms of injustices against women. The CHQ has already called upon the circle and district unions to observe the International Women’s Day in a befitting manner tomorrow.

The deal of the Indian government, to purchase 36 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation of France, has raged a very big controversy. In this deal, Dassault Aviation has tied up with Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence. It is a well known fact that Anil Ambani has no background of any defence manufacturing. Further, it is also a well known fact that, Anil Ambani is almost in a bankrupt situation. Under these circumstances, it is being widely believed that, the Modi government has helped Anil Ambani to become the Indian partner of Dassault Aviation. The former French President, Francois Hollande confirmed few days back that, it was as per the direction of the Indian government that, Anil Ambani’s Reliance Defence is made the Indian partner of the Rafale jet manufacturer. The French government has not denied this. It has only stated that it was the decision of Dassault Aviation to induct Reliance Defence as it’s partner. But, the question arises, why the Dassault Aviation should select the bankrupt and inexperienced Reliance Defence as it’s partner? Further, it should also be noted that the Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd., the public sector aircraft manufacturer of India, was not made the partner, in the purchase of Rafale fighter jets. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is maintaining a big silence. He should give a reply to the nation.

As already reported by the CHQ of BSNLEU, a meeting of the Redesignation Committee, will be held on 26-04-2019. The Restructuring Branch of the Corporate Office has issued the notification for the meeting today. 

It is a sad news for BSNL that, ultimately, Kerala circle has also gone into loss. Kerala circle had been consistently earning profit, ever since the formation of BSNL. In the financial year 2017-18 also, Kerala circle earned a net profit of Rs.373 crore. Alas, in 2018-19, Kerala circle has ran into a loss of Rs.260 crore.

BSNLEU has already expressed it’s unhappiness over the withdrawal of the 3 day hunger strike, which was to be held from 20.11.2019. Since there was no unanimity among all the constituents of the AUAB, to go ahead with the hunger strike, the programme had to be dropped. Still, BSNLEU strongly felt the need of an agitational programme to ensure settlement of the crucial issues related to VRS, as well as other burning issues of the employees. For the past two days, BSNLEU approached all the trade unions of the Non-Executives for organising a struggle. As a result of this, various organisations agreed to organise a one day hunger strike on 25.11.2019 at the Corporate Office, Circle and District levels. The BSNLEU has no intention to exclude any trade union from this hunger strike. All the organisations willing to raise their voice against the injustices in the matter of VRS and other issues have joined together for organising the hunger strike on 25.11.2019. All the circle and district unions are requested to immediately contact the other participant organisations for massively organising the one day hunger strike on 25.11.2019.

The Supreme Court has pulled up the government of India for not implementing it’s order dated 24.10.2019 on payment of dues by the telecom companies. In it’s order dated 24.10.2019, the Supreme Court laid down the definition for the Adjusted Gross Revenue (AGR). According to this order, the telecom companies should pay licence fee, spectrum charges, etc., calculated on their total income, and not only on income from core business. According to this order of the Supreme Court, Vodafone Idea has to pay Rs.53,000 crore and Airtel has to pay Rs.35,000 crore. As per the Supreme Court order, the dues from the telecom companies should be paid within 3 months. However, even 4 months after this judgement, the private companies have not paid even a single naya paisa. It has also come to the light that the government has sent an advisory to the concerned officers stating that “no coercive action should be taken until further orders, to collect the dues from telecom companies.” The Supreme Court severely criticised the government for issuing such an advisory.

1) Com.Kum Singh Rawat, Retd. JE, Romnagar, Nainital – Rs.5,100/-

2) Com.Ram Ratan, Retd. TT, Gularbhoj, Nainital – Rs.2,100/-

3) Com. Kailash Pandey, Retd. TT, Dehradun – Rs.2,100/-

4) Com.Puran Singh Bhandari, Retd.TT, Chamba, New Tehri – Rs.2,000/-

5) Com. Jayendra Mohan Pandey, TT, New Tehri – Rs.1,100/-

6) Com. Narayan Singh Bohra, TT, Khatima, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

7) Com. Kailash Adhikari, JE, Ranikhet, Almora – Rs.1,100/-

8) Com. Vishawakarma, DS, Retd. JE, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

9) Com. Bhajan Lal, Retd.TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

10) Com. Hari Lal, Retd. TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

11) Com. Udai Singh, Ghugatiyal, DS, Retd. TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

12) Com. Sanjeev Molfo, JTO, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

13) Com. Jeewan  Singh Khati, Retd. JE, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

14) Com. Bhagwan Das, Retd. TT, Bazpur, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

15) Com. Pyar Singh Rawat, Retd. TT, New Tehri – Rs.1,100/-

16) Com. Kirti Dutt Uniyal, Retd. JE, New Tehri – Rs.1,100/-

17) Com. Deep Kumar, Retd. TT, Nainital – Rs.1,100/-

18) Com. Jai Shiv Kumar Chopra, Retd. PA, Haridwar – Rs.1,100/-

19) Com. Deepa Joshi, Circle Vice President, Retd. OS, Almora – Rs.1,100/-

20) Com. Bhagwan Singh Aswal, Retd. OS, Khatima, Nainital – Rs.500/-