BSNLEU has been continuously insisting upon the BSNL Management to reconstitute the Standing Committee of the National Council, and also to convene it’s meeting at the earliest, so that the implementation of the decisions taken in the National Council meeting could be reviewed. Earlier, the SR Branch tentatively agreed to conduct this meeting on 18.01.2018. However, in view of the GM (HR)s’ Conference to be held at BSNL Corporate Office on 22.01.2018, the SR Branch sought for a change of date. In yesterday’s discussion with the representatives of BSNLEU and the GM (SR), it was decided to hold the meeting on 24.01.2018.

A meeting is held at the Sanchar Bhawan today the 24.02.2018, between Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications and the All Unions and Associations of BSNL. Together with the Minister, Secretary, DoT, Special Secretary, DoT, Joint Secretary (Admn.), DoT, OSD to the Hon’ble Minister, DDG (Estt.), DoT, CMD BSNL and Director (HR) BSNL were present. From the All Unions and Associations of BSNL, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE, Com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com. K. Jayaprakash, GS, FNTO, Com. N.D. Ram, GS, SEWA BSNL, Com. Ravi Shil Verma, GS, AIGETOA, Com. Mallikarjuna, President, BSNL MS and Com. S.D. Sharma, GS, BSNL ATM, participated in the discussions. The representatives of the AUAB heartily thanked the Hon’ble Minister for taking out time to meet them. Detailed discussions took place on the memorandum submitted to the Hon’ble Minister, the details of which are as follows:-

Com. Balbir Singh, President, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Ms. Samita Luthra, GM (Rectt.), today and discussed the following issues:-

1. Review of JE LICE results.

In continuation of the discussion held with Director (HR) today on the subject, the representatives of BSNLEU met Ms. Samita Luthra, GM (Rectt.) and discussed the issue of review of results of the JE LICE. They referred to the assurance given in the National Council, by the Chairperson of the NC, and requested to take a positive decision expeditiouly. The GM (Rectt.) responded positively and assured that the issue would be discussed with the Director (HR) and needful action would be taken expeditiously.

2. Conducting of JTO LICE.

BSNLEU has already demanded the Management to hold the JTO LICE for the vacancies of the years 2016 – 17 and 2017 – 18. The issue was once again discussed with the GM (Rectt.) in today’s meeting. She replied that the initiative in this regard has to be taken by the Establishment Branch, for which she has already sent letter. She assured that the issue would be further persued. BSNLEU will pursue this issue further, and ensure early conducting of the JTO LICE.

The Rajasthan circle AUAB organised a huge meeting at Jaipur on 27th November, 2018, for the preparation of the Indefinite Strike from 3rd December,2018. More than 500 employees from Rajasthan attended the meeting. The meeting was presided over by com Dikshit, President of AUAB and circle secretary of NFTE-BSNL. Com. Ashok Pareek, Convenor of AUAB, Rajasthan delivered welcome address. Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, BSNLEU, Com.A.Rajmouli, Financial Secretary, NFTE-BSNL, Com.Prahllad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com.Suresh Kumar, BSNLMS, Com.R.R.Sharma, Circle President, SNEA, Rajasthan, Com.Ajit Kumar, Advisor, AIGTEOA, Com.Ashok Gupta, CS,BTEU BSNL Com.Rashid Khan, AGS, TEPU and Com.H.P.Singh, Dy.GS, BSNLOA addressed the meeting. All leaders touched upon the points related to the decisions of All Unions and Associations on Indefinite Strike from 3rd December and appealed to employees to participate in the indefinite strike with determination.

The emergent Circle Working Committee meeting of Maharashtra Circle was held at circle office Mumbai on 6th Feb. Com. Appasaheb Ghagre, Circle President, presided over. Com Nagesh Nalawade, Circle Secretary & VP, BSNLEU, welcomed everyone and explained about the purpose of the meeting. Apart from the district secretaires and circle office bearers a large number of active comrades attended the meeting. All the district secretaires participated in the discussion and placed their views regarding the 3 day strike and that the charter of demands. Com.Nagesh Nalawade, CS, elaborately addressed the meeting and explained about the developments that have taken place at New Delhi, after the deferment of the indefinite strike. He also explained about the charter of demands and requested the comrades to effectively organise the 5 days street corner meeting, as well as the 3 day strike. The extended circle executive committee meeting enthusiastically decided to make the fullest mobilisation for the strike.

यूनियन बैंक ऑफ इंडिया और केनरा बैंक से MoUs के नवीनीकरण की स्थिति...
यूनियन बैंक ऑफ इंडिया और केनरा बैंक से हुए BSNL के MoUs की समयावधि खत्म हो चुकी है। BSNLEU द्वारा निरंतर रूप से प्रबंधन से MoUs के शीघ्र नवीनीकरण करने की मांग की जाती रही है, जिससे कि कर्मचारियों को बैंक से ऋण मिलता रहे। BSNLEU ने इस संबंध में पुनः GM(BFCI) को स्मरण कराया है और त्वरित कार्यवाही की मांग की है। कॉम स्वपन चक्रबोर्ति, डिप्टी जीएस और कॉम गाकुल बोरा, ट्रेझरर ने कल BFCI सेक्शन के अधिकारियों से इस प्रकरण पर चर्चा की। उन्हें बताया गया कि BSNL प्रबंधन द्वारा MoUs के नवीनीकरण हेतु की गई पहल के प्रति यूनियन बैंक ऑफ इंडिया से प्रतिसाद नही मिला है। लेकिन कैनरा बैंक ने जरूर उत्साह प्रदर्शित किया है। किन्तु उन्होंने अधिक ब्याज दर से लोन का प्रस्ताव रखा है। BSNL प्रबंधन ने उनसे कहा है कि वें प्रतिस्पर्धात्मक ब्याज दरों के साथ अपना प्रस्ताव लेकर आवें। कैनरा बैंक के अधिकारियों ने कहा है कि इस हेतु उनके मुम्बई स्थित मुख्यालय से अनुमति लेना होगी और इस प्रक्रिया में 10 दिन लगेंगे। BSNLEU इस प्रकरण के निराकरण हेतु प्रयास करती रहेगी।

Consequent to the retirement of CMD BSNL, Shri Anupam Shrivastava, the DoT has issued letter stating that, as an interim measure and subject to approval of the ACC, the additional charge of CMD BSNL is entrusted to Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD MTNL for a period of 3 months, or till the appointment of a regular CMD BSNL.

In their meeting with the CMD BSNL and Director (Finance), the GS and the President insisted for early releasing of funds for the payment of wages of the contract workers. They told the Management that Non-payment of wages to the contract workers for the past 8 months, have put the families of the contract workers in starvation, and demanded that the Management should release funds for payment of wages to the contract workers. However, both the CMD BSNL and the Director (Finance)  told categorically that,  there is no possibility to release any funds for the payment of the wages of the contract workers.

Whether the employees who go on VRS are entitled for Pay Revision, implemented retrospectively? Confusions are continued to be created on this issue. We want the employees to take a decision after understanding the positive and negative aspects. We have already updated on our website, a judgement of the Delhi High Court on this issue. Again, on 17.09.2019, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has given a final judgement in the IFCL Ltd., Vs Sanjay Behari and others case (C.A.No.6995/2019), wherein the Hon’ble Court has stated that the VRS is a package by itself and the employees retired under VRS cannot claim any benefit beyond what has been envisaged in the VRS. We enclose herewith a press statement issued by IFCI in this regard.

A meeting of the AUAB will be held at 15:00 hrs. at BSNL MS Office on 06.02.2020. The meeting will discuss the issues that have arisen in the post-VRS scenario, non-payment of salary, etc.

The 21 day lock-down announced by the Government of India, to contain the spread of COVID-19, is coming to an end on 14th April. However, this lock-down is likely to be extended. The Government of Odisha has already extended the lock-down till 30th April, 2020. The educational institutions in Odisha will also remain closed till 27th June, 2020.  The Government of Punjab has also decided to extend the lock-down till 1^st May, 2020. The Experts Committee, formed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, has also recommended extension of the lock-down. Media reports say that various state governments are also contemplating the extension of the lock-down till 30th April. Under these circumstances, the Central Government may also extend the lock-down period till 30th April, 2020. There seems to be no other option for the nation to contain the COVID-19.

As we have reported earlier, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has already ordered the private telecom companies to make an immediate payment Rs.1.3 lakh crore as AGR dues. However, when the case came up for hearing in the Hon’ble Supreme Court on 11.06.2020, the government submitted to the Court that the private telecom companies would collapse, resulting in loss of millions of jobs, if the private telecom companies are pressurised to pay the entire AGR dues immediately. The government has also submitted to the Hon’ble Supreme Court a formula, as per which the private telecom companies could pay the AGR dues over a period of 20 years, without any interests, penalty, etc. The Hon’ble Supreme Court is yet to take a final decision on the matter.

15th August,2020, is the 74th Independence Day of our great nation. For any Indian, Independence Day is the holiest and most sacred day. It is on this day, the freedom fighters took India out of the slavery of British imperialists. The British adopted the strategy of “Devide and Rule”. However, leaders of the freedom struggle, succeeded in uniting the people, irrespective of their religion, region, caste, language, etc., etc. That is how our country became independent.

However, today, once again, the people of India are being devided, in the name of religion. The people who are in power, are deviding the people to achieve narrow political gains. On this Independence Day, Mukesh Ambani is the 5th richest man in the world. But, it is not the pride of India. The top 1% Indians have 4 times more wealth than the bottom 70% Indians. This staggering disparity is the stigma of India. The ruling masters are doing everything to increase this disparity. In the name of privatisation, the wealth of the nation is being handed over to the Indian and foreign corporates.

Everything is being done to dismantle the Public Sector of our country. Hard won Labour Rights are being taken away to help the corporates, to loot the working masses. Above everything, the unity of the working masses is being broken in the name of God. It is the fervent appeal of BSNLEU, on the Independence Day, that the working masses of the country should remember the path shown by Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Nethaji Subhash Chandra Bose, etc. to remain united and fight against exploitation.

Long live the Independence of our great nation.

Red salutes to all the martyrs who laid down their lives to achieve freedom. Inquilab Zindabad.

The Tamil Nadu circle union of BSNLEU has taken the initiative to organise a convention of the DR JEs. This convention is being held at Pondicherry on 07.01.2018. DR JEs from all over Tamil Nadu circle are participating in this convention. Com. P. Abhimanyu, General Secretary, is addressing this convention. The current problems is being faced by the recently appointed DR JEs, as well as their future promotional prospects will be discussed with focus in this convention. CHQ heartily congratulates the Tamil Nadu circle union for taking this excellent initiative. 

In the meeting held between the Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications and the All Unions and Associations of BSNL on 24.02.2018, break through has been made in almost all the issues, except in the matter of Subsidiary Tower Company. On this issue, the Hon’ble Minister was non-committal. This may be because, decision has been taken at the highest level of the government, to form the Subsidiary Tower Company. In the review meeting of AUAB, held immediately after the meeting with the Hon’ble MoS(C), this matter has been reviewed. In that meeting, it has been unanimously decided to continue with our efforts to get the formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company rolled back.

A special convention, called on by BSNLEU, AIBDPA and Contract Workers Union (CTTMU), Kolkata Telephones, was held yesterday the 04-05-2018, in the CTO hall Kolkata. The Convention was called to discuss about the ways and means to improve the quality of service, and in that process, to make Kolkata Telephones a profit making circle. A presidium consisting of Com. Supriya Mitra, Com. Prabir Dutta and Com.Tapas Banerjee presided over the Convention. Com.Sisir Roy, CS, BSNLEU, welcomed everyone and addressed the Convention. Shri S.P. Tripathi, CGM, Com. Subhasis Mitra, CS, AIBSNLEA, Com. Sanjib Banerjee, CS, AIBDPA, Com. Arup Sarkar, CS, CTTMU, Com. Biplab Das, Secretary, BSNLCC, Com. Jitendra Balmiki, CS, SEWA BSNL etc., addressed  the Convention. Many important decisions were taken in the Convention to immediately improve the quality of quality of services. CHQ heartily congratulates the Kolkata telephones circle union for taking the initiative.

BSNLEU is organising an All India Young Workers' Convention at Bhopal on 30-09-2018. CHQ and Madhya Pradesh circle union are taking every effort to make the Convention a success. The Convention will be addressed by Dr.Prabhir Purkayasta of the Delhi Science Forum, apart from the leaders of the CHQ of BSNLEU. All the circle secretaries are requested to mobilise young workers for the Convention, as per the target fixed by the CHQ. Further, circle secretaries are requested to inform the CHQ without delay, about the number of the young workers coming from their circle, and also about the timings of their arrival and departure for the Convention.