An effective lunch hour gate meeting was organised at BSNL Corporate Office today, to mobilise the Corporate Office employees for the forthcoming indefinite strike. The meeting was addressed by Com. Chandeshwar Singh, GS, NFTE & Chairman, AUAB, Com.Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com. R.S. Chauhan, Org. Secretary (CHQ), BSNLEU, Com. Ravi Shil Verma, GS, AIGETOA and Com. Suresh Kumar, GS, BSNL MS. The leaders explained the charter of demands for the indefinite strike and urged upon the employees to massively participate in the strike.

The General Body meeting of TS Kolkata was held on 07.02.2019, at 3A, Chowringhee Place, Kolkata-13. Com. Animesh Mitra addressed the meeting. He stated the present situation of BSNL and requested all the participants to successfully organise 3 days strike.

Com.Ashok Pareek, Circle Secretary of BSNLEU, Rajasthan circle, retired on superannuation today. Com.Ashok Pareek is soft-spoken, but dynamic in action. Under his able captainship, BSNLEU has grown from strength to strength in Rajasthan circle. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates Com.Ashok Pareek for his retirement on superannuation and wishes him a long healthy and active retired life.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.Animesh Mitra, President, met Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, as well as Shri S.K. Gupta, Director (Finance), today, and discussed about the issue of non-payment of salary to the employees. Both the representatives conveyed to the Management that the employees are extremely unhappy and resentful about the non-payment of salary on time. A very detailed discussion took place between the union representatives and the CMD BSNL, about the ways and means to improve the financial condition of BSNL. In the course of the discussion, it was told by the Management that their efforts to get funds released from the DoT, for the payment of salary, did not fructify. However, the CMD BSNL assured that he would try to make payment of the salary of the employees at the earliest, from the earnings of BSNL.

The BSNL Management and their agents are making propaganda that the VRS is very attractive. But it is not beneficial for the lower level employees. Truly speaking, the lower level employees like telecom mechanics will be facing a big loss, if they go on VRS. 

The following are the details in respect of a Telecom Technician, whose basic pay is Rs.21,730 and who is having 3 years and 4 months of remaining service.

Loss in pay.

If this Telecom Mechanic goes on VRS, he will get an ex-gratia amount of Rs.16,42,800.

If he remains in service till 60 years, he will get pay plus DA of Rs.21,90,400. It means, he will be losing Rs. 5,47,600  on account of pay plus DA alone, if he goes on VRS.

Further, from this ex-gratia amount of Rs.16,42,800, income tax will be deducted. Further, society loan, bank loan and various other loans like House Building Loan, will be deducted. Ultimately, the official will get a very less amount as ex-gratia.

In addition to this, he will be losing Rs.2,173/- every month as HRA, even if he is posted in a ‘C’ class city, where he is entitled for 10% HRA. This loss comes to Rs.86,920/- for 3 years and 4 months

Further, if he continues in service till his retirement on superannuation, he will earn 3(three) increments. These 3 increments will result in higher pension when he retires at the age of 60.

Loss in pension.

If the above mentioned official goes on VRS, he will get a monthly pension of Rs.10,865/-.

If he continues to his service and retirees after 3 years 4 months on 60 years of age, his pension will be Rs.11,885/- (adding 3 increments).

So, in basic pension alone, the official will lose Rs.1,020/- every month. Together with this, he will lose DA also every month, for his basic pension. At today’s DA rate of 152%, this loss will be Rs.1,550/-. So, total loss in pension will be Rs.2,570/- per month. This will be a very big loss for the person, till the last day of his life. In addition to this, the official will be facing loss in his gratuity and pension commutation also.

A lot of rumours are also being spread, to create panic among the employees and make them to opt for VRS in a large scale. The following are the replies for the rumours / confusions, which are being spread.

58 years.

A lot of employees are going on VRS due to rumours that Cabinet has already taken decision to reduce the retirement age to 58. This is totally a false information. If the cabinet has already taken the decision to reduce the retirement age to 58, then why it has not been announced openly so far?

It is true that, no such decision has been taken by Cabinet to reduce the retirement age to 58 years.

Mischievous elements are spreading this rumour, only to create panic among employees and force them to go on VRS. Further, all the Recognised Unions of the Non-Executives and Associations of the Executives are opposing the reduction of retirement age to 58 years.

Retrenchment after completion of 33 years of service.

A lot of rumours are also being spread that, government has decided to retrench employees who have completed 33 years of service, or 60 years of age, whichever is lesser. This is totally a false information. Times of India dated 24^th September, 2019, has already clarified that government is not having any such proposal.

BSNLEU and AIBDPA of Durgapur, West Bengal circle, provided relief materials, viz., rice, cereal, vegetables and provisions to 29 contract workers, on 9^th April, 2020. The total cost of the food materials distributed amounted to Rs.60,000/-. The expenditure was met by raising of donations from members. Veteran Telecom trade union leader, Com.Dhananjoy Ganguly, was present at the time of distribution of things. CHQ heartily congratulates all the BSNLEU and AIBDPA comrades of Durgapur, for this initiative.

The CHQ is extremely shocked to know that Shri Sham Adav,  husband of Com.Revati Adav, former member of the All India BSNL Working Women’s Coordination Committee, passed away today, due to COVID-19. We express our heartfelt condolences to Com. Revati and her family members.

The BSNL Casual Contract Workers Federation (BSNLCCWF) has given a call for a two day relay hunger strike on 25th & 26th August, 2020. This programme is to demand immediate payment of the wage arrears of the contract workers and also against the retrenchment of contract workers, which is being done through outsourcing. CHQ requests all the circle and district unions to take immediate steps for successfully organising the two day relay hunger strike successfully at all levels, together with the BSNL CCWF.

The representatives of BSNLEU who met Shri Keshav Rao, GM (Estt.), explained in detail to him about how the settlement of anomalies has been put into cold storage by the DoT, due to the inaction of BSNL Management. The issue is lying pending with the DoT for a very long period, since the BSNL Management has not sent the necessary inputs sought by the DoT. The BSNL Corporate Office had already written to all the CGM’s, calling for the number of affected employees in each circle. However, this feedback has not been given by the circles. Hence, BSNL is not able to reply to the DoT, and the settlement of anomalies issue is hanging fire. The GM (Estt.) assured that this issue would be discussed in the ‘GM (HR)s’ Conference’, to be held at BSNL Corporate Office on 22.01.2018.

Some of our comrades have drawn our attention to a veiled criticism, that has been made about the handling of the pension revision issue, by All Unions and Associations of BSNL, in the meeting held with the Hon’ble MoS(C) on 24.02.2018. All knows that the AUAB is fighting not only for the 1.85 lakh serving employees, but also for the 2 lakh BSNL retired employees. It was only through the two day strike conducted by the unions and associations of BSNL on 21^st & 22^nd April, 2015, that the 60% ceiling imposed by the government, on it’s limit to pay pension to BSNL retirees, was broken.

As regards revision of pension from 01.01.2017, DoT’s stand is that, pension revision would be done, only if wage revision is completed. This was conveyed in DoT’s letter no.24-1/2018/SR dated 21.02.2018 also. (On the eve of the meeting with the Hon’ble MoS(C), this letter was withdrawn). It is nothing but total denial of pension revision. However, due to the mighty struggles of the AUAB, the Hon’ble MoS(C) has now conceded the demand for pension revision.

Perhaps, this settlement has disturbed some, whose only contribution to the pensioners is, giving ‘lip-service’ and making ‘time-pass’, by criticising others. Settlement of pension revision w.e.f. 01.01.2017 is the immediate goal of AUAB. At the same time, the AUAB will also find a permanent solution to the pension revision issue, as it has solved the 60% ceiling issue. Hence, the ‘arm-chair critics’ need not get disturbed, and can take rest.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, who is presently in Port Blair, for attending the circle conference of Andaman and Nicobar circle, met Shri V.Jagadeesan, CGM, yesterday. Com.S.P.Kalairajan, Circle Secretary and other circle leaders accompanied. The GS discussed about the developmental activities of BSNL in the circle. During the discussion, the GS seriously raised the issue of acute shortage of staff in A&N circle, especially in the Non-Executive cadres. The GS suggested that the circle administration should raise this issue with the Corporate Office. BSNLEU has already raised the issue with the Corporate Management. Once again the issue will be raised vigorously.

In continuation of the discussion held with the GM (Rectt.), on the issue of holding JTO LICE, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Saurab Tyagi, GM (Estt.) today and urged upon him to initiate the process for holding the JTO LICE without delay. The GM (Estt.) replied that in the wake of the Corporate Office’s contemplation of implementing the CPSU hierarchy, the views of the Personnel Branch of the Corporate Office has been sought on this matter. The GS pointed out that the JTO LICE has to be conducted for the vacancies of 2016 – 17 and 2017 – 18, whether or not the CPSU hierarchy is implemented. He urged upon the GM (Estt.) to expeditiously issue the letter for holding the JTO LICE. The GM (Estt.) assured to do the needful.

On 5th February, 2019, an extended Circle Office bearer meeting of West Bengal Circle was held. District Secretaries in and around Kolkata attended the meeting. The ensuing three days strike in BSNL was discussed at length. The entire situation was narrated by Com. Animesh Mitra, Circle Secretary, about the role of the BSNL Management as well as the role of the DoT in regard to the wage revision, the allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, grant of loan to BSNL and other demands of the strike. The office bearers and the district secretaries participated in the discussion. It was decided in the meeting that massive street corner meetings will be organised from 11th February, district secretaries will take necessary steps to organise such street corner meeting in the important location of their districts. It was also decided that massive campaign programme will be carried amongst the workers in the shape of group meetings, gate meeting followed by rally in the offices and exchanges along with the constituents of AUAB.

The 8th Membership Verification campaign meeting was held at the GM Office Premises, Rajahmundry, East Godavari SSA, yesterday, the 05-09-2019. Com.Srinivasa Rao, District President presided over. Com. Maheswara Rao, District Secretary, welcomed everyone. The meeting was addressed by Com. K.Rama Devi, All India Vice President, Com. P Asoka Babu, Circle Secretary A.P. Circle, Com. K Prabhakara Rao, Circle President, Com.L.Ramesh Babu, ACS of AP Circle and all circle leaders at Rajahmundry. The leaders explained the financial revival of BSNL, Land monetisation, VRS, 58 years, Casual Contract labour issues and our achievements.

Next to Salem, the All India Insurance Employees Association (AIIEA) has provided food materials to BSNL’s contract workers at Dharmapuri and Thiruchengodu, in Tamil Nadu circle. In Dharmapuri, food grains and provisions worth Rs.1,058/- to each of the 25 contract workers were provided on 09.04.2020. Similarly in Thiruchengodu, food materials worth Rs.1,100/- were given to each of the 25 contract workers on 08.04.2020. In these functions, Com.S. Tamil Mani, CVP, Com. P.Krishnan, DS, Dharmapuri and leaders of AIIEA were present.

The All India Centre meeting of BSNLEU is held today the 14.06.2020, through video conferencing. It was participated in by Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, Com.R.S. Chauhan, Vice President, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Deputy General Secretary and Com.Gakul Borah, Treasurer. Com. John Verghese, AGS, looked after the technical arrangements and was also present in the meeting. The All India Centre meeting finalised the note to be presented for the discussion in tomorrow's Central Secretariat meeting. The Centre meeting has also discussed  certain proposals, to be placed before tomorrow’s Central Secretariat meeting.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President (CHQ), met Shri Keshav Rao, GM (Estt.), yesterday and expressed BSNLEU’s objection over the arbitrary reduction of the ceiling for outdoor medical claim without voucher, from 25 days to 23 days. The representatives recorded their strong protest that the Management had arbitrarily curtailed the medical facility of the employees, without discussing the issue with the Recognised Union. They pointed out that the reduction in the ceiling might save a few crore rupees to the Company, but it would deprive the needy employees of getting their outdoor medical expenditure sufficiently reimbursed. The GM (Estt.) assured that the objection and protest of BSNLEU would be taken to the “appropriate authority” of the Management for redressal.

A delegation of All Unions and Associations of BSNL, met Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications at Sangli on 23.02.2018 and submitted the memorandum on burning issues of the employees and that of BSNL. The Hon’ble Minister told the delegation that the issues are being actively looked into by his Ministry and that positive decisions would be taken. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the All Unions and Associations of BSNL of Maharashtra circle and Sangli district.