Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President (CHQ), met Shri A.M.Gupta, GM(SR) and requested him to do the necessary coordination between the members of the Management Side of the Joint Committee on Wage Negotiation, with a view to expedite the wage settlement. They also requested the GM(SR) to ensure that the 37^th meeting of the National Council is held within September, 2018, as per the commitment given in the National Council meeting. The GM(SR) assured to do the needful.

Unemployment in India has reached unprecedented level. It is 45 year high. This is, as per the findings of the National Sample Survey Office (NSSO). The Business Standard newspaper has revealed this information on 31.01.2019. It is very important to note that NSSO is a Government of India Organisation. However, the Modi government is hiding this information from the people of the country. This is nothing but a manipulation. Protesting this manipulation by the government, two independent members of the NSSO have resigned from their posts on 28.01.2019. It is to be remembered that, this government came to power by giving the assurance that 2 crore jobs would be created every year. This assurance remains only on paper.

Following the letter written by BSNL Management, to the Department of Telecommunications on 17.06.2019, much is being talked about the future of BSNL. Many mischievous write-ups are also appearing in the media. A write-up appeared in today’s India Today, has gone to the extent of advising BSNL customers to migrate to other private operators. Hence, with the view to clear the confusions, BSNLEU has issued the following press statement.

Com M.S Korot, District President presided over the Meeting. Com A.Y. Ghori, District Secretary, Palanpur welcomed all the participants in the meeting.  Com. DK Bakutra, Circle Secretary, BSNLEU, Gujarat Circle, Com MK Dave, Vice-President, BSNLEU CHQ addressed the House and discussed about the current status of BSNL and crucial role of BSNLEU for survival of BSNL. Com Swapan Chakraborty, Dy. General Secretary, BSNLEU, CHQ spoke in detail about the issues before the BSNL and BSNL Employees. He discussed about the Government’s anti PSUs and anti BSNL policies of  and its impact on BSNL and spoke about ongoing struggles under the leadership of BSNLEU. The meeting concluded with vote of thanks from Com MS Korot, President, BSNLEU, Palanpur District.

The 16th All India Conference of CITU, which started at Chennai on 23-01-2020, got successfully concluded today. Election of office-bearers took place unanimously. Com.K.Hemalata and Com. Tapan Sen are re-elected as President and General Secretary, respectively. BSNLEU conveys it's revolutionary greetings to the newly elected office-bearers.

BSNLEU Karnataka circle and CITU distributed food grain packets, along with one litre cooking oil, to 25 contract workers in CGM office Bangaluru. Com. H. V. Sudharshan, CS, BSNLEU, Com. Irfan Pasha, Organising Secretary (CHQ), Com. P. Girish, DS, CGM office, Com. Meenakshi Sundaram, General Secretary, CITU, Karnataka, Com. K. N Umesh, Secretary, CITU, Bengaluru and Com. Mahantesh, GS, BSNL Contract workers Union, were present in the programme.

After VRS in BSNL, the strength of the employees has greatly been reduced. In this situation, a thinking arises in the minds of our comrades, whether we can organise struggles hereafter. Today, the answer to this question has been given by Com. Ponugoti Swamy Rao, Telecom Technician, working at Narkatpally, in Nalgonda SSA, Telengana circle. He is the only employee working in this station. However, single handedly, he has carried out the call of BSNLEU today. Wearing the black badge, Com. Ponugoti Swamy Rao, single handedly conducted the protest demonstration, condemning Shri Anantkumar Hedge, MP. CHQ feels proud of Com. Ponugoti Swamy Rao and heartily congratulates him for his fighting spirit. 

CHQ is saddened to hear that Smt. Bhagawati Devi, aged 85, mother of Com. Ramesh Chand, Organising Secretary, CHQ, has passed away today. CHQ conveys it’s heartfelt condolences to Com. Ramesh Chand, Org. Secretary (CHQ) and to all his family members.

The circle executive committee meeting of Telecom Factory was held at Mumbai on 26.04.2018. Com.Naikwade, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com. Sunil Chaudhary, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and placed the report on activities. Com.John Verghese, (AGS), addressed the meeting and spoke on important current issues, such as wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, revival of BSNL, etc. He also explained in detail on the decisions of the Agartala CEC meeting and about conducting street corner meetings and creating public awareness about the ill effects of creating subsidiary tower company and killing of PSU's by the present Government.

The All India BSNL Working Women’s Coordination Committee meeting is taking place at Bengaluru on 30.06.2018. A seminar is also been held in this connection. Com. Sudha Sundararaman, Vice President, All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) and Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, are addressing.

Big corporate houses enter into mega mergers, with a view to maximise their profits. But, it is a bitter truth that employees become victims due to these mergers. This is once again proved in the recent Vodafone Idea merger. Recently, telecom giants, Vodafone and Idea entered into a mega merger. Thus, the merged entity, viz., Vodafone Idea has become the biggest telecom service provider in the country. It is reported that 10 billion dollars would be gained due to the synergies to be achieved due to this merger. However, the merger is not good so far as the employees are concerned. Media reports say that, 2,500 employees have become surplus in Vodafone Idea. Their future is hanging fire now.

The AUAB of Madhya Pradesh organised a massive strike preparatory meeting at Bhopal today. Com.Habeeb Khan, CS, NFTE and Chairman,AUAB, MP circle, presided over. Com.Prakash Sharma, CS, BSNLEU and Convenor, AUAB, welcomed everyone. The meeting was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU & Convenor, AUAB, Com.Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE & Chairman, AUAB, Com.Dutta Majumdar, CS, SNEA, Com.Md.Parvesh Khan, CS, AIBSNLEA and  Com.Devendra Saini, CS, AIGETOA addressed the meeting. Within a very short notice, the AUAB of MP circle organised this excellent meeting. The response of the employees for the meeting was tremendous. AUAB heartily congratulates the AUAB of MP circle.

The CHQ has already directed all the circle unions to hold emergency Circle Executive Committee meetings, for planning and successfully organising the 3 day strike, called on by the AUAB. So far the following circle unions have issued notification for holding the emergency Circle Executive Committee meetings. The remaining circles are also requested to hold the emergency Circle Executive Committee meetings for planning to the make the 3 day strike successful.

(1) Tamil Nadu - 01.02.2019.         (7) Andhra Pradesh - 07 & 08-02-2019.

(2) Karnataka - 05.02.2019.           (8) Kerala - 07.02.2019.

(3) Kolkata  - 05.02.2019.               (9) Odisha - 11.02.2019.

(4) Telangana - 06.02.2019.            (10) Himachal Pradesh - 11.02.2019.

(5) Maharashtra - 06.02.2019.        (11) UP (East) - 10 & 11-02-2019.

(6) Madhya Pradesh - 06.02.2019.

A question was raised in the Lok Sabha yesterday, as to whether the BSNL was in the verge of closure. Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad, Hon’ble Minister of Communications has replied that there was no proposal of closure of BSNL. The government may not have the proposal to close down BSNL. But, if necessary short term and long team investment is not made by the government, on it’s own BSNL will be closed down. All the Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL have to understand this and act accordingly. The question and answer is enclosed.

The one day emergent Circle Working Committee meeting of BSNLEU, WB Circle was held on 2nd September at Kolkata. The CWC meeting was inaugurated by Com. Sisir Roy, Organizing Secretary, BSNLEU (CHQ). It was a meeting to review the preparation of the 8th Membership Verification in different districts. All the campaign materials like posters, books published by CHQ translated in Bengali, flex and voter slips were handed over to the district secretaries from hills of Darjeeling to Diamondharbour of South Bengal. The final round of campaign programmes were also finalized in the meeting. The district secretaries are now all set to make BSNLEU the only recognized union in BSNL with much more votes than before. It was also decided that we will fight against the anti-worker and anti-people policy of the Govt. The meeting was presided by Com. Banani Chattopadhyay, Circle President.

Marten Pieters, former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Vodafone India, has said that for most foreign investors, it has been a bad dream to do business in India. One of the important reasons cited by Pieters, for this bad dream is the entry of “monied Reliance Jio”. Vodafone India ran into huge loss and has already merged itself with Idea. Now, informed sources say that, Vodafone will leave it’s India business, because of huge losses in terms of money and customers. It is important to note that, in his statement, the former CEO of Vodafone India has stated that the Indian Telecom Sector is in a bad shape, with debt of over Rs.7 lakh crore. An important reason for this situation is “a new player seemingly having access to infinite money”. This new player seemingly having access to infinite money is none other than Reliance Jio.

[Source: The Economic Times, 05.11.2019]