The AUAB has given call to conduct Street Corner meetings, from 7^th to 11^th May,2018.  CHQ of BSNLEU calls upon the circle and district unions, to coordinate with the other constituents of the AUAB, and to successfully conduct this week-long campaign. The main purpose of this campaign is to go to the people and tell them about the anti-BSNL and anti-Public Sector policies being adopted by the government.  Main focus of this campaign should be the issue of Subsidiary Tower Company. The government's game-plan, to kill BSNL by breaking it to pieces, through formation of the Subsidiary Tower Company, should be well explained to the people. Flex banners carrying slogans against Subsidiary Tower Company should be displayed prominently, throughout the campaign. The flex banners, used by the AUAB, in the demonstration held in front of Sanchar Bhawan, is once again uploaded on the website. Similar flex banners can be printed and used.

As a result of the discussion that BSNLEU representatives held with Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR), yesterday, it is informed by the GM(SR) to the GS,BSNLEU today that, the Corporate Management has agreed to increase the strength of the Staff Side representatives, as demanded by BSNLEU. Further, he also informed the GS,BSNLEU that, BSNLEU will have five representatives and NFTE will have three representatives in the Joint Committee.

Criticism is being done by certain vested interests that the Recognised Unions are not demanding higher new pay scales. These vested interests are doing nothing for the settlement of wage revision of BSNL employees, but are only trying to confuse the workers and take advantage out of that. It may be recollected that both the Recognised Unions have demanded that the new pay scales should be created by multiplying the existing minimum of the pay scales by 2.52 multiplication factor. But the Management did not accept this. They citied that the 3rd PRC has created the new E-1 pay scale by multiplying the minimum of the existing E-1 pay scale only by 2.4 multiplication factor. With this, the minimum of pay in NE-I pay scale, proposed by the Management, was only Rs.18,600/-. However, both the Recognised Unions have demanded that 2.44 multiplication factor should be applied to determine the minimum of the new pay scales. Both the Recognised Union demanded that the minimum of NE-I pay scale should be Rs.19,000/-, which is more than 2.44 multiplication factor. This is likely to be accepted. We would like to remind the arm-chair critics that in the 2nd wage revision done w.e.f. 01.01.2007, the multiplication factor applied to determine the minimum of the new pay scales was only 1.91 (both in BSNL, as well as in all the PSUs). The arm-chair critics are telling much higher minimum pay scale has been given for the Port and Dock workers. We can only laugh at their ignorance. Port and Dock is a profit making PSU, which cannot be compared with BSNL which is running in loss from 2009 –10. Modi government has declared that BSNL is a loss making PSU, and hence is not eligible for wage revision w.e.f. 01.01.2017. Only through sustained united struggles of the BSNL employees, the DoT finally has given clearance for starting wage negotiations in respect of the Non-Executives of BSNL. Even today, we have not crossed all the hurdles in the settlement of wage revision. Under such circumstances, comparing BSNL with other profit making PSUs is nothing but laughable. Both the Recognised Unions are determined, as well as more interested, about protecting the interests of all the serving BSNL employees.

BSNL employee unions claimed that the govt has not allotted spectrum for 4G services to BSNL in order to prevent it from competing against Reliance Jio. The Union said in a statement, "Whole telecom industry is in a crisis due to the predatory pricing of Reliance Jio." It alleged that Reliance Jio will steeply raise call and data tariffs once the entire competition is wiped out.

Blaming Reliance Jio for financial woes of the telecom sector, employee unions of BSNL on Wednesday alleged that the government was favouring the latest entrant over other firms and said they will go on an indefinite strike from December 3.

The employee unions claimed that the government has not allotted spectrum for 4G services to BSNL in order to prevent it from competing against Reliance Jio.

Reliance Jio did not comment on the allegations. "As of now, the whole telecom industry is gripped with a crisis...All these have happened due to the predatory pricing of the Mukesh Ambani owned Reliance Jio. The whole game plane of Reliance Jio is to wipe out its competitors, which includes the state owned BSNL," BSNL unions said in a joint statement.

All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB) alleged that with its huge financial muscle, Reliance Jio is offering services at 'below-cost' rates. It said that private telecom companies like Aircel, Tata Teleservices, Anil Ambani-owned Reliance Communications and Telenor have already closed their mobile service businesses.

It alleged that Reliance Jio will steeply raise call and data tariffs once the entire competition is wiped out. "It will loot the people by steeply raising the call and data charges. It is a matter of deep concern that, Reliance Jio is being openly patronised by the Narendra Modi government," the statement said.

No immediate comments were received from the Prime Minister's Office. AUAB said the public sector firm has been demanding allotment of 4G spectrum but "the government has turned a deaf ear to this demand, with the ulterior motive of preventing the public sector company from putting up an effective competition to Reliance Jio".

All officers and workers of BSNL are going on an indefinite strike from December 3, 2018, the AUAB said. "Demands of the strike include the immediate allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL for rolling out its 4G service, implementation of the government rule in respect of payment of pension contribution by BSNL, wage revision of the employees and pension revision of the retirees, from January 1, 2017," the statement said.

It also alleged that whosoever tried to act against Reliance Jio had to pay the price, including former telecom secretary J S Deepak. "JS Deepak wrote to the TRAI demanding action on Reliance Jio, for adopting predatory pricing. As a result, JS Deepak was instantaneously shunted out of the DoT... This was a clear signal given by the Narendra Modi government, as to what would happen to any one who dares to speak against Rliance Jio," the unions alleged. Deepak was named India's Ambassador to the World Trade Organisation (WTO) when he was abroad to attend the Mobile World Congress 2017 in Spain.

The unions said that BSNL was in a loss of more than Rs 8,800 crore in 2011-12 but due to the combined efforts taken by the employees and the management, the PSU posted an operating profit of Rs 672.57 crore in 2014-15. "BSNL's improved performance is reflected in the expansion of it's customer base also. It must be remembered that all these achievements are made by BSNL without 4G technology and with only 2G and 3G technologies, while all the private companies are armed with 4G technology," the statement said.

Apart from the allotment of 4G spectrum, the AUAB is also demanding the implementation of the government's rule in the matter of BSNL's payment of pension contribution. "It is atrocious that, the Narendra Modi government is violating it's own rule, and is fleecing a huge amount from BSNL every year, in the name of Pension Contribution. This is seriously affecting the financial health of the Company," the unions said.

[Courtesy: Times of India, Business Standard and ET Telecom dated 29.11.2018]

BSNLEU is continuously pressurising the Corporate Management to hold the JE LICE as an off-line examination. BSNLEU is demanding that all “Non-Executive to Non-Executive" examinations should be conducted only as off-line exams. This issue was discussed in the last National Council meeting, and the Chairman of the National Council (Director (HR)) agreed to positively look into it. Thereafter, once again the issue was discussed with the Director (HR) in the meeting held on 10.01.2019. However, so far, the Corporate Office has not issued any letter to hold the JE LICE as an off-line exam. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with Ms. Samita Luthra, GM(Rectt.), today. She assured to take expeditious action.

BSNLEU, NFTE, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS, ATM, TEPU and  BSNL OA have called on the employees to organise powerful demonstrations throughout the country tomorrow, opposing the implementation of VRS in BSNL. Circle and District unions of BSNLEU are requested to take all out efforts to organise the demonstrations massively, which will send the right message to the government. Report and photos may be sent to the CHQ.

Shri Anupam Shrivastava, retired as CMD BSNL, yesterday the 30.06.2019. In his parting message he has stated that, BSNL will face the present challenges and will emerge stronger. BSNLEU also strongly believes that BSNL will surely overcome the present crisis. The following is the excerpt from Shri Anupam Shrivastava’s message:-

"Today, I am sure with combined energy, zeal and support of all of you, BSNL shall not only endure the current challenges, but emerge stronger and resilient".

Election campaign meeting was held on 04th September,2019, in CGMT office Bhopal in the recreation club hall named after late Com. S.R Nayak. The meeting started after paying tributes to Com. Nayak.Com. M.K Ahuja, District President presided over the meeting. Com. P.K Tawar District Secretary welcomed the all. Com. Balbir Singh,  Vice President (CHQ), while addressing the meeting elaborately explained the present financial crisis of BSNL, VRS, age reduction, on going debate in the media, 4-G spectrum for BSNL and the struggles conducted by BSNLEU for the settlement of staff issues and revival of BSNL. He called upon the workers to vote for BSNLEU enmesse. Com. Prakash Sharma, CS & AGS, also addressed the meeting. Veteran trade union leader Com. H.S Thakur gave vote of thanks.

छोटे स्तर के कर्मचारियों के लिए VRS लाभप्रद नही है.

प्रबंधन और उनके कुछ एजेंट्स यह प्रचारित कर रहे हैं कि VRS बेहद आकर्षक है। किन्तु यह छोटे स्तर के कर्मचारियों के लिए लाभप्रद नही है। सही कहा जाए तो, छोटे स्तर के कर्मचारी जैसे टेलीकॉम टेक्नीशियन्स यदि VRS पर जाते हैं तो उन्हें अत्यधिक नुकसान होगा।

जिस टेलीकॉम टेक्नीशियन की बेसिक पे रु 21,730 है और जिनकी अभी 3 वर्ष 4 माह की सर्विस शेष है, उनका विवरण निम्नानुसार है।

वेतन का नुकसान

यदि ये टेलीकॉम टेक्नीशियन VRS पर जाते हैं तो उनको रु 16,42,800 एक्सग्रेशिया के रूप में प्राप्त होंगे।

वें यदि अपनी शेष सर्विस 60 वर्ष तक जारी रखते हैं तो उन्हें  शेष  सर्विस अवधि के लिए बेसिक पे + DA के रूप में रु 21,90,400 प्राप्त होंगे। इसका मतलब, VRS लेने पर उन्हें केवल पे+DA के रूप में ही रु 5,47,600 का नुकसान होगा।

इसके अलावा, एक्सग्रेशिया की राशि रु 16,42,800 के लिए उनका इनकम टैक्स भी कटेगा। साथ ही, सोसाइटी लोन, बैंक लोन और अन्य सभी प्रकार के लोन जैसे हाउस बिल्डिंग आदि की भी कटौती होगी। अंततः, एक्सग्रेशिया की बेहद कम राशि कर्मचारी को प्राप्त होगी।

उपर्युक्त के अलावा, उन्हें, 'C' क्लास शहर में पोस्टिंग होने के बावजूद जहां 10% HRA की पात्रता है, रु 2,173/- का प्रत्येक माह HRA का भी नुकसान होगा। यानी, 3 वर्ष और 4 माह में  रु 86,920/-  की कुल हानि होगी।

साथ ही, सुपरएन्युएशन की दिनांक तक सेवा में रहने पर उन्हें 3 इन्क्रीमेंट भी मिलेंगे। इन 3 इन्क्रीमेंट की वजह से 60 वर्ष की उम्र में रिटायर होने की वजह से ज्यादा पेंशन प्राप्त होगी।

पेंशन का नुकसान

यदि उपर्युक्त कर्मचारी VRS पर जाता है तो उन्हें रु 10,865 पेंशन प्राप्त होगी।

यदि वो अपनी सर्विस जारी रखते हैं और 3 वर्ष 4 माह पश्चात 60 वर्ष की आयु में रिटायर होते हैं तो उन्हें
रु 11,885 पेंशन प्राप्त होगी (3 इन्क्रीमेंट जोड़ कर)।

अतः, केवल मूल पेंशन में ही कर्मचारी को रु 1,020 प्रति माह का नुकसान होगा। इसके अलावा, बेसिक पेंशन पर उन्हें देय DA का भी प्रति माह नुकसान होगा। आज के DA के रेट 152% अनुसार यह नुकसान रु 1,550 होगा। इस प्रकार, कुल मिला कर पेंशन में रु 2,570 का नुकसान प्रतिमाह होगा। यह पेंशन में एक बड़ा नुकसान होगा, उनके जीवित रहने तक। इसके अतिरिक्त कर्मचारी का ग्रेच्यूईटी और कम्युटेशन में भी नुकसान होगा।

कर्मचारियों में भय निर्मित करने के लिए कई प्रकार की अफवाहें भी फैलाई जा रही है, जिससे कि बड़ी संख्या में कर्मचारी VRS ऑप्ट करें। प्रसारित की जारी विभिन्न अफवाहों /असमंजस (confusions) का जवाब निम्नानुसार है।

58 वर्ष

कैबिनेट द्वारा रिटायरमेंट की आयु घटा कर 58 वर्ष कर दी गई है, इस अफवाह की वजह से बड़ी संख्या में कर्मचारी VRS पर जा रहे हैं। यह पूर्णतः गलत सूचना है। यदि कैबिनेट द्वारा रिटायरमेंट की आयु घटा कर 58 वर्ष करने का निर्णय ले लिया गया है तो उसकी घोषणा अभी तक खुले तौर क्यों नही की गई है ?

यह सत्य है कि इस तरह का, रिटायरमेंट की आयु 58 वर्ष किए जाने का, कोई भी निर्णय कैबिनेट द्वारा नही लिया गया है।

कुछ षड्यंत्रकारी तत्वों द्वारा कर्मचारियों में भय निर्मित कर उन्हें VRS पर जाने हेतु बाध्य करने के उद्देश्य से यह अफवाह प्रसारित की जा रही है।

33 वर्ष की सर्विस पश्चात छंटनी

बड़े पैमाने पर यह अफवाह भी फैलाई जा रही है कि ऐसे कर्मचारी जिनकी 33 वर्ष की सर्विस पूर्ण हो गई हों या 60 वर्ष की आयु, जो भी पहले हो, केंद्र सरकार छंटनी करने जा रही है। यह भी पूर्ण रूप से झूठी खबर है। दिनांक 24.09.2019 के टाइम्स ऑफ इंडिया में यह स्पष्ट किया जा चुका है कि सरकार के पास ऐसा कोई प्रस्ताव नही है।

Bharti Airtel has reported a consolidated net loss of Rs.1,035 crore in the 3rd quarter, i.e., October – December quarter of the current financial year. It is important to note that this is the 3rd consecutive quarter, wherein Airtel is reporting loss. It is also important to note that recently Airtel has raised it’s tariffs upto 45%.

The United States has become the worst victim of COVID-19, with 16,697 deaths and 4,68,895 affected persons so far. The mismanagement of the Donald Trump Administration is citied to be the reason behind this debacle. When developing countries like India has imposed an early lock-down to curb the COVID-19, the US government has totally bungled this matter, with very belated imposition of the lock-down. The US economy has been shattered with 1.7 crore job loss. To conceal his mismanagement, Donald Trump is trying to divert the attention of the people. First, he attacked China for belatedly revealing the details of COVID-19. Now, he has accused the World Health Organisation (WHO) of helping China, after getting huge financial assistance from the United States.  The Director General of the WHO has openly told Donald Trump not to play politics with the Corona Virus.

The Central Secretariat meeting of BSNLEU, which consists of all the Central Office Bearers, was held enthusiastically today. All the 25 Central Office Bearers participated in the meeting. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, presided over the meeting. All the participants stood in silence for a minute and paid homage to the comrades who passed away after the Vadodara CEC meeting, as well as the migrant workers who lost their lives on the way to their home states, after the lock-down was implemented. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, presented the note for discussion. All the Central Secretariat member participated in the deliberations. They appreciated the effective functioning of the CHQ, during the lock-period. All of them expressed their serious concern over the unbearable delay in the government's taking actions for BSNL’s revival, including the rolling out of BSNL’s 4G service. The meeting expressed it’s strong resentment over the insensitivity of the BSNL Management, in settling the issues of the employees. The meeting appreciated the Central Trade Unions for building resistance movements against to the anti-worker and anti-people policies of the Modi government and resolved to fully participate in all the programmes, including the nationwide protest demonstrations on 03^rd July, 2020.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the dynamic cricketer who took Indian cricket team to new heights, has announced his retirement from International Cricket. Under the stewardship of this "captain cool", India has won two World Cups. M.S. Dhoni’s retirement is unavoidable, since he is aged 39 now. However, the manner in which this great player retired without any send off, is greatly disappointing. 

M.S. Dhoni played last in the World Cup semifinal match, held in July, 2019. Thereafter, M.S. Dhoni was sidelined. He was not given any chance to play thereafter. What is the reason? 

Around July, 2019, the campaign for the Jharkhand State Assembly Election started getting heated up. The BJP, that was ruling the state had become unpopular and did not have any hope to win the election. Hence, BJP wanted to rope in MS Dhoni, “the son of the soil” of Jharkhand, to win the election. They tried in many ways to pursuade M.S. Dhoni to campaign in favour of BJP in the Jharkhand election.

The Deccan Chronicle dated 07.07.2019 reported that, the BJP President, Amit Shah, together with Minister, Piyush Goyal, BJP’s National General Secretary, Saroj Pandey and BJP’s Delhi President, Manoj Tiwari, met M.S. Dhoni at his residence. It was obviously to convince M.S. Dhoni to campaign for BJP in the Jharkhand election.

In October, 2019, Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, was appointed as the Secretary of the BCCI. Even thereafter, M.S. Dhoni did not agree to use his hard-won reputation in the cricket world, to be exploited by the BJP, to win the Jharkhand assembly election. Ultimately, BJP lost the election and was thrown out of power.

This is the reason why the greatest Captain of Indian cricket, M.S. Dhoni has been ignored and is not given a deserving send-off. However, the Indian people will remain ever grateful to this great player and captain, for electrifying the Indian Cricket team.

A meeting of the Designations Committee was held on 26.09.2017, wherein agreement was reached between the Management and the Staff Side, with regards to the new designations of the left out Non-Executive cadres. However, when the draft minutes of the meeting was released, a clause was inserted in that, by the Management Side, stating that duties and responsibilities of the Non-Executives would change, due to change in designations. This was objected to by Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and he declined to sign the draft minutes. Citing this as a reason, the Management Side has not released the minutes so far. BSNLEU has given a complaint to the Director (HR) that the Management Side was involved in an unethical practice of manipulating the minutes, and was inserting issues which were actually not discussed in the meeting and also not accepted to by the Staff Side. However, so far no action has been taken on this issue and the final minutes of the meeting was not yet released. As a result of this, the Change of Designations agreed to in the meeting held on 26.09.2017, are yet to be implemented. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice President (CHQ), met Shri Ashutosh Gupta, GM (Restg.), yesterday, and expressed the extreme unhappiness of BSNLEU on the undue delay in releasing the “corrected” minutes of the meeting. The GM (Restg.) fully agreed with the Union representatives and assured that needful action would be taken to release the “corrected” minutes within a week’s time.

The International Women’s Day falls on 08^th March, 2018. The CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to observe the Day, by organising special meetings on that day. These meetings should be utilised to create awareness for fighting against the atrocities and crimes being committed against women and also to put an end the gender discrimination. The circle unions are requested to take the initiative in this regard. Reports and photos on the observation of International Women’s Day may be sent to the CHQ.    

On the issue of wage revision, the DoT had raised queries as to how the BSNL Management intends to manage the additional expenditure that will arise, due to the implementation of Wage Revision. It is understood that the total expenditure that will arise due to the implementation of Wage Revision from 01.01.2017 upto 31.03.2019 would come to around Rs.1,400 crores. It is understood that the Corporate Office has given a very detailed and convincing reply to the query raised by the DoT, with regards to managing the expenditure.

Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com. Balbir Singh, President, Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS and Com. Animesh Mitra, Vice-President, met Shri Manish Kumar, who has taken over charge recently as the GM(Restg.) in BSNL Corporate Office. Till recently, shri Manish Kumar was functioning as the Joint GM (Pers.). The Union representatives congratulated Shri Manish Kumar for his elevation of the GM (Restg.) During the discussion, they drew the attention of the GM(Restg.) to the issue of non-implementation of BSNL Corporate Office orders in respect of contract workers. They pointed out that the major problem is the non-implementation of minimum wage and EPF and demanded immediate steps need to be taken. Shri Manish Kumar assured his co-operation and stated that needful action would be taken.

Emergent Circle Executive Committee Meeting of M P Circle was held at Bhopal. Senior Comrade H S Thakur presided over. Com Prakash Sharma, Circle Secretary & AGS presented report on activity and elaborated on the on going struggle for 3rd Pay Revision & other demands. He also apprised the house about the developments on the demands of AUAB and also informed about the new demands included in the charter of demands about revival of BSNL.CEC also discussed and reviewed the two days General Strike organised on 8th and 9th January 2019. CEC was addressed by 26 District Secretaries. All the leaders vowed to make the 3 day strike a big success. A decision to organise to organise street corner meetings wef 11.02.2019 for 5 days. All Circle Office Bearers were given the responsibility of organising meetings for mobilisation in different SSAs. 3 day strike in M P Circle will be massive.

कल का प्रदर्शन पूर्ण उत्साह के साथ आयोजित करें...
BSNLEU, NFTE, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS, ATM, TEPU और  BSNL OA ने देश भर में BSNL में VRS के क्रियान्वयन के विरोध में कल जबरदस्त रूप से प्रदर्शन आयोजित करने का कर्मचारियों को आव्हान किया है। सर्किल और डिस्ट्रिक्ट यूनियन्स से अनुरोध है कि प्रदर्शन की व्यापक रूप से सफलता के लिए हर संभव प्रयास करें, जिससे कि सरकार को उचित संदेश मिल सके। रिपोर्ट्स और फ़ोटो सीएचक्यू को प्रेषित करें।