It is already 11th June, today. However, there is no indication about the payment of salary for the month of May, 2020. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, telephonically spoke to Shri S.K.Gupta, Director (Finance) today and enquired about the status of the payment of salary for the month of May. The Director (Finance) could not give any definite information in this regard. He stated that there is no cash flow and that all efforts are being made to pay the salary. It may be remembered that the April salary was also not paid on time and BSNLEU organised lunch hour demonstrations on 21.05.2020, demanding payment of salary, among other issues.

Maharashtra circle Executive Committee meeting was held online today. Com.Appa Saheb Gagre, CP, presided over the meeting. Com. Nagesh Kumar Nalawade, CS, welcomed everyone and presented a report on the activities. Com.John Verghese, AGS, addressed the meeting and explained about the functioning of the CHQ. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, addressed the meeting and explained about the issues taken up by the CHQ, agitations organised by the CHQ and on the functioning of the AUAB. Further he explained how BSNL is being systemically weakened by the government, which is a part of the larger attack on the public sector of the country. He urged upon the Maharashtra comrades to successfully organise all the campaigns / struggles being called on by BSNLEU, AUAB and the Central Trade Unions. 32 comrades participated in this meeting. Detailed discussions took place regarding improving the quality of service, as well as the issues of the employees. Finally, both Com.Nalawade, CS and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, summed up the discussions.

BSNLEU has sought for a formal meeting with the Director (HR), for which letter was given in the last week of December. Since, no date was fixed, Com. P. Abihmanyu, GS, met the Director (HR) on 03.01.2018, and discussed about the delay. Consequently, the date for the formal meeting has been fixed as 08.01.2018.

The thousands of BSNL employees who participated in the March to Sanchar Bhawan, were stopped near the Parliament Street Police Station. Barricades were placed by the police across the Parliament Street, to stop the participants. When comrades attempted to cross the barricades, the police pushed back our comrades. There where pushes and pulls from both sides, for some time. Finally, the leaders intervened. They negotiated with the police, who agreed to arrange a meeting between the Secretary, DoT, and the leaders of All Unions and Associations of BSNL. Thus, the situation was brought under control and untoward incidents were avoided.

1. Since Com.P. Indira, Convenor, BSNL WWCC, is going abroad for 6 months, it is decided that Com.V.Bhagyalakshmi, Joint Convenor, will look after the responsibilities of the Convenor during this period.
2. Com. Revati Sham Adhav from Maharashtra, is coopted as a member of the BSNL WWCC, in the place of Com.Jyotsana Mokashi, who passed away recently.
3. It is decided that serious efforts are to be made to form circle and district level committees of the BSNL WWCC.
4. Immediate intervention is to be made with the help of BSNLEU, in the cases of sexual harassment in work places.
5. Best efforts are to be made to redress the issues of women contract workers and Directly Recruited women employees.
6. Serious mobilisation is to be made for the success of the Mazdoor Kisan Sangarsh Rally, to be conducted at New Delhi, on 5^th September, 2018.
7. All out efforts are to be made to mobilise the women employees for the successful implementation of the struggles, called on by the All Unions and Associations of BSNL (AUAB), on the issues of wage revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, revival of BSNL, etc.
8. Issues of the women employees like basic amenities in all work places, grant of special leave for women employees who cross the age of 50 years, and other issues are to be actively taken up with the Management, through BSNLEU.
9. At least once in three months, the Committee members are to send report on activities, to the Convenor.

The Staff Side members of the Joint Committee on wage revision for the Non-Executives met today and analysed the pay scales offered by the Management Side in the Joint Committee meeting held yesterday. Caution was taken to ensure to ensure that, the problem of stagnation does not arise to any Non- Executive, after implementation of the new pay scales. Whatever live cases that have come to the notice of the Staff Side members, were analysed in today’s meeting. Next meeting of the Joint Committee will be held on 14.09.2018. Based on the new scales already proposed by the Management Side, details of the cases which may involve the problem of stagnation, may be send to the CHQ, by the circle and district secretaries, as well as the active comrades.

BSNLEU has already urged upon the Director (HR) to ensure that expeditious action is taken by the Corporate Office, on the issue of downgradation of Sr.TOAs from 7100 pay scale to 6550 pay scale. Today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Saurabh Tyagi, Sr.GM(Estt.) and enquired about the development. It is was replied by the Sr.GM(Estt.) that the Establishment Branch could not issue the letter, providing one more opportunity to exercise option for promotion under NEPP, since it is completely busy with the job of preparing various statements for the DoT, on issues connected with the demands of the AUAB. However, he assured that needful action on this issue would be taken early.

Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, Com.John Verghese, AGS and Com.Biju, CHQ Office Secretary, greeted Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, today, on account of his retirement on superannuation. A bouquet and a memento were offered to the CMD BSNL on behalf of BSNLEU.

Circle Executive Committee meeting of Telecom Factory Jabalpur was held today at Jabalpur. Com.Surybhan Namdeo, Circle President presided over. Com.Sunil Patel, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and addressed the meeting. Com.Prakash Sharma, Assistant General Secretary, congratulated all for 7th consecutive victory of BSNLEU, amidst a very adverse situation. He explained in detail, about the need to participate in the 8th January, 2020 General Strike. He also elaborated on pros and cons of VRS and threw light on the anti-worker and anti-PSU policies of the government. Com.Sharma also highlighted other points mentioned in BSNL Revival Package and informed the comrades that BSNLEU, in coordination with AUAB, will ensure implementation of Revival Package in toto. Members present in the meeting also participated in the discussions and decided to implement decisions taken in Ghaziabad Central Executive Committee meeting.

यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ऑफ बीएसएनएल के शानदार संघर्ष और उपलब्धियां...
VRS के अमल में आने के पश्चात बीएसएनएल में बेहद अराजकता की स्थिति निर्मित हो गई है। इस स्थिति का लाभ उठाते हुए, कुछ अवसरवादी तत्व अपने आपको हीरो के रूप में प्रस्तुत करने का प्रयास कर रहे हैं। हमें इस पर कोई ऐतराज भी नही है। किंतु ये अवसरवादी तत्व ट्रेड यूनियन मूवमेंट को ही आहत करने की कोशिश कर रहे हैं। एक सज्जन, जिन्हें ट्रेड यूनियन मूवमेंट से बिदाई दे दी गई है, वें सोशल मीडिया में बड़े ही आक्रामक (???) संदेश भेज रहे हैं। इस संदेश का लब्बोलुआब यह है कि यूनियन्स और एसोसिएशन्स ने सरकार के खिलाफ एक उंगली भी नही उठाई है। क्या यह सही है ?
 

• विगत 5 वर्षों में यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ऑफ बीएसएनएल द्वारा कई आक्रामक संघर्ष किए गए हैं जिसमें एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज व नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज ने व्यापक तौर पर शिरकत की है। 21 और 22 अप्रैल, 2015 को आयोजित हड़ताल की वजह से सरकार की 60% सीलिंग को खत्म किया गया, जिसका उद्देश्य बीएसएनएल कर्मियों को पेंशन से वंचित करना था। इस संघर्ष की वजह से ही बीएसएनएल के रिटायर्ड कर्मियों को बगैर किसी सीमा के सरकारी पेंशन का भुगतान सुनिश्चित किया जा सका।

• 15.12.2016 को विशेष रूप से सब्सिडीएरी टॉवर कंपनी के गठन के खिलाफ आयोजित की गई हड़ताल ने बीएसएनएल को टुकड़ों टुकड़ों में छिन्न भिन्न करने के सरकार के इरादों को ध्वस्त किया।

• 12 और 13 दिसंबर, 2017 की दो दिवसीय हड़ताल, 03.12.2018 से प्रस्तावित अनिश्चितकालीन हड़ताल, जो कि माननीय संचार राज्य मंत्री से हुई चर्चा के आधार पर मुल्तवी की गई, 18, 19, 20 फरवरी, 2019 को हुई तीन दिवसीय हड़ताल के द्वारा न केवल पे और पेंशन रिवीजन की मांग की गई, वरन बीएसएनएल के रिवाइवल हेतु अन्य कई प्रमुख मांग भी रखी गई।

• ऊपर उल्लेखित तीन हड़तालों के साथ साथ यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ने 19 अप्रैल, 2018 और  05 अप्रैल, 2019 को नई दिल्ली में विशाल रैलीज भी आयोजित की और सरकार को चेताया कि बीएसएनएल को आसानी से खत्म नही किया सकता।

• विगत 5 वर्षों में,  यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स  ने व्यापक आन्दोलनों, जैसे मानव श्रृंखला, मार्च टू राजभवन, सांसदों को ज्ञापन देना, नुक्कड़ सभाएं आदि के माध्यम से बीएसएनएल के रिवाइवल के लिए आम जन का ध्यान भी आकर्षित किया।

• यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स द्वारा आयोजित ऊपर उल्लेखित आक्रामक संघर्षों और व्यापक आंदोलनों, जिसमें एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज व नॉन एग्जीक्यूटिव्ज ने बड़े पैमाने पर हिस्सा लिया, की वजह से सरकार को सब्सिडीएरी टॉवर कंपनी का अपना प्रस्ताव ठंडे बस्ते में डालना पड़ा। यह एक भव्यतम उपलब्धि है।

• यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स द्वारा किए गए निरंतर संघर्षों की वजह से ही सरकार को बीएसएनएल को बगैर किसी भुगतान के 4G स्पेक्ट्रम देने के लिए बाध्य होना पड़ा है। यह एक ऐतिहासिक उपलब्धि है, जिसके चलते बीएसएनएल को निकट भविष्य में 5G स्पेक्ट्रम आवंटित करने की आधारशिला भी रख दी गई है।

• यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ऑफ बीएसएनएल द्वारा अपने निरंतर संघर्षों से जब इतना कुछ हासिल किया गया हो, तब अवसरवादी तत्वों का यह कहना कि यूनियन्स एंड एसोसिएशन्स ने सरकार के विरोध में उंगली तक नही उठाई है, हास्यास्पद ही है।

Only in February this year, Rs.100 crore was spent for a 3 hour programme in Ahmedabad, to give a "rousing and affectionate" reception to the US President, Donald Trump. Both, US President, Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, hugged each other many times in the Ahmedabad programme, to show-case their close friendship to the world. However, the same Donald Trump threatened his best friend Prime Minister, Narendra Modi a few days back, with “retaliation", if India does not export Hydroxychloroquine to the US. At a time, when the world is facing serious threat from COVID-19, the Indian government took the right decision to ban the export of certain medicines, including Hydroxychloroquine. This decision is taken in the best interest of the Indian people. Indian government has got every right to do so. Donald Trump has no business to threaten a country like India, demanding to supply medicines. But this is the real face of the US imperialism. The people of India should not fail to see this real face of the US imperialism.

As per the call of the AUAB, lunch hour demonstrations were organised successfully throughout the country today. Spirited slogans were raised condemning Shri Anantkumar Hegde, MP, for calling the BSNL employees traitors and stating that BSNL is a black mark. Similarly, as per the call of the AUAB, a Twitter Campaign was also effectively organised.  CHQ heartily congratulates the employees, as well as the constituents of the AUAB, for successfully organising the programme at a very short notice.

The “All Unions and Associations of BSNL” is meeting at New Delhi on 08.01.2018. The meeting will take place in the office of FNTO. Next course of action to be taken in the wage revisions issue will be decided in this meeting. Importantly, this meeting is taking place after the appointment of an IAS officer as the CMD of the Subsidiary Tower Company. The meeting is expected to chalk out suitable action programme on this issue also.

At the end of today’s March to Sanchar Bhawan, a meeting took place between the Secretary, DoT and the leaders of All Unions and Associations of BSNL. From the AUAB, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, Com. Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE, Com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, Com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA, Com. K. Jayprakash, GS, FNTO, Com. N.D. Ram, GS, SEWA BSNL, Com. Mallikarjuna, President, BSNL MS and Com. Ravi Shil Verma, GS, AIGETOA, participated. From the DoT side, Ms. Aruna Sundararajan, Secretary, DoT, Shri Shivasailam, Special Secretary, DoT, Shri Amit Yadav, Joint Secretary, DoT and Shri Pawan Gupta, Director (PSU) participated. Detailed discussion took place on the issues of 3^rd Pay Revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, pension revision and reduction of the retirement age. The leaders effectively argued and demanded settlement of the issues. After detailed discussion, it is decided that further discussion would take place in the meeting to be held tomorrow between the leaders of AUAB and Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble MoS(C) tomorrow.

On 02.09.2017, a gruesome road accident took place in the Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu circle, when a BSNL team was proceeding to restore a fault. Com.M.Jeeva, DR JE and Com.T.Gajendran, contract worker, were killed on the spot. The Executives and Non-Executives of Dharmapuri district formed a Relief Committee, to collect relief to the comrades killed in the road accident. The Relief Committee consisted of the GM,BSNL, Dharmapuri, and all the unions and associations. The Relief Committee did an excellent job and raised a little more than Rs. 15 lakh from Tamil Nadu circle. Com.Jeeva, DR JE is survived by his parents and a sister, who are employed. Com.T.Gajendran, contract worker, is survived by his aged parents, wife and two children. His wife was conceived for the third time at the time of his death. Considering the financial background o& both the diseased comrades, the Relief Committee decided to donate Rs.9,95,000/ to the family of Com. T.Gajendran, Contract Labourer and Rs.5,55,000/ to the family of Com M.Jeeva. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the members of the Relief Committee, for doing this excellent job.

Media reports state that the government has decided to allot 4G spectrum to BSNL, based on the proposals submitted by BSNL to the government. As per the report of the ET Telecom dated 11th September, 2018, Shri Anupam Shrivastava, CMD BSNL, has told the media that the government has decided to allot 4G spectrum to BSNL.  The Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, Shri Manoj Sinha, has put the issue on a fast track, and has set a time frame of 80 days, for the finalisation of the entire process of allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, says ET Telecom.