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.

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.