News has appeared in today’s Times of India, wherein details are given as to how the government wants to deal with BSNL. In this regard, the Times of India report says that, one of the options that the government is considering, is to close down BSNL. The government has one more option also. That is to hand over a sizable shares of BSNL, to any corporate, and to induct that corporate as BSNL’s partner. This is called strategic sale. So, finally the cat has come out of the bag. The government has made naked of it’s proposal to close down BSNL or to hand it over to some corporates. Now it is for the BSNL employees to decide. We will not surrender, comrades. For 18 long years, we have fought and have safeguarded BSNL as a 100% government company. We will continue to fight, to protect BSNL. Participate enmasse in the 3 day strike which is starting from 18.02.2019. Make the government understand that we will not accept the demolition of BSNL, lying down. We will fight with all our might, against government's sinister game to liquidate BSNL.

For more than last 2 years, BSNL is approaching the Modi government with a begging bowl, requesting to allot 4G spectrum. According to the proposal of BSNL, 50% of the cost of this spectrum would be paid by BSNL and the remaining 50% should be borne by the government through capital infusion. Capital infusion is nothing but only book adjustment. For this, the government need not spend even a single naya paisa out of it's pocket. Despite this being the case, Modi government is not allotting 4G spectrum to BSNL. At the same time, it is reported that the Modi government has written off Rs 5.5 lakh crore bank loans during the last 5 years. Further, it is also reported that out of these Rs.5.5 crores of the loans written off by the Modi government, Rs 1.56 lakh crore has been written off during the last one year alone, just when the Parliament elections are approaching. It is needless to say that only the big corporates are benefited out of the writing off of Rs.5.5 lakh crore. This is the economic policy of Modi government. Begging bowl for BSNL and crores of rupees loan waiver for big corporates.

A meeting of the AUAB was held yesterday. Com.K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA, presided over. General Secretaries / representatives of BSNLEU, SNEA, AIBSNLEA, BSNL MS and ATM attended the meeting. The meeting expressed it’s severe protest over the taking over of the ALTTC and other properties of BSNL, by the DoT. The meeting also discussed about the developments related to the monetisation of BSNL’s vacant lands, towers and fibre. After in-depth discussions, the following decisions are taken unanimously:-

1. To meet the new CMD BSNL and to discuss about revival of BSNL and certain other issues.
2. To call upon the Executives and Non-Executives of BSNL, to intensify the implementation of the “BSNL At Your Door Steps” movement, with the view to increase BSNL’s revenue collections.
3. To write letter to the DoT, opposing the taking away of BBNL’s maintenance works from BSNL.
4. To write reminders to the Hon’ble MoC & IT and to the Secretary, Telecom, for granting meeting to the AUAB.

BSNLEU, Baroda district union, organised a well attended election campaign meeting today, despite intermittent rain. Com.G.S. Rai, DP, presided. Com.Anand Singh, DS, welcomed everyone. Com.D.K.Bakutra, CS, Com.M.K.Dave, Vice President (CHQ), Com.M.Z. Khan, veteran leader and Com.Javed Sindhi, Patron, addressed the meeting. Finally, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, spoke and elaborately explained about all the current issues viz., BSNL’s revival, VRS, 58 year, Wage Revision, Subsidiary Tower Company, as well as the issues taken up / settled by BSNLEU during the last 3 years. Despite intermittent rains, the meeting was very effective.

Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR), today, and requested the early payment of wage arrears of the contract workers. They pointed out that, 10 months wages remain pending to be paid to the contract workers and demanded early payment of the same. They discussed about the letters issued by the Corporate Office, for the retrenchment of contract workers, through outsourcing and also through switching over to the ‘job contract system’. The Union demanded that the existing contract workers should be utilised for the efficient maintenance of the services, in the wake of the large scale retirement under VRS. The Director (HR) gave a patient hearing and assured to look into the demand of the Union.

It was on this day in 1919, the British army, led by Brigadier - General Reginald Dyer, massacred around 1,500 peaceful protesters, in Jallianwallah Bagh, at Amritsar, who had gathered to peacefully protest against the repressions of British imperialism. Many hundreds were wounded. This massacre was a turning point in the Indian freedom struggle. The freedom fighters went on to prove that, repressions cannot suppress their thirst for freedom. On this day, BSNLEU dips its banner and pays it's respectful homage to the Jallianwallah Bagh martyrs. 

One of the employees has sent an e-mail to the CHQ expressing his anguish over the pathetic condition of BSNL. The question raised by the comrade and the reply given by the CHQ are given hereunder. The reply is a message to each and every employee of BSNL.

Question.

Sir,

Why BSNL Management/Govt is so relaxed on Revival plan nothing is in progress except VRS. What is going on in organisation everything is confused, it seems Govt. is still in that mood (closure of BSNL). What is the Managements reply for your question why salary fund is being released only union calls upon some type of agitation program. plz clarify sir.

Answer.

We have to understand one thing very clearly. The real intention of the government is not to revive BSNL, but to convert it into a sick company like the Air India and ultimately to hand it over to Mukesh Ambani. This is the hidden agenda of the Modi government. We have to fight against this. We have to mobilise the support of the people in favour of BSNL and against the hidden agenda of the government to kill BSNL. The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU is taking place in September and we will chalk out a programme in this connection. But, don't forget one thing comrade. Each and every employee like you, should make a resolve that, we will not allow BSNL to be converted into a sick company and we will fight against the government's hidden agenda of handing over BSNL to Reliance Jio.

Regards.

Yours fraternally, 

P.Abhimanyu, GS. 

In the meeting held  between the Management and the unions / associations yesterday the 9th May, 2018, on curtailment of wasteful expenditures, the following decisions are taken on the basis of the suggestions given by the Unions / Associations representatives:-

Electricity:
A state level committee will be formed to decide on –

1. Closure /merger of all telephone exchanges with low DEL.
2. Space audit to minimise utilisation of electricity.
3. Electrical appliances of obsolete to be scrapped.
4. Electricity bills can be analysed according to load factor in each exchange.
5. Engine alternators.

Expenditure on vehicles:

1. Agreement is made with OLA / UBER for administrative offices.
2. Car pooling facility to be explored.

Security:
DGR security guard to be withdrawn by engaging watch and ward staff.

Another meeting will be conducted within 15 days based on the suggestions given by the Unions / Associations.

With a view to have a meeting with Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications, the indefinite strike called on from 03.12.2018, was deferred for a week yesterday. Under these circumstances, meeting between the AUAB and Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon’ble Minister of State for Communications was held today. The demands of the AUAB in respect of allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL, pension revision, implementation of government rule on payment of pension contribution by BSNL and 30% superannuation benefits to the DR employees, are accepted by the Government / BSNL Management. Significant improvement has come in their implementation also. As regards the most important issue of 3rd pay revision, the AUAB meeting held today, decided that some more time should be given to the Government / BSNL Management. In view of this, it is decided by the AUAB to defer the indefinite strike till further intimation.

AUAB ने प्रबंधन के फरवरी 2019 की सैलरी डेफर करने (कुछ समय बाद) करने के प्रस्ताव को ठुकराया- AUAB ने मैनेजमेंट के हड़ताल वापसी के निवेदन को भी खारिज़ किया...

दिनांक 12.02.2019 को 17.30 बजे AUAB और BSNL मैनेजेमेंट के बीच मीटिंग सम्पन्न हुई। श्री अनुपम श्रीवास्तव, CMD BSNL, श्रीमती सुजाता रे, Director (HR & Finance) व श्री ए एम गुप्ता,GM (SR), उपस्थित थे।   AUAB की ओरसे कॉम पी अभिमन्यु, GS, BSNLEU व कन्वेनर, कॉम चंदेश्वर सिंह,GS,NFTE व चेयरमैन, कॉम सेबेस्टिन,GS,SNEA, कॉम प्रह्लाद राय,GS,AIBSNLEA, कॉम पाठक,AGS,AIGETOA, कॉम सुरेश कुमार, GS,BSNL MS,  कॉम एच पी सिंह,Dy GS,BSNL OA एवं कॉम एस सिवकुमार, अध्यक्ष, AIBSNLEA शामिल हुए। CMD BSNL ने BSNL में व्याप्त वित्तीय संकट पर प्रकाश डालते हुए AUAB के लीडर्स से फरवरी 2019 की सैलरी को कुछ समय तक रोकने (defer) में सहयोग का अनुरोध किया। AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने दृढ़तापूर्वक CMD BSNL के अनुरोध को खारिज़ कर दिया। सभी ने एक स्वर में कहा कि कर्मचारियों का वेतन भुगतान रोक नही जाए। उसके बाद CMD BSNL ने कहा कि AUAB द्वारा 18.02.2019 से आहूत 3 दिवसीय हड़ताल एक आत्मघाती कदम होगा और उन्होंने निवेदन किया कि हड़ताल वापिस ली जाए। AUAB के प्रतिनिधियों ने CMD BSNL के अनुरोध को ठुकरा दिया और अपनी पुनः प्रतिबद्धता प्रदर्शित करते हुए कहा कि हडताल हर कीमत पर होगी। उन्होंने प्रबंधन से कहा कि माननीय संचार राज्य मंत्री द्वारा बार बार दिए गए आश्वासनों का DoT द्वारा क्रियान्वयन नही किया जा रहा है। AUAB ने CMD BSNL से यह भी कहा कि DoT को वैसे ही पर्याप्त समय दिया जा चुका है और अब हड़ताल सफलता पूर्वक  होगी। AUAB ने मैनेजमेंट को दृढ़ता के साथ कहा कि अब हड़ताल वापसी के निर्णय का प्रश्न ही नही है।

BSNL के लिए भीख का कटोरा और कॉरपोरेट्स को करोड़ों रुपयों की ऋण माफी...
विगत दो वर्षों से BSNL भीख का कटोरा लिए मोदी सरकार से 4G स्पेक्ट्रम आवंटन हेतु निवेदन कर रहा है। BSNL के प्रस्ताव के अनुसार स्पेक्ट्रम मूल्य की 50% राशि का भुगतान BSNL करेगा और शेष 50% की पूंजी सरकार लगाएगी। (कैपिटल इंफ्यूजन के माध्यम से सरकार वहन करेगी।) कैपिटल इंफ्यूजन और कुछ नही, महज किताबी जमाखर्च/समायोजन (बुक एडजस्टमेंट) है। इस हेतु सरकार को अपनी जेब से 1रुपिया भी खर्च नही करना है। इस स्थिति के बावजूद भी मोदी सरकार BSNL को 4G स्पेक्ट्रम का आवंटन नही कर रही है। वहीं दूसरी ओर, यह जानकारी मिली है कि विगत 5 वर्षों के दौरान सरकार ने बैंक ऋण के रु 5.5 लाख करोड़ डूबत खाते में डाल दिए (written off) हैं। साथ ही, यह भी ज्ञात हुआ है कि मोदी सरकार द्वारा डूबत खाते में डाले गए इन रु 5.5 लाख करोड़ ऋण में से रु 1.56 लाख करोड़ तो विगत एक वर्ष में ही राइट ऑफ किए गए हैं, ठीक पार्लियामेंट इलेक्शन के पूर्व। यहां यह बताने की जरूरत नही है कि रु 5.5 लाख करोड़ राइट ऑफ किए जाने से केवल कॉरपोरेट्स ही लाभान्वित हुए हैं। ये है, मोदी सरकार की आर्थिक नीतियां, BSNL के लिए भीख का कटोरा और कॉरपोरेट्स को करोड़ों रुपयों की ऋण माफी।

BSNLEU ने प्रतिबंधात्मक आदेश वापस लेने की मांग करते हुए मैनेजमेंट को पत्र लिखा...
BSNL मैनेजमेंट ने पत्र क्रमांक BSNL/5-1/SR/2018 dated 02nd July, 2019 द्वारा सभी एप्लिकेंट यूनियन्स के जनरल सेक्रेटरीज को निर्देशित किया है कि मेम्बरशिप वेरिफिकेशन की प्रक्रिया पूर्ण होने तक किसी भी प्रकार के आंदोलन (एजिटेशनल प्रोग्राम) आयोजित नही किए जाएं। उस पत्र में लिखा गया है कि यूनियन्स की मान्यता मई 2019 में खत्म हो चुकी है। पत्र में धमकी दी गई है कि किसी भी यूनियन द्वारा इस दौरान आंदोलन (एजिटेशन) करने पर उक्त यूनियन को वेरिफिकेशन की प्रक्रिया में शामिल होने से प्रतिबंधित कर दिया जाएगा। मैनेजमेंट द्वारा प्रस्तुत तर्क बेतुका है और देश में प्रचलित श्रम कानूनों का उल्लंघन भी। BSNLEU ने इस निरर्थक पत्र को वापस लेने की मांग करते हुए पत्र लिखा है। एक रजिस्टर्ड ट्रेड यूनियन होने के नाते वैधानिक रूप से आंदोलन करने का BSNLEU को पूर्ण अधिकार है। इस संबंध में BSNLEU द्वारा चीफ लेबर कमिश्नर को भी शिकायत दर्ज की गई है। आवश्यक हुआ तो अपने ट्रेड यूनियन अधिकारों की रक्षा के लिए BSNLEU न्यायालय का सहारा भी लेगी।

The Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU A.P. Circle was held on 14th & 15th November, 2019 at Makineni Basavapunnaiah Vignana Kendram Vijayawada.  Circle President Com K. Prabhakara Rao presided and delivered Presidential address. All India Vice President Com K. Ramadevi addressed the meeting. Com P.Asokababu Circle Secretary presented the Circle Secretary’s report and explained about the decisions of Ghaziabad CEC meeting, held on 12th and 13th October 2019 and on VRS and the call given by Ghaziabad CEC for participating in the General Strike on 8.1.2020. All the Circle Executive Committee members participated in the deliberations. The Circle Executive Committee meeting decided to implement the AUAB call for relay fast from 20 to 22 November on issues related to the revival of BSNL and on the issues related to VRS and timely payment of salaries etc. The meeting also resolved to implement Ghaziabad CEC decisions regarding holding of DEC meetings before 30.11.2019, Branch GB meetings before 15.12.2019 and mass meetings before 30.12.2019 etc and General Strike on 08.01.2020.

Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, met Shri P.K. Sinha, Member (Finance), Telecom Commission today, and discussed about the difficulties created by the CCA, Maharashtra circle, in the matter of fixation of pension of the Sr.TOAs, who had been promoted under OTBP. As per the OTBP scheme, the Sr.TOAs promoted after 16 years are placed in the 7100 pay scale. This is not being accepted by the CCA, Maharashtra, who says that they would be placed only in the 6550 pay scale. BSNLEU has already written to the Member (Finance) in this regard. Today, the issue was discussed elaborately with him. The Member (Finance) gave a patient hearing and assured to do the needful.

As has already been intimated, the Central Secretariat of BSNLEU has given call for organising country wide dharna programme, with social distancing, on 26.06.2020.

The programme is being organised:-

1. Demanding removal of the road-blocks created in the launching of BSNL’s 4G service.
2. Demanding steps by the government on war-foot basis, for the Revival of BSNL.
3. Demanding settlement of various burning problems of the Non-Executives, which are being neglected by the BSNL Management.

All the circle and district unions are requested to organise the programme effectively. The dharna will be organised from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. It is very essential to maintain social distancing and wearing of masks by the participants. In big stations, 10 to 15 comrades should participate and in all other places, only 5 comrades should sit in the dharna. Display of placards and media coverage should be orgnaised.