The JTO induction training is going on in the various training centres. The trainees have brought to the notice of BSNLEU that, printed materials are not being supplied. Soft copies running into 2,000 pages have already been provided to the trainees. Reading such voluminous subjects on mobile will be extremely difficult and it will adversely affect the quality of the training. Financial crunch of the Company is being cited as a reason for not supplying printed copies. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR) requesting to intervene and ensure the supply of printed materials to the JTO trainees. 

After completion of today’s Wage Negotiating Committee meeting, representatives of BSNLEU and NFTE met and reviewed the development on Wage Revision issue. After discussions, the following decisions were taken.

1. BSNLEU and NFTE should unitedly work to settle the Wage Revision.

2. Wage Revision must be settled with 5% fitment.

3. The pay scales offered by the Management Side should be suitably modified to ensure that no employee will face stagnation.

A meeting of the Joint Wage Negotiating Committee is held today. Members of BSNLEU strongly demanded that, the Record of discussions of the last meeting, held on 28.11.2022, should be withdrawn since it is distorted. 

BSNLEU pointed out that the Management wants only finalisation of pay scales, without finalisation of the Wage Revision. It was firmly told that, BSNLEU will not accept it.    

As regards the pay scales proposed by the Management Side in the last meeting, BSNLEU demanded that, they should be modified so that no employee gets into stagnation. The live cases involving stagnation, received by the CHQ of BSNLEU, are already sent to the Management Side. 

BSNLEU insisted that, the Wage Revision should be settled with 5% fitment. BSNLEU also insisted that, Allowances Revision should be done.

 Detailed discussions were held regarding modification of the pay scales, considering the live cases of stagnation. At the same time, the Management Side informed that, the Wage Revision will be done only with 0% fitment and without Revision of Allowances. 

As regards the pay scales, it is agreed that all the live cases involving stagnation would be discussed separately before the next meeting of the Wage Negotiating Committee. 

BSNLEU had a meeting with Shri Mahesh Shukla, Member (Services) today. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com.John Verghese, Dy.GS participated. The details of the issues discussed are as follows:-

1. Wage Revision.

The Member (Services) stated that, the DoT is in need of the revised pay scales of the Non-Executives, so that they can proceed with the pension revision. He stated that, the Wage Revision agreement should be sent to the DoT as early as possible. The Union representatives told that, the Wage Revision should be done at least with 5% fitment, so that the employees will get at least the minimum benefits. The Member (Services) stated that, it would be looked into after the proposal is sent from the BSNL Management.

2. Issuing Presidential Orders.

BSNLEU is continuously taking up the demand of issuing Presidential Orders to the 140 RMs belonging to Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur and Begusarai districts in Bihar circle. The BSNL Management has issued notice for termination to all these RMs. In today’s meeting, BSNLEU pointed out to the Member (Services) that, as per the DoT letter issued on 29.09.2000, all these employees should have been regularised w.e.f. 01.10.2000 and also Presidential Orders should have been issued to them. BSNLEU pointed out that, it is extremely unfair that, notice has been issued for their termination, on the plea that, all them had entered after the cut off date. The Member (Services) patiently heard the case and assured to look into the case.

3. Issuing Presidential Orders to the 400 TSMs who have directly been promoted as TMs. 

All the TSMs regularised after 01.10.2000 have been issued with Presidential Orders. However, around 400 TSMs who have directly became Telecom Technicians are not issued with Presidential Orders. BSNLEU is continuously pursuing this case. This issue is discussed with the Member (Services) today. However, the Member (Services) did not agree with the demand of the Union. 

Representatives of BSNLEU, met Shri R.K. Goyal, Chairman, Joint Wage Negotiating Committee, today and bitterly complained about the cooked up minutes released by the Management, on the decisions taken in the Committee meeting held on 28.11.2022. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, Com.John Verghese, Dy.GS, Com. Suresh Kumar and Com.Manu Mehra participated in this meeting. The representatives pointed out that the minutes carries distorted versions with regards to the decisions taken on Pay Scales, Fitment and Revision of Allowances. BSNLEU has already written a strong letter yesterday to Shri R.K. Goyal, Chairman, on this matter. In today’s meeting, representatives of BSNLEU strongly demanded that, the Chairman of the Committee should take appropriate action to undo the distortions.

BSNLEU leaders met Shri P.K. Purwar, CMD BSNL, today and discussed some important issues of the employees. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.John Verghese, Dy.GS, participated in this meeting. The details of the issues discussed are as follows:-

1. Rule 8 transfer of DR JEs.

As regards the Rule 8 transfers of the DR JEs, the Corporate Office has issued letter that the eligible DR JEs, from surplus circles can be transferred to the shortage circle. However, the NE-I and NE-II circle administrations are refusing to implement this instruction of the Corporate Office. The matter is already discussed with the PGM(Estt.), BSNL CO. and Director (HR) many times. But no result has come. Hence, this issue was seriously discussed with the CMD BSNL in today’s meeting. He assured to look into the matter and to do the needful.

2. 1^st NEPP to the DR JEs on completion of 4 years.

In the NEPP, while the employees absorbed from the DoT get their 1^st and 2^nd upgradations on completion of 4 and 7 years respectively, the Directly Recruited employees get the 1^st and 2^nd upgradations only on completion of 8 years each. BSNLEU is continuously demanding that, this discrimination between the absorbed employees and the DR employees should be removed. BSNLEU is demanding that the Directly Recruited employees should also get 1^st and 2^nd upgradations under NEPP, on completion of 4 and 7 years. BSNLEU has already written letter to the CMD BSNL on this issue. This issue is seriously discussed with the CMD BSNL today. After discussion, the CMD BSNL assured that the issue would be looked into.

3. Non-renewal of MoUs with Canara Bank and Union Bank of India.

The MoUs signed by BSNL, with the Canara Bank and the Union Bank of India, for availing various loans by the employees, have expired. BSNLEU is continuously demanding the Management to renew the MoUs. This issue was discussed with the CMD BSNL today. He replied that the issue is already taken up with the Banks, but they are not interested in the renewal of the MoUs. However, BSNLEU strongly demanded that, the CMD BSNL should intervene in this matter. After discussion, he agreed to take up the issue once again with the Bank Managements.

BSNLEU has already reported the outcome of yesterday’s Wage Negotiating Committee meeting. However, in the minutes released today, the Management has shamelessly included lies and fabricated statements.

In yesterday’s meeting, Management Side agreed for 5% fitment. But, in the minutes issued today, it is written that, 5% fitment could not be given. This is a blatant lie. BSNLEU strongly condemns the Management Side for going back from the commitment given in yesterday’s meeting.

Further, the Management Side has also written nonsense about the views of the Union regarding the pay scales already offered by them.

In yesterday’s meeting, the Management Side agreed that the revision of allowances can be discussed in the next meeting. However, they have gone back from this commitment also. Whatever happened in the meeting should be recorded in the minutes. Management cannot be allowed to write ‘cock and bull’ stories. BSNLEU has written letter to Shri R.K. Goyal, Chairman of the Committee, strongly condemning the fabrication of facts in the minutes and has demanded to withdraw this bogus minutes.

In yesterday’s Wage Negotiating Committee meeting, BSNLEU has taken maximum efforts to increase the minimum and maximum of the pay scales. BSNLEU’s views have been accepted by the Management Side to a great extent. It is really a break through that, 5% fitment has been accepted in yesterday’s meeting. Now, the only thing that we have to ensure is that, whether stagnation will come in any of the pay scale proposed by the Management in yesterday’s meeting. CHQ office bearers, circle and district secretaries are requested to kindly study the pay scales with live cases. If stagnation is likely to arise in any pay scale, the same may immediately be conveyed to the CHQ with all the calculation details. The next meeting of the Wage Negotiating Committee will be held on 02.12.2022. Suggestions / views of the CHQ office bearers, circle and district secretaries should reach the CHQ before 01.12.2022. This task may be treated as emergent.

The meeting of the Wage Negotiating Committee is held today. BSNLEU’s representatives, Com.Animesh Mitra, President, Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, Com.John Verghese, Dy.GS, Com.Suresh Kumar and Com. Manu Mehra, attended this meeting. The details of the discussion are as follows:-

Pay scales.

BSNLEU expressed it’s dissatisfaction over the pay scales proposed by the Management Side in the earlier meeting. After detailed discussions, the following pay scales are offered by the Management Side (copy enclosed). BSNLEU has stated that, these pay scales will be studied and response will be given.

Fitment.

BSNLEU strongly demanded that, Pay Revision should be done with 5% fitment. The following agreement is reached regarding fitment.

Fitment will be minimum 5% or at par with the fitment to be given to the Executives, whichever is higher.

Revision of Allowances.

BSNLEU strongly demanded that Wage Revision should be done only together with Revision of Allowances. It is agreed by the Management Side and discussion on Revision on Allowances will be held in the next meeting.

Next meeting of the Wage Negotiating Committee will be held on 02.12.2022.

The DoT has issued a letter on 17th November, 2022, addressed to all the Pensioners Associations. The letter is regarding the pension revision of the employees who are absorbed in BSNL and MTNL, from the DoT and then retired. Some Pensioners Associations are demanding pension revision based on the recommendations of the 7th Central Pay Commission.  The DoT has categorically said that, this is not possible. Further, the DoT has stated that it will do pension revision only with 0% fitment. The DoT has also stated that, as and when the Pay Revision of the serving employees takes place, the same fitment would be provided to the pension revision also. Finally, it is stated in the letter that the DoT has requested BSNL / MTNL to provide the pay scales of the Non-Executives.

डीओटी ने 17 नवंबर, 2022 को सभी पेंशनभोगी संगठनों को एक पत्र जारी किया है।  पत्र उन कर्मचारियों के पेंशन संशोधन के संबंध में है जो बीएसएनएल और एमटीएनएल में डीओटी से अवशोषित हैं और फिर सेवानिवृत्त हो गये हैं।  कुछ पेंशनभोगी संगठन सातवें केंद्रीय वेतन आयोग की सिफारिशों के आधार पर पेंशन संशोधन की मांग कर रहे हैं। डीओटी ने स्पष्ट रूप से कहा है कि, यह संभव नहीं है।  इसके अलावा डीओटी ने कहा है कि वह केवल 0% फिटमेंट के साथ पेंशन संशोधन करेगा।  दूरसंचार विभाग ने यह भी कहा है कि, जब भी सेवारत कर्मचारियों का वेतन संशोधन होगा, पेंशन संशोधन के लिए भी वही फिटमेंट प्रदान किया जाएगा।  अंत में, पत्र में कहा गया है कि दूरसंचार विभाग ने बीएसएनएल/एमटीएनएल से नोन एक्ज़िक्यूटिव्स के वेतनमान प्रदान करने का अनुरोध किया है

Heavy penal interest has been deducted from the payment of the terminal benefits of 17 employees who have retired in Sultanpur district, UP (East) Circle. The penal interest had been imposed for not taking insurance coverage for the HBA loan that the officials had availed. Strangely, the penal interest was imposed after repayment of the entire HBA loan has been made. CHQ is pursuing this case with the Corporate Office. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.John Verghese, Dy.GS, discussed this issue with Shri Saurabh Tyagi, PGM(Estt.) today. They insisted that, the penal interest recovered from the retired employees should be repaid. The PGM(Estt.) replied that some details have been called for from the CGM Office, UP(East) circle and that the case remains pending due to the non-receipt of the details.

DoP&T had issued extension for 3 years to the Special Concessions / Incentives being paid to the employees posted in the Kashmir Valley. BSNL needs the endorsement of the DoT for this order of the DoP&T. BSNLEU is seriously pursuing this issue with the Corporate Office. Once again, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.John Verghese, Dy.GS, discussed this issue with Shri Saurabh Tyagi, PGM(Estt.) today. He stated that, the DoT has not yet issued the endorsement so far, even though the Corporate Office is actively pursuing it. The Union representatives requested the PGM(Estt.) to obtain the DoT’s endorsement at the earliest.

For the forthcoming JTO Phase-I training, two candidates allotted with seats in the training centre at Mysuru had sought for seats at ALTTC, Ghaziabad. Similarly, two candidates allotted with seats at ALTTC, Ghaziabad had sought for seats in the training centre at Mysuru. BSNLEU had already written letter to the Corporate Office on this issue. Today, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed the matter with Ms. Samita Luthra, GM(Rectt.). However, the GM(Rectt.) replied that the change cannot be effected at this stage.

Bihar circle is being considered as one of the weak circles of BSNLEU. Under this circumstance, the two day circle conference of Bihar circle was held at Bhagalpur on 21st & 22ndNovember, 2022. From the CHQ, both Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, attended this two day circle conference. Threadbare discussions took place for overcoming the weaknesses in the functioning of the Bihar circle union. A large number of young delegates who participated in this conference, actively took part in the deliberations also. Based on the deliberations, a new and dynamic leadership is elected at the end of the Conference. Com.Prashant Kumar Prashant, JE, the dynamic District Secretary of Bhagalpur is elected as the new Circle Secretary. Com.B.P. Singh, the outgoing circle secretary, is elected as the Circle President. Another dynamic comrade and District Secretary of Darbhanga, Com.Ram Kumar Rai, is elected as the Circle Treasurer. The new leadership has vowed to strengthen BSNLEU in Bihar circle.

Com.K.C. John, Pathanamthitta, is admitted in a Cochin Hospital for serious liver ailment. He needs immediate liver transplantation. The CGM Office, Kerala, had sought Rs.15 lakh, for enabling Com.K.C. John to undergo liver transplantation surgery. Kerala circle union brought this matter to the notice of the CHQ yesterday. This issue was immediately taken up by the CHQ with the Corporate Office. Com.P.Abhimanyu, discussed this issue with Shri P.C. Bhatt, PGM(CBB), Corporate Office. Consequent to this, an amount of Rs.11 lakh  is sanctioned by the Corporate Office to Kerala circle. CHQ heartily thanks Shri P.C. Bhatt, PGM(CBB), for taking expeditious action. 

The two day circle conference of Bihar circle enthusiastically started at Bhagalpur yesterday the 21-11-2022. The conference started with the hoisting of Union flag by Com.Animesh Mitra, President. Thereafter, the Open Session of the Conference started. Com. Manoj Kumar Shrivastav, vice-president, presided over. The Open Session was addressed by Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, Com.Ganesh Shankar Singh, General Secretary, CITU, Bihar state, Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.B.P.Singh, circle secretary. Both the President and the General Secretary, criticised the government for creating road-blocks in BSNL’s 4G launching, as a result of which BSNL is losing lakhs of it’s valuable customers every month. It is unfortunate that, even now the Management is not in a position to tell as to when BSNL will launch it’s 4G service, stated the leaders. The leaders also explained in detail, the present status of the burning issues of Wage Revision, Stagnation, etc. Com. Prasant, District Secretary, Bhagalpur, proposed vote of thanks. The Subjects Committee of the Conference started today morning and is going on. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, delivered the inaugural address of the Subjects Committee. Com.B.P.Singh, circle secretary, submitted the report on activities. The delegates are participating in the deliberations.

Shri Mahesh Shukla, Member(Services), Telecom Commission, visited Aurangabad yesterday. Utilising this opportunity, Com. John Verghese, Dy. General Secretary, BSNLEU,  met the Member (Services) and urged upon him to settle the Wage Revision issue. Com. John Verghese apprised the Member (Services) that, a large number of employees were suffering from Stagnation, and that this problem could be settled only through the settlement of Wage Revision. 

The Member (Services) replied that, the Wage Revision agreement of the Non-Executives should be signed between the unions and the BSNL Management aexpeditiously and sent to the DoT for approval. Together with Com. John Verghese, Dy.GS, Com.Ravi Patil, Assistant Circle secretary, BSNLEU, Com. Shivaji Chauhan, District Secretary, NFTE, Prabhat Kumar, SNEA, Avinash Pundkar, also met the Member (Services). CHQ appreciates the initiative.