One of the important grievances of the retired employees is the non-settlement of their medical bills from March, 2019 onwards. Both BSNLEU and the AIBDPA have been actively taking up this issue. BSNLEU has written many letters to the CMD BSNL and has discussed the issue with the CMD BSNL on various occasions. We are happy to inform that, the Corporate Office has allotted funds to the circles for settling the medical bills of the retired employees up to 31.03.2022. We hope the Management will make up to date payment of the medical bills of the retired employees hereafter. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the retired employees, who have suffered a lot due to the non-payment of medical bills. The Corporate Office letter on the matter is enclosed.

Only the launching of 4G service without delay, is going decide whether BSNL will survive or going to die. However, on this most important issue, the CMD BSNL could not give any concrete information, in his speech made in the All India Conference of NFTE. 

All that the CMD BSNL had said was, “4G equipment purchase is in the final stage”. This is a very vague statement, which is being made for a very long time. Especially,

1. The CMD BSNL could not say whether TCS has completed the Proof of Concept(PoC). 
2. He could not say whether TCS has accepted BSNL’s purchase order, which is already made on 31-03-2022 itself.
3. He could not say by which date TCS will supply 4G equipments to BSNL?
4. Most importantly, the CMD BSNL could not say when BSNL is going to launch it’s 4G service.

Earlier, it was reported that, the Prime Minister would announce the launching of BSNL’s 4G service on 15th August. Later, it was told that, the Prime Minister would make a “Limited launching of BSNL’s 4G service on 15^th August. But, all these did not happen. All these clearly indicate that, there are serious problems in the supplying of 4G equipments to BSNL by TCS.

Without 4G service, BSNL will not be able to earn money for it’s survival. Without 4G service, BSNL cannot compete with other operators. Already customers have started leaving BSNL in a big way. 5.3 lakh customers have already left BSNL in the month of May,2022 and another 13 lakh customers have gone in June,2022. At a time when all the private operators are launching their 5G service, it is worrying that, even the CMD BSNL cannot say concretely, when BSNL will launch it’s 4G service. 

The 3 day All India Conference of NFTE started at Ranchi, yesterday. The Conference was inaugurated by Com. Amarjit Kaur, General Secretary, AITUC. Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, addressed the opening session of this Conference. In his speech, the GS, BSNLEU, explained about the hurdles being created by the Government in BSNL’s 4G launching and also the hollow claims being made in respect of the 2^nd Revival Package. He condemned the threatenings of dismissing the employees under FR 56(J), to increase the working hours up to 12 hours per day and also making the employees scapegoats for the failures of the Management and the Government. The GS, BSNLEU, underscored the need for BSNLEU and NFTE joining together to protect the future of BSNL and the employees. The Open Session was also addressed by Com.Md. Wasi Ahmed, GS, AIGETOA, Com.M.S. Adasul, GS, SNEA, Com.N.D. Ram, GS, SEWA BSNL, Com.V. Shaji, GS, AIBSNLEA and Com.Suresh Kumar, GS, SNATTA. BSNLEU wishes the Conference all success. 

On 28-08-2022, Shri P.K.Purwar, CMD BSNL, addressed the All India Conference of NFTE at Ranchi. It was surprising and shocking to see that, the CMD BSNL came to the Conference with the protection of a gunman. 

In the 22 years history of BSNL, we have never seen the CMD BSNL coming to the trade union conference, with the protection of a gunman. 

Undoubtedly, we, the functionaries of the trade union movement, have utmost concern for the safety and security of the top officers of BSNL. Whenever they came to address our conferences, we have treated them not only with courtesy, but with love and affection. This is the tradition of the trade unions and associations in BSNL. Not a single untoward incident has happened in the conference of any BSNL union or association so far.

What has happened now? What has made Shri P.K.Purwar to come with a gunman, to address the conference of a trade union? We do not know. But, this is certainly a disrespect to the BSNL trade unions. 

The Extended CEC meeting of BSNLEU, which started in the Zonal Training Centre at Mysuru yesterday, got successfully concluded today. The meeting started with the hoisting of National Flag and the Union Flag. Com.H.V. Sudharshan, CS, Karnataka, delivered the welcome address. Com. Animesh Mitra, President, presided over the meeting and delivered his presidential address. Apart from the Central Office bearers and circle secretaries, 135 district secretaries participated in this Extended CEC meeting. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the speech on the second Revival Package, hurdles created by the Government in BSNL’s 4G launching, threats of dismissal under FR 56(J) and increasing workload at 12 hours. He also spoke in detail about the Union’s approach in the 9^th Membership Verification campaign. 67 district secretaries participated in the deliberations that followed. Thereafter, Com.John Verghese, Dy.GS, addressed the house. Finally, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, delivered the summing up address. He also briefed the district secretaries on the decisions taken in the CEC meeting held on 25.08.2022 and called on the district unions to successfully implement the decisions. He also appreciated the Karnataka circle union for making excellent arrangements for the meeting.  Finally, the meeting got concluded in the midst of sloganeering.

In the Guwahati All India Conference, Com.Stanzin Delex Gyalpo, DR JE, as well as the District Secretary of BSNLEU, Leh district, was elected as the Organising Secretary (CHQ). Due to family circumstances and also due to the fact that Leh is located in the far away China border, Com.Stanzin had expressed his inability to full-fill his duties to the Organisation, as the Organising Secretary (CHQ). Further, Com.Stanzin, had also magnanimously given the suggestion that, his post of Organising Secretary (CHQ) could be better utilised, if it is given to some comrade, who can provide better performance. The CEC meeting of BSNLEU, held at Mysusu yesterday, considered the letter of Com.Stanzin and appreciated his spirit towards the betterment of BSNLEU. The CEC meeting accepted the offer of Com. Stanzin, and has relieved him from the post of Organising Secretary (CHQ). Further, the CEC meeting elected Com.Ashwin Kumar, DR JE, Meerut, as the Organising Secretary (CHQ). Com. Ashwin Kumar is a dynamic organiser and the CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates him for his election as the Organising Secretary(CHQ). 

The one day Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU started enthusiastically in the Zonal Training Centre at Mysuru today. Com.Animesh Mitra, President, is presiding over the meeting. After paying homage to the martyrs, the meeting started with the welcome address of Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS and Com.H.V. Sudharshan, CS, Karnataka circle. Com.Animesh Mitra, delivered the presidential address. The report on activities was presented by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. Thereafter, debate by the CEC members started. All the CEC members appreciated the functioning of the Central Head Quarters and approved the decisions taken by the All India Centre on all the issues. The meeting is continuing. The Extended Central Executive Committee meeting will be tomorrow and day after tomorrow. 

As has already been informed, the Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU will be held at Mysuru tomorrow the 25-08-2022. The CEC meeting will be followed by the two day Extended CEC meeting, which will be held on 26-08-2022 and 27-08-2022. The following is the venue of both these meetings:-

Zonal Training Centre

 (Old RTTC ), Thonchikoppal, 

Near Kamakshi Hospital,

Kuvempunagar, Mysuru.

The All India BSNL & DOT Pensioners Association (AIBDPA) has given call for a March to Sanchar Bhawan today, demanding Pension Revision and settlement of other burning problems of the pensioners. Hundreds of comrades have come from the nooks and corners of the country, to participate in this rally. The programme started with a massive inaugural meeting at the Eastern Court.  

Com.V.A.N. Namboodiri, Advisor, presided over the meeting. Com.A.R. Sindhu, Secretary, CITU, delivered the inaugural speech. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU addressed the meeting. In his speech, the General Secretary greeted all the AIBDPA comrades, who had earlier worked in BSNLEU. He congratulated everyone for being in active trade union life and fighting for the cause of the pensioners, serving employees and also for the revival of the BSNL. As regards the pension revision w.e.f. 01.01.2017, the General Secretary firmly told that, no one can stop it for ever. On the recent Revival Package for BSNL, the General Secretary exposed it with facts and figures. Further, he solicited the support of the pensioners in all the struggles to be organised against the nefarious game plans of the Government, to weaken BSNL and to hand it over to the private. Others who addressed the meeting included Com.K.K.N.Kutty, SG, NCCPA, Com.R.N.Parashar, SG, Confederation, Com.K.Ragavendiran, GS, Postal Pensioners Association and others. The March to Sanchar Bhawan programme was cancelled in the last minute, since the police was determined not to allow it, due to the promulgation of section 144. BSNLEU heartily congratulates the AIBDPA for organising a highly successful programme at New Delhi.

BSNLEU has already written to the CMD BSNL, yesterday, demanding that, the premium amount for the Group Health Insurance Policy of the employees should be paid by the Company. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with Shri Arvind Vadnerkar, Director (HR) today. The General Secretary, pointed out that, more 10,000 employees have joined the Group Health Insurance Scheme, as a result of which the medical expenditure of the Company had come down. The GS, BSNLEU, demanded that this benefit should be passed on to the employees. He demanded that, on behalf of the employees, the Company should pay the premium amount of the Health Insurance Policy. The Director (HR) assured that, the demand of BSNLEU would be looked into.

This Parliament question and answer contains various details about the public sector units. In the reply given by the Hon’ble Finance Minister, the disinvestment plans of the Government are clearly spelt out.

BSNLEU organised a country wide successful Black Badge Wearing programme and Lunch Hour demonstrations against VRS, increasing working hours up to 12 hours and threatenings to dismiss employees under FR 56(J). Some leaders have become nervous after BSNLEU gave the call for agitation. They say that, the Management is not having any proposal to implement VRS and that, BSNLEU is unnecessarily creating fear among the employees. Through this website updating, BSNLEU throws an open challenge. Recently, Management uploaded a document on it’s official Intranet. On the first page of this document, it is mentioned as Presentation for the Heads of Circles conference to be held on 04^th & 05^th August, 2022. In this document, proposal is given in page no.32 for retrenching 35,000 employees (employees who are 45 years and above). It is also mentioned that 40,000 employees are sufficient to run BSNL. This is not BSNLEU’s imagination, but written in black and white, in the official document of BSNL, which was uploaded on the official Intranet of BSNL. In the conciliation meeting held by the Dy.CLC on 17.08.2022, the PGM(SR) stated that, this was an old document and it was uploaded on the Intranet by mistake. We would like to ask one question. Are the dates 04^th & 05^th August, 2022 old? In the said document, it is mentioned as “Presentation to be made in the Heads of Circles Conference to be held on 04^th & 05^th August, 2022.” We ask the Management, how this can be an old document? Due to some reason, only known to the Management, this document has been removed from the Intranet. But, it does not mean that the Management did not have proposal for retrenching 35,000 employees. They cannot escape by saying that the document is removed from the Intranet. In yesterday’s Dy.CLC conciliation, the PGM(SR) said that, there is no proposal for VRS at present. The employees should remember that, the Government retrenched 80,000 employees under VRS in 2020. But, before implementing that VRS, both the Management and the Government had been saying that, there was no proposal for VRS. It is unfortunate now, that some union leaders have also joined the chorus with the Management and are saying, there is no proposal for VRS. We enclose herewith, the BSNL Management’s document uploaded on the official Intranet. We request everyone to read page no.32. We challenge ! Let anyone prove that this is not BSNL's official document !!

BSNL continues to lose it’s customers massively, due to it’s inability to launch it’s 4G service. According to the TRAI report, in June, 2022, BSNL has lost 13 lakh customers. The Company had already lost 5.3 lakh customers in May, 2022. At a time when the private companies are preparing to launch their 5G service, BSNL has to compete with 2G and 3G technologies. This has put BSNL in a disadvantageous position and the Company is continuously losing it’s customers. In the same June,2022, Jio has gained 42 lakh new customers and Airtel has gained 7 lakh new customers. The TCS, which has been identified to supply 4G equipments to BSNL, has not even completed the testing of it’s technology. Neither the Government nor the Management is able to say, when TCS can supply 4G equipments to BSNL.

All of us know that, the 9^th Membership Verification for the Non-Executives will be held in October, 2022. Today, the Corporate Office has issued letter, stating that the polling for the 9^th Membership Verification would be held on 12.10.2022. The time schedule given in this letter is as follows:-

1. Last date of withdrawal from the verification process by a Union – 22.08.2022.
2. Date of polling – 12.10.2022.
3. Date of counting of votes – 14.10.2022.
4. Declaration of result by CRO – 14.10.2022.

In a swift move, BSNLEU organised day long black badge wearing and lunch hour demonstrations throughout the country today. This agitation is against the steps being taken by the Government and the Management to retrench 35,000 employees through VRS, increasing the working hours up to 12 hrs. per day and against the threatenings to dismiss employees under Rule FR 56(J). Even though, the call was given at a very short notice, there is excellent response for the call in all the circles. BSNLEU has told the Government and the Management that they cannot take the employees for a ride. The CHQ heartily congratulates all the circle and district unions, which sprang into action at a very short notice.  

Based on the notification issued by BSNLEU yesterday, for organising day long badge wearing and lunch hour demonstration, Dr.R.G. Meena, Deputy CLC (Central), conducted a conciliation meeting today. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, represented BSNLEU. BSNL Management was represented by Ms. Anita Johri, PGM(SR), Shri Santosh, DGM(SR) and Shri Ruhela, AGM(SR). The following are the details of the discussion.

1. Retrenchment of 35,000 employees under VRS.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, handed over the document of BSNL Management, which contains proposal to retrench 35,000 employees under VRS. This document was uploaded on the intranet of BSNL Management, stated the General Secretary, BSNLEU. He vehemently opposed BSNL Management’s proposal to retrench 35,000 employees through VRS. In reply to this, the PGM(SR) told that, the Management is not having any proposal to retrench 35,000 employees under VRS.

2. Increasing the working hours up to 12 hrs. per day.

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, handed over a copy of the letter of the CGM, Rajasthan, wherein instruction is given to increase the working hours of employees up to 12 hrs. per day. Further, he told that, the PGM, Jalandhar, has also issued one such letter. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, strongly opposed any move by the BSNL Management for increasing the working hours beyond 8 hours. The PGM(SR) stated that, BSNL being the Government of India Company, it has to follow the Government rules. Reacting to the reply of the PGM(SR), the Dy.CLC observed that, the employee should be compensated with overtime allowance, beyond 8 hours duty.  

3. Threatenings of dismissal under FR 56(J).

Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, complained that, the Management is holding the employees responsible for the failures of BSNL and is threatening to dismiss the employees under FR 56(J). In reply to this, the PGM(SR) stated that no employee has been dismissed under FR 56(J), after the implementation of VRS in 2020 and that BSNL has to follow the government instructions.

Finally, the Dy.CLC made an appeal to BSNLEU to withdraw the demonstration.

Maharashtra circle union conducted a seminar, circle executive committee meeting and a meeting of the BSNL Working Women’s Co-ordination Committee (BSNL WWCC) on 12^th & 13^th August, 2022, at Mumbai. The seminar was held on the first day, i.e., on 12^th August, 2022. Com.Ashok Dhawale, President, All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) delivered an educative speech on the “Role of the Working Class in the Freedom Struggle”. Around 100 comrades attended this very useful seminar. The circle Executive Committee meeting was held on the second day, i.e., on 13^th August, 2022. Com.N.K. Nalawade, Circle President, presided over this meeting. Com. Ganesh Hinge, Circle Secretary, presented the report on activities. Com.John Verghese, Dy. GS, addressed the meeting and threw light on the Revival Package, the heavy delay in launching BSNL’s 4G service and the issues being taken up by the CHQ of BSNLEU. All the members of the Executive Committee participated in the debate. As a part of the CEC meeting, the meeting of the BSNL Working Women’s Co-ordination Committee was also held. Com.Amita S. Naik, Convenor, Com.Ganesh Hinge, CS, and other leaders addressed this meeting. The CHQ congratulates Maharashtra circle union for organising all the three programmes in a very useful manner.