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. 

Day Long Black Badge wearing

and

Lunch Hour Demonstrations  tomorrow the 17.08.2022.

The CHQ of BSNLEU has already given call for day long wearing of black badges and for holding lunch hour demonstrations tomorrow the 17.08.2022. This programme is to oppose VRS, to oppose the increasing of working hours and to oppose threatenings of dismissal under FR 56(J). Circle and district secretaries are requested to mobilise maximum number of employees in this programme. Efforts should also be taken to mobilise pensioners and contract workers in this programme.

ब्लेक बैज पहनने और दोपहर के भोजन अवकाश में प्रदर्शनों के लिए सीएचक्यू की पत्रिका।

कल के ब्लेक बैज पहनने और दोपहर के भोजन अवकाश में प्रदर्शनों को प्रभावी ढंग से आयोजित करने के लिए सीएचक्यू ने एक छोटी सी पत्रिका तैयार की है। यह पत्रिका प्रत्येक नोन एक्ज़िक्यूटिव्स और एक्ज़िक्यूटिव्स तक पहुंचनी चाहिए। जहां भी संभव हो जिला यूनियनों द्वारा पत्रिका की छपाई की जा सकती है। अन्यथा फोटोकॉपी बनाकर हर कर्मचारी को वितरित की जाए। गैर हिंदी भाषी सर्किलों में पत्रिका का क्षेत्रीय भाषाओं में अनुवाद कर वितरित किया जाना चाहिए। प्रत्येक कर्मचारी को इस पत्रिका का वितरण उन्हें वर्तमान स्थिति के बारे में शिक्षित करने के लिए बहुत आवश्यक है।  

On 08^th August, 2022, Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, wrote a letter to Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, Hon’ble Minister of Communications, explaining how the anti-BSNL and pro-private steps taken by the government, from time to time, have weakened BSNL. He has stated that the employees should not be held responsible for the present condition of BSNL. Many media have published news, based on the General Secretary’s letter. Today, the Economic Time Telecom has made a write up. It is enclosed for our comrades to read.

इकोनॉमिक टाइम्स टेलीकॉम (ईटी टेलीकॉम) ने माननीय संचार मंत्री को महासचिव साथी पी.अभिमन्यु के पत्र पर लेख प्रकाशित किया।

08 अगस्त, 2022 को साथी पी. अभिमन्यु, महासचिव ने माननीय संचार मंत्री श्री अश्विनी वैष्णव को एक पत्र लिखा, जिसमें बताया गया कि कैसे सरकार द्वारा समय-समय पर उठाए गए बीएसएनएल विरोधी और निजी समर्थक कदमों ने बीएसएनएल को कमजोर कर दिया है। उन्होंने कहा है कि बीएसएनएल की वर्तमान स्थिति के लिए कर्मचारियों को जिम्मेदार नहीं ठहराया जाना चाहिए। कई मीडिया ने महासचिव के पत्र के आधार पर खबर प्रकाशित की है। आज, इकोनॉमिक टाइम्स टेलीकॉम ने एक लेख बनाया है। यह हमारे साथियों के पढ़ने के लिए संलग्न है। 

75th anniversary of Indian independence.

     Greetings to all the comrades on this great occasion of the 75th anniversary of Indian independence.

     On this great occasion, we salute Mangal Pandey, Nana Saheb, Tantia Tope, Rani Laxmibai, Kunwar Singh, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Hakim Asanulla, Firoz Shah, Khan Bahadur, Maulvi Liyakat Ali and all other warriors, who triggered the First War of Indian Independence in 1857. The glorious Hindu-Muslim unity, built by those warriors of the First War of Indian Independence, is a shining example in the history of India.

     We salute Tippu Sultan, Kattabomman, Kerala Varma Pazhassi Raja and scores of other Indian rulers who fought against the British imperialists and sacrificed their lives.

     We salute Alluri Seetharama Raju, Birsa Munda, Sidhu Murmu, Kanhu Murmu and hundreds of other tribal leaders who fought against the British colonialists.

     We salute Mahatma Gandhi, Tilak, Nehru, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Vallabhbhai Patel, Bipin Chandra Pal, Maulana Azad, Lala Lajpat Rai and other great leaders of the Congress Party, who mobilised the masses and gave them courage to fight against British colonialists.

     We salute Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, Rajguru, Chandrashekar Azad and scores other revolutionaries, who made the supreme sacrifice for the freedom of our country. 

     We salute the revolutionary leaders of the De Baga struggle, Surma valley Andolan, Worli Adivasis rebellion, Telangana Armed Struggle and other revolutionary struggles against the British imperialism.

     We salute S.A.Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Syed Usmani and all other Communist leaders who fought against the British rule. We salute Maulana Hasrat Mohani who gave birth to the slogan “Inquilab Zindabad”.

     We salute Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, Henry Barton, Diwan Chaman Lal and all other leaders of the Postal and Telegraph trade union movement, who organised the workers to fight against the imperialist exploitation.

     We salute the thousands of leaders and workers of the trade union movement, who sacrificed their lives in the freedom struggle at Bombay, Solapur, Kolkata, Madras and in various places of the country.

     We have mentioned only a few names in the long list of freedom fighters. By saluting these leaders, we salute the entire leaders and people, who fought against the British and got independence for our nation.

भारतीय स्वतंत्रता की 75वीं वर्षगांठ।

भारतीय स्वतंत्रता की 75वीं वर्षगांठ के इस महान अवसर पर सभी साथियों को बधाई।  इस महान अवसर पर,

हम मंगल पांडे, नाना साहब, तात्या टोपे, रानी लक्ष्मीबाई, कुंवर सिंह, बेगम हजरत महल, हकीम आसनुल्ला, फिरोज शाह, खान बहादुर, मौलवी लियाकत अली और अन्य सभी योद्धाओं को सलाम करते हैं जिन्होंने 1857 में भारतीय स्वतंत्रता की पहली लड़ाई शुरू की थी।  भारतीय स्वतंत्रता के प्रथम युद्ध के उन योद्धाओं द्वारा निर्मित गौरवशाली हिंदू-मुस्लिम एकता भारत के इतिहास में एक ज्वलंत उदाहरण है ।

हम टीपू सुल्तान, कट्टाबोम्मन, केरल वर्मा पजहस्सी राजा और अन्य भारतीय शासकों को सलाम करते हैं जिन्होंने ब्रिटिश साम्राज्यवादियों के खिलाफ लड़ाई लड़ी और अपने प्राणों की आहुति दी ।

हम अल्लूरी सीताराम राजू, बिरसा मुंडा, सिद्धू मुर्मू, कान्हू मुर्मू और सैकड़ों अन्य आदिवासी नेताओं को सलाम करते हैं जिन्होंने ब्रिटिश उपनिवेशवादियों के खिलाफ लड़ाई लड़ी।

हम महात्मा गांधी, तिलक, नेहरू, नेताजी सुभाष चंद्र बोस, वल्लभभाई पटेल, बिपिन चंद्र पाल, मौलाना आजाद, लाला लाजपत राय और कांग्रेस पार्टी के अन्य महान नेताओं को सलाम करते हैं, जिन्होंने जनता को लामबंद किया और उन्हें ब्रिटिश उपनिवेशवादियों के खिलाफ लड़ने का साहस दिया।

हम भगत सिंह, सुखदेव, राजगुरु, चंद्रशेखर आजाद और कई अन्य क्रांतिकारियों को सलाम करते हैं, जिन्होंने हमारे देश की आजादी के लिए सर्वोच्च बलिदान दिया।

हम दे बागा संघर्ष, सूरमा घाटी आंदोलन, वर्ली आदिवासी विद्रोह, तेलंगाना सशस्त्र संघर्ष और ब्रिटिश साम्राज्यवाद के खिलाफ अन्य क्रांतिकारी संघर्षों के क्रांतिकारी नेताओं को सलाम करते हैं।

हम एस.ए.डांगे, मुजफ्फर अहमद, सैयद उस्मानी और अन्य सभी कम्युनिस्ट नेताओं को सलाम करते हैं जिन्होंने ब्रिटिश शासन के खिलाफ लड़ाई लड़ी।  हम मौलाना हसरत मोहानी को सलाम करते हैं जिन्होंने "इंकलाब जिंदाबाद" के नारे को जन्म दिया।

 हम बाबू तारापदा मुखर्जी, हेनरी बार्टन, दीवान चमन लाल और पोस्टल एंड टेलीग्राफ ट्रेड यूनियन आंदोलन के अन्य सभी नेताओं को सलाम करते हैं, जिन्होंने साम्राज्यवादी शोषण के खिलाफ लड़ने के लिए मजदूरों को संगठित किया।

हम बंबई, सोलापुर, कोलकाता, मद्रास और देश के विभिन्न स्थानों में स्वतंत्रता संग्राम में अपने प्राणों की आहुति देने वाले ट्रेड यूनियन आंदोलन के हजारों नेताओं और कार्यकर्ताओं को सलाम करते हैं।

हमने स्वतंत्रता सेनानियों की लंबी सूची में कुछ ही नामों का उल्लेख किया है।  इन नेताओं को सलाम करके हम उन तमाम नेताओं और लोगों को सलाम करते हैं, जिन्होंने अंग्रेजों के खिलाफ लड़ाई लड़ी और हमारे देश को आजादी दिलाई।