The JTO(T) LICE (50% quota) was held on 07.08.2022. 549 candidates have passed in this JTO(T) LICE. Now, many qualified candidates are approaching the CHQ of BSNLEU, to find out when the JTO training of the qualified candidates will begin. Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS, discussed this issue with Ms. Samita Luthra, GM(Rectt.), BSNL C.O. The GM(Rectt.) replied that the Corporate Office is taking efforts to send the qualified candidates for JTO training at the earliest. Further, the GM(Rectt.) said that, hopefully their training will start by the end of October or the first week of November, 2022. 

The SR Branch of the Corporate Office has released the final ballot paper, including election symbols for the conducting of the 9^th Membership Verification of the Non-Executives, which is to be held on 12.10.2022.

The Mysuru CEC meeting has directed the circle and district unions to organise a week long “Meet the Employees Campaign”, from 06^th to 13^th September, 2022. In this campaign, the National Monetisation Pipeline, under which BSNL’s towers and optic fibre are being handed over to the private, the roadblocks being created by the Government in BSNL’s 4G launching, the false claims of the Government regarding the 2^nd Revival Package, attempts to introduce the 2^nd VRS and also to increase the working hours from 10 to 12 hours per day, etc., should be exposed and campaigned among the employees. The anti BSNL and pro-private policies of the government, various steps being taken by it to dismantle the public sector through disinvestment and privatisation should also be highlighted. All the circle and district unions are requested to successfully implement the “Meet the Employees Campaign”, from 06^th to 13^thSeptember, 2022. 

The Corporate Office has issued guidelines regarding the postal ballots to be exercised in the 9th membership verification. According to this letter, employees on deputation, training and the employees posted in the remote and difficult areas of Assam, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Lakshadweep are eligible to cast postal ballots. The concerned returning officer is empowered to approve the list of employees who can exercise postal ballots. The circle and district secretaries are requested to ensure the proper implementation of the guidelines contained in this letter.

The Extended Circle Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, Punjab circle, was held enthusiastically at Chandigarh today. Com. Sanjiv Kumar, Circle President, presided over the meeting. Com.H.S. Dhillon, Circle Secretary, welcomed everyone and initiated the discussion. Com.P.Abhimanyu,GS, garlanded and honoured the leaders and comrades who have recently joined BSNLEU. There after, the General Secretary addressed the meeting and spoke in detail about the issues related to BSNL’s revival, inordinate delay in BSNL’s 4G launching and the various aspects related to the 2^nd Revival Package. The General Secretary also dwelt at length on the achievements of BSNLEU, during the past 3 years. Thereafter, deliberations by the Executive Committee members took place. Finally, Com.H.S. Dhillon, CS, delivered the summing up address. Senior leader, Com.Balwinder Singh, addressed the meeting and delivered the vote of thanks. 

The Co-ordination Committee of BSNLEU, AIBDPA and BSNLCCWF has given call to organise countrywide Human Chain programme on 14.09.2022, opposing the National Monetisation Pipeline, the retrograde steps being taken by the Government to destroy the public sector, hurdles being created by the Government in BSNL’s 4G launching, the pro-private and anti-BSNL policies of the Government, etc., are to be highlighted in this Human Chain programme. This programme is to be organised in places where the public gather, like near the market place, bus stand, railway station, etc. Banners and Placards carrying slogans on the above issues should be displayed during the Human Chain.

A Massive worker peasant convention was held in the Talkatora Indoor Stadium at New Delhi today. Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) and the All India Agricultural Workers Union (AIAWU) organised this convention. BSNLEU participated as an invitee. Comrades of BSNLEU participated in this Convention from Haryana, UP(East), UP(West) and Uttarakhand. A presidium consisting of Com.K. Hemalata, President, CITU, Com. Ashok Dhawale, President, AIKS and Com.Vijayaraghavan, President, AIAWU, presided over. Many burning issues of the workers, peasants and agricultural workers, were discussed in this meeting. The Convention passed a Declaration and 12 point charter of demands. The charter of demands include stopping of the privatisation of public sector undertakings, scrapping of the National Monetisation Pipeline, scraping of the 4 Labour Codes,   Rs.26,000/- Minimum Wage, Minimum Support Price for agricultural products and other demands. The Declaration adopted by the Convention in Hindi and English are enclosed.

The 7^th Circle Conference of BSNLEU, Andaman and Nicobar circle, started at Port Blair today. The meeting is inaugurated by Com.P.Abhimanyu, GS. In his speech, the General Secretary spoke on the 2^ndRevival Package, issues related to BSNL’s 4G launching, the anti-BSNL and pro-private policies of the Government, important issues of the Non-Executives, etc. The Conference was also addressed by Shri Rajaram Mohan, CGM, A&N circle, Com.Chandrachudan, General Secretary, CITU, A&N, Com.Ayyappan, Vice President, CITU, Com.K.G. Das, A&N Pensioners Association, Com.Vinod Krishna, President, SNEA, Com.Anand, Circle Secretary, NFTE, and Com.Brijesh Pandey, CS, AIGETOA,  and others. After the successfully completing the Open Session, the delegates session of the Conference started. 

The Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, held at Mysuru, has decided to organise a “Meet the Employees Campaign” from 06.09.2022 to 13.09.2022. During this week long campaign, the circle, district and branch level office bearers of BSNLEU have to form teams and meet each and every employee, both Executives and Non-Executives. The hurdles being wantonly created by the government in the launching of BSNL’s 4G service, handing over of BSNL’s towers and optic fibre cable to the private in the name of National Monetisation Pipeline, the agenda of the Management to retrench another 35,000 employees through VRS, threatenings to dismiss the employees under FR 56(J), attempts of the Management to increase the working hours up to 12 hours per day and the overall pro-corporate and anti-people policies of the Government should be campaigned against the employees during this week long campaign. CHQ will release a pamphlet matter, which should be handed over to each and every employee. CHQ calls on the circle and district unions to successfully organise this week long “Meet the Employees Campaign”.

The World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has given call to observe 1^st September, 2022, as “Trade Union Action Day for Peace”. The day is being observed throughout the world, demanding to stop the imperialist wars. The Mysuru CEC meeting of BSNLEU has decided to implement the call of the WFTU. Accordingly, West Bengal circle union has organised the programme at Kolkata.

The JE LICE for the vacancy year 2020 is going to be conducted on 16.10.2022. BSNLEU strongly demanded that, this JE LICE should be conducted as an off-line exam. This issue was discussed with the Director(HR) also. However Management did not accept BSNLEU’s demand. So, the JE LICE is going to be conducted as online exam. In this connection, the Corporate Office has issued a letter yesterday the 31.10.2022, directing the CGMs to organise computer familiarisation training for the JE LICE candidates, to enable them to appear in the online exam. The circle and district secretaries are requested to make use of this opportunity. They should ensure that the Corporate Office direction is implemented and computer familiarisation training is given to the JE LICE candidates.

 Stop imperialist wars.

“Action Day of Trade Unions for peace” to be organised on 01^st September, 2022 .

 September 01^st is the day on which the 2^nd World War started, when Germany attacked Poland. Hence, the working class is observing 1^st of September, as a day against war. In accordance with this, the World Federation of Trade Unions (WFTU) has given call to the trade unions throughout the world, to observe “Action Day of Trade Unions for Peace” on 01^stSeptember, 2022. Wars devastate nations and ruin the lives of millions of people. Wars or or against growth and development mankind. Hence, the WFTU has given the call to observe the 1st of September as the “Action Day of Trade Unions For Peace”. To implement the call of the WFTU, the Central Executive Committee meeting of BSNLEU, held at Mysuru, has decided to organise special meetings at Kolkata, Chennai, Mumbai and Hyderabad. 

The All India Conference of NFTE BSNL, which was held at Ranchi on 28th, 29th & 30th August, 2022, has got successfully concluded. The Conference has unanimously re-elected Com.Islam Ahmed as President, Com.Chandeshwar Singh as General Secretary and Com.Rajamouli as Treasurer. BSNLEU heartily congratulates these leaders. BSNLEU also heartily congratulates all other office bearers elected in this All India Conference.

The JTO LICE was held on 07.08.2022. The results of this exam has been announced. BSNLEU heartily congratulates all the candidates who have emerged successfully. 

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. 

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.