BSNLEU has been consistently pressing upon the BSNL Management to hold the JTO LICE under 50% quota. The Management has already notified to hold the exam for the vacancy year 2016–17 on 20.01.2019. Now, the Recruitment Branch of the Corporate Office has issued letter (letter no.12-04/2018-Rectt. dated 18.01.2019) to hold the JTO LICE under 50% quota for the vacancy year 2017–18. The online registration of application for this exam will start on 18.02.2019. The last date for registration is 18.03.2019 and the date of online examination is 28.04.2019.

Recently Government of India took decision to freeze the Dearness Relief to the Central Government pensioners, for the period from 01.01.2020 to 01.07.2021. Immediately, the DoT vide it’s letter number 1/Misc/Pen/Issue/BSNL/DDG(Accounts)/2019-Part.1/1407-1439 dated 28.04.2020, issued instruction stating that the BSNL employees retiring in April, 2020,  should be retirement benefits  at the old rate of Dearness Relief, i.e., at 157.3%. Vehemently opposing this arbitrary action of the DoT, BSNLEU wrote to the Secretary, Telecom, on 28.04.2020. In that letter, BSNLEU has stated that the DoT has no authority to deny whatever Dearness Relief already approved to the BSNL pensioners, by the DPE. It may be noted that the DPE, on 03.04.2020 itself has already approved Dearness Relief to BSNL pensioners @160.7%, w.e.f. 01.04.2020. Now, the DoT has gone back from it’s decision of denying Dearness Relief @160.7% to the BSNL employees who retired in April, 2020. It has issued letter yesterday the 26.05.2020, withdrawing it’s letter dated 28.04.2020. In this letter, the DoT has also stated that all pension related benefits be released @160.7% Dearness Relief.

The BSNL Corporate Office, vide it’s letter dated 16^th May, 2011, has stated that the retired employees, who shift to their place of settlement, can also change their claim office, for the purpose of availing the medical facility of the Company. Now, in it’s letter dated 22^nd October, 2019, the Corporate Office has stated that the retired employees are entitled for the TA, for settling at their home town after retirement. The letter has further stated that even after shifting to their place of settlement, the retirees can retain the claim office at the place from where they retired.

BSNLEU is extremely happy to inform that the Corporate Office has reviewed the results of the failed SC / ST candidates of the JTO LICEs (under 50% quota), conducted on 22.05.2016, 24.09.2016 & 11.12.2016. This review has been done based on the implementation of the DoT order no.22-5/91-NCG dated 30.11.1992, in BSNL. BSNLEU has already informed through it’s website that in the 35^th meeting of the National Council held on 11.05.2017, the demand of BSNLEU to implement the above mentioned DoT order was accepted. The Corporate Office implemented this DoT order in BSNL vide letter no.9-2/2016-Rectt. dated 28.08.2017. Based on this letter of the Corporate Office, results of the failed SC / ST candidates in the JAO LICE, held on 11.07.2016, are already reviewed. Now, the results of the failed candidates of the 3 JTO LICEs conducted in 2016 are reviewed. Copies of the Corporate Office letter are attached.

Ever since the MoU between BSNL and Canara Bank expired, BSNLEU actively took up the issue with the Corporate Management, for the early renewal of the MoU. Due to certain difficulties the renewal of the MoU is delayed. The signing of the MoU has taken place with the Canara Bank. Efforts are on for the renewal of the MoU with the Union Bank of India.

It may be recollected that in the meeting held between  the Hon'ble Minister of State for Communications and the AUAB, held on 24-02-2018, the Hon'ble Minister said that the wage revision issue of the BSNL employees would be taken for the approval of the Cabinet. The Hon'ble Minister also stated that, the approval of the DPE would also be taken on the matter. Accordingly, the issue was referred to the DPE, by the DoT. The DPE has now written to the DoT, stating that the wage revision matter could be taken for the approval of the Cabinet. Thus, the first step, in getting approval for the wage revision of BSNL employees has been completed. The AUAB will continue to monitor the developments and will take the needful steps, for the final settlement of the issue.

BSNLEU is continuously pursuing the settlement of anomalies, which arose in the 1^st wage revision w.e.f. 01.10.2000. This issue was once again discussed with the GM (Estt.) by the GS, BSNLEU on 09.11.2017.  In that meeting it was told by the Management Side that, the DoT wants to know the financial implication of this issue. BSNL Corporate Office has written to the CGMs yesterday, requesting to send the requisite inputs in the format that is enclosed. All circle secretaries are requested to take up this issue with their respective CGMs, and arrange to send the requisite inputs to the Corporate Office at the earliest.

BSNLEU has already demanded that the JE LICE should be conducted not as an online exam, but it should be conducted as on off line exam. This demand is raised in view of the fact that most of the candidates appearing the JE LICE are belonging to the line staff category, who do not possess the working knowledge of computer. The Recruitment Branch of Corporate Office has rejected the demand.

Any clarification issued by the DoP&T, on Child Care Leave, is automatically applicable in BSNL, for which Corporate Office endorsement is not needed. BSNL Corporate Office has already issued this instruction to all the field units. This instruction was issued by the BSNL CO, based on the intervention made by BSNLEU. However, still some circles keep seeking the endorsement of the BSNL CO, for the clarifications issued by the DoP&T. BSNL CO has once again reiterated it’s position, in response to the letter written by the CGM(O), Kerala circle.

BSNLEU has long been demanding that gratuity should be implemented to the casual labourers and TSMs working in BSNL, since they are covered by the Payment of Gratuity Act. BSNLEU has taken up this item in the National Council many times. As a result, this issue was sent for the approval of the BSNL Board. However, due to the road-blocks created in the BSNL Board, this issue was shelved for a long time. Again, BSLNEU continuously pressurised the CMD BSNL and Director (HR) that the issue should be approved by the BSNL Board. CHQ is very glad that finally the BSNL Corporate Office has issued letter today implementing gratuity to the casual labourers and TSMs.