President and General Secretary, BSNLEU, discussed important issues with the Director (HR).

BSNLEU has been trying for a meeting with the Director (HR), for discussing certain outstanding issues. The meeting took place today. Com.Animesh Mitra, President and Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, met Dr. Kalyan Sagar Nippani, Director (HR) and discussed the following important issues. The discussion took place smoothly and the Director (HR) assured early settlement of the issues. The following are the issues which are discussed between BSNLEU and the Director (HR).

1) Revision of Transport Allowance.

On 16.12.2024, BSNLEU has written letter to the Director (HR), demanding revision of the Transport Allowance. In it’s letter, BSNLEU has pointed out that, Transport Allowance was introduced before the Wage Revision done w.e.f. 01.01.2007. Hence, Transport Allowance could be revised independent of the Wage Revision. BSNLEU has also pointed out that, in the backdrop of spiralling price rise of petrol and diesel and the consequent steep rise in transportation charges, employees are spending a hefty amount from their pocket every month. In today’s meeting with the Director (HR), BSNLEU strongly raised this issue and demanded that, the Management should immediately come forward to revise the Transport Allowance. The Director (HR) gave a patient hearing and assured that, the issue would be looked into.

 

2) Punjab JTO LICE issue.

The results of three JTO LICEs conducted in Punjab circle, have not been declared due to the pendency of court cases. However, even after the court cases were withdrawn, Management is refusing to declare the results of those three JTO LICEs. The Management is arguing that, the results could not be declared since all the JTO posts related to these three JTO LICEs have already been abolished under the Restructuring of Manpower Scheme. However, BSNLEU is repeatedly writing letters to the Management and is pressing on the CMD BSNL to declare the results of the three JTO LICEs and also to promote the successful JTO LICE candidates. This issue was seriously discussed with the CMD BSNL, in the meeting held with BSNLEU on 28.10.2024. The CMD BSNL was sympathetic and assured that, he would find some solution to this issue. However, despite the sympathetic view of the CMD BSNL, no positive result has come so far. Under these circumstances, the issue was discussed by BSNLEU in the meeting held with the Director (HR) today. The Director (HR) also told that the CMD BSNL is sympathetic towards this issue and that the Management would soon take a decision on this issue. BSNLEU told the Director (HR) that the JTO LICE candidates are completely frustrated on this issue and requested for a settlement at the earliest.

3) Sanction of Festival Advance.

BSNLEU is continuously demanding that, the employees should be granted with Festival Advance. Earlier, the employees were getting interest free Festival Advance. However, this has been stopped, citing the financial strain being faced by the Company. This issue was also discussed by BSNLEU in the meeting held with the CMD BSNL on 28.10.2024. At that time itself, the response of the CMD BSNL was positive. In today’s meeting with the Director (HR), BSNLEU raised this issue and requested for an early settlement of the same. The Director (HR) replied that, the CMD BSNL has considered this issue and has decided that payment of Festival Advance would be implemented from March, 2025, onwards.

4) Conversion of the JE cadre as BA level cadre.

The Junior Engineer is a Non-Executive cadre. Till 2014, it had been an SSA level cadre. However, thereafter, Management implemented some change. According to this, all the JEs recruited prior to 2014 remained as the SSA cadre. At the same time, all the JEs recruited after 2014 are treated as circle cadre. BSNLEU has already raised the demand that, the dual character of the JE cadre should cease. It is the strong demand of BSNLEU that the JE cadre should be converted into a BA level cadre. This issue was discussed with the Director (HR) in today’s meeting. The Director (HR) listened to the views of BSNLEU and assured that the issue would be looked into.

5) Posting qualified JTO (OL) candidates in other circles.

The JTO (OL) is an isolated cadre. In the JTO (OL) LICE that has been conducted, the qualified candidates of some circles did not get the promotion, due to non-availability of posts. At the same time, in some other circles, vacant posts are available, but candidates did not get qualified. Under these circumstances, the qualified candidates of circles where vacant posts are not available, have expressed their willingness to get posted in circles where vacancies are existing. BSNLEU has already taken up this issue with the Director (HR) and has already written letter also. However, there is no improvement on this issue. In today’s meeting with the Director (HR), BSNLEU raised this issue and demanded to post the qualified candidates in other circles, where vacancies are existing. The Director (HR) assured to look into the issue.

6) Deduction of LIC premium from salary.

Earlier, premium amount of LIC was deducted by the Management, from the salary of the employees and the same was being remitted to LIC. However, this has been stopped by the erstwhile CMD BSNL. LIC is a Government of India Company. Hence, deduction of LIC premium from the salary of the employees should be done. This has been stopped without any rhyme or reason. BSNLEU has already raised this demand, by writing letter to the CMD BSNL. The issue was also discussed by BSNLEU, in the meeting held with the CMD BSNL on 28.10.2024. However, there is no progress on this issue till today. In today’s meeting held with the Director (HR), BSNLEU raised this issue and demanded early resumption of deduction of LIC premium. The Director (HR) noted the points and assured that the issue would be looked into.

7) Settlement of the TA bills of the members of the National Council and Wage Revision Committee.

Retired employees, who are functioning as Staff Side members of the National Council are experiencing difficulty in the settlement of their TA bills for attending the National Council meeting. Since, settlement of the TA bills are being done through the ERP, the circle administrations have expressed their inability to settle the TA bills of the retired employees. Similarly, Staff Side members of the Wage Revision Committee have also complained that their TA bills are not being settled by the Management. BSNLEU, has already raised this issue with the Director (HR). However, the issue remains to be unresolved. In today’s meeting, BSNLEU raised this issue with the Director (HR) and demanded that, clear cut instruction should be given to all the CGMs, with regards to settlement of the TA bills of the members of the Staff Side of the National Council and the Wage Revision Committee. The Director (HR) assured to do the needful on this issue.

[Date : 24 - Dec - 2024]