The CMD BSNL held a meeting today, with the major unions and associations. Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS, BSNLEU, com. K. Sebastin, GS, SNEA and com. Prahlad Rai, GS, AIBSNLEA attended. Com. Chandeswar Singh, GS, NFTE is out of Delhi. The following issues were discussed.  

CMD BSNL should present the flood relief amount to the CM, Kerala.

The AUAB has already requested the CMD BSNL to deduct one day’s basic pay from willing officials. In today’s meeting the representatives requested that the deducted amount should be handed over by the CMD BSNL, to the Chief Minister of Kerala. They told that, this would give a very good publicity to BSNL. The CMD BSNL agreed to look into this.

“BSNL At Your Door steps” will be launched on 24.09.2018.

The AUAB has already taken decision to conduct “BSNL At Your Doorsteps" movement, to boost BSNL’s revenue collection, by stepping up sales and marketing of the Company. The AUAB has also desired that, this movement should be jointly launched by the AUAB and the Management. This issue was discussed in today’s meeting.

 
Finally, the following decisions are taken.

1. “BSNL At Your Doorsteps” will be jointly launched by the AUAB and the Management.

2. The inauguration of this movement will take place at BSNL Corporate Office on 24th September, 2018 evening. All the CGMs will also participate in this launching. (HOCC is taking place in Corporate Office on 24th & 25thSeptember, 2018).

Delay in allotment of 4G spectrum.

The representatives expressed their concern over the undue delay in the allotment of 4G spectrum to BSNL and also over the network congestion prevailing in many parts of the country. They drew the attention of the CMD to media reports, which have quoted the Hon’ble MoS(C) as saying that, 4G spectrum would be allotted to BSNL only in December, 2018. The CMD BSNL told that, he is taking all out efforts for the early allotment of 4G spectrum.

Little scope for Subsidiary Tower Company.

The AUAB is opposing the Subsidiary Tower Company tooth and nail. Decision has been taken to stall the Board meeting, and also for total walk out by the Executives and Non- Executives, in case Board meeting is scheduled, for giving approval for the appointment of CMD of Subsidiary Tower Company. This issue came up for discussion today.

Consolidation is taking place in a big way in the telecom industries. All the small operators have closed down their business. After the recent merger of Vodafone and Idea, there are only 4 operators in each circle. BSNL, Jio, Airtel, and Vodafone - Idea. Under these circumstances, there will be very less business for the Subsidiary Tower Company. The BSNL Management has informed this to the government, through it’s letter, written a week ago. This was disclosed by the CMD BSNL in today’s meeting.

 
Outsourcing of passive maintenance of BSNL’s towers.

The representatives expressed their concern at the outsourcing. The CMD BSNL replied that at present the “uptime” of BSNL towers is only 80% - 85%. The uptime will increase to 97%, due to this outsourcing. Further, BSNL will save Rs.100 crore by way of maintenance expenditures. While the active maintenance of towers would be continued to be done by BSNL, only the passive maintenance, including provisioning  of batteries, engine alternators, diesel, payment of EB bill, etc., would be done by the outsourced party. The total payment for this will be Rs.6, 633 crores. The CMD BSNL further told that, the cases filed in the Delhi High Court and Supreme Court, against this outsourcing, by vested interests, are already dismissed.

BSNL’s CSCs to be used by UIDAI

The CMD BSNL informed that the UIDAI has decided to utilise BSNL’s CSCs for Aadhaar authentication. For this, the UIDAI will give money for Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) and Operational Expenditure (OPEX) to BSNL. The CMD BSNL told that this would help BSNL.

50^th anniversary of the one day strike, held in 1968, has been observed in the following places.

Some mischievous elements are trying to confuse the workers by spreading rumours that the recognised unions are trying to finalise Wage settlement with less than 15% fitment. We know that these mischievous elements are trying to get some cheap publicity for themselves, by spreading such rumours. Still, it is our duty to tell the workers that both the recognised unions are determined to get 15% fitment in the wage revision. Both the recognised unions will not sign any agreement with less than 15% fitment. All the employees who were on service as on 01-01-2017, will get 15% fitment.

At the same time, pay scales are different. Whatever formula, the 3rd PRC has adopted to determine the minimum of the Executive pay scales, will also be made applicable, for the Non-Executive pay scales. Confusing the fitment formula, with the formula adopted to create the pay scales, only shows the ignorance and hollowness of these mischievous elements.

After the 2nd Wage Revision settled by BSNLEU, BSNL employees were drawing higher salary than the bank employees. This is an undeniable fact. BSNLEU organised a two day nation wide strike to achieve that wage settlement. But, in that strike, FNTO stabbed on the back of the employees. It wrote letter to the Management saying that, the union was not participating in that strike. Employees have not forgotten all these facts.

Kolkata Telephones circle union organised a memorable event, commemorating the 50^th anniversary of the one day strike, held on 19th September, 1968. Com.Prabir Dutta, circle president, presided over the function. Com.Sisir Kumar Roy, circle secretary, welcomed everyone. The meeting observed a minute’s silence, and paid homage to the 17 martyrs, who sacrificed their lives in the one day strike. Nearly 60 veteran comrades who took part in the one day strike, including Com.Jyotsana Bose, wife of Com.Moni Bose, graced the occasion, by attending the programme. All of them were felicitated with bouquets and flowers. On behalf of those who participated in the one day strike, veteran leader, Com.Anantha Bhattacharji, addressed the meeting and shared his memories. Thereafter, Com.P.Abhimanyu, General Secretary, addressed and vividly explained about the developments that led to the one day strike, the demands and about the unforeseen repression unleashed by the government, to suppress the strike. He also explained about some present day developments and explained how BSNLEU is marching ahead in the path shown by the 1968 one day strike. CHQ congratulates the Kolkata circle union, for organising this memorable programme.

Tomorrow is the 50^th anniversary of the glorious one day strike of 19^th September, 1968. BSNLEU pays it’s respectful homage to the martyrs of the 1968 strike, and salutes the entire participants. BSNLEU vows to carry forward the fight against exploitation.

Tomorrow is the 50^th anniversary of the glorious one day strike held on 19^th September, 1968. The Central Secretariat meeting of BSNLEU, held at New Delhi, on 04.09.2018, has given call to the circle and district unions to hold meetings and seminars, to commemorate the 50^th anniversary of that one day strike. CHQ has already given the call for this programme. Once again CHQ calls upon the circle and district unions to organise the programme effectively tomorrow, and send report with photos to the CHQ.

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR), yesterday and discussed about some of the outstanding issues.

1. Dilution of the existing rules on the functioning of councils.

It was pointed out by the Union that, certain instructions issued by the Corporate Office recently, are diluting the existing rules with regards to the functioning of the councils. It was also pointed out that the Secretary, Staff Side, should have been also taken into confident before issuing such instructions. The Director (HR) directed the GM(SR) to take necessary remedial measure.

2. Re-engagement of the retrenched contract workers.

30% of the contract workers are recently retrenched, by way of a letter issued by the Corporate Office. BSNLEU has already demanded that these retrenched contract workers should be re-engaged for deployment in sales and marketing. The CMD BSNL has already welcomed this proposal. Thereafter, the Director (HR) instructed the Establishment Branch to take the needful action to implement the demand of BSNLEU. However, no action is taken so far. In yesterday’s meeting, the issue was discussed once again with the Director (HR). Accepting the demand of the Union, the Director (HR) directed the GM (Restg.) to issue necessary guidelines for the re-engagement of the retrenched contract workers.

3. One time relaxation for appearing in the TT LDCE.

BSNLEU has long been demanding that a one time relaxation should be given to the non- 10th standard officials, to appear in the Telecom Technician (erstwhile Telecom Mechanic) LDCE. It was pointed out that the issue is lingering on for a very long time without any solution. The Director (HR) directed the Sr.GM(Estt.), to arrange for an internal discussion on the matter.

4. Casual labour wage revision.

BSNLEU has long been demanding that the wages of the casual labourers should be revised based on the lowest of the 7th CPC pay scales. It was pointed out in yesterday’s meeting that the number of existing casual labourers, it’s only around 3,300 and that the additional expenditure on this count would be negligible. It was strongly demanded that the Management should settle this issue at the earliest. The Director (HR) assured to examine.

5. Holding of the 37th meeting of the National Council.

It was assured in the 36thmeeting of the National Council that, the next meeting would be held in September itself. However, no date has been finalised so far. The Union demanded that the date for the meeting should be fixed without further delay. The Director (HR) assured that the next meeting would be held in the first week of October, 2018.

Speaking at NDTV's youth conclave, yoga guru Ramdev said rising prices of the petrol and diesel can cost the Modi government dearly. Some of his views expressed in the Youth Conclave are reproduced hereunder:-

• Rising prices of things can cost the Modi government very dearly. He will have to act.

• If the government lets me, and gives some relief in tax, I can give petrol diesel to India at Rs 35-40 per litre. Fuel needs to brought under GST and not the 28 per cent rate.

• People who are making the cow a religious animal are wrong. Cow has no religion.

• Frustration is a huge problem for the youth. They think they have no opportunities. That's not true. I did not have any godfathers and yet I set this huge enterprise (Patanjali) I don't run after money. Money runs after me.

• People   criticise   PM Modi - it is their fundamental right. But he has done good work. Launched the Clean India mission, not allowed any major scam. Yes, some political questions are being raised about the Rafale deal.

(Courtesy: NDTV)