BSNLEU's meeting with the Director (HR).

Com. P. Abhimanyu, GS and Com. Swapan Chakraborty, Dy.GS, met Ms. Sujata T. Ray, Director (HR) and discussed the following important issues of the Non-Executives. Details of the issues, as well as the replies given by the Director (HR), are giving below:-

Action to be taken on BSNLEU’s note on wasteful expenditures.

BSNLEU, after collecting views from the field level, has submitted a detailed note to the BSNL Management, on actions to be taken for curtailing wasteful expenditures. In today’s meeting, BSNLEU demanded that the note submitted by BSNLEU should not be treated as a matter of routine, but serious action should be taken in a time bound manner. It was also demanded that the action taken by the Management in this respect, should be communicated to the Union. The Director (HR) accepted the demand and gave direction accordingly to the GM (SR).

Expeditious steps being taken by the Management to constitute the Joint Committee for negotiating wage revision of the Non-Executives.

BSNLEU has already demanded that BSNL Management should immediately constitute the Joint Committee for negotiating the wage revision of the Non-Executives. In today’s discussion, it was informed by the Director (HR) that Management is in the process of constituting such a Joint Committee. Earlier in the day, the issue was also discussed with Shri A.M. Gupta, GM (SR), who also the Management is in the process of constituting the Joint Committee.

Continuation of the facility of ‘Cash Payment Without Voucher’, beyond the initial 6 month period.

BSNLEU has already demanded that the facility of payment of cash without voucher, to the retired employees, should be extended beyond the initial 6 month period. In today’s discussion with the Director (HR), this demand was reiterated. However, the Director (HR) replied that it will be difficult for the Management to consider the demand, in view of the financial crisis of the Company. The Union insisted that the issue should be viewed with compassion, and without linking it to the financial position to the Company.

Introducing a “tailor-made” tariff plan, similar to the Rs.429/- plan, to the Non-Executives.

Extension of the Rs.429/- mobile tariff plan to the Non-Executives, was accepted by the Chairperson of the last National Council, in the last meeting. However, the same was rejected subsequently by the Admn. Branch of the Corporate Office, stating that tariff rates keep changing and that the Rs.429/- mobile tariff plan is not a permanent one. In today’s meeting, BSNLEU requested the Director (HR) to consider a “Tailor-Made Tariff Plan”, similar to the Rs.429/- plan, to the Non-Executives. The Director (HR) assured that this proposal of BSNLEU would be seriously looked into.

Relaxation to the recently conducted JE LICE.

In view of the high standard of the question paper of the recently conducted JE LICE, and also due to the introduction of “online examination”, only very few candidates have passed.  BSNLEU has already demanded that relaxation should be given for this exam, as was done in the case of the DR TTA exam of 2008. This demand was reiterated by BSNLEU, in today’s meeting with the Director (HR). After much insistence by the Union, the Director (HR) stated that the demand would be looked into.

HR issues of the Non-Executives, lying pending before the BSNL Board.

The three HR issues, taken up by BSNLEU, and already approved by the BSNL Management Committee, are lying pending with the BSNL Board for years together, due to the negative attitude of the government directors on BSNL Board. These issues are:- Promotion in E-1 pay scale to the Non-Executives, Granting one extra increment to the left out Non-Executives, who are appointed after 01.01.2007, and who suffered wage loss and Introduction of gratuity to the casual labourers. Recently, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL and Director (HR), demanding approval for these issues by the BSNL Board. In today’s discussion, BSNLEU requested the Director (HR) to take needful action in this regard, for which she responded positively.