On 17.11.2025, the AUAB leadership met Dr. Kalyan Sagar Nippani, Director (HR), to review the latest status of the Wage Negotiation Agreement. At the outset, Com. Animesh Mitra, GS, BSNLEU, conveyed strong dissatisfaction over the inordinate delay in processing the agreement. Despite 40 days having passed since the Wage Negotiation Committee submitted its recommendations, the Management Committee has still not taken up the file for consideration.  The leaders further pointed out that the concerned PGMs (Estt., SR and Finance), have been stating that they had already forwarded the file to other sections. To clarify the matter, a discussion was held with PGM (SR) during the meeting. Following this, it was decided that a joint meeting of the three PGMs (Estt., SR and Finance), will be held on 18.11.2025 to resolve the pending issues and to ensure further processing of the Wage Negotiation Agreement file at the appropriate level. At the conclusion of the discussion, Director (HR) assured the AUAB leadership that the file would be placed before the Management Committee at the earliest.

Yesterday, on 17.11.2025, Com. Animesh Mitra, GS, BSNLEU, and Com. C. Singh, GS, NFTE BSNL, met the Director (HR) and held discussions on the following major issues:-

1. Membership Verification.

Both Unions firmly reiterated their position in favour of conducting the Membership Verification through a secret ballot system. However, considering the present situation prevailing in BSNL, they agreed to accept the Management’s proposal as a one-time measure.

2. Kashmir Valley Special Allowance.

The Union leaders conveyed their deep dissatisfaction over the indifferent attitude of the Management in resolving this long-pending issue. They pointed out that while other government departments have already implemented this allowance for their employees, BSNL alone continues to delay extending this benefit to its staff working in the Kashmir Valley. The Director (HR) assured to do the needful action.

3. Payment of pending Dearness Allowance to Casual Labourers.

The leaders expressed strong resentment about the non-payment of two pending DA installments, overdue since January 2025. They also recalled that the same issue had arisen in the previous year as well. The Director (HR) assured the leaders that necessary action would be taken after discussing the matter with the CMD, BSNL.

The Civil Wing of Assam Circle is undergoing a severe manpower crisis. Out of the 24 sanctioned Executive posts, only 6 Executives are currently available to manage the entire workload. This acute shortage has resulted in excessive burden on the existing staff and has adversely affected the overall performance of BSNL’s services in the Circle. It has also reported to us that due to this acute shortage of Executives in Assam Civil Zone, most of the Civil and L&B activities are being badly hampered. Although the Circle Union has repeatedly taken up the issue with the Circle Management, no effective action has been initiated so far by the Corporate Office. In view of the seriousness of the situation, CHQ has intervened and addressed a detailed letter to the Director (HR), demanding immediate action to resolve the shortage and restore normal functioning of the Civil Wing in Assam Circle.

The Corporate Office has issued a notification for Direct Recruitment to the cadre of Senior Executive Trainee (SET), exclusively for external candidates possessing Graduate Engineering qualifications. However, the Management has not taken any decision regarding the Departmental LICE for Junior Engineers (JEs) for the same SET cadre. Today, BSNLEU has written a letter to the Director (HR) demanding immediate action to conduct the LICE for the post of Senior Executive Trainee, so that the Graduate Engineers working in the JE cadre are also given the rightful opportunity to become Senior Executive Trainees within BSNL. BSNLEU has firmly asserted that denying internal candidates their promotional avenue, while opening recruitment only for outsiders, is unjust and demotivating. The union has urged the Management to release the notification for LICE without delay.

The Corporate Office has issued a corrigendum on 11.11.2025 regarding the implementation of the Hon’ble Supreme Court judgement on the recovery of excess or wrongful payments made to employees in BSNL. As per this corrigendum, the Corporate Office has clearly clarified that the Supreme Court judgement provides relief only to the Group ‘C’ and Group ‘D’ employees of BSNL. It is noteworthy that, during several rounds of discussions and meetings with the Management, we had consistently placed this very argument. Now, the Corporate Office has formally acknowledged this position by issuing the corrigendum.