All are aware that, BSNLEU filed a case in the Hon’ble Kerala High Court, against the freezing of IDA for the Non-Executives in BSNL. The Hon’ble Court gave order that the IDA freezing is not applicable for the Non-Executives of BSNL. Now, the DPE has announced the percentage of IDA increase, that has taken place w.e.f. 01.10.2020, 01.01.2021 and 01.04.2021. BSNLEU is continuously pressurising the Management to pay the IDA arrears to the Non-Executives without delay. However, so far, Management has not paid the arrears. Hence, once again BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to immediately pay the IDA arrears to the Non-Executives of BSNL.

As regards, disbursement of July, 2021 salary, the Corporate Office sent funds to the circles on 16.08.2021 itself. Salary disbursement was made to the employees on 17.08.2021. However, in Kerala circle, it was delayed and salary was credited to the accounts of the employees only today afternoon. It is also brought to the notice of the CHQ that, this sort of problem has taken place in June and July, 2021 also. Hence, CHQ has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding to take up the issue with the Union Bank of India for redressal of the problem.

Payment of the medical bills of the serving and retired employees, is remaining pending for a very long time. For the serving employees, bills have been settled only up to March, 2020. Whereas, the medical bills of the retired employees are not settled after March, 2019. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding payment of the pending medical bills without further delay.

BSNL Employees Health Insurance Policy is going to be implemented w.e.f. 01^st September, 2021. The New India Assurance Company has communicated to the BSNL Management, the list of empanelled hospitals throughout the country under this Health Insurance Policy. However, it is observed that, no empanelled hospitals are available in NE-I and NE-II circles. This will create very big problems to the BSNL employees posted in NE-I and NE-II circles and who opt for the Insurance Policy. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the GM(Admn.), BSNL Corporate Office, and has demanded that empanelled hospitals are made available in NE-I and NE-II circles.

The Ministry of Finance has issued a directive that the salary for the month of August, 2021, should be paid on 19.08.2021 itself, to the Central Government employees posted in Kerala, in view of the Onam festival. But in BSNL, so far, even the salary for the month of July, 2021, has not been paid to the employees. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL that, in accordance with the spirit contained in the Ministry of Finance letter, salary for the month July, 2021, should be paid to all the employees immediately. Further, BSNLEU has demanded salary for the month of August, 2021, should be paid to the BSNL employees posted in Kerala circle, on or before 19.08.2021.

BSNLEU is continuously taking up the various issues connected with the Restructuring process. It has submitted it’s suggestions to the Management, on the proposed strength of the cadres of TT, Sr.TOA, JE and JTO. BSNLEU has also opposed Management’s proposal to declare the Sr.TOA and the ATT cadres as Dying Cadres. While the Director (HR) has agreed to retain Sr.TOA cadre as a Live Cadre, he did not agree to keep the ATT also as a Live Cadre. 

Hence, BSNLEU has once again written to the CMD BSNL, to retain the ATT cadre as a Live Cadre. For this, BSNLEU has suggested that the educational qualification of the ATT cadre could be increased. Alternatively, BSNLEU has suggested that, a "Multi Tasking Cadre" could be created.

BSNLEU has pointed out that, after VRS, the situation in BSNL is still very fluid. Hence, the Union has demanded that, all decisions taken regarding Restructuring, should compulsorily be reviewed after one year. BSNLEU has also demanded that no final decision should be taken regarding the strength of TT, Sr.TOA, JE and JTO cadres without holding discussion on the proposals already submitted by BSNLEU.

The New India Assurance Company Limited has informed the terms and conditions for the BSNL Employees Health Insurance Policy. However, the list of empanelled hospitals is not given by this Insurance Company. This information is very vital for the employees to choose the right hospital. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the GM(Admn.), BSNL CO., demanding to ensure that the list of empanelled hospitals is informed by The New India Assurance Company Limited.

BSNL Management had given it’s proposals for the future manpower strength in various cadres (Restructuring). BSNLEU, in turn has given a detailed note on the future requirement of manpower in various Non-Executive cadres. However, it is learnt that, the Management is taking hasty steps to implement Restructuring. BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL, demanding that no unilateral decision should be taken in the matter of Restructuring.

BSNLEU has already demanded that, the Non-Executives (JOA, SOA, AOS and OS) should be provided with passwords in the E-Office. The Director (HR), in the meeting held with BSNLEU on 24.03.2021, has agreed for providing passwords to the 25% of the Non-Executives. However, it has been brought to our notice that, passwords have not been provided to the Non-Executives so far. Hence, BSNLEU has written to the Director (HR), demanding to immediately implement the assurance given to BSNLEU.

After a long waiting, the DPE has issued letter for IDA increase for the Public Sector Employees, w.e.f. 01.10.2020. Everyone knows that, in the writ petition filed by BSNLEU, the Hon’ble Kerala High Court has ordered that the IDA freezing is not applicable to the Non-Executives of BSNL. As a result of this court order, obtained by BSNLEU, the Non-Executives of BSNL will get arrears of the IDA w.e.f. 01.10.2020. Accordingly, arrears for 5.5% IDA increase will be paid w.e.f. 01.10.2020. From 01.01.2021, IDA has increased by 6.3%. So, arrears for 11.8% IDA will be paid from 01.01.2021. Since, IDA is reduced by 1.2% w.e.f. 01.04.2021, IDA arrears for 10.6% will be paid from 01.04.2021. This payment of IDA arrears is a great achievement of BSNLEU. Today, BSNLEU has written to the CMD BSNL to take steps for payment of the IDA arrears without any delay. The CHQ of BSNLEU heartily congratulates all the Non-Executives who are going to be benefitted.